Best Kodi Boxes

Since being released in 2002, Kodi has become one of the most popular software to organize all media files in one place. Today, it is not only available for PC. The list of supported devices includes smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs, as well as Android TV boxes.

Even if your TV does not have native support for smart TV features, you can easily modify it with a special tool called the Android box. Almost all of them can be used for creating a home media center with Kodi. Which Kodi boxes are the best? How to select the one to match your needs? Our review will answer these questions.

1. Best Kodi boxes in 2023

1.1 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Price: $49.99 (Amazon)

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a device that connects to a TV or monitor with an HDMI connector, providing access to thousands of channels and applications, such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, and others.

Specifications:

• Weight: 53.6 g
• Processor: 1.7 GHz, quad-core
• Graphics processor: IMG GE8300
• Storage: 8 GB
• OS: Amazon Fire OS.
• Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v5.0+LE, HDMI output, micro USB (power only)
• Remote control with Alexa included allowing you to control other devices with IR control
• Audio: Dolby Atmos 7.1, 2-channel stereo, 5.1-channel audio via HDMI
• Supported video output resolution: 2160p, 1080p and 720p with 60 fps
• Supported video formats: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9
• Supported audio formats: AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC)
• Supported graphics formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP

The video is played in the highest resolution of 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second, making the picture very detailed and smooth. There is also support for HDR technology, which makes the colors even deeper and more saturated.

According to Amazon, the new console is 80% more productive than the most popular Fire TV Stick model. The quad-core 1.7 GHz processor ensures smooth streaming performance, short load times, and excellent image quality. The Fire TV Stick 4K gives you access to an extensive content directory of thousands of Ultra HD 4K recordings with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

To search for content in 4K, it is enough to send a voice command to the Alexa assistant. The console allows you to browse Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, STARZ, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, and other channels, visit websites including YouTube, Facebook and Reddit, use the Firefox or Amazon Silk browsers and listen to music recordings, Internet radio programs and podcasts from services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. Of course, the Fire TV Stick 4K gives you access to live broadcasting via streaming applications such as Hulu and PlayStation Vue, or through the Prime Video Channels service. You can watch, record, and play free-to-air programs by connecting the Fire TV Recast to an HDTV antenna.

The remote control uses Bluetooth, infrared channels, and access to cloud services. The Alexa Voice Remote allows you to turn on and off compatible audio and video equipment, switch inputs, tune in to the channel on the set-top box, and control the viewing — all this from one console.

• attractive price;
• great user interface;
• 4K video playback;
• Alexa Voice support;
• access to dozens of streaming platforms.

• you will have to install Kodi separately;
• you need to have a premium subscription to be able to access many features;
• you are not able to extend the memory;
• no Ethernet port.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

1.2 Nvidia Shield TV

Price: $179.99 (Amazon)

Specifications:

• Weight: 250 g
• Processor: NVIDIA Tegra X1 platform, 8 cores up to 2 GHz
• Graphics processor: GeForce 6 ULP
• Storage: 16 GB
• OS: Android TV 7.0, SHIELD Experience 6.2.
• Communications: 2 x USB 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2,4/5 GHz, MIMO 2×2, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth v4.1, HDMI
• Remote control: Bluetooth, infrared, voice control
• Video: 4K with HDR support, H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9, ​​H.264, MPEG1/2, H.263, MJPEG, MPEG4, WMV9/VC1, supported formats: Xvid/DivX/ASF/AVI/MKV/MOV/M2TS/MPEG-TS/MP4/WEB-M
• Audio: Dolby Atmos multichannel sound and DTS-X surround sound via HDMI, high-definition audio playback up to 24-bit/192 kHz via HDMI and USB connectors, supported formats: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, WAVE, AMR, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, PCM, WMA, WMA-Pro, WMA-Lossless, DD+/DTS, Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD, DTS-X and DTS-HD.

The Nvidia Shield is an incredibly powerful media player providing fast and smooth 4K video playback with HDR support, an endless array of games and entertainment applications, and gameplay on NVIDIA supercomputers from the cloud or from your PC. Apart from that, you have the ability to voice control any application, very soon including home devices. All you need is one revolutionary device.

Movies and TV shows are played at an incredible level of detail. Watching sports shows feels like you are in the game. The 4K HDR resolution provides incredibly realistic image quality, which is up to 4 times sharper than on previous generation HD TVs and has a twice wider color spectrum. Support for HDR technology means that you see more colors and details on the screen. You get a brighter picture with realistic spatial depth.

Built-in Google voice search makes it easy to perform the necessary actions. All you have to do is ask SHIELD to find the right application, game, or video. No more typing. Get instant results from Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, the NVIDIA game directory, and other resources. You can even ask for “show me the best sports shows” or “popular movies”, and SHIELD will find your request. This is the same voice search, only more intelligent. As the device runs Android OS, you can install Kodi with just a few clicks. The media center will work perfectly.

