Android TV Box vs The Roku- A Comprehensive Comparison
Media streamers provide users with the option of engaging different channels, movies, and applications on their wide TV screens, the challenge, however, lies in getting the best unit with an easy to use interface and a breadth of content.
Roku has been known to host an extensive collection of content most of which are free with a few that users might have to pay for, Android TV box developers, on the other hand, strive to ensure that they produce easy to use units most of which are hands-free and integrated with the latest operating system and a powerful CPU.
Given the above the unit that you decide to settle with will be in line with your taste and likes, so to give you more insight on the media streamers, below is a comprehensive comparison of the Android TV Box and Roku.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Android TV Box and Roku?
Model |
Android TV Box |
Roku |
Processor |
Quad-core 64 Bits |
ARM Cortex A53 quad-core 1.2 GHz |
Throughput speed |
HD content- 2MB/s
4MB/s broadband speeds |
3.0 Mbps for SD
9.0mbps for HD |
RAM |
2 GB of DDR3 |
1GB |
Storage Capacity |
16 GB eMMC |
None |
Ports |
2 USB 2.0 , 1 (MicroSD) card slot, 1 HDMI 2.0a , 1 Ethernet |
HDMI 2.0a and microSD ports |
Availability |
Android TV vs Roku – How do they Compare
Storage
Storage in the media streamers helps the units to boot up and run, the advertised space, therefore, is used to accommodate your personal files and applications. To make it more understandable is that all the applications that you install will be transferred to your unit’s internal storage. If you own a media streaming device it is, therefore, important that you don’t eat up much of the provided little space by installing applications that you don’t use.
The internal storage that is visibly lacking in the Roku premiere helps in the storage of the thumbnails (images that appear on your screen for album artwork and the screenshots). The above, therefore, occupies a lot of space on your media streaming device, additionally when you are streaming media files normally use the provided storage space to buffer the file. Android TV box has, therefore, been equipped with a storage capacity of 16GB while Roku Premiere hasn’t incorporated any storage which automatically makes it less effective when compared to its counterpart.
Ports
Ports in a media streaming device encourage expandability, for example, the micro sd slot is perfect for expanding storage memory, which then gives you the chance to install more channels and games. Roku therefore, seems to be better performing given that it can only connect to the HDMI and allows the expansion of the internal memory thanks to the incorporation of the micro SD slot.
The android TV box, on the other hand, has an additional 2 USB ports which enable the unit to transmit and play content from an external USB drive. The two USB ports, therefore, allows users to connect more external devices, and even better is that they can expand their connection using the USB hub. Ethernet connectivity allows faster transmission of data over cable, which works faster than WIFI.
So with the Ethernet option on the Android TV box, you have been provided with greater reliability and enhanced security thus their content engagement information is protected from external prying eyes. Overall, therefore, is that the Android TV box is the better unit because it provides many expandability options complete with fast and reliable internet connectivity.
Speed and performance
How fast are you able to receive content from your media streamer, is the mystery surrounding most streamers given that this information is not readily apparent to many users. Both the Android TV box and the Roku media streamers are quad-core processors meaning that they both offer faster processing power, the throughput speeds are considerably high on both units, however, Roku is the better performer because it offers high throughput speeds when streaming both HD and SD content.
Android Tv Box vs The Roku – A comparison overview
Android TV Box
- 【Powerful Amlogic Chip】Pendoo TX3 Mini Android TV Box Powered by the professional Amlogic Quad Core...
- 【High Reaction Speed】The Android Box provides 2GB DDR3 RAM to quickly start your apps and games,...
The Android TV box offers the best entertainment options thanks to the large variety of channels and applications; the unit also allows users to cast and play games from portable devices such as phones, all of which will be provided to you in high-quality resolution. Users can expect minimal latency thanks to the incorporated high-speed quad-core CPU known to offer more than 4 times performance improvements.
Users are additionally provided with a 2GB DDR RAM and a 16 GB ROM flash which gives them enough room to download and install their favorite application. And if the above is not enough the unit has incorporated a micro SD slot with which they can expand the memory up to 32 GB.
Pros
- Offers high-efficiency video coding
- The unit is easy to use and set up
- The memory is expandable
- Has incorporated a powerful android operating system
Cons
- Users complain of buffering
- Freezes constantly
Roku
- 【Powerful Amlogic Chip】Pendoo TX3 Mini Android TV Box Powered by the professional Amlogic Quad Core...
- 【High Reaction Speed】The Android Box provides 2GB DDR3 RAM to quickly start your apps and games,...
Roku Premiere is a contemporary media streamer thanks to its ability to offer sharp resolution and vivid color. The unit is compact and set up is a cinch, the incorporated easy to use remote control makes interaction with the interface quite intuitive; and, to keep users up to speed with the latest technology the software updates are automatic, that come with new advanced features.
The private listening mode has been enabled in the unit complete with varied entertainment options from sports to movies, news, and reality shows.
Pros
- Has incorporated the popular paid applications such as Netflix, Amazon Video and Vudu
- The unit is easy to set and use
- Roku channel offers free movies
- The unit is reasonably fast
Cons
- The unit is lacking in video quality
- Not convenient when used with a pc monitor
Conclusion
The Android TV Box is an all-round unit offering the best free and paid channels, has a faster processor with an intuitive user interface. Roku on the other hand is a bit toned down with minimal expandability options and lacks storage space.
Final Verdict – so which is better? The Android TV box or The Roku
In consideration of the above-discussed factors, the Android TV box is the better option, because it has a high processing capability, a large storage capacity and allows users to transmit content from external devices.
FAQ’s
-
Does the Android TV box allow the streaming of live TV?
Android Tv box comes incorporated with a live channels application normally used by individuals whose Tv hasn’t been equipped with a TV application. If your unit does have a TV app then you will be able to watch all your favorite shows, news, and sports.
-
Does Roku premier offer value?
Well, it depends on what you are looking for in a media streaming device, if you are a mainstream individual and are, therefore, after the fancy customizable features such as the use of voice to search for channels and applications then the Roku premier is not your style. However, if you are on a budget and are not interested in the fancy incorporations then Roku will perfectly suffice.
