Look, most Android TV containers suck; they both do not have the requisite codecs, have points with rendering HDR, or are typically laggy. I used merchandise that had all three drawbacks, however that was earlier than the Shield TV Pro; NVIDIA in some way managed to create the final Android TV streaming box, and I preferred it a lot I ended up shopping for three.
Like yearly, the Shield TV Pro is right down to its customary $169 asking worth for Prime Day, and if you have not made the change but, I extremely suggest it. But if you happen to do not need to pay that a lot and are desirous about contemplating an various, you need to decide up Mecool’s KM2 Plus Deluxe. It often retails for $149, however it’s obtainable for $119 at the second — you may want to make use of the 20% coupon on the web page.
The KM2 Plus Deluxe additionally runs Android TV primarily based on Android 11, and whereas I was cautious of the model at the starting — I used manner too many shoddy streaming containers — it turned out to be fairly nice. I set it up with the bed room projector a month in the past, and I did not run into any points.
✅Recommended if: You want a strong Android TV box that handles HDR and AV1. The KM2 Plus is lag-free in day by day use, and there are appreciable financial savings over the Shield TV Pro.
❌Skip this deal if: You need Dolby Vision, and don’t love the bloated interface of Android TV.
Setting up the KM2 Plus Deluxe is just like different Android TV containers, and there are not any function omissions. It comes with 4GB of RAM, and the interface is nearly the most fluid out of any Android TV machine I used. You get entry to the Play Store, it handles HDR content material rather well, and there’s AV1 decode. However, there isn’t any Dolby Vision.
Just like the Shield TV Pro, you get a typical HDMI port alongside USB-A and Ethernet connectors, so you may plug in an exterior drive to the KM2 Plus Deluxe with relative ease. Given that it’s down to simply $119, I recommend giving it a attempt if you would like a strong Android TV box.