Android TV, any good?

Orcvader · 1 Aug 2015 at 15:11

So my Chromecast has become faulty and while I plan to get a replacement as it's still in warranty, I'm wondering if any of the Android TV players are any good? Main usage is pretty much Google casting but it would be nice to have an ethernet connection as well as a dedicated remote.

insane200 · 1 Aug 2015 at 15:25

Quite a good write up on AV forums about them and which to go for.

https://www.avforums.com/article/best-android-kodi-xbmc-openelec-tv-box.11747

Orcvader · 1 Aug 2015 at 15:40

Thanks for the link but those don't seem to be able to receive Google Cast. Searching around it seems the Nexus Player, Razer Forge TV and Nvidia Shield TV can but there's such a price difference between the 3.

insane200 · 1 Aug 2015 at 15:47

Oh ok, tbh i thought any box would, not something I've looked into, Thinking of getting a Chromecast at some point, or a Amazon stick for the non smart TV upstairs.

LiGhTfasT · 1 Aug 2015 at 17:06

Dumped my chrome cast for the fire stick and loved it so much I bought the firetv, its great with Kodi. YOu wont need to cast since most apps can be installed directly on it.

Columbo · 1 Aug 2015 at 17:55

If you use Netflix forget most Android TV boxes as they only support SD resolutions.

Orcvader · 2 Aug 2015 at 18:24

I'm considering the Nexus Player at the moment as I noticed it supports 5GHz wifi, which I don't mind using as it's still better than the clogged up 2.4GHz.

I have heard bad things about Netflix natively on Android TV boxes but using the service via Google casting it seems to do it in HD oddly enough, so I don't mind not using the native Netflix app. I don't use Netflix anyway

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Is the Fire stick/TV compatible with Google cast? Or does Amazon use their own thing?