Best Android TV Box To Buy In Singapore (2020)

I’ve researched the best Android TV devices so you can spend more time enjoying your favorite show.

There are widely recognized brands such as Nvidia and Xiaomi, but what about unknown ones?

Scroll down to find the best Android TV box you can buy in Singapore.

Hottest pick

Nvidia Shield TV

Powerful hardware packed in a small cylinder-shaped device is all you need for premium audio-visual experience. 4K video, AI-enhanced technology, and 5.1 Dolby Atmos audio - what's not to love about it?

$229 from Lazada

I didn’t need much to realize that Nvidia is dominating the market with Android TV box devices.

Performance-wise, the only product better than Nvidia Shield TV is Nvidia Shield TV Pro. Yet the $339 price tag (comparing with $229 for non-pro version) is worth it only if you’re up for a hardcore gaming.

Improved Tegra X1+ processor is responsible for cutting edge AI upscaling technology as seen in high-end TVs. 4K video streaming, on the other hand, is not lacking even in much cheaper devices. Yet when combined with other premium features such as AI technology, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Chromecast, Google Assistant, and user-centric design, we get the best Android TV box you can buy in Singapore in 2020.

I’ve picked the Nvidia Shield TV as the best value for money smart TV box, outperforming the competitors with video quality, audio, design, and overall user experience.

Also hot

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Stay on a budget while enjoying the finest streaming features such as 4K HDR video, Dolby Vision, and Amazon Alexa. The remote comes with an infrared sensor so you can control basic TV functions too.

$108 from Lazada

The biggest drawback of the 1^st and 2^nd generation of Amazon Fire TV Stick is the lack of 4K resolution. Now, since the hardware is improved so that 4K is supported, you have the perfect digital TV box to buy in Singapore.

And don’t be fooled by Amazon Fire OS 6. It is nothing but a customized OS built on Android 7.1. That means you can enjoy your apps from the Play Store, but you will need to install them manually.

Some important features worth mentioning are:

Amazon Alexa
Flawless 4K HDR video streaming
Dolby Atmos (high-end surround sound technology)
Dolby Vision (advanced high dynamic range 4K video format)
Remote that controls your regular TV as well

The only limitation is the lack of Google's Play Store. However, most users will be happy with apps originally available on Fire OS.

Top 5 best Android TV Box devices

Nvidia Shield TV

$229 from Lazada $221 from Shopee

Specifications

Video: 4K
OS: Android 9 Pie
RAM: 2GB
Chromecast supported: Yes

Reasons to buy

Reasons not to buy

Somewhat expensive

Our verdict

A bit higher price compared to other Android TV Boxes, yet totally worth it. Nvidia Shield TV provides a pleasing experience with features such as Chromecast, Dolby Atmos 5.1 audio support, and high-end video quality. If you're not looking for a hardcore gaming device, Nvidia Shield TV is the best Android TV box you can buy in Singapore.

Ranks & verdicts by trusted sources

by techradar.com

"The new Nvidia Shield is a premium 4K HDR/Dolby Vision streaming player. It’s not the cheapest gateway into 4K streaming, but it is one of the most powerful. If you’re looking to dabble in high-end formats, this is the player to get." Read the full article here

by theguardian.com

"The new Shield TV doesn’t mess with the formula. You get one of the most powerful media-streaming boxes available, running the latest version of Android TV and similar long-term software support." Read the full article here

by techhive.com

"Nvidia has updated the Shield TV with a new design, a lower starting price, a much better remote, and a genuinely impressive AI upscaling feature that sharpens HD videos on 4K TVs." Read the full article here

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k

$108 from Lazada $105 from Shopee

Specifications

Video: 4K
OS: Fire OS 6 (Android 7.1)
RAM: 1.5GB
Chromecast supported: Possible with external apps, but limited

Reasons to buy

Affordable
Flawless 4K video streaming
Amazon Alexa voice assistance
User-friendly interface

Reasons not to buy

Amazon-centric suggestions
A limited selection of 4K movies and shows

Our verdict

A powerful device packed in a small TV "box" will offer a satisfying streaming experience. It has high-end video streaming capabilities such as 4K UHD resolution and Dolby Vision (the same technology used in Apple TV 4K).