• Google services full support;
• Google Assistant;
• native Kodi support and automatic updates;
• powerful processor;
• 4K video playback.

• not the best price — it could be more affordable.

NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV

1.3 Apple TV 4K

Price: $179.00 for 32 GB, $199.00 for 64 GB (Amazon)

Specifications:

• Processor: Apple A10X Fusion, 6 cores, 2.38 GHz.
• Graphics accelerator: GT7600.
• Storage: 64/32 Gb.
• Operating system: tvOS 11.
• Interfaces: 1xHDMI 2.0a, Ethernet 1000 Mbps, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, Lightning.
• Codecs: H.264, H.265, MPEG4, HEVC Main 10.
• Video Formats: MOV, MP4.
• Audio formats: MP3, MP3 VBR, FLAC, WAV, APE, V1, AC3, E-AC3, Apple Lossless.
• Graphics files: JPG, HEIF, GIF, TIFF.
• Technologies and services: AirPlay, Internet radio, IPTV, Dolby Vision, Apple Music, iTunes, Siri, Showtime, Netflix, HBO, Hulu.
• Remote control.
• Weight: 45 g.

Apple TV 4K 64GB/32GB is the only Kodi box in this review that is not on Android. For fans of Apple devices, this tool is beyond the competition. You can choose between only two things: Apple TV 4K 64GB or Apple TV 4K 32 GB. The difference is only the storage capacity — the rest is identical. The box supports 4K video playback and the only thing that puts a limitation is the lack of high-quality, ultra-high-resolution content. The rest of the device is perfect. There is no better choice than to use something else with an Apple ecosystem.

• 4K video playback;
• simple but functional remote control;
• ability to use an iPhone or iPad as an input device;
• smart and intuitive operating system with a set of useful applications.

• the lack of HDMI cable in the kit;
• paid subscriptions to most multimedia services.

Apple TV 4K

1.4 Xiaomi Mi Box International Version

Price: $72.89 (Amazon)

Specifications:

• Processor: Amlogic S905X-H, 4 cores, 2.0 GHz.
• Graphics accelerator: Mali-450.
• Storage: 8 Gb.
• Operating system: Android TV 6.0.
• Interfaces: 1xUSB 2.0 Type A, 1xHDMI 2.0a, analog audio-video output, Bluetooth 4.1+EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1×1 MIMO antenna).
• Codecs: H.264, H.265, MPEG4, VC1, HEVC Main 10, VP9, and VP9 10 bit.
• Video formats: AVI, WMV, MKV, MOV, RMVB, RM.
• Audio formats: MP3, FLAC, WMA, APE, AAC, DTS.
• Graphics files: PNG, JPEG, GIF, BMP.
• Technologies and services: DLNA, Miracast, AirPlay, IPTV (subject to the provision of services by the operator), Torrent TV, Google Cast, Internet radio, 3D.
• Remote control with built-in microphone and Bluetooth interface, HDMI cable.
• Weight: 180 g.

The Xiaomi Mi Box International Version and the included remote control are designed in a minimalist style. Yes, it is beautiful, but there is only one USB interface! Want to connect the device to the network? Here’s Wi-Fi. Need a wire connection? No, it’s unfashionable. After all, the extra connectors spoil the design so much!

However, in general, this Kodi box is wonderful: fast dual-band wireless communication, Bluetooth (through which the remote control included in the kit communicates), 3D, IPTV, Torrent TV, Google Cast, voice search through the microphone built-in to the remote, etc. Moreover, you can watch a movie in 4K, as well as play 3D games. The lack of LAN support can be compensated by connecting an external Ethernet adapter. However, some brands of network controllers are incompatible with it, so before buying one, it is better to check the compatibility.

• performance;
• rich set of features;
• convenient remote control;
• reasonable price.

• the lack of a LAN port and a slot for memory cards;
• small firmware bugs.

The device runs on clear Android (global version) which is considered a plus by some, while others think it to be a minus.

Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K

1.5 Beelink GT1 Ultimate 3/32Gb

Price: $79 (Gearbeast)

Specifications:

• Processor: Amlogic S912, 8 cores, 2.0 GHz.
• Graphics Accelerator: Mali-T820 MP3.
• Storage: 32 Gb.
• Memory card support: micro SD, micro SDHC.
• Operating system: Android TV 7.1.
• Interfaces: 2xUSB 2.0 Type A, 1xHDMI 2.0a, SPDIF, Ethernet 1000 Mbps, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac.
• Codecs: H.264, H.265, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, VC1.
• Video formats: AVI, WMV, MKV, ISO, MOV, DAT, RM.
• Audio formats: FLAC, APE.
• Graphics files: PNG, JPEG, GIF.
• Technologies and services: DLNA, Miracast, AirPlay, Internet radio, Torrent TV, LOL! TV.

