Android TV is a smart streaming platform that can be accessed from many different types of devices. It is a dedicated operating system for smart TVs designed by Google. Thus, it brings such apps as Google Play Store to the TV screen and enables access to other Google capabilities like games, sideloading apps and most importantly, Google Assistant.
The focus of this software is to enable users to:
Discover diverse new content online by giving access to such OTT services as Disney Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. and
Organise local media using apps like Kodi and Plex.
Currently, Android TV comes in-built in only a few of the best 4k ultra hd tv manufactured by top OEMs like TCL, Sony, Panasonic, Hisense, OnePlus etc. However, all smart TVs and several other smart devices can be converted into Android TV by using the Android TV box.
Selection of the normal in-built Android TV depends on certain common smart TV features like resolution, presence of HDR, sound system, screen size etc. But the selection of the Android TV box is more complex and depends on such certain factors like:
Processor: The 1.5 GHz quad-core processor is the minimum requirement however, if the user can afford an octa-core processor, it will enhance his Android TV viewing experience. A good high-end processor will enable smooth streaming of content else unnecessary buffering and lags would make the viewing experience extremely irritating. The processor should also be supported by atleast 4GB RAM to enable it to function properly when connected to the 4k android tv.
Storage available: The operating system is stored in the storage of the Android TV box. Since this OS takes up a large chunk of the available internal storage, it is best to choose a box with an internal storage of atleast 32GB. However, most boxes come with an internal storage of about 8GB. In such instances, support of 64GB external storage should be given preference.
USB ports available: A minimum of 2 USB ports is the mandatory requirement. These USB ports are used to connect the Bluetooth receiver and other peripherals. The USB 3.0 version offers better speed than its 2.0 version and hence it should be preferred.
Options for video and display: There are certain important factors to be considered here like:
To enable 4K streaming an HDMI 2.0 is mandatorily required,
Presence of dynamic refresh rate switching is also important since it ensures the best display by adjusting the refresh rate automatically between the android smart tv and the content source,
H.265 decoding, if present, will make it compatible with 8K HD smart TVs,
Support for 4K video streaming especially if the user wants to use OTT platforms like Netflix, YouTube etc.
OS version: This should either be Android Lollipop 5.0 or higher. Since the OS of the Android TV box cannot be updated, users must choose the latest OS available.
To get the best out of the Android TV box, gigabit Ethernet connectivity is considered best as it offers a consistent internet connection. However, when using Wi-Fi the receiver should be atleast 802.11ac or higher to avoid buffering. It is also better to choose an Android TV box that supports Google Play Store and Bluetooth connectivity.