Ranks & verdicts by trusted sources

by pcmag.com

"The Fire TV Stick 4K can stream ultra high definition (UHD, or 4K) video, including high dynamic range (HDR) media in HDR10 or Dolby Vision. This makes the stick even more capable than last year's Fire TV, which only supported HDR10. According to Amazon, the stick is also faster than the previous Fire TV." Read the full article here

by techradar.com

"The inclusion of 4K support makes the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K a brilliant option for all your streaming needs – although a lack of equity across different platforms means that Amazon hasn’t quite achieved perfection yet." Read the full article here

by whathifi.com

"But for such a low price, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has all the apps you need, supports all current HDR formats and throws in Dolby Atmos. That’s an astonishingly good deal, particularly when you factor in the all-round quality of the performance and excellent user-friendliness." Read the full article here

Minix Neo U9-H

Check Lazada Price Check Shopee Price

Specifications

Video: 4K
OS: Android 6.0.1 – Updatable to Android 7.1
RAM: 2GB
Chromecast supported: No

Reasons to buy

Exceptional network performance
Outstanding built quality
Works well with Kodi
Full android freedom - install any app you want

Reasons not to buy

Outdated
Ugly launcher

Our verdict

Although a bit outdated, Minix Neo U9-H is still a superb Android TV box, even in 2020. While there isn't anything particularly fancy about this device, we like the fact how it is dominating the market, by being among the best Android TV devices for more than three years. This tells a lot about the overall quality and performance.

Ranks & verdicts by trusted sources

by avforums.com

"The Neo U9-H is another very strong Android media player from the Minix stable. The build quality is very good, with more than adequate cooling on board, and the connectivity options are plentiful and include an HDMI 2.0 port, a Toslink digital audio out, Gigabit Ethernet and 2 x MIMO 802.11ac Wi-Fi among them. " Read the full article here

by androidpcreview.com

"Performance is definitely increased over the older NEO U1 and X8-H boxes, and on-par with its major competition. The Metro interface is familiar and intuitive, but it could use a little refresh after seeing it for several years and on several devices." Read the full article here

by androidpctv.com

"The MINIX NEO U9-H have a good performance thanks to this hardware what is enough to run the most commons apps on Android 6, play games and play movies in the local storage or using streamings sources." Read the full article here

Beelink GT-King

Check Lazada Price Check Shopee Price

Specifications

Video: 4K
OS: Android 9.0
RAM: 4GB
Chromecast supported: No

Reasons to buy

The most powerful hardware seen in TV Box
Freedom to install almost any app - no software limitations
Customization options
High-quality video streaming

Reasons not to buy

Not so user friendly

Our verdict

If you are looking for high-performance hardware that runs everything, including games like PubG Mobile, go for it. Beelink GT-King is a type of device tech geeks will love. It runs on stock Android you can customize to perfection. If you are a fan of iOS-like user-friendly devices, don't even consider this Android TV box.

Ranks & verdicts by trusted sources

by troypoint.com

"It sports the new Amlogic S922X, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and 64GB of internal storage! It also comes with 5G WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth 4.1. It's a very snappy system and I don’t notice any lag when streaming movies, TV shows, IPTV, etc." Read the full article here

by rswebsols.com

"Beelink GT-King 4K Android TV Box has got everything from exceptional design to high-performance hardware. It will be known for its all-inclusive features to become a preferred choice over all other TV boxes available in the market." Read the full article here

by cnx-software.com

"This 4K VP9 video (The Curvature of Earth 60FPS.mkv) played very well. The only other device that could play this was the Shield. Buttery smooth on GT-King. Another win is audio in Kodi. Pass-through worked well with the hardware that I have." Read the full article here

Xiaomi MI TV Box S

Check Lazada Price Check Shopee Price

Specifications

Video: 4K
OS: Android 8.1
RAM: 2GB
Chromecast supported: Yes

Reasons to buy

Price
Chromecast
Google Assistant
Remote with voice recognition
Good overall specs

Reasons not to buy

Minor software bugs
4K may get laggy

Our verdict

Xiaomi MI TV Box S is an amazing Android TV box and a good budget alternative to more expensive competitors. Although 4K may get laggy, Xiaomi TV box streams perfect video in 1080P resolution. Built-in Chromecast allows user-friendly streaming - 1 click on your smartphone or laptop and video is on your TV.

