What's the best Android "stick" for my TV?

[spinedoc77]

I have all Apple TV's in my house so I'm out of luck with my Fold 2. Most of the TV's have streaming capability, but my one TV in the family room is an older TV with no such capability so I will need some sort of "stick" to connect to it. I'm a bit confused looking at the market on what to purchase. I don't necessarily care about services on the stick itself such as netflix, etc as I'd rather just stream them from my phone, but they would come in handy for the kids. I care more about being able to stream at a good resolution and most importantly (looking at you Apple TV) the ability to adjust for a different aspect ratio and not have letterboxing on my TV when mirroring my Fold 2.

So I'm confused, I see a 3rd gen Google device, but many say to get the 3 year old 4k device. I see 3rd gen Amazon Fire devices. I see devices which are only for mirroring and don't have any content/apps on them. What do you all suggest?

 

[tbayrgs]

Just get the latest Chromecast with Google TV. It’s both a stand alone streaming device with its own remote control and a Chromecast destination and only costs $49 (previous version of 4K Chromecast Ultra was $69 and less capable). Unless you live inside Amazon Prime, get this, no question. I believe even Apple TV app is coming to it (if it hasn’t already).

 

[Awesomesince86]

The best android streaming devices are Nvidia Shield or Chromecast with Google TV. For most people, the Chromecast with Google TV is the best choice. The Nvidia Shield is excellent, its what I have, but unless you are gaming or running a Plex server its overkill.

 

[spinedoc77]

Just get the latest Chromecast with Google TV. It’s both a stand alone streaming device with its own remote control and a Chromecast destination and only costs $49 (previous version of 4K Chromecast Ultra was $69 and less capable). Unless you live inside Amazon Prime, get this, no question. I believe even Apple TV app is coming to it (if it hasn’t already).

I am in Amazon's ecosystem pretty firmly, but I assume I can just either get an Amazon app for the chromecast itself and/or just stream Amazon onto the chromecast from my device? How is the letterboxing on the chromecast with mirroring? Thanks!

Edit: The Apple TV going onto the chromecast is good news also. I wish it would mirror my iPhone, but I guess I can just keep my Apple TV.

 

[spinedoc77]

Is this the one I want? https://store.google.com/us/config/chromecast?hl=en-US I don't see a controller with it.

Does it have any kind of kid settings like setting time limits on apps? I think the Amazon Fire has kid limits so I'm tempted to explore that one.

 

[tbayrgs]

I am in Amazon's ecosystem pretty firmly, but I assume I can just either get an Amazon app for the chromecast itself and/or just stream Amazon onto the chromecast from my device? How is the letterboxing on the chromecast with mirroring? Thanks!

Edit: The Apple TV going onto the chromecast is good news also. I wish it would mirror my iPhone, but I guess I can just keep my Apple TV.

I think there’s an Amazon Prime app for Google TV (I am presently only using Android TV on my Sony television, have an unboxed Chromecast that I haven’t fired up yet), have it on Android TV on my Sony TV.

Uodate: Here’s the Android TV version of Prime Video

 

[tbayrgs]

Is this the one I want? https://store.google.com/us/config/chromecast?hl=en-US I don't see a controller with it.

No, get this one.

Google Store - Pixel, Chromecast and more

store.google.com

 

[spinedoc77]

No, get this one.

Google Store - Pixel, Chromecast and more

store.google.com

Awesome, thanks! The Prime app isn't compatible with my Fold 2 so I'll have to figure out how to sideload it.

 

[Mendota]

Do not get Chromcast, it is too limiting. Get a Roku stick. It will do everything and has everything to include Apple TV programs. In addition it also offers live TV. Nothing beats Roku.

 

[SegNerd]

You might actually consider a Windows stick for this purpose. That’s what I went with and it worked out well for me - I mean, what service doesn’t run on a PC?

(But Macs are still better of course.)

 

[spinedoc77]

Do not get Chromcast, it is too limiting. Get a Roku stick. It will do everything and has everything to include Apple TV programs. In addition it also offers live TV. Nothing beats Roku.

I was looking at the Roku's, very interesting.

 

[spinedoc77]

You might actually consider a Windows stick for this purpose. That’s what I went with and it worked out well for me - I mean, what service doesn’t run on a PC?

(But Macs are still better of course.)

