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TVStreaming4KOperating SystemVideo GamesEntertainmentCouch GamingHTPCSmart TVoperating systemsmedia centerHome theaterSet Top Box

What is the best set-top box OS?

15

Options
Considered

80

User
Recs.

12 mins

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

14 Options Considered

Best set-top box OS	Price	Based On	Default Desktop Environment
-- Android TV	-	Android Open Source Project (AOSP)	Leanback Launcher
-- Google TV	-	Android Open Source Project (AOSP)	GoogleTV Launcher
-- Xbox OS	-	Windows 10	Xbox UI
-- Batocera.linux	-	Recalbox	Emulatorstation or Kodi
-- PlayStation OS	-	FreeBSD	PlayStation UI

Android TV

Top Pro

Sideloading of apps

Top Con

Certified and non-certified

Only a few devices are certified AndroidTV devices that include legally all the unfree GApps like the PlayStore. See More

GutsySaccimi's Experience

This is definity the best it is available an many cheap devices, very easy to use(even the dumbest person in the world couln't break it) and has support for almost anything. See More

Specs

Based On:Android Open Source Project (AOSP)

Default Desktop Environment:Leanback Launcher

Init-System:Android init

Package Manager:APK, Google Play Store

Top Pro

Built-in Chromecast

Android TV has Chromecast built-in (only on Google certified devices). See More

Top Con

AndroidTV remote can not emulate a mouse

It's not possible to control the mouse cursor with your Android phone. See More

MotivatedEurynome's Experience

I just love my tiny andtroid tv box. See More

Top Pro

Easy to use

It is bare and easy to use. See More

CaffeinatedTangaroa's Experience

It is amazing LiveTV, netflix, youtube, prime and hulu everything just works. See More

Top Pro

Neutral

It's not focusing on any vendor. Sure, on official devices all the Google services are pre-installed by default, however, you can easily disable them. See More

Top Pro

AndroidTV remote

Any Android device can become a remote which makes it a lot easier to write text. See More

Top Pro

Can run Android apps

It can run all Android apps, however, you might need a mouse. See More

Top Pro

No google account

Basic features dont need a google account. However if you want to download some apps from the play store of if you need the google assistant then you need a google account. See More

Top Pro

Cheap devices

Certified AndroidTV devices are starting at around €50. See More

Top Pro

Opensource

The base system is open source. See More

Top Pro

Good game console for casual playing

Almost any Android game runs on Android TV however you mainly want to use game that support an controller. There are also plenty of emulators available for Android and some streaming solutions like google stadia, nvidia geforce now. or steam link. See More

SteamOS

Add Video or Image

Top Con

Only for gaming

It can't really replace a set top box with AndroidTV or Fire OS since it is mainly made for gaming. See More

Top Pro

Sideloading of apps

You can install other Linux apps like Kodi or Retroarch to expand its abilities. See More

Specs

Based On:Debian

Default Desktop Environment:Steam Big Picture, Gnome

Init-System:Systemd

Package Manager:Debian Package Manager, Steam

Top Con

Adding non-steam content is a pain

It is a pain to add non-steam content so you have to manually add artwork or use third-party tools like Steamgrid. See More

Top Pro

Native graphics processor support

The OS natively supports Nvidia, Intel, and AMD graphics processors. See More

Top Con

Needs a keyboard and a mouse

It is only running the Steam client on top of Debian, so to configure the underlying OS you need a keyboard and a mouse. See More

Top Con

Proprietary

Steam is proprietary software. See More

Fire OS

Add Video or Image

Top Pro

Sideloading

Since it is based on Android you can sideload any Android app. See More

Top Con

Focuses on Amazon content

The main purpose of the stick is to provide a portal to Amazon's various online services. See More

Specs

Based On:Android Open Source Project (AOSP)

Default Desktop Environment:Fire TV Launcher

Init-System:Android init

Package Manager:APK, Amazon App Store

Top Pro

Cheap devices

Amazon FireTV devices are cheap and have often a discount. See More

Top Con

Amazon account

Needs an Amazon account. See More

Top Con

Ads

There are plenty of ads for Amazon Prime or products. See More

Top Con

Proprietary

The UI is proprietary software. See More

CoreELEC

Add Video or Image

Top Pro

LibreELEC optimized for amlogic devices

Specs

Based On:LibreELEC

Default Desktop Environment:Kodi

Init-System:Buildroot

Package Manager:Kodi

OpenELEC

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