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Apple lovers have their set top box; I bet you’ve heard of it. (Apple TV, anyone?) But Android fans also have options when it comes to streaming boxes. Google’s Android TV brings its mobile OS to your TV.

Sony sells TVs that have Android TV baked in, but you don’t have to buy a whole new TV if you want to get Droided. A few companies are selling streaming boxes using Android TV, and NVIDIA’s Shield is the best model you’ll find.

The Shield is much more than a streaming video box. It has gaming DNA, too—in fact, it ships with a game controller instead of a remote (you can buy a remote separately). It also can play ultra-high definition 4K video, something the new Apple TV can’t. While 4K may not matter to most of us today—you need a TV or monitor capable of showing it, and there’s not much to watch yet—it’s good to be ready for the future, and the Shield had no problem producing the super crisp and color details of the Costa Rican countryside.

WHAT’S BEST

If you’re familiar with Android and the Googleverse’s apps, you’ll feel right at home when you fire up the Shield. Here’s what makes it the best Android TV unit:

Game time: I’m just a casual gamer, and that makes the Shield a good match for me. It won’t replace a PS4 or Xbox, but with plenty of games available through the Google Play store—and hot titles like Batman: Arkham Origins through the subscription Geforce Now service—I found myself frequently switching between watching The Leftovers on HBO Go and weaving through obstacles at 200 MPH on Asphalt 8. I didn’t even mind using the game controller to navigate to and play videos.
Seek and find: Since it uses Google’s tech, the voice search on the Shield worked better for me than the voice recognition found in the Roku 4. When I asked for Jurassic World, it understood in seconds and showed the movie available to buy on Google Play, along with info about the cast, related movies, shows and YouTube videos, and apps. You can also do some simple web searches, like checking the current weather.
Cast machine: If you like Google’s Chromecast, it’s built in to the Shield. Just find videos on your phone and then cast them to your TV. Then you can use the Shield’s remote—or your phone—to pause and skip.
Sleek design: Unlike the bland shapes that dominates set top boxes from Apple, Amazon and Roku, the Shield adds some style, with sharp angles and a green light that glows across the top when it’s on.

WHAT’S WORST

Expensive: At $200, the Shield is one of the most expensive options for a set-top streaming box. The Roku 4 is $129; the 32 GB Apple TV is $149; and Amazon’s gaming focused Fire TV Gaming edition is $140.
No Amazon Instant Video: You can use most streaming video services, including Netflix, HBO Go, and Sling TV, but you won’t find Amazon Instant Video—a big strike against it for Amazon Prime account holders.

WHO SHOULD BUY ONE?

If you’re highly invested in all things Google—you have an Android phone, buy music, games and videos from Google Play Store, love those Google Doodles—and like to play games, you should strongly consider the Shield. It delivers a lot of features beyond just streaming video.

But it may not be the best streaming box for you. The new Apple TV offers similar features, but it is best for Apple addicts and can’t do 4K. The Roku 4 delivers a better video experience (read our review), but lacks the gaming and Android integration. Of course, if gaming is really your thing, you probably already have an Xbox or PS4—and you should stick with those since they also handle streaming video.

[You can purchase the NVIDIA Shield from Amazon.com and other online retailers]