Think about it this way: Would you rather watch a fuzzy camcorder version of the latest movie or go see it in the theater? The fuzzy version is cheaper (even free), but you miss out on the experience.įor Android media players, you need a box with Netflix Approval and a Google Widevine Level 1 license to playback DRM 1080p or 4K video streams. The short answer is that there are DRM (Digital Rights Management) services that limit who can see specific content to those devices that run those services. While Netflix will work on most TV boxes, only a limited number of TV boxes can stream Netflix in 4K. If you’re planning on streaming a good portion of your content through Netflix or Amazon Prime, though, then you’re going to be limited either by a number of options or quality of service, depending on your priorities. If you’re going to be using it solely to run Kodi, then the field is open and you have your choice of TV boxes. Let me be clear about something: The best streaming media player, otherwise called a TV box, depends on what streaming services you want to use. Or, look here if you’re just looking for good, cheap Android TV boxes. If you’re buying your first streaming media player, check out our starting point to learn more about Android TV boxes.