Unlike Xiaomi, the strongest point of Beelink GT1 Ultimate is not a beautiful interface. Its strongest points are ergonomics, performance, and excellent work. The box looks small but roomy. 3 GB of RAM and a storage capacity of 32 GB is enough for a lot of things and additionally, you can connect a memory card. Network interfaces include dual-band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth. They all work perfectly. There are no difficulties with watching movies and games in 4K.

• powerful hardware;
• great performance;
• stable operation under high loads.

• minor firmware bugs;
• lack of over-the-air updates.

1.6 MINIX NEO U9-H

Price: $139.90 (Amazon)

Specifications:

• Processor: Amlogic S912-H, 8 cores, 2.0 GHz.
• Graphics accelerator: Mali-T820MP3.
• Storage: 16 Gb.
• Memory card support: micro SD, micro SDHC.
• Operating system: Android TV 6 / 7.1.
• Interfaces: 1xUSB 3.0 Type A, 1xUSB 2.0 Type B, 1xHDMI 2.0a, SPDIF, jack3,5, microphone input, Ethernet 1000 Mbps, Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac ( 2 × 2 MIMO antenna).
• Codecs: H.264, H.265, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, VC1.
• Video formats: AVI, WMV, MKV, MOV, RMVB, RM, ISO, VOB, MPG, DAT, TS, FLV, ASF, M2T, TP, M2TS.
• Audio formats: MP3, FLAC, WMA, APE, AAC, OGG.
• Graphics files: PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF.
• Technologies and services: DLNA, Miracast, AirPlay, Internet radio, Kodi, IPTV, Torrent Stream Controller, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HDMI CEC (the ability to control the set-top box using the TV remote control).

MINIX NEO U9-H is one of the best Kodi boxes in 2023. It plays any multimedia content in maximum resolution. Movies, games, streaming in 4K — no problem! And everything comes with HD sound. The most demanding 3D games with ultimate settings are the only ones that may possibly lag. It is also worth noting that the SoC of this device has hardware support for DTS and Dolby Digital sound.

The network subsystem works perfectly and fast. By the way, this is one of the few models with MIMO 2×2. That is, there is not just one Wi-Fi antenna working here, as in the MIMO 1×1 model, but two. The additional two antennas work to transfer data, which doubles the quality of communication. An excellent feature for gamers and streamers.

• great power and performance;
• 4K video playback;
• speedy wireless connection with MIMO 2×2.

• minor bugs in the firmware.

MINIX NEO U9-H

1.7 TV Box Z28

Price: $42 (Gearbeast)

Specifications:

• Processor: RockChip RK3328 quad-core
• Graphics: Mali-450MP2
• Memory: 1/8 GB or 2/16 GB RAM and storage
• Operating system: Android 7.1
• Connectors and communications: Wi-Fi, LAN 100 Mbps, 2xUSB, slot for MicroSD, SPDIF, HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0.

The Z28 TV box is extremely popular among users. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that it features one of the latest versions of the operating system, the new processor, and the low price of the device.

The RockChip RK3328 chipset easily supports the functionality of the console. The user can watch movies and videos in 4K format (using the h.264/h.265 and VP9 hardware decoding), run undemanding 3D games, use Android applications, and surf the web. If necessary, the amount of internal memory can be expanded to 64 GB using microSD.

This Kodi box includes a simple remote control equipped with standard control keys. It is not the most convenient to use, but you will get used to it pretty quickly. The operating system works with the standard launcher. The interface is simple. There are a few pre-installed applications, which are not bad: there is no unnecessary junk software.

• stable and fast work of the operating system;
• the small size of the device;
• low heating;
• low cost.

• not precise work of the remote control;
• no HDMI CEC function.

1.8 Mecool M8s Pro L

Price: $63 (Gearbeast)

Specifications:

• Processor: Amlogic S912, 8 cores
• Graphical processor: ARM Mali-T820MP3
• Storage: 16 GB (can be expanded up to 32 GB)
• Operating system: Android 7.1
• Connectors and communications: HDMI, USB 2.0, LAN, AV.
• Wireless: Wi-Fi Dual Band, Bluetooth 4.0
• HDMI CEC function

One of the greatest features of this media player is the support for 5G Wi-Fi and Android 7.1 OS. Unlike many other boxes, which for the most part look like small plastic black boxes, the M8s Pro has a memorable design: the upper part of the device has slightly curved lines and there are small slots for cooling along the perimeter and the bottom.

The budget AMLogic S912 chipset with 3 GB of RAM provides the good performance of the Kodi box. It supports all new codecs and image profiles and the video is played without freezes and lags. When playing a 4K video, there are some small delays, but they are uncritical and hardly noticeable.

