Best Android TV boxes 2024

There are plenty of ways to stream content on your television, and if you get one of the best Android TV boxes, you can make sure that the experience is as fast, seamless, and enjoyable as possible.

Android TV boxes allow you to instantly access all of your favorite video and music apps, along with some light games, without going out and buying a completely new TV. There are a few different options to choose from, with these being the best of the best.

Our overall pick has to be the Chromecast with Google TV when it comes to the best Android TV boxes. In almost every regard, the new Chromecast is basically perfect. It has 4K HDR streaming with support for Dolby Vision/Atmos, a great remote that’s easy-to-use, and comes in at an incredible price. However, the star of the show is the special Google TV software that’s layered on top of Android TV, offering new features and an upgraded design that we think you’ll love.

At a glance

Best overall

Although there aren’t a ton of Android TV boxes available to buy in 2021, the one that easily stands out as the best of the bunch is the Chromecast with Google TV. No matter how you slice it, this latest Chromecast ends up being a perfect streaming companion for just about any living room.

On the hardware/spec front, everything you need for high-quality streaming is here. The Chromecast offers 4K HDR streaming, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and has a processor that keeps things running smoothly for most tasks. The remote is a little lacking in buttons, but it’s incredibly well-built and offers good utility in a sleek and compact form factor.

Where the Chromecast gets a big edge over the rest of the options on this list is how it’s running the new Google TV interface. While it’s technically powered by Android TV, Google’s added this new Google TV software on top of it to create a brand new experience. As a result, everything is much more visually appealing, all of your apps work just the same, and the new home pages are designed to curate everything from your streaming apps so you can more easily find something to watch. Our testing has a much better user experience than regular Android TV, and the Chromecast is the only way to get it right now.

Making all of this even better is the Chromecast’s price. So not only is it the best Android TV box on our list, but it’s also one of the most affordable. Talk about a win-win.

The biggest downside of Chromecast is that some users have reported various bugs and glitches since its debut — such as freezing apps and entire system crashes. It doesn’t seem like everyone is being affected by these things, but if you plan on picking up the Chromecast, it’s something to consider beforehand.

Best value

The onn. brand might not be something that you recognize unless you regularly shop at Walmart. But you might want to start paying attention, at least with the onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box. Long name aside, this box is the most affordable way to get into the world of streaming powered by Android TV.

You’ll enjoy a stock Android TV experience, meaning that you won’t have to worry about annoying and intrusive ads telling you to sign up for Walmart+. But almost as good as the streaming device itself is the included remote. In addition to your normal TV controls, the remote offers four shortcuts for some of the best streaming services, along with a dedicated button for Google Assistant. 

Unfortunately, with a streaming device this affordable, there are some concessions that need to be made. And the biggest issue that you might run into is 8GB of non-expandable storage. Those who only rely on streaming services will likely be fine, but you’ll need to look elsewhere if you plan on watching downloaded content.

Best alternative

Google did a lot right with the Chromecast, but if it doesn’t seem like a good fit for you, another option to consider is the NVIDIA Shield TV. The Shield TV is one of the most compact Android TV boxes you’ll find, starting with its hardware. In fact, it’s not a box but more of a small tube. As a result, it’s tiny, out-of-sight, and easy to hide regardless of your entertainment setup.

The Shield TV has all of the streaming tech you could ask for, including support for 4K HDR content, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It also uses AI upscaling to convert HD content into 4K for an even crisper image than before. There’s an Ethernet jack if you prefer a wired connection for faster streaming, along with a microSD card slot for quickly expanding your storage.

Another big draw to the Shield TV is that it can access GeForce Now — NVIDIA’s cloud gaming service that allows you to play fully-fledged PC games right on your television.

Best premium

If you like what you see with the NVIDIA Shield TV but want something that’s even more capable, the Shield TV Pro could be for you. It has everything that makes the regular Shield TV great, including 4K HDR streaming, 4K upscaling, Dolby Vision and Atmos, and more.

The physical hardware for the Shield TV Pro is considerably larger, and there’s a reason for that. If you have a lot of smart home gadgets under the SmartThings brand, you can use the Shield TV Pro as a hub for all of them. It also has two full-size USB ports on the back, connecting external storage devices, over-the-air antennas, and keyboards. On top of all that, the Pro has more storage and RAM than the regular Shield TV — 16GB vs. 8GB and 3GB vs. 2GB, respectively.

The increased price and size of the Shield TV Pro make it a tougher sell than its non-Pro sibling, but for power users that need their Android TV box to do as much as possible, it’s a fantastic choice.

Full HD value

The onn. brand might not be something that you recognize unless you regularly shop at Walmart. But you might want to start paying attention, at least with the onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box. Long name aside, this box is the most affordable way to get into the world of streaming powered by Android TV.

You’ll enjoy a stock Android TV experience, meaning that you won’t have to worry about annoying and intrusive ads telling you to sign up for Walmart+. But almost as good as the streaming device itself is the included remote. In addition to your normal TV controls, the remote offers four shortcuts for some of the best streaming services, along with a dedicated button for Google Assistant. 

Unfortunately, with a streaming device this affordable, there are some concessions that need to be made. And the biggest issue that you might run into is 8GB of non-expandable storage. Those who only rely on streaming services will likely be fine, but you’ll need to look elsewhere if you plan on watching downloaded content.

Best budget-friendly

As much as we love the NVIDIA Shield TV and Shield TV Pro, we also understand that they might be way too expensive for many shoppers. If you happen to fall into that group, we recommend going with the TiVo Stream 4K. Despite being a lot cheaper, the Stream, 4K from TiVo, still supports 4K HDR content, works with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and comes with a voice remote for easy access to the Google Assistant.

The biggest draw to the TiVo Stream 4K (other than its low price) is access to its exclusive TiVo Stream app. TiVo makes personal recommendations of shows and movies to watch based on your own tastes and preferences in the app. In the process, the Stream app also houses access to all of your other streaming services so that you can access them in one convenient place. It’s not quite as seamless as the Google TV experience. However, the Stream is an excellent pick if you want the traditional Android TV interface while still getting high-quality content recommendations.

TiVo Stream is also where you’ll find a collection of free channels from the likes of Pluto TV, Tubi, Cheddar, and Tastemade. Of course, if you have a subscription to Sling TV, you’ll be able to watch it in the TiVo Stream app, too.

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How to pick the best Android TV box

You have a few choices available to you when shopping for an Android TV box, but overall, the Chromecast with Google TV stands out as the clear winner. It gives you a ton of features, amazing software and comes in at a very reasonable price.

In regards to watching movies and TV shows, the Chromecast is a champ. It handles 4K HDR content without breaking a sweat, and thanks to its support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, you can ensure that your picture and audio quality are as good as it gets.

What makes the Chromecast unique from other Android TV boxes is it features the new Google TV software. Google TV is layered on top of Android TV and curates all of the shows and movies from your various streaming apps into one place. It takes out the usual hassle of juggling between multiple apps just to find something to watch, and it’s a genuinely useful addition that you won’t find anywhere else.