This actually would have been my first choice. In my bedroom I use an old surface pro 3 as a media device, works wonderfully. But I would need something smaller in my 3 season room, which is where this one would go, and something a bit more family/kid friendly than a full windows PC. Although I did look at some of the PC sticks out there, but they seemed over complicated and under powered.

 

[nintendoswitch]

Maybe an Amazon fire TV stick!

 

[hallux]

I have the Chromecast with GoogleTV, LOVE it.

Do not get Chromcast, it is too limiting

Too limiting in what way? The Roku you suggested will not work as well if the OP ever decides to get Youtube TV for their live TV service as Roku and google are at odds. YTTV CAN be watched through the YT app but I'd rather just have the stand-alone app.

 

[tbayrgs]

I have the Chromecast with GoogleTV, LOVE it.


Too limiting in what way? The Roku you suggested will not work as well if the OP ever decides to get Youtube TV for their live TV service as Roku and google are at odds. YTTV CAN be watched through the YT app but I'd rather just have the stand-alone app.

Agree with all of this. The latest Google TV that Google sells is the best of everything..has full Chromecast capabilities with Google TV interface and a stand alone remote. If I wasn’t already using Apple TVs on most of my TVs, this would be what I would use everywhere.

 

[Mendota]

The issue with Chromecast is that like Apple TV is that it works best with other Google products. In addition the feature set is not nearly versatile as Roku. Roku has it's own remote and is not dependent on any one platform. Yes the back and forth with YouTube TV is unfortunate, but it works well enough through YouTube. I still have the original app so...
One other thing I have a media server with a vast library, neither Chromecast, nor my Samsung TV can successfully read the server and play the movies. They get stuck, stutter, etc. Roku reads it like a dream, it is fast and plays everything. I use both Apple and Google products. MacOS, Android, and Windows. I have nothing against Google, but I don't do the fanboy thing. When I say Roku is the best choice here, it is based on actual experience and objective data.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Awesome, thanks! The Prime app isn't compatible with my Fold 2 so I'll have to figure out how to sideload it.

It's compatible with my Fold 2. Is your Fold 2 carrier branded?

 

[spinedoc77]

It's compatible with my Fold 2. Is your Fold 2 carrier branded?

No it's US unlocked version. On the play store it just says my device isn't compatible, weird.

 

[sracer]

The issue with Chromecast is that like Apple TV is that it works best with other Google products. In addition the feature set is not nearly versatile as Roku. Roku has it's own remote and is not dependent on any one platform. Yes the back and forth with YouTube TV is unfortunate, but it works well enough through YouTube. I still have the original app so...
One other thing I have a media server with a vast library, neither Chromecast, nor my Samsung TV can successfully read the server and play the movies. They get stuck, stutter, etc. Roku reads it like a dream, it is fast and plays everything. I use both Apple and Google products. MacOS, Android, and Windows. I have nothing against Google, but I don't do the fanboy thing. When I say Roku is the best choice here, it is based on actual experience and objective data.

Are you referring to the older Chromecast devices or the latest Google TV with Chromecast? "Google TV with Chromecast" is a terrible name but it is very versatile including the ability to sideload apps. I extensively use a Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV with Chromecast and the Roku is the most limited of the three. In addition, Roku has cracked down on unofficial channels and automatically removed them from Roku devices. That's a bit of heavy-handedness that was not characteristic of the Roku experience.

 

[Mendota]

What I saw with Google TV did not have the amount of features of Roku ultra, in addition when I tried it out it did not load my media server. (I purchased it to set up for one of my relatives.) I don't use or worry about unofficial channels so you could be correct there.

 

[mi7chy]

Fire TV 4K hardware > any Google Chromecast hardware
Google Android TV > Amazon FireOS
Google Chromecast with Google TV since it can run apps > previous Chromecasts

I'd give the edge to Fire TV 4K but it really depends on use case. For example, if you plan to stream Stadia games it's not supported.

If you're buying a device in 2021 you'd probably want to wait for new devices that support AV1.

 

[hallux]

Roku has it's own remote

My Chromecast With Google TV has its own remote. You keep on harping on this "lack" of feature but the newest unit fixed that! I have included a picture of the Chromecast we're talking about, see the remote with it?

What services, other than the Roku channel itself, does Roku have that the CC w/GTV does not? Here's the list of apps available on the Google unit - https://store.google.com/product/gtv_apps_and_partners?hl=en-US

Since you had a hard time seeing the remote that comes with it please note that there's a button at the bottom of that page that says "see more", if you click that it takes you to the Play Store to see additional apps that can be loaded.