If you want to buy an Android TV set-top box in Australia you’re quickly running of out opportunities. The Nexus Player has been the only officially available Android TV set-top box available in Australia to date. As of today it is on longer available for sale via Google’s own online store.
If you want to get your hands on a Nexus player before they are completely gone you’ll have to rummage around the bricks and mortar stores and hope to find one. Before you do, however, remember that the hardware is getting a little old, and was never that powerful to begin with. Have a look at our review if you’re on the fence.
Google didn’t announce a new Nexus player at Google I/O this year, but we’re not surprised, as Google seems to be repositioning I/O back to its places as a developer first conference. Could we be seeing a new Google built Android TV set-top box this year? Maybe, we are expecting a larger hardware event around September this year where the next Nexus and the Google Home devices will be launched – launched does not mean immediately available to buy – as well as any other potential products Rick Osterloh and his new Google Hardware Division have been cooking up for us.
On top of the Nexus player being removed from the store the ASUS built Bluetooth Gamepad for Nexus Player has also been removed from the accessories page. I grabbed one of these as a spare controller and was quite happy with it if you can find one it’s not a bad investment.
It’s a bit early for any panic about Google abandoning Android TV, or the death of Android TV set-top boxes. With more and more TVs shipping with Android TV built-in and high quality set-top boxes from NVIDIA, Razer and Xiaomi on the market today, whilst Australia may currently be limited for choice there is still good hardware to be found.
Are you considering an Android TV device? Let us know which one below.
