Most TV boxes run a modified version of Android operating system for smartphone, and devices based on Google’s Android TV are harder to find, and often country specific since they are tied to local streaming services. Yesterday, I was searching for boxes based on Marvell Armada 1500 Ultra SoC, and first found a couple in Spain and the US, but eventually found a bunch more when I discovered somebody was keeping track of all/most Android TV devices in a page hosted by Google but with no actual affiliation with Google.
The devices are sorted in three categories:
- Pay TV Providers, usually only sold in a specific country with programs in the local language, and a fairly long list
- Streaming / Gaming – Those are the most famous Android TV TV boxes like Xiaomi Mi Box or Nvidia Shield Android TV with only 6 models in that list
- TVs with Android TV OS
The first list is probably the most interesting as it show each device with the release year, country where it is sold, the model name / SKU and processor used with most of the devices being based on Broadcom or Marvell solutions, as well as a few Amlogic and Qualcomm Snapdragon in the mix.
Clicking on the link for each device will provide more details like specifications, official website, and more.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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But, more importantly, is there a site maintaining a list of TV boxes running GNU/Linux?
@Michael Andersen
That question is more complex, because we need to define what is a “TV box running Linux” .
If it is a Linux TV box (e.g. with LibreELEC) sold commercially, and official support from vendor. then the list would be rather short with ARNU Box and WeTek coming to mind. There are now commercially supported dual use box with Android and Linux, such as RTD1295 based devices (Zidoo X9S), or U5PVR Deluxe with in both case, Android taking care of the the media playback, and Linux of the server functions.
If it relies on community work using Android TV boxes as a base, you have to consider:
1. TV box for media playback likely running LibreELEC or OpenELEC
2. TV box running Linux for server / headless applications
3. TV box running a desktop OS with
a- Basic support
b – GPU acceleration
c – GPU or VPU acceleration
Since it’s community based it also means it’s up to you. Once a box with a given SoC is supported, then it should be not too difficult to port it to another with the same SoC, provided it’s not using some exotic chips for storage, wifi, bluetooth, and so on…
Amazon devices are not listed 🙁
OK, it’s not directly Android, but a fork with enhancements…
@PA
Isn’t Fire OS based the version of Android for smartphones, instead of Android TV?
@PA
This list is very specifically about devices running “Android TV” which is not the same as “Android” customised for a TV.
A few days back I read a comment from someone that said there are custom roms for some cheap (38$) S905x boxes that are based on AndroidTV. Anyone knows what boxes he was talking about and if there is any forum that gives support to those?
Thanks!
Freaktab.com I have one myself for tanix tx5 pro. Beware there are some limitations that not able to do. No screen casting. No official Netflix support. Etc etc. Don’t know if that box is available but there are more out there
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905x/others-aml-s905x/firmware-roms-tools-bx/631111-tanix-tx5-pro-atv-6255-and-9377
@cnxsoft
You’re correct, they are different beasts. Amazon even has a guide for developers on the differences between “Fire TV” and “Android TV”. It is possible to run Android TV on a Fire TV but it’s a bit hacky and requires root.
@cnxsoft
Would it be possible for you to change the page to show sponsered links differently (e.g. with an underline or double underline). I get why you have them but the way it is now makes it look like the commenter included the link when they didn’t (e.g. “Amazon” is linked in my comment above).
@cnxsoft
quote-That question is more complex, because we need to define what is a “TV box running Linux” .
Apologies for not being clear — I meant running GNU/Linux and GNU/Linux without Android (or anything else underneath).
quote-If it is a Linux TV box (e.g. with LibreELEC) sold commercially, and official support from vendor. then the list would be rather short with ARNU Box and WeTek coming to mind
That is what I feared, a rather short list, although I would also include community supported boxes, preferably not requiring some magic vendor supplied binary blobs.
@Sandbender
Amazon does not show any link for me, but it’s possible it will show sometimes, as I’m using Skimlinks which will automatically add links on some words. There’s should be a tooltip appearing when moving over the link reading something like “Sponsored Link by Skimlinks”.
Euskaltel Deco 4k is Technicolor skipper , it’s sell also in italy as TIMVISION is nice box.
https://platform.fan.tv/_files/pdf/Technicolor-Fan_TV_Tech_Sheet.pdf
there is also Sen5 box https://www.sen5.com/android-box
@stickman @Karl Johnson
is “MECOOL M8S Pro +” DRM L1 netflix HD/DD 5.1 work and with some little libreelec support
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905x/others-aml-s905x/firmware-roms-tools-bx/659305-rom-mecool-m8s-pro-tvstock-nexus-rom-android-tv-7-1
@Massimo Olivieri
Sen5, at least the one I tested, just runs Android -> https://www.cnx-software.com/2017/05/19/sen5-amlogic-s905d-tv-box-review-part-2-android-firmware-kodi-17-and-dvb-t2-s2-app/
I was asking about half year ago but my project was suspended and now im tring to start again.
Im looking for boxes (for two TVs) that will be multimedia clients for my infrastructure – i will provide tv server based on VDR od TVHeadend and common shared storage. The boxes should have DRM for running HBO Go and Netflix. Boxes dont need to have dvb tuners – tv will be provided from separate TV server.
Can you advice some boxes?
Yes. U5PVR have 2kind of tvheadend server. Also it support of Netflix DRM L1.
MeCool M8S Pro PLUS with Android TV OS mod by Magendanz, plays Netflix 1080P with DD+ audio, and YouTube in 4K. Also plays HBO GO in 1080P with Dolby Digital audio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiHwhBrFiK4
What you have to be careful about is proper full motion deinterlacing on any box you choose. Plus if in the UK, Europe, Aus, NZ you need to make sure there are no 25fps problems.
No use getting a device that cannot do proper deinterlacing in Android.
The only solutions I have found are:
a) the NVIDIA Shield – using either the Tvheadend App for Android TV Live Channels or you use Kodi Krypton with VDR PVR Addon or SPMC 16.7.x
b) The WeTek Play2 with a custom Android TV ROM or SPMC 16.7.x
c) Possibly the Xiaomi Mi Box with Kodi Krypton using the VDR PVR Addon.
ALL Android Kodi Krypton boxes using the Krypton Tvheadend PVR Addon will have issues with broken and problematic deinterlacing. Its a known issue. You have to use SPMC 16.7.x (Kodi Jarvis)
All Kodi capable AMLogic Android TV boxes, except the custom WeTek Play2 will have issues with half motion deinterlacing when using the Android TV Live Channels App.