STOP Buying ANDROID TV Boxes!

STOP Buying ANDROID TV Boxes!

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These Android TV boxes have been around just about as long as Android has. Odds are, you or someone you know has had one over the years. But beneath their crunchy Android exterior lies a deep, dark secret. What evils will befall you should you choose to bring such a device into your house? And what alternatives are there?

Discuss on the forum: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1500555-stop-buying-android-tv-boxes/

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MUSIC CREDIT
—————————————————
Intro: Laszlo – Supernova
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfxmFU3lWY
iTunes Download Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/supernova/id936805712
Artist Link: https://soundcloud.com/laszlomusic

Outro: Approaching Nirvana – Sugar High
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngsGBSCDwcI
Listen on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/UxWkUw
Artist Link: http://www.youtube.com/approachingnirvana

Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa https://www.instagram.com/mbarek_abdel/
Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 https://geni.us/PgGWp
Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 https://geni.us/mj6pHk4
Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 https://geni.us/Ps3XfE

CHAPTERS
—————————————————
0:00 Intro
1:56 Setup and initial danger
2:45 CoreJava
3:58 Weird Android
5:03 Can we make them useful?
6:55 At least they can do 4K, right?
7:22 Redeeming qualities?
8:21 Closing thoughts
9:16 Outro

50 Comments

  1. @jgbelmont on December 16, 2024 at 7:36 pm

    My chromecast HD is awesome tyvm.

  2. @ryans1129 on December 16, 2024 at 7:36 pm

    I used the H96pro+ for years before going to the nvidia shield. Never had any issues and still take it camping or on vacations.

  3. @Zero-_-... on December 16, 2024 at 7:38 pm

    Kind of strange you didn’t recommend Fire TV

  4. @ketchupzzz101 on December 16, 2024 at 7:38 pm

    my aunt gave me one of these with android 4, it was a hell to get nova luancher on it but it worked out :).

  5. @jemonliboon on December 16, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    my t95 was fine

  6. @danielsooba7847 on December 16, 2024 at 7:41 pm

    I have 2 different ones i use for retro gaming/emulator, but i have never connected them to the internet.

  7. @scarface7883 on December 16, 2024 at 7:42 pm

    Put Coreelc if you like watching movies or Emuelec if you like gaming, I never use the android provided for this boxes

  8. @partyflockske on December 16, 2024 at 7:43 pm

    if i were only to use one not connected to a network, to play 4k mkv files on my tv , would that be a bad idea ? or for that purpose it is a great product ? ( i just wanted a mediaplayer for my video’s on usb for my mother to play )

  9. @Aaron111486 on December 16, 2024 at 7:45 pm

    What if you put an antivirus software on it

  10. @bestCoder1877 on December 16, 2024 at 7:45 pm

    the formulers do not have malware

  11. @voltron_5 on December 16, 2024 at 7:46 pm

    Great video! Thank you. These Android boxes are so tempting to a person if he/she didn’t know what else they are buying with it. I’m glad I saw this as I started to think again about getting one after staying away from them for so many years (mainly due to performance issues – they never worked for me as well as the main brands like FireTv, Google, NVIDIA, TiVo, Roku, etc. These boxes involved a lot of hassle to operate consistently). You just saved me a few $$, time and a lot of headaches!

  12. @jacek5809 on December 16, 2024 at 7:47 pm

    If you have a real Android Tv you can stream games from PC from nvidia shield with the moonlight app

  13. @renerodriguez9055 on December 16, 2024 at 7:48 pm

    STOP Buying ANDROID TV Boxes???? I’ll let you know something about Android Smart TV box I have mine for over 10 years with no issues and if I do have an issue with it no problem I have someone who programs it so I don’t have to and let me tell you this box is amazing you can search for any TV shows and movies from the 1920s to present man even Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus Etc they don’t even have as much TV show the movies where the smart TV box because it’s a stream machine so I do recommend for sure and not only that all you have to pay is internet and the Box does the rest and you don’t have to pay for nothing else

  14. @madmantrader on December 16, 2024 at 7:48 pm

    i have about 400 running on the world network hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  15. @bogoney on December 16, 2024 at 7:48 pm

    I was going to write to you and ask a question. Because I started watching this . And I’ve been looking at a Ddin . Then you brought up the question I was going to ask .Firmware on a stereo. Namely, yototo . I will check it out and let you know .

  16. @jvm-tv on December 16, 2024 at 7:50 pm

    I have one word for you: CoreElec.

  17. @Mace6005 on December 16, 2024 at 7:51 pm

    Thanks!

  18. @Stoynov666 on December 16, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    the bigest malware is your gov mate, so everything else i trust more

  19. @icy5619 on December 16, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    i did got my google login stolen, lost 100 dollars to these!

  20. @AngryPotato-y9p on December 16, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    I just. Stream threw my series x

  21. @whatplanetdowelivein on December 16, 2024 at 7:53 pm

    These boxes are fine if people actually know what they are doing. Customers just want free movies/as many channels as possible and as long as it works. Sellers may or may not have a clue and are resellers at best providing a demo. Fortunately I live 25 mins from Shenzhen (Hong Kong side. I went over, managed 65% price discount for a Xiaomi TV Box S. I also work in IT/Development which helps to ask the right questions and to also go through the box with them for an hour ensuring its good, including installing other packages providing free content. So to advise to STOP buying android boxes is not good advice. Instead provide knowledge, having zero idea on how to cover your backside for obvious reasons is a bit stupid.

