Best Android TV Box for movies, TV series and IPTV

Although many modern TVs have a Smart component with which we can expand multimedia capabilities, for certain operations or to view IPTV lists it is still preferable to use a TV Box, perhaps with an Android operating system. With a TV Box we can use almost all the apps that we are used to using on Android smartphones or tablets, with the possibility of streaming content normally not visible with the apps on Smart TV. But which Android TV Box to choose for the living room "> How Mini TV Android TV Boxes work

Which Android TV Box to watch movies, TV series and IPTV

Although thousands of TV Box models are available with Android, only a few really have all the features to be able to effectively replace a Smart TV. Below we will find the features to consider before purchasing, the supported audio / video formats, the multimedia apps that we can install on the devices and finally a guide to buying the best models.

Technical features TV Box

To choose a TV Box it is necessary to observe some of the features, so as to be sure not to buy an obsolete product.

1. Chipset and processor : the best CPUs and chipsets for a TV Box are branded Amlogic, Intel Atom and Rockchip, although there is no shortage of models with very powerful proprietary processors (such as NVIDIA chips). For a question of compatibility we advise you to focus on the Amlogic, Intel or NVIDIA models, so as not to have problems with some multimedia apps or with some file formats.
2. RAM: 2 GB of RAM is the bare minimum for the operating system and all multimedia apps to function properly. If our spending budget allows, we can also focus on models with 3 GB or more of RAM.
3. Internal memory: to have all the necessary space, we recommend that you focus only on models with at least 8 GB of internal memory, so that you can install all the apps without fear of space problems; we avoid using the TV Box to store large video files, relying on a DLNA server or an external USB disk for the purpose.
4. Connections: to connect to the Internet, the TV Box chosen must have the WiFi module (preferably dual-band, so as to support both 2.4 and 5 GHz) and an Ethernet port, to be used to connect the device via cable. Bluetooth connectivity is also useful, in order to connect headphones or wireless speakers.
5. Connectivity : the HDMI output is essential to connect the TV Box to the TV or monitor. We choose if possible only models with at least 2 USB ports and an audio jack output (3.5mm) in order to connect external speakers. It is not necessary that there is an additional video output (for example VGA or DVI), even if it is an interesting feature if we have an old monitor or an old TV to be connected.
6. Video resolution : all TV Boxes are compatible with 1080p resolution and the most powerful also allow you to view 4K content on compatible TVs. In order to see correctly in 4K UHD streams, let's make sure that the HDMI output is in version 2.0.
7. Other features : a slot for microSD will allow us to expand the internal memory of the device, while other minor features Mini DisplayPort or optical audio output S / PDIF are useful only if we use this type of systems for audio and video.

All TV Boxes on the market have a remote control (but we have seen that it is possible to control an Android TV Box with your smartphone), which can present various keys based on the functions supported by the device; usually there is never a Home key and a Back key, flanked by the directional keys, the key to confirm ( OK or Enter ) and the keys to adjust the output volume. Other additional keys are useful for quickly opening streaming apps or for accessing the on-screen cursor control (quite similar to that of the mouse on a PC), but they are not present on all TV Boxes.

Audio / video formats supported by TV boxes

A TV Box must be able to read any type of video without jerking and to play any multimedia file, be it a video or an audio file. For a faster execution speed (especially for 4K movies) it is necessary to have a chip with integrated hardware acceleration, so as not to have to use the software codecs (much slower).
A modern Android TV Box must therefore support the following codecs or containers with hardware acceleration:

1. Codecs and video formats: H.264, H.265, MP4, AVI, WMV, WebM, MKV (up to 4K UHD)
2. Audio codecs and formats: MP3, MP4, AC-3, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, WMA and Dolby Digital

An additional feature that is in great demand on modern files is support for HDR, which together with 4K allows you to see the colors and details of the videos in ultra-high definition at higher quality.
Currently very few TVs allow you to take advantage of Dolby ATMOS audio, since this feature requires a very expensive dedicated chip (we will report the TV Boxes that support it).

