Legal Disclaimer: STBreviews does not serve, develop, or host any streaming app, addon, service, or website. This is solely a review site where we give our unbiased opinion on various apps, addons, services, websites, etc.
This article will give you an authentic guide to choosing the best Kodi boxes in 2023. Keep reading to find out the best possible options.
One of the key benefits of Kodi is that it can be installed on almost any device, whether it runs Android, iOS, or any other OS. Since not every smart TV has access to the Google Play Store, installing it on that device and running it can be tricky.
That’s where Android TV boxes or Kodi boxes come in. These boxes can be found anywhere; they are easy to set up, and most of them are affordable.
Your options depend on how hands-on you are willing to get. These options range from plug-and-play devices to customizable systems like LibreELEC. Continue reading, and we will discuss the most reasonable Kodi boxes for different types of users.
Warning: Only use Kodi for content that you have a legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech promotes using Kodi for illegal purposes.
Table of Contents
hide
What are Kodi boxes?
A Kodi box is any “plug and play” device that connects to your Smart TV and allows you to install your favorite apps. This includes a variety of devices, such as Android TV boxes, Amazon Firesticks, and single-board systems like the Raspberry Pi.
Some dealers may provide what are known as “fully-loaded Kodi boxes.” We do not recommend that you buy or use these. Kodi boxes that come preloaded with the Kodi app and addons are frequently out of date, and they frequently include a huge number of broken and potentially harmful Kodi addons.
Always Use a VPN while using Kodi
When you use Kodi or any other app to stream content over the Internet, you are always putting your privacy at risk. Your ISP can keep track of what shows you’re watching and where you’re streaming them from.
The best method to avoid these issues is to use a VPN whenever you stream content or browse the web. A Kodi VPN will encrypt your connections with the websites that you visit.
However, not all VPNs are ideal for Kodi users. Some are not fast enough to stream high-resolution videos, and some keep logs of users’ activities, thus creating new privacy issues.
As a result, we suggest ExpressVPN, a fast, zero-logging service offering Android, Firestick, and Linux apps. This service even has a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to stream risk-free.
TRY THE BEST VPN FOR KODI RISK-FREE
ExpressVPN is offering a risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up through this link. For a month, you can use the best VPN for Kodi with no limits. You can connect to next-generation 10Gbps ExpressVPN servers. They locate these servers in their most popular locations to stream without buffering.
If you still feel ExpressVPN isn’t right for you, you can contact their 24/7 live chat support within 30 days and you’ll receive a complete refund. There aren’t any hidden terms or conditions.
The best Kodi boxes for 2023
This is a list of the top-rated and most popular Kodi boxes for 2023:
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Amazon Fire TV sticks are all very popular among Kodi users. After all, they’re affordable and portable. And if your favorite streaming service isn’t available on Kodi, you can get that app from the Amazon store.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the updated version of the original Amazon FireStick 4K with improved hardware. It has a powerful processor and much more RAM than its previous version. Amazon claims that it will provide a 40% increase in power. Kodi even supports voice commands through Alexa voice assistance, and users can also link it with a smart speaker. That’s not bad at all for $55.
But there are a few minor issues. If you want to connect via Ethernet rather than WiFi, you’ll need an adaptor. You can’t get Kodi from the Amazon App Store. Users need to “side-load Kodi” through the Downloader app or file manager app. This procedure is fairly simple, although new users may find it somewhat tricky.
Read this article to learn how to install Kodi on FireStick.
Amazon Firestick (Fire TV Stick)
The original Amazon Fire TV is excellent for those willing to pay the higher price. But the Amazon Fire TV Stick 3rd generation offers many of the same capabilities at a cheaper price of only $39.99. This low price was conducted by using a less powerful processor, less RAM, and a lack of 4K capability. An Amazon Firestick 3rd generation can play 1080p video with little to no buffering or lags. It also has the same access to the app store as the basic Amazon Fire TV.
The older Fire TV Stick (3rd generation) is also better because it is smaller and less bulky than the expensive one. It looks like a rectangular “stick” that you can connect directly to your TV.
If you have a TV that can broadcast 4K content, then the older Firestick version is usually not a good choice. But if your TV only supports 1080p video or below, it may be an adequate Kodi box for your needs.
Kodi users, like those who use the Fire TV, must sideload Kodi onto the Firestick because you can’t get it from the Amazon App Store.
Nvidia Shield 4K
The Nvidia Shield supports 4K resolution and runs an Android OS. It has the Google Play Store, making it simple to install Kodi on the Nvidia Shield 4K. With a 1.9GHz quad-core Tegra X1 processor, it ranks among the most powerful Kodi boxes available. Many Kodi users report that the Nvidia Shield’s menu features are very smooth, and both HD and 4K movies play without any buffering.
The Nvidia Shield can also stream PC games from a nearby Nvidia graphics card or the Steam platform. The Nvidia Shield may be the perfect Kodi box for you if you want to play the latest 3D games as well as stream 4K contents.
While the Nvidia Shield costs around $150-$200, this Kodi box is ideal for those ready to pay a bit more for solid performance.
Why you should avoid buying “fully loaded” Kodi boxes
On sites like Amazon and eBay, there are hundreds of low-cost Android TV boxes. Besides, these are usually designed to provide the bare minimum specs for the lowest possible price. They are unlikely to provide the high quality you want from a home media center.
There’s also a good likelihood that the designers installed their program. It used to be common to see people selling “fully loaded” Kodi boxes loaded with piracy-enabling addons. They were not only illegal but contained outdated, broken, or corrupted addons.
A fully-loaded Kodi box is never advised. We always stand before it. It’s always better to set up the device on your own and install Kodi and addons for the services you want to stream from. This will help keep your box from becoming loaded with malware and harmful software.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get started with Kodi on FireStick?
The installation process of Kodi is much simpler than you may think. We have FireStick installation tutorials for Beginner, but here’s the quick version:
- First, you need to install the Downloader app from Amazon App Store.
- Install the Kodi app via Downloader.
- Navigate to the
- Install any addons that interest you.
- Stream your favorite content using these addons via Kodi.
Can you get in trouble if you use “fully loaded” Kodi boxes?
The police are generally more interested in those selling fully loaded Kodi boxes. Nonetheless, there are many reasons to avoid purchasing one. First, the seller’s business strategy includes building deception into it. You do not know whether the hardware is as powerful as it says or if it has any malicious software preinstalled.
We strongly discourage using Kodi for piracy. The official Kodi addon repository has dozens of excellent, legal addons.
Why did Kodi addons stop working after some time?
Unfortunately, Kodi addons sometimes stop working. At times, the website that hosts these add-ons may go offline. There may be disagreements among developers. Or the addons may stop working due to changes made in Kodi’s code.
There’s nothing much you can do to change it, but don’t worry. We’ve compiled lists of working Kodi addons. So you can locate the best addons for enjoying your favorite content.
