* This post may have affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure.*

The Best Fully Loaded Kodi / XBMC Streaming Media Boxes

Kodi is a robust media software that allows you to watch and stream offline and online content. If you’re not comfortable making your own Kodi box, there are many options that allow you to buy an Android box loaded with Kodi already installed. These Android boxes are equipped with the latest hardware and software, allowing Kodi and its addons to run at optimal performance. If you are familiar with Kodi, you can also customize your own Android box. There are many Kodi Android boxes on the market and it can become quite confusing. In this article, we will compare some of the best fully loaded Kodi / XBMC boxes as well as basic Kodi boxes. This article is updated periodically to reflect the most current Kodi boxes.

Types of Kodi Boxes

We have broken down this article into fully loaded Kodi boxes and basic Kodi boxes.

Fully Loaded Kodi Boxes

Fully loaded Kodi boxes are Android boxes that come with many popular Kodi add-ons* already installed. There is no need to install and maintain Kodi add-ons and system updates. These streaming boxes have an online update option and customer support that keep these boxes running smoothly.

Basic Kodi Boxes

Basic Kodi boxes give the flexibility to create your own custom Kodi box. A basic Kodi Android box is equipped with optimal hardware and software to run Kodi. Most of these boxes ship with Kodi pre-installed. Then you customize and install the add-ons, any way you want. Kodi is a free open source software, that can be loaded onto just about any operating system. Kodi is also easily installed for free from the Google app store.

*Many of the popular Kodi add-ons are developed by 3rd party developers and are not supported or maintained by the Kodi team.

Remote

The boxes listed in this article are quite good. One shortcoming with many of these Kodi boxes is a decent remote. You may want to consider upgrading to a more user-friendly and functional remote or wireless mouse. With all of these boxes, to get the full online streaming experience, you should have an internet connection of at least 10 MB.

Android Apps

All of these Kodi Android boxes will allow you to install any app from the Google Play Store. In addition to using Kodi, you can still enjoy all of the other streaming apps available for the Android operating system. Sling TV, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, or any other Android streaming app can be installed on these boxes. Here are the Kodi boxes we recommend.

The Best Fully Loaded Kodi Streaming Media Boxes

SkyStream Three Plus Android TV Box

The Best Fully Loaded Kodi / XBMC Streaming Media Boxes

The SkyStream Three Plus Android TV Box is an excellent Kodi streaming box. This is a great Kodi box for people who are not tech-savvy and unfamiliar with Kodi. It comes with an easy-to-follow quick start guide. The user interface is simple and easy to use. The SkyStream Three Plus uses the fast AMLogic S905X2 quad-core processor at speeds of up to 2.0 GHz and runs on the Android 8.1 Oreo OS. This box is capable of streaming 4k content. This Android box also has great Wifi capabilities allowing you to stream efficiently over a wireless network. Running Kodi is simple with its handy SkyStream update option, it will keep Kodi add-ons, firmware, and the system updated with a click of the remote. This Android box will also allow you to install any app from the Google play store. This box works with Google assistant which will allow you to control the box with your voice. You can install all of your favorite games and streaming apps. It has a sleek and easy-to-use interface. If you are looking for an all-in-one streaming box that is easy to use and setup, this is the box for you.

Specifications:

  • CPU: AMLogic S905X2 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 2.0 GHz
  • GPU: Mali-G31 – A55 ARM Cortex 650 MHz delivering 1.3 Gpix/s
  • DRAM: 4GB DDR3
  • Flash Memory: 64GB
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo
  • LAN: RJ-45 10/100/1000 GigaPort Ethernet
  • WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi 2.4 GHz
  • Host USB: 2 x External Ports – 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0
  • SD Card: 1 x External Port (Mini SD)
  • Video Output: HDMI 2.0a output with HDR, AV port (composite)
  • Audio Output: Dolby Digital via HDMI & SPDIF (Optical Audio)
  • Video Resolution:
  • Video Resolution: Up to 4k x 2k, 3D-HD(1080Px2), 1080P, 720P, 480P
  • Video Formats: VP9 Profile-2 up to 4K 60fps, 10-bit H.265 up to 4K 60fps,   AVS2-P2 up to 4K 60fps,  H.264/AVC  up to 4K 30fps,  H.264 MVC up to 1080p60,  MPEG-4 ASP up to 1080p60
  • Video Codecs: MPEG, MPE, MPG, M2V, ISO, TS, VOB, DAT, AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, 3GP, 3GPP, FLC, WMV, FLV, RM
  • Video Subtitles: SRT, SUB, IDX, PGS
  • Audio Codecs: ACC, AC-3, ADPCM, AMR-NB, MIDI, MP2, MP3, MS-ADPCM, PCS, RV40 Vorbis WMA, AAC+ (HE-AAC vi), eAAC+ (HE-AAC v2)
  • Length x Width x Height: 5” x 5” x 1.25”