Multimedia apps available on TV Box

The apps that we can use or install on our Android TV Box (capable of not making us regret a Smart TV) are:

1. YouTube : omnipresent on any TV Box, the app allows you to view videos saved on the famous site at any quality (even 4K UHD);
2. Netflix : the app of the famous legal streaming site can be used without problems on TV Boxes, but for a matter of compatibility we can view the contents in Full HD and 4K only on some certified devices (which we will show you later).
3. Kodi : the definitive media center for your TV Box, with which you can see any content saved in the internal memory or saved on the network via DLNA. In addition to the files present locally or on the network, it is possible to expand the functionality with extensions, so as to access numerous streaming contents;
4. Plex : another excellent media center app for TV Box, allows you to view the contents indexed on another device (PC or NAS) at the highest quality and with all the information already automatically available (subtitles, poster, information, vote etc. );
5. VLC for Android : the famous multimedia app can be used on Android TV Boxes to play any multimedia file;
6. Spotify : excellent app to listen to streaming music for free and without time limits.
7. IPTV Extreme : indispensable for viewing streaming streams disseminated through IPTV lists;
8. DroidMote Server : another very useful app (on TV boxes with active root) to control playback and commands directly from the smartphone.

These are just some of the apps that you can install on a TV Box, but simply open the Google Play Store to install any other app that can extend the functionality of the device, such as those recommended in our guide to The best apps to have on TV Android box .

Best Android TV Box to buy

After seeing some of the features to consider on a TV Box, in this part of the guide we will show you the best TV Boxes on the market, so to choose only the most powerful and compatible models.
Leelbox K2
We are looking for a new generation digital terrestrial decoder (DVB-T2) with TV Box functionality ">
This small TV Box connects to the home antenna and allows you to view all digital terrestrial channels, including those that come into force when switching to DVB-T2. In addition to the decoder functionality, it provides support for numerous multimedia apps, so you can view IPTV lists and the main streaming services without problems. It probably won't have the same compatibility as a classic Android TV Box, but if we are looking for an all-in-one solution this is the best device to buy.
We can buy this TV Box from here -> Leelbox K2 (€ 29).
Bonve HK1 Max
If we don't make a lot of demands and want to spend little on a powerful and complete TV Box, we recommend you to view the Bonve HK1 Max .

The device comes with a quad-core processor flanked by 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal memory, Dual-Band WiFi, Bluetooth and Android 9 operating system. The remote control has a large amount of keys (quite similar to that of a TV remote control) and, once started, we will be able to quickly access many pre-installed apps, so that we can immediately start managing streaming streams.
We can buy this TV Box from here -> Bonve HK1 Max (52 €).
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Ultra HD also falls into the category of TV boxes, since it allows you to install the apps inside it as if we were on a classic Android system.

By connecting the dongle to the HDMI port and the USB port of the TV, we can quickly access many multimedia apps, with the certification necessary to play protected contents (we can access Netflix in FullHD and 4K without problems). The supplied remote control supports Amazon Alexa voice commands, so you can open an app or streaming service with your voice.
We can buy this dongle from here -> Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (59 €).
To learn more about the use of the Fire TV Stick, we recommend you read our Amazon Fire TV Stick Guide with tricks, apps and hidden functions .
Xiaomi Mi Box S
One of the best TV Boxes in circulation for quality price is without a doubt the Xiaomi Mi Box S.

This TV Box has a powerful quad-core CPU flanked by 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, Wi-Fi Dual Band, Bluetooth and Xiaomi Android Box operating system, optimized for use on a TV. Among the main features we point out the presence of a key for voice search (via Google Assistant), the dedicated key for Netflix (certified, therefore compatible with Full HD and 4K HDR) and Chromecast functionality included (we can receive Google Cast streams directly on the TV Box without having to buy a Chromecast).
We can buy this TV Box from here -> Xiaomi Mi Box S (69 €).
NVIDIA SHIELD TV
The best TV Box out there is definitely the NVIDIA Shield TV, which in its latest version has the shape of a tube, very similar to a small powerbank.


In addition to having the best of NVIDIA technology (including the Tegra X1 + chip), it is certified by Netflix to display 4K UHD, Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10 content and to provide Dolby ATMOS audio, with all the power needed to perform even the games available on Android. The supplied remote control allows you to control every aspect of playback and the interface, as well as providing a convenient button to start voice commands.
We can view the device here -> NVIDIA SHIELD TV (159 €).

Technical notes

Even if we have a Smart TV to manage multimedia streams from the Internet or from the DLNA server, using a TV Box will allow us to take advantage of the new features released by the various services (through their updated apps on the Play Store), so as to always be up to date with the times and not having to change TV every 2-3 years.
It will also be possible to use HDMI adapters to connect TV Boxes to older TVs .
To get the most out of an Android BOX TV, it is important to be able to access all the websites that provide streaming content, using the browsers for Android TV, Box and Fire Stick .
In another guide we saw how to create a home cinema system to be connected to the TV to watch films and videos online, using the technology available on all the TV boxes indicated above.