Ranks & verdicts by trusted sources

by androidauthority.com

"The Xiaomi Mi Box S is a semi-upgraded version of the Xiaomi Mi Box with identical core specs but added 4K HDR support. The Mi Box S also has Google Assistant and Google Cast functionality baked into the box and remote." Read the full article here

by techradar.com

"Apart from supporting high-resolution video, the Mi Box S also has Android TV 8.1 built right into it. What that means is that you’ll be able to take advantage of the huge Android TV ecosystem of apps, plus services like Google Cast, the ability to mirror your Android phone, Google Assistant, and more." Read the full article here

by 9to5google.com

"The obvious fact is that this is still the best Android TV box for most people. It delivers the latest software and will likely get Android 9 Pie (eventually), it supports 4K HDR, and essentially has a Chromecast Ultra built-in. ". Read the full article here

Psst. At ChiliRank we value trustworthiness and expertise before profit which means our advice is never influenced by financial gains. We just thought you like to know that.

Why you can trust our advice

As a technology geek, I've spent most of my life researching, breaking, fixing, and trying out different gadgets, devices, and software. And Android TV boxes aren't something I've seen for the first time during this research.

I bought my first streaming device in 2017.

During the hunt for the best Android TV box in 2020, I've made a brief TV Box review for my old device. It brought me to one conclusion.

It's time for an update. It's time to buy Nvidia Shield TV.

Why we picked out Nvidia Shield TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

When I am picking the hottest product, I aim for two things:

The best in category
The best value for money

The second factor caused a fierce battle between Nvidia Shield TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. And let's call it even.

Yet for the best in the category, the award goes to Nvidia Shield TV. The decision is based on my observation of specifications and features, users' comments and reviews, and of course, based on in-depth reviews from authority sites and YouTubers.

The only Android TV box that beats Nvidia Shield TV is Nvidia Shield TV Pro, but that one is made exclusively for gaming purposes.

Another great and widely popular device I've stumbled upon many times during this research is Apple TV 4K. Although it's the most polished streaming device people love, it didn't find a place on this list because it's not Android operated. If we didn’t limit to Android, Apple TV 4K would be among the hottest picks!

Smart TV vs Android TV

Smart TVs are televisions capable of playing content from multimedia players, different apps, and streaming platforms such as Netflix.

Android TVs are a type of Smart TVs running on Android OS. Benefits of Android TVs over other Smart TV devices are within the Play Store and compatibility with numerous apps – the same ones as on smartphones.

Netflix subscription fees Singapore

Besides the free 30-month trial, there are 3 different Netflix subscription plans.

Basic - $11.98 monthly, HD not included, 1 user access
Standard - $15.98 monthly, HD included (without Ultra HD), 2 users
Premium - $19.98 monthly, HD and Ultra HD included, 4 users

The best practice is to share the premium account. For the price of $5 per person, each user gets a personalized profile and Ultra HD resolution movies and shows.

Considering the selection of content, Netflix is still a better choice than most streaming services and IPTV in Singapore.

Where to buy an Android TV box in Singapore?

Feel free to look for the best offer on these sites: Lazada, Qoo10, and Shopee.

What can you do with an Android TV box?

An Android box transforms your TV into a smartphone-like device. Imagine having smartphone multimedia and application features on a big screen. Although it's mostly used for videos, movies, and music, there are also apps and games on Android TV boxes.

Are Android TV boxes legal in Singapore?

Yes. As long as you are using legal software and media.

Is there a monthly fee for an Android box?

No. There isn't any fee for an Android box itself. You are only paying fees to streaming services you decide to subscribe to.

Is an Android TV box worth buying?

Definitely. If you are into movies and TV shows, the ease of use takes everything to the next level. You can sit back and enjoy your favorite show in a matter of seconds with just a few clicks.

Does Android TV Box work with any TV?

It works with any TV with an HDMI port.

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Jovan Grigorijev

Jovan Grigorijev is a technology geek during the work shift and extreme sports enthusiast after 5 PM. His stationary job forced him into an active lifestyle, and now he's balancing between office chairs and GoPro-friendly activities. Persistent readers might even find a joke in his articles.