What You Get:

  • SkyStream Three Plus Streaming Media Player
  • Power Adapter
  • SkyStream Remote Control
  • HDMI Cable
  • SkyStream Quick Start Guide & Manual

Pros:

  • Easy setup
  • Simple user interface
  • Auto-update feature for Kodi
  • Good customer support
  • Fast
  • Works in any country

Cons:

  • Poor Remote (Upgrade to the Airmouse package)

Where to Buy:

The SkyStream Three Plus is available for purchase at these retailers:

SkyStream Website:

SkyStream Three Plus Android Box

Basic Kodi Android Boxes

The Android boxes listed below are not fully loaded. Most of these boxes come with Kodi pre-installed and then you install the add-ons. In some cases, it is preferable to install the add-ons and customize the Kodi box to your liking. There are many resources online on how to install them. You should consider upgrading Kodi to the latest version, depending on which version comes loaded on the box. All of these boxes are excellent Kodi Android boxes.

Pendoo X10 Plus

The Pendoo X10 Plus is a solid Kodi box. It has the Amlogic S905X2 Quad Core Cortex A53 2.0GHz 64bit CPU and an ARM Dvalin MP2 GPU. It also boasts 32 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of ram. The operating interface is very user-friendly. The HD output on the Pendoo X10 Plus has excellent resolution, allowing for 2k and 4k playback. You can install apps and games from the Google Play Store. The install guide provided is more detailed than most and their live customer support is available to assist you if needed. Turn any TV into a smart TV and enjoy truly unlimited options and completely customize your HD viewing experience.

Specifications:

  • CPU: Amlogic S905X2 Quad Core ARM Cor tex A53 @2GHzG
  • GPU: ARM Dvalin MP2 GPU
  • RAM: 4G LPDDR4
  • ROM: 32G EMMC
  • WiFi: 2.4/5.8GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  • LAN: Ethernet:10/100/ 1000M, standard RJ-45
  • Bluetooth: BT 4.1; Support Voice Remote
  • Power Supply: DC 5V 2A (Input:100-240v / Output:5v)
  • Android 8.1 OS

Pros

  • Very fast
  • Good tech support
  • Smooth streaming

Cons

  • Remote could be better

Where to Buy:

The Pendoo X10 Plus is available for purchase at these retailers:

eBay:

Pendoo X10 Plus

Amazon:

Pendoo X10 Plus

MINIX NEO U9

This is a blazing Kodi box. The Minix NEO U9 has pretty much all of the features you could ever want in a TV media box. The hardware is some of the best available for an android box. On many levels, it is comparable to the Nvidia Sheild. Kodi runs flawlessly and quickly, there are apps for almost anything you could want. The Metro user interface which comes standard with the NEO U9 is much easier to work with than the stock Android user interface. This box also has firmware updates to stay up to date with new improvements and features. The NEO U9 has excellent wireless coverage and range. If you want a set-top box that will do just about everything and do it acceptably well, get the Minix NEO U9.

Specifications:

  • Amlogic S912-H ARM Cortex A53 Octa-Core CPU
  • Mali-820MP3 GPU
  • Memory 2GB DDR3
  • Internal Storage 16GB eMMC
  • Wireless Connectivity 802.11ac 2 x 2 MIMO Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)
  • HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 60Hz (10-bit 4:2:0)
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • OS Android 6
  • Video Output HDMI 2.0, up to 4K @ 60fps
  • Audio Output HDMI 2.0, 3.5mm stereo jack, optical SPDIF
  • Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000Mbps)
  • SD/MMC card reader (SD 3.0, MMC V4.41), Support HDMI-CEC
  • USB 2.0 port x 3, OTG port x 1
  • Microphone jack, Headphone jack, IR receiver (remote included)
  • Supported Video Format DAT/MPEG/MPE/MPG/TS/TP/VOB/ISO/AVI/MP4/MOV/3GV/FLV
    MKV/M2TS/MTS/M4V/WMV/ASF/RM/RMVB
  • Supported Audio Format DD/DD+/MP2/MP3/WMA/WAV/OGG/OGA/FLAC/ALAC/APE/AAC
  • 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound pass-through over HDMI
  • DD+/DTS (pass-through)
  • Minix A2 Lite Air Mouse Included
  • Multi-OS Support: Windows, Mac OS X, Android and Linux

Pros:

  • Interface extremely responsive
  • Supports 4K playback
  • Excellent WiFi capabilities
  • Gigabit Ethernet

Cons:

  • Pricey

Where to Buy:

The Minix NEO U9 is available for purchase at these retailers:

eBay:

MINIX NEO U9-H + MINIX NEO A3

AliExpress:

MINIX NEO U9 Android Box

Amazon:

MINIX NEO U9-H + MINIX NEO A3

Q-Box Amlogic S905 Smart Media Box

The Q-Box S905 is a solid Kodi box. It has an Amlogic s905 quad-core Cortex A53 2.0GHz CPU and the Mali 450 Penta-Core graphics processor which allows for 4K resolution and 1080p streaming. This box comes loaded with the latest Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. It also boasts 16 GB of internal storage. The remote and operating interface is very user-friendly. This Kodi box has excellent WiFi reception. You can install apps and games from the Google Play Store. The Q-Box is an extremely fast Android box, from playing back content and boot up. This is a great box for Kodi and all of your other streaming apps.

Specifications:

  • Amlogic s905 quad-core Cortex A53 2.0GHz CPU
  • Mali 450 Penta-Core Graphics Processor Unit
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop Operating System
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB Internal Memory
  • Dual-channel WIFI 2.4GHz/5.0GHz 802.11ac
  • HDMI: H.265 H.264 HEVC Hardware Decoding Dolby and DTS4K and 2K, 2160P
  • LAN: 10/100/1000 RJ-45
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • SD Card Port (up to 32GB extendable storage)
  • 2 USB 2.0 ports
  • Optical output
  • Miracast DLNA Airplay support

Pros

  • Very fast
  • Smooth streaming
  • Supports other android apps
  • Good remote

Cons

  • The light around box is bright

Where to Buy:

The Q-Box is available for purchase at these retailers:

eBay:

Q Plus Android 9.0 TV Box

Amazon:

Q Plus Android 9.0 TV Box

Popular Streaming Boxes That Will Also Run Kodi:

Each one of these streaming boxes listed below will run Kodi with a simple manual install. It is a popular choice for those wanting to use conventional streaming boxes. This way you get the best of both worlds. A conventional streaming box with all the popular apps and Kodi.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick will run Kodi with a simple manual install. For the complete guide on how to install Kodi on an Amazon Fire TV click here. Kodi runs excellent on an Amazon Fire Stick. I personally have two with Kodi installed and it runs great. It’s an inexpensive way to run Kodi and also has all the added features of the Fire TV.

From Amazon:

Amazon Fire TV Stick

NVIDIA Shield

The NVIDIA SHIELD can run Kodi extremely well. It is a powerful system that is 3x faster than Apple TV, 4x faster than Fire TV, and 10x faster than Roku 4. Kodi and the SHIELD are a perfect match. Kodi has a helpful guide on how to install the software.

From eBay:

NVIDIA Shield

From Amazon:

NVIDIA Shield

See our review of the NVIDIA SHIELD here.

Xbox One

Kodi can also run on the Xbox One. It runs very efficiently. Installing Kodi is as simple as going to the Xbox app store. Then search for Kodi and install.

From Amazon:

Microsoft Xbox One

More Kodi Articles You May Like:

Looking for more articles on Kodi? See all of our articles here.

Combine Your Kodi Box With an HD Antenna

Combine an HD antenna with a Kodi box. The lasted televisions have built-in digital tuners, which allow you to receive free broadcast television. Just plug in an HD antenna into your television and get free over the air stations. Click on the logos below to see what free stations are in your area.

kodi antenna savings

Free TV Stations ad 300x250free view uk ad 300x250

 

Conclusion

As you can see, all of these boxes have something to offer. The pros outweigh the cons. With all of these devices, you should familiarize yourself with Kodi before buying one. Kodi has some optional features that with a little know-how you can unlock all of its powerful streaming capabilities. If you need help learning Kodi please check out my post on how to setup Kodi. I hope you will enjoy watching media content with any of these Kodi / XBMC streaming media boxes.

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July 14, 2023 0

The Best Over The Air Antennas Based on Performance and User Feedback

Last updated: Friday, July 14, 2023Having a reliable over-the-air antenna is important. It can improve the reception of television stations and ensure a strong signal. In this article, we will discuss the best over-the-air antennas based on performance and user feedback. These antennas have consistently received positive reviews from users and are recognized for their ability to capture signals effectively. However, it’s important to research and consider your specific location, terrain, and distance from broadcast towers to determine the most suitable antenna for your needs. The Best Over-The-Air Antennas Based on Performance and User Feedback Channel Master EXTREMEtenna CM-4228HD The Channel Master EXTREMEtenna [...]
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About Johan
I started this site to educate the public on alternative ways you can watch television besides subscribing to cable. I have been in the audio-visual business for over 20 years. I also have an extensive computer networking background. I am a Microsoft Certified Professional and CompTIA Network+ Certified Technician. I hope you will find my articles and reviews helpful in conscious uncabling.