Despite lots of holes for passive cooling, the console heats up heavily under high loads. In-game mode, the temperature rises to 80 degrees. The device is equipped with a branded launcher with a pleasant and intuitive interface. Everything is concise: there are several pre-installed applications (file manager, media player, browser, Play Market, and others).

Two USB ports are clearly not enough for active use. You can use Bluetooth to connect to other devices. The remote control has good functionality, excellent ergonomics, and a powerful transmitter. It responds to pressing operatively. The box supports the HDMI CEC function — you can simultaneously control the TV box and the TV with the remote control of the TV.

• good performance;
• 4K video support;
• root-rights;
• analog output for connecting to old TVs.

• short HDMI cable;
• only two USB ports;
• heating under increased load;
• 4K video lagging;
• no Reset button.

1.9 Zidoo X7

Price: $90 (Gearbeast)

Specifications:

• Processor: ROCKCHIP RK3328, 4 cores
• Graphics accelerator: Mali-450MP2;
• Storage: 8 GB
• Operating system: Android 7.1.2.
• Connectors and communications: USB2.0 (2), USB3.0, HDMI, RJ45, TF card slot, AV port, SPDIF
• Wireless communication: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1

Zidoo X7 is a good Kodi box, which guarantees high-quality video resolution. The device is based on ROCKCHIP 3328 quad-core processor. It is quite new, so the manufacturer still needs to work on it in order for the chipset to fully perform all the stated features. As there are only 8 GB of memory, you are able to use an additional memory card to expand it.

The processor performance is enough for watching movies, surfing the Internet, listening to music, and launching applications. Kodi works perfectly on this box and 4K video is played without freezes.

The box ​​heats at higher loads — the temperature reaches 75 degrees. Despite the fact that the antenna is hidden in the case, the signal from the router in another room is well received. Also, the Bluetooth and Ethernet connections are stable, however, the latter is limited to 100 Mbps. The box works on Android 7.1.2 with the ZIUI branded launcher. There are several pre-installed applications: developer services, software for cleaning memory, etc. The remote control has good ergonomics and functionality.

• high quality of materials and assembly;
• USB 3.0 port;
• current OS version;
• nice interface;
• good performance;
• easy to use remote control;
• HDMI-CEC function support.

• glossy cover quickly collects dust;
• no Root access.

1.10 H96 Pro+

Price: $79 (Gearbeast)

Specifications:

• Processor: Amlogic S912;
• Graphics: Mali-T820MP3;
• Storage: 16/32 GB;
• Operating system: Android 6.0.1.
• Connectors and communications: USB 2.0 (2), HDMI 2.0, S / PDIF;
• Wireless communication: WI-FI, Bluetooth 4.1, LAN;
• HDMI-CEC;

The H96 Pro+ is an Android TV box with a nice design and powerful processor. It works on the Amlogic S912 chipset, one of the most productive in the product line. The TV box is available in two versions: 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB drive, and 3 GB of RAM and a 32 GB drive. The performance of the console is at a high level — 4K video plays without visible freezes, and applications run quickly. Of course, Kodi has native support. You can install it in a few clicks.

A significant drawback of the device is heating up to 85 degrees at high loads. This is a manufacturer’s flaw — such a powerful chipset requires an active cooling system. The wireless connection works smoothly. For Internet surfing and social networking, it is more convenient to use a keyboard and a mouse. The remote control is simple, without programmable buttons. However, it is comfortable and convenient to manage. The device works on Android 6.0.1 with a standard launcher, the interface is fast and responsive. There is a second launcher, adapted to be controlled with the mouse.

• productive chipset;
• a large amount of memory;
• HDMI-CEC function and root rights;
• attractive interface.

• significant heating of the device at high loads.

2. What are Kodi and Kodi boxes?

Kodi is a full-fledged platform for playing videos and music, watching TV shows, IPTV, and even streaming. The app can be installed on various devices, from smartphones to smart TVs. We will not focus on the Kodi features as you can read about them in this article.

In its turn, the Kodi box is a small device that has the Kodi application installed and can be connected to a television. In most cases, these devices run Android OS which means you can install almost any other apps from the Play Store. The biggest advantage of the Kodi box is the ability to watch content on a huge TV screen. While there can be better alternatives for computers, smartphones, and tablets, it is the best tool to organize a home media center with a TV as a cornerstone.

Almost any Android TV box can be considered a Kodi box as well as some iOS devices like the Apple TV. Also, some manufacturers sell the devices with the Kodi app preinstalled together with a set of add-ons. However, it is not the best option as such builds can be outdated and not very secure.

3. Conclusion

There are a lot of Kodi boxes on the market and it can be a difficult task to choose the best one. We did extensive research and provided you with the best 10 Kodi boxes in 2023. They come with good performance levels, support a lot of features, and have quite attractive prices.

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