By 
Android TV devices have left a lot to be desired so far. Back at CES Razer showed off a device that should finally do justice to Android TV. The Razer Forge TV is a beast of a set-top box, and you can pre-order it right now from Amazon. Razer is typically known for their gaming products, which is precisely what makes this device so great.
Razer calls the Forge TV a “micro-console. It glows with an intriguing green light as it sits below your TV. What sets this device apart from other Android TV devices are the specs. It’s packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and 2GB of RAM. Those beefy specs translate to a very smooth user interface experience, as well as ample power to run apps and intensive Android games. Other specs include WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, an ethernet port, 16GB of internal storage, HDMI port on the back supports up to 1080p sets, and a USB port.
The gamepad, called Serval, isn’t the most revolutionary thing we’ve ever seen, but you’ll be able to play games in a natural, comfortable way. The ability to attach up to 4 controllers at a time will make it quite the nice inexpensive gaming console for a family that doesn’t want to spend money on an Xbox One or PS4. Head on over to Amazon to pre-order the box and controller combo for $149.
I like this, but am a little disappointed that it lacks 4k support to future proof it, somewhat. Does the 805 not support 4K?
According to the link below it supports 4k, so maybe a firmware update will allow it?
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors/805
you also need a hdmi 2.0 port for 4k to work
No you need HMDI 2.0 for UGH at 60fps UHD at 30fps works just fine with HDMI 1.4
And here I thought you were talking about the NVIDIA Shield Console :p
“best android TV device” is debatable. Shield console looks more compelling to me and also ought to be out in May. $50 more, but X1 chip looks pretty awesome. That said, I’m still looking forward to this being out. I really want Android TV boxes to take off and mature. The current crop of random boxes from unknown manufacturers leaves a lot to be desired.
Agreed The shield sort of blew the Forge out of the competition for me when it was revealed.
Fully agree. I had wanted the Forge until the Shield was announced. Shut up and take my money Nvidia!
Came here for Shield console, leaving disappointed.
I felt HDMI passthrough and overlays/Google search on your main input was an awesome feature, yet no new devices offer this, why, why, why lol
They are all banking on streaming/the cloud so far.
How/why does would that eliminate hdmi pasthrough?
becuase they are pushing Streaming/the cloud? AKA this box is to replace the cablebox so no hdmi pass through
Over the air antennas still exist.
Most people go with either the built in turner on all tvs or a network attached turner for whole house dvr functionality.
Unless you don’t want to get over the air channels to avoid paying for cable.
Over the Air is separate from Cable. So your comment makes 0 sense. I was saying most people either use the turner built into their HDTV which will not work with HDMI passthrough of another device for obvious reasons or they use a network attached OTA box for Full Home functionality/mobile viewing.
Yes it is separate from cable, thank you for reiterating my point.
The built in tuners suck if you don’t live near the source or have an older tv. Many people, like myself, purchase an external box to pull in over the air channels. This can be plugged into the antenna port in the back of the tv or the, wait for it…….HDMI port. And those fancy full home boxes for people with roof antennas? HDMI port.
Nope Ethernet port on those fancy whole house OTA DVRs. ITs for plugging into the router and feeding every tv/mobile devices.
For example this has no HDMI at all only ethernet and wifi https://www.tablotv.com/tablo-products/tablo-dvr-2-tuner/
You are getting way to pissy about this http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ota+pvr
As I said whole home pvr/dvr not a box that only outputs to a single device
That has nothing to do with the original comment about people watching ota signal on their TV. You are referencing a single commercial item. I showed you a full page of OTA boxes that plug into HDMI. Go home. We’re done here. Check and mate.
What’s with the green light? Is there any way to turn off the light/device or will the green light forever illuminate my entertainment center, bedroom, etc.? Also, will it be able to pass through DD and DTS from my movies? It looks like a slightly faster/beefier Nexus Player without a remote.
“Android TV devices have left a lot to be desired so far”
Despite being the best option you can buy you mean. Like, literally having no equals. Even the Nexus Player is head and shoulders above other similarly priced product offerings.
If you are responding to my comment, I was talking about the no-name-brand android TV boxes cluttering up Amazon. And my biggest problem with them is that they come from companies that I have never heard of, have chips that I have never heard of, and they all seem to be variations on the same 3 devices, but customized by about 20 different repackagers. That said, I have had a few and like them a lot. But I feel a lot better with Razer and Nvidia(and the others) getting in on the party. They use well known components and I know the companies will still exist in a month. That takes them beyond being useful to me, and makes it so that I can recommend them to other people.
Er, no. The Ouya is miles better than the nexus, and it’s the same price.
Does both the Forge TV and Shield Console run on Android 5.0, Lollipop?
Since they are running Android TV and Android TV is based on Android 5 then yeah
How is the Forge “the best” when the Shield is better?
Android TV
Never mind forgot the shield runs android tv as well I’m really tired.
The Shield TV is tecnically the best Android TV device right now without a doubt
I mean, I don’t really see what the Shield is offering that’s better than other cheaper options like the Nexus Player and Forge TV. The most it’s offering on it’s software front, which is where most Android based gaming consoles fail, are ports of last gen games at cut down graphical fidelity. It’s got GameStream, but Nexus Player has Limelight, and Razer is teasing something similar that can stream from any PC regardless of what brand of graphics card is on board. X1 is a technological masterpiece, but as an actual consumer product with a limited selection of software that does or doesn’t make the most of it, what’s it got that makes it a cut above the rest?
It offers more memory, the ability to play AAA android apks (borderlands 2, etc) without the need to stream. The more memory allows the device to sideload many more media, social and other apps, giving it more functions than other devices.
A Shield will do no better at playing media than a Nexus Player or any other Android TV box; if they couldn’t, then what would be the point? Sideloading apps isn’t an issue, either. If you’re a gamer, you’ve most likely already have a capable PC or console, which can play Borderlands 2, etc at a much higher fidelity. I’m certainly not not going to pay $200 to play downgraded console ports of games I’ve already played.
I decided on getting a regular Nexus Player, after realizing I don’t want to play Android games on my TV, but simply stream my PC games when I’m in the mood. I’ve got Limelight, and Razer is teasing their own streaming utility that’s said to run on any Android TV device. Since I can just use an OTG cable and USB hub, I can get ethernet whatever else that isn’t bluetooth to get my games playable. For sure, though, going to get the Serval, and maybe the Turret.
Thing is, android TV devices can also run many sideloaded media and social apps, but good luck fitting them on the tiny memory of the Nexus…
I just want to know what Android game theyre playing. lol
Can it stream from a NAS?
Er, “16 gigs of internal storage” does NOT make this thing “the best Android TV device ever”.
The Shield TV, on the other hand, has 8 gbs , but has an expendable external SD card slot, which can be used for game/app data.
That already shows most people which one is a contender.