Android TV as a Smart TV platform was first announced in 2014, and has come a long way since then. At first, the operating system was only available on leading TV brands, but today, a set-top box with it can be connected to any TV via HDMI.
Take the Mi Box, for example, which costs only $70! It is equipped with a quad-core processor with a clock speed of 2 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal flash memory. Mi Box is capable of streaming high-definition video (4K HDR) via HDMI 2.0b. Such devices have made Android TV boxes much more popular and accessible. So, here is a list of the best apps for those who have purchased such a box or use a TV on this OS.
Google Chrome
TVs do not have a built-in browser. However, it is easy to install. With Google Chrome installed, you can browse websites just like on a computer. Since we are installing the full version, it will have all the functionality that is on the phone. However, you cannot download Google Chrome from the Android TV Play Store, which means you will have to install it as a third-party application. You can download the APK file for installation from the site apkmirror.com.
Kodi
Kodi – one of the most powerful media center apps available. It can be used to gather all your media files into one directory, which can even be accessed remotely. Additionally, Kodi can be expanded with additional plugins.
Kodi is definitely recommended for those who store a lot of video files on their TV and are looking for a way to organize them quickly and with proper hierarchy. With Kodi installed, any new media files added to your device will be automatically sorted into the appropriate categories and sent to pre-defined directories. Additionally, additional plugins help provide support for audio and video files of almost any format, making Kodi a versatile solution for viewing multimedia content.
Plex
Another great media center app you can use is Plex. It's not as powerful as Kodi, and it doesn't have as many plugins. But where Plex excels is in its user-friendliness. While Kodi can look (and feel) intimidating at times, Plex has a user-friendly, intuitive interface that you'll find yourself hooked on before you know it. Once you understand how it all works, of course.
In order to use Plex on your TV, you will need a Plex server on another device (laptop or desktop) that is accessible to your Android TV via WiFi. Once you have that setup, you will be able to display any file on the Plex server directly on your TV, without the hassle of wires, copying files, etc.
Tunnelbear
Having a VPN handy is never a bad idea. It will help you stay anonymous while surfing the web, and can be used to bypass geo-restrictions imposed on many online services. If you don't plan on pirating, then Tunnelbear – one of the best VPN apps. Although it is not optimized for Android TV yet, it works perfectly fine and looks quite nice, by the way.
Tunnelbear gives you 500 MB of traffic for free every month, and you can purchase one of the paid subscriptions to increase the limit. For basic surfing, 500 MB should be enough. Note: Tunnelbear will not allow you to download objects that use the P2P protocol, to avoid breaking the law.
Netflix
Netflix is to movies what Spotify is to music. It's one of the world's most popular streaming platforms. watching movies and TV shows. Since Netflix is available in almost every corner of the planet today, there's a good chance you've already subscribed. If not, we highly recommend checking it out. There's a huge selection of movies and TV shows, and you're sure to find something interesting among them.
VLC
VLC media player is a very popular video viewing app, and for good reason. It supports almost any file format and can play videos with a wide range of codecs. VLC can even easily recognize videos using the HEVC H.265 codec.
And if you add here a user-friendly interface, stability of work, it becomes clear why VLC is so popular. VLC will automatically sort your media files "Video" and "Audio". Plus, internal settings allow you to control parameters such as hardware acceleration, and much more. VLC is pre-installed on set-top boxes like Mi Box, but if necessary, it is easy to install, since it available on Android TV Play Store.
Sideload Launcher
You've probably noticed that many of the apps require downloading from third-party resources. This is completely normal, but third-party apps don't show up on Android TV by default when you download them. The only clever way to access them is through the Settings menu.
This is where it comes into play Sideload Launcher from developer Chainfire. When you open it, you see a list of all your sideloaded apps. So if you plan on using sideload apps, you'll definitely want to install it. There are other launchers that do the same thing as Sideload Launcher, but we think it's the best.
The Weather Network
The Weather Network - beautiful weather forecast app for Android TV. It was developed specifically for TVs, and it shows. The Weather Network includes a number of sections, such as Video, Weather, Maps, and much more. By going to the Weather section, you can see what the weather is like in your region now, as well as view the 36-hour and hourly forecast. The Weather Network will even give you a weather forecast for the next 2 weeks, if of course you are interested in such a distant forecast. With it, you can quickly look at the weather conditions every morning before leaving for work.
Twitch
If you are a big fan of watching various players (both pros and amateurs) demonstrating their skills live, then you should go to Twitch. This is a place where people publish live broadcasts of themselves playing various computer games.
It's always interesting to watch others play, both for entertainment and educational purposes: you can study the approach of different gamers to the game, or take a peek at what quests the game has in store. Try it out Twitch app Definitely recommended for anyone who is even slightly into computer games.
AirScreen
Android TVs support Google Cast by default, so you can easily cast any audio, video or picture from your phone to your TV and watch it. But what if you have an iPhone and want to play music or video from your iPhone on your Android TV? iPhones don’t support Google Cast, but they do have AirPlay built in – a feature that allows the user to transfer content to Apple TVs. But you can use an app like AirScreen. It hosts an AirPlay server on your Android TV, essentially tricking your iPhone into thinking it's an Apple TV.
CetusPlay
Cetusplay positions itself as the world's best remote app for Android TV boxes. And it delivers on its promises. All you need to do is make sure your TV and phone are connected to the same WiFi network. Once that's done, controlling your TV is a breeze with universal remote control on smartphone.