Homegrove Been using those boxes for years, I can help you out.
There’s two types of Android boxes, ones that use the phone / tablet version of Android OS and the boxes that only use Android TV OS.
I find the TV OS is more restricted than the regular phone version of Android, it’s a bit finicky for installing the pirate apps on.
These boxes that run Android TV OS are the only ones that will typically run Netflix in HD quality, because of some Netflix security / licensing policy or something to that effect.
All Android devices capable of streaming Netflix in HD or 4K quality must be explicitly approved by Netflix, this requires a period of testing of the device by the company and reach certain agreements at the enterprise level, without this permission is impossible see content in high quality even if you have DRM Google Widevine Level 1 certificate or not.
This point restrict the use of Netflix HD or 4K to brands with a certain level of contacts. With this point it is clear that we will not see unknown TV-Box models with high quality streaming ever.
You’ll be able to use Netflix on every box, but unless it’s something like a Nvidea Shield or similar, running TV OS, you’ll be limited to watching stuff at standard definition.
On the plus side, get an Android box that runs regular Android, install the pirate streaming apps and get a Real-Debrid account for dirt cheap for the year to link to the pirate apps and it scrapes all the latest movies and shows in all quality, up to 4k. You can ditch all your subscriptions and save a few quid. All your baby yoda’s, doctor stranges, she hulks and all those other superhero shows you all watch are all up ready to steam as soon as they appear on the regular streaming sites.
I use the fairly high powered boxes, like Minix and Ugoos brands. They’re typically around 160-ish quid. I only use those for the extra power because I install all the old game console emulators on them and play everything from the Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, SNES, Gameboy, all the way up to N64, PSP and Dreamcast.
If you’re not into that you can get a cheaper box with less power of course.
I use an Ugoos AM6 Plus at the moment, it’s a few years old now. It’s a solid box and never had any issues with it, always gets regular firmware updates every so often. It has Ethernet and I get my full home internet speed through it, no speed issues.
They’ve released a few newer models since then, I think this is their current upgrade to mine.
You can look at the review here, and might give you an idea what they’re about. Loads of other boxes reviewed on that channel too.