  22. @СтасГайсан-ц6ж on December 16, 2024 at 7:55 pm

    Total bullshit😂

  23. @pipcryt on December 16, 2024 at 7:56 pm

    Is TOX3 safe?

  24. @scrumbles on December 16, 2024 at 7:57 pm

    A usb-c to HDMI adaptor cord is less than 20 bucks. You can just plug your android phone into your TV and get all the same functionality.

  25. @scholar932 on December 16, 2024 at 7:58 pm

    I know there are cheap chinese android boxes i wouldn’t buy but u cant bundle them all in the same category as there are good brands that outperform nvdia shield and other google boxes and Amazon fire tv sticks and are not malware or Spyware products. Some of these american branded boxes are also made in China but you dont hear complaints about them because the name on the box doesn’t have chinese names but on the back it says made in china.
    Boxes like buzz tv,ugoos,xiaomi,formuler tv,beelink,magicee and mecool are good android tv boxes that are worth the money and shoud be examined before casting doubts in the minds of buyers towards chinese made android boxes

  26. @1993dovydas on December 16, 2024 at 8:01 pm

    Smart tvs are pretty cheap nowadays unless u going for oled😅

  27. @josemedeiros007 on December 16, 2024 at 8:01 pm

    Great video and information Linus. Have you tested a Superbox Android TV box? My brother has one and really likes it, but I wonder if they are also rooted.

  28. @Saigon916 on December 16, 2024 at 8:03 pm

    I wonder if the Superbox is bad too

  29. @russell7489 on December 16, 2024 at 8:03 pm

    Benn using NVidia Shield for over a decade and it’s a flawless, plug and play, beautiful solution. 24 x 7 operation, yeah, really, and like 7 or 8 yrs for it to finally give up the ghost. I would recommend no other.

  30. @wbmillard on December 16, 2024 at 8:03 pm

    Why have a title without context for "3rd party" or "bootleg" appended? People get so easily confused and think the NVIDIA shield or a branded Google TV will be the same.

  31. @carsonrucker1503 on December 16, 2024 at 8:03 pm

    What about the Vsee V3 Pro?

  32. @pitapitabread on December 16, 2024 at 8:04 pm

    – even the better reason to install Batocera for games or Armbian for general usage on tv boxes!

  33. @MAD450r2 on December 16, 2024 at 8:04 pm

    So how about setting up kodi on a pc in windows or linux. Can that still be done safely.

  34. @scholar932 on December 16, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    I noticed u have the lower end boxes that aren’t worth a dime why not review or investigate the high end models that are better than Nvidia shield which I see u are promoting

  35. @fusion1203 on December 16, 2024 at 8:07 pm

    I got nvidia shield so at least some trust they have for android tv box

  36. @alokpisal on December 16, 2024 at 8:10 pm

    What about certified tv boxes like MECOOL, Homatics etc….. are these safe?

  37. @Nickfulcrium on December 16, 2024 at 8:11 pm

    Just wipe the orginal firmware then ? For a known safe rom ?

  38. @Suparirg on December 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm

    MY Nexus Player still fine it’s useable.
    But this vdo will warn me in next purchase.

  39. @tadukasnezinauvardens729 on December 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm

    hello.i am know said so tanix tv box failure and dead boot firmware so was update T95 so attack boot my tanix tv box update died. my tanix tv box so other firmware nothing . so know t95 attack firmware . one t95 so kill did my tanix tv box dead . nothing error download failed . nothing

  40. @franky9658 on December 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm

    Hi,
    I’m wondering what those boxes can do to your network.
    If I just plug them into my tv and just connect them via WiFi, how would it affect anything?

  41. @forzagreen on December 16, 2024 at 8:13 pm

    Guys, no need to have your data replicated in both China and USA. NSA servers are robust.

  42. @scholar932 on December 16, 2024 at 8:14 pm

    Are u saying all Android tv boxes are infected except the expensive American types or are u paid to promote some products of American origin.reason for saying this is i know Americans are skeptic of chinese products and anything not american
    .

  43. @bubsterbub4530 on December 16, 2024 at 8:15 pm

    tvboxstop youtube channel explains all this very well and reviews them…. he also explains why no 4k support on some devices

  44. @madmantrader on December 16, 2024 at 8:18 pm

    you must work for rogers!! hahahahaha

  45. @stimpsonstimpi1446 on December 16, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    You a gay

  46. @alguemaleatorio8985 on December 16, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    Mine has 16gb ram, but only 1 are usable ☻ And 3 cores cpu at 1ghz max lol
    Even when the mouse moves, it gets to 100%

  47. @ZlynkaMedia on December 16, 2024 at 8:21 pm

    The problem with all those "smart TV" brand names sony, LG, Samsung etc… The software become obsolete after 4 years so you end up buying a new TV box 😐

  48. @MrPaintballStyle on December 16, 2024 at 8:22 pm

    Do a review on the super box the company claims their legit

  49. @marlkarx1757 on December 16, 2024 at 8:28 pm

    Waiting for your video on the built in back door on windows, Apple.. Etc… products

  50. @Saiohleet on December 16, 2024 at 8:28 pm

    Well if u dont use it connected to wireless, and only for moovies up to 1080p playback i see no issues here…

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