Wondering what is Android Tv Box & how does it work? We got you!
If you own a television, chances are you already heard about different boxes that you can connect with your television to watch the content or do other stuff like surfing the web.
These boxes are increasing at high speed, and many manufacturers are making their own boxes.
However, the main operating system and the box they use is Android TV Box and its OS. We will examine Android TV Box and talk about its details.
What Is Android TV Box?
Android TV comes in two different shapes, either as a set-top box or a dongle like a USB that you can just plug into your TV.
Both of these shapes accommodate the same need, giving you the Android TV on your television.
The choice you make depends on what you want and how usable you think one will be.
That is why there is literally no difference at all between the Android TV box vs. its USB stick apart from their shapes.
With an Android TV box, you can run Android TV on your television, thanks to its operating system. This allows you to watch content, use Google Assistant, and connect devices.
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What is an android TV box? How do they work?
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Read: What Is Smart HDR?
Android TV OS
What makes Android TV Box is the operating system behind it. All of them does is plug in Android TV OS into your television.
Android TV operating system is Android’s television-compatible version.
Many Android TV box manufacturers alter the Android TV OS to accommodate their devices like Amazon’s Fire TV.
However, if your TV is smart, you might find Android TV OS built-in instead of using the box or the USB.
Android TV Box Features
Android TV Box and the OS come with various features that allow you to do many things. Even though it is still highly limited, it gives you the most needed features.
- Watch Content
With it, you’ll find Google Play Store to download applications, but since every programmer needs to change up the software to make it Android TV compatible, many small developer applications are not there.
But you can download and watch content from Netflix, YouTube, HBOGo, NBC, ABC, and many other major companies.
- Chromecast Support
You can use Chromecast to directly cast to your television from your phone, tablet, or any device that you can use a browser with.
- Google Assistant
If you have an Android TV Box, you will be able to use Google Assistant with it directly without any setup, but if you have the USB or a built-in Android OS, you need to activate it with your remote control.
- Bluetooth
You can hook up laptops, keyboards, phones, or any other wireless device that has a Bluetooth connection to the Android TV you own.
However, it is worth noting that not every Android TV has Bluetooth, so you need to check that.
How Does An Android TV Box Works?
Just like Google Chromecast or NOW TV stick, an Android Tv box can be plugged into the back of your tv by an HDMI Port.
However, once your Android tv box is plugged in, it will look very different than a NOW Tv stick because they have different operating systems.
Once you have set up the Android tv box, you will be able to access and view many streaming services directly on your tv.
Can I watch normal TV on an Android TV box?
Whether you can watch normal tv on your Android tv box depends on the brand of Android tv box that you choose.
For example: if you have an Amazon Prime tv device homepage comes with a live Tv tab from where you can watch TV.
Many apps need you to create an account but do not charge anything. But if you want to watch, say, a live match on Amazon fire stick, then you will require to pay for a prime membership.
Smart TV Stick Vs. Android Tv Box
Smart TV Sticks are preferred by many owing to their small size and portability. Android Tv boxes are comparatively bigger when compared with tv sticks.
But when it comes to streaming capabilities, android tv boxes allow 4k streaming. In contrast, only expensive or mid-range tv sticks allow this.
But having said that, even the higher-end tv sticks are cheaper when compared to Android Tv boxes.
For example, an Android tv box starts at $80 and goes up to $200. At the same time, smart tv stick starts at only $30.
Hence, it is obvious why you would choose a Tv stick over an Android Tv box. Price is definitely the biggest determining factor here.
Are Android Tv Boxes Worth It?
How To Connect An Android Tv Box?
Here’s a step-by-step process to connect an Android tv box:
- The first step is to plug the Android Tv box’s HDMI cable into your Tv.
- Ensure that your Tv is set up to the correct HDMI input.
- Once your tv and box are connected, the next step is to connect the box to wifi.
- Some Android boxes come with wifi setup screen, or you can find it in the setting section too.
- If there is no option for wifi, then use an ethernet cable.
- After you have plugged in the box to wifi and turned on the power, your android tv up box is ready to use.
Installing Apps to an Android TV Box
The most common to install apps on an android tv box is by using the Google Play store. For this, you will need a Google Gmail id to sign in and download the apps.
Alternatively, you can also download and install apps from websites directly. Android uses APK files that can be installed from anywhere.
Android Tv Box Buying Guide
What All Things Can An Android TV Box Do?
Although an android tv box is mainly used for streaming videos and content, it can do almost everything that an android-smart phone can do.
You can download not only streaming apps but also other apps that can help you in checking the weather, create a document, etc.
The Verdict
Android TV Boxes are becoming popular thanks to their operating systems. Many people are already using them in their homes through different manufacturers like Amazon.
It offers you the chance to watch content, cast directly to your television without any cable, or even use Google Assistant without doing anything else.
FAQ’s
Do I really need an android tv-top box?
If you are an Android user and want more flexibility, integration, and customization with Google Apps, then you should get an android set-up box. However, we do not recommend it for Apple users.
Do I need an internet connection for using android tv box?
Yes, you will need an internet connection if you want to stream content from an online source.
But if you store videos locally and want to stream videos from your library, then you will not need an internet connection.
What are the different streaming services available available for an android tv box?
There are a lot of streaming services available, including popular ones such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, etc.
Is it possible to use an android tv box with a non-smart tv?
Yes, you can use it with a non-smart tv if you have an HDMI port.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.