What Are The Pros And Cons Of An Android TV Box?

With how the world is now trending towards the digital age nowadays, cable TV has given way to streaming sites and other services that allow us to make use of the internet to watch our shows and movies. This gave birth to the Android TV Box, which is basically a device that allows your non-smart TV to obtain smart TV capabilities. Now, if you want to buy an Android TV Box for yourself, let us first look at its pros and cons.

Advantages of the Android TV Box?

• Similar to an Android TV

First off, an Android TV Box is just basically the same as an Android TV in the sense that you will be able to give Android capabilities to an older model TV that doesn’t run on Android or doesn’t have any other smart features. In that sense, if you don’t want to spend money to buy another TV, you can just simply buy an Android TV box that will give your older TV the capabilities of an Android TV.

• You can watch free movies

If you are wondering if you can watch free movies on your Android TV Box without having to subscribe to Netflix or any other streaming service, yes, you can do so. An Android TV Box gives you the capability to download different apps that may be able to allow you to watch movies for free.

• Stream Netflix on an older TV

As mentioned, an Android TV Box basically allows you to have all of the capabilities of an Android TV on an older model TV. In that sense, you can use your older TV to watch Netflix without having to plug a computer into your TV just so you can stream your favorite movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or any other popular video streaming service on the internet.

• More affordable than buying a new smart TV

Smart TVs are making waves throughout the TV market nowadays because of the fact that they basically have Android capabilities even though they are TVs. However, you may have spent a good price on a top-of-the-line TV a few years ago when expensive panels didn’t have smart features yet. So, instead of buying a new smart TV, which is going to be very expensive, you can just simply buy an Android TV Box that gives your older TV the same capabilities as an Android TV.

• Plenty of different choices

When it comes to the Android TV Box you want to buy, there are a lot of different choices you can choose from depending on the brand and manufacturer. It’s like you are buying a new TV where you have to choose from a lot of different TV brands. However, this time, you are now choosing between different Android TV Boxes from different brands that each have their own unique pros and cons. For example, Nvidia’s Android Box allows you to play certain games on your TV.

• Browse the web on your TV

A good Android TV Box is basically just a small computer that will allow you to connect to the internet using the box itself while you are using the TV as your monitor or screen. In that sense, you can actually browse the web on your TV by making use of your Android TV Box. You no longer have to open your computer when you are in the living room because you can do simple browsing on your TV.

• You can get a lot of different channels

There are plenty of different channels you can get from your Android TV Box such as live TV channels. As such, you can basically watch normal TV on your Android Box. You might even be able to gain access to certain channels you probably can only get on cable or satellite TV.

Disadvantages of an Android TV Box?

• Android TV Boxes are generally slower

If you went on to buy a budget Android TV Box, expect it to be slower than a regular smart TV. That’s because cheaper Android TV boxes come with smaller and slower processors that will certainly take some time to process certain functions compared to that of a regular smart TV. In that sense, if time is of the essence to you, a faster smart TV might be a better option.

• It isn’t exactly for free

Yes, even if you were able to get a good Android TV Box, you have to also accept the fact that the service won’t be for free. That means that you have to pay regular subscription fees to gain access to certain apps and content available only on the Android Box. However, it really depends on the provider you chose as there are some providers that tend to be more affordable but don’t have the same range of services and channels that other providers have.

• Firmware updates aren’t always updated

Unlike smart TVs, which have firmware that is always updated, it will take some time for the updates to get integrated into an Android TV Box depending on the provider. That means that, when there is a new app that has been updated to work well with the newest Android firmware, it might take some time for your Android TV Box to be able to enjoy the features of the new app especially if the box’s firmware hasn’t been updated yet.

Is An Android TV Box Better Than A Smart TV?

So, now that you know the pros and cons of Android TV Box, is it better than a smart TV? Not exactly. It really depends on what you are looking at.

For starters, Android TV Box may be more affordable than buying a smart TV but you also have to know that the fees you will be paying for the box might end up stacking up and become more expensive than a midrange smart TV. While a TV box might offer more options for you compared to that of a regular smart TV, there really is no consensus as to which between the two is going to end up becoming more affordable in the long run.

Of course, most Android TV Boxes aren’t built to be as fast and as responsive as smart TVs. In that sense, if you prefer a faster response time, a smart TV would be a better option for you.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of advantages that an Android TV Box has over a regular smart TV especially when you are subscribed to the services of a good provider and you are able to gain access to content and apps that you won’t be able to get in a smart TV. Again, it really depends on the user and what he or she is looking for in an entertainment package.

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