17 Comments

  1. i am new to kodi,but i do have av knowledge. is there a good place to help me understand and what i need to get started.

    • Kodi has a nice Wiki page that is full of information and a quick start guide. Here is the link to their Wiki start guide page: http://kodi.wiki/view/Quick_start_guide. This guide will get you up and running and explain what Kodi can do. There are also some great how to videos on You Tube that will explain how to install many of it’s add-ons.

  2. Thanks for the info! If you had to choose one box, which one would it be? I am completely cutting the cord and would like to stream live TV and have access to good movies. And Kodi is a must. I don’t mind adding Kodi to the box to get a better box for my money. Thanks in advance!

    • I would say any of the boxes listed in this article would do well. Many of these loaded Android boxes are very similar in specs. I personally own a Matricom G-Box and have been very pleased with it’s performance. I am planning on doing a full review of the box soon. If you are ok with loading Kodi on your own, many people have also raved about running Kodi on a Amazon Fire TV. Good luck.

  3. Hi there,

    Do you need the internet for a fully loaded box? I was going to get a fully loaded box for my mother but wasn’t sure if you need to net to watch films ect or if you can just watch them without the internet.

    • You can use any of these boxes to watch videos from an external hard drive or SD card plugged into the device. Theses boxes are loaded with Kodi media center and allow you to watch just about any type of video format. So you do not need an internet connection, if you already have your own videos or movies pre-loaded on a USB or SD card.

  4. a lot of people mention about cutting cable and watching tv via streaming. Is this just in the US or can that be done in Canada?

  5. A novice question! What is the difference between these streaming devices based on Kodi software and some other like the iptv set up boxes eg made by infomir and.others.
    Which is a better option to take, and more user friendly! Thanks

    • IPTV boxes are essentially boxes that stream internet protocol content. These boxes require that you sign up with a IPTV provider. Similar to a cable provider, but much cheaper. Some plans start at only $70 a year. Depending on the provider you can stream thousands of channels to your box. They will give you the IP address of their server and you enter that information into your IPTV box. It is some what popular over seas and is starting to gain some traction in the US. The quality is quite good. You can also record and pause TV stations. Kodi also has a plugin that will allow you to stream IPTV. I am not sure how legal it is and if some providers are legit or not? There seems to be a bit of a gray area.

  6. We have a kodi box that we purchased loaded with apps. It is a couple yrs old and are now told we cannot update it to the newest version. Is it normal that you have to purchase newer boxes in order to have things run smoother. I understand that technology changes but can buying a new box every couple yrs be avoided and still get decent streams?

    • Unfortunately some of the older Kodi Android boxes are not very well maintained and updated. Some of those companies no longer exist. Kodi and it’s addons are constantly changing, so buying a box like the EZ Stream Ti8 or the SkyStream ONE which is updated consistently maybe your best option. In any case, you should familiarize yourself with Kodi and how it works. In may cases a bare bone box is the best way to go. Then you can customize and maintain it they way you want. It does take some know how, but it’s not that complicated. There is a lot of information about Kodi on the web. Good luck and I hope this helped.

  7. Using the term “OTA” (Over the Air) is not just wrong, it is grossly misleading that only confuses things more.!

    These are NOT RF devices that have a RF tuner that need an antenna to receiver TV signals. If you have the need to abbreviate everything, then use the term OTI as in Over the Internet which is correct since it describes exactly where the programming come from.

    Just because these have the ability to receiver TV network programming, it doesn’t give you or anyone the right to mislead everuone using the term “Air” when it is not received that way.

    • No where do I state that these boxes are OTA boxes. These are strictly Kodi boxes with no OTA tuners. I am not misleading anyone. This website also has many articles and tools on how to setup and install an OTA antenna for a television. Hence the name of the website. You can use these Kodi boxes in conjunction with an OTA antenna plugged into your television to supplement your viewing. That is what I use and works quite well.

  8. I live in a state of constant confusion about these boxes. I have bought a few in the past and they stop working after awhile and there is never any tech support. I’m looking for one that will stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave TV , Hulu, Showcase etc as well as all current movies and TV shows such as Exodus was doing.
    Presently I have Rogers Ignite as my carrier which is wired a new peculiar way. I also have 3 TVs that I’d like to connect. Do you have local Toronto staff who could set this up for me?

    • These boxes do change quite often and it is hard to keep up. I would recommend the SkyStream Three which is the first box listed on the page. Another great option is the Amazon FireStick. It will stream just about any service and Kodi can be easily installed.

  9. STAY away from SKYstream they are crooks. I sent the money by credit card 2 months ago. Still waiting for the box. They took the money.

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