Official Android TV OS box with voice control remote for €40.28

Xterminator

https://www.geekbuying.com/item/MECOOL-M8S-PRO-W-S905W-2GB-16GB-TV-Box-with-Voice-Control-399856.html

from poland depot the voice control & remote is 40.28 & shipping DHL from poland for under €2

i needed to replace my android box, and purchased this; Is probably on a par with mii box, when you take price and ethernet port into account.

this cheap box has pros and cons.

Official Android TV OS means netflix and youtube 4k support. ( If you price the other TV OS boxes it is a steal. )
Android 7.1 with voice support remote control -
Has ethernet port - the Mii box does not.
2gb ram 16gb space, 11gb free out of the box
4k support

negatives

struggles 4k 60 fps video,
not as responsive as more expensive boxes
no bluetooth
does not support dual band wifi

paul-2008

Xterminator wrote: »

https://www.geekbuying.com/item/MECOOL-M8S-PRO-W-S905W-2GB-16GB-TV-Box-with-Voice-Control-399856.html

from poland depot the voice control & remote is 40.28 & shipping  DHL from poland for under €2

i needed to replace my android box, and purchased this; Is probably on a par with mii box, when you take price and ethernet port into account.

this cheap box has pros and cons.

Official Android TV OS means netflix and youtube 4k support. ( If you price the other TV OS boxes it is a steal. )
Android 7.1 with voice support remote control -
Has ethernet port - the Mii box does not.
2gb ram 16gb space, 11gb free  out of the box
4k support

negatives

struggles 4k 60 fps video,
not as responsive as more expensive boxes
no bluetooth
does not support dual band wifi

only 32 on gearbest..... https://www.gearbest.com/tv-box/pp_1600343.html?wid=1433363#goodsDetail

ongarite

It's not an official Android TV OS, its a hacked ROM so no DRM licenses.

No Netflix HD, HD audio support or Chromecast like Mi Box which is officially licensed device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMeIqU_gbWQ

monkeybutter

ongarite wrote: »

It's not an official Android TV OS, its a hacked ROM so no DRM licenses.

No Netflix HD, HD audio support or Chromecast like Mi Box which is officially licensed device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMeIqU_gbWQ

Wah, incorrect on everything you said there

It's Android TV OS

Doesn't do HDR on Netflix

Works grand for 32 bucks (plus customs )

Much better value than a tv box costing 200

Xterminator

plenty of reviews, showing 4k netflix, and 4k youtube working - mine should arrive today or tomorrow at the latest and i can try it hands on.

it doesnt do HDR, but for 32-40 euros , your not going to get that. And if the TV you use it on doesn't have HDR you wont miss it anyway. Netflix have what less than 20 shows in HDR ?

the shield is about €200 - this box is aimed at someone who wants a useful but cheap solution. Bang for buck i think its great.

ongarite

monkeybutter wrote: »

Wah, incorrect on everything you said there

It's Android TV OS

Doesn't do HDR on Netflix

Works grand for 32 bucks (plus customs )

Much better value than a tv box costing 200

Its fine for 32 quid but its not officially licensed device, no Widevine L1:
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s912/mecool/firmware-roms/658501-rom-mecool-m8s-pro-tvstock-nexus-rom-android-tv-7-1
https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/7z6p9o/new_official_android_tv_box_mecool_m8s_pro_w/

A large part of the attraction of Android TV device is the official certification - knowing that the highest levels of Netflix will play, Chromecast support, a reasonable expectation of firmware updates for several years etc.

This is not an officially certified Android TV device so some things work, some don't. Maybe it'll get updates, maybe it won't. The things that work, you'll be wondering if they stop one day (due to blacklisting).

In this price range i'd spend the few euros extra to get the Xiaomi International box.

breeno

I'm been on the lookout for a decent spec box at a low price to replace an aging Firestick. This looks just the job.

Thanks op.

Xterminator

Deleted User wrote: »

In this price range i'd spend the few euros extra to get the Xiaomi International box.

I definitely considered the Xiaomi box

Xiaomi box has no rj45 port. For me that's a big downside because streaming 4k over wireless when i have a wired port next to Tv seems foolish.

Xiaomi is €52 on gearbest and €55 from poland warehouse on geekbuying. so its 60+% dearer too.

monkeybutter

Deleted User wrote: »

A large part of the attraction of Android TV device is the official certification - knowing that the highest levels of Netflix will play, Chromecast support, a reasonable expectation of firmware updates for several years etc.

This is not an officially certified Android TV device so some things work, some don't. Maybe it'll get updates, maybe it won't. The things that work, you'll be wondering if they stop one day (due to blacklisting).

In this price range i'd spend the few euros extra to get the Xiaomi International box.

then buy a shield

why would you want chromecast support on your tv box?

monkeybutter

it's like people giving out about it not playing 4k 60fps smoothly when there's no content there and they won't be able to tell anyway

support is gonna be ****ty, but I had an issue with turning it back on with the remote and they sent me out another one for free

I also managed to update the firmware, once i found it

monkeybutter

monkeybutter wrote: »

then buy a shield

If your budget allows for a Shield then by all means buy one. They are fantastic.

However if your budget is in this kind of range then it is worth it (imo) to swing the extra 10 or 20 for the officially-certified Xiaomi box. For reasons which I already explained.

why would you want chromecast support on your tv box?

So that you can cast video or audio from your phone or tablet to your TV.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast

https://m.geekbuying.com/item/-Official-International-Version--XIAOMI-Mi-Box-4K-H-265-Android-Box-371297.html


how does this compare to the model offered above?

jeffk

I got one of these and find it good

Good and bad thing with remote being Bluetooth is you don't have to point at box but then lose USB port(2 euro hub in homestore fixed that)

Nippy box, with the odd freeze/crash

Between this and the X 96 mini, id be under the no need to pay hundreds now, not unless you've money to burn or want to game

breeno

I've ordered the box in the op from the Poland warehouse. Am I right in saying that because it's coming from Poland there should be no customs issues?

jeffk

breeno wrote: »

I've ordered the box in the op from the Poland warehouse. Am I right in saying that because it's coming from Poland there should be no customs issues?

Yeah I got it from Poland without customs issues, took 11 or so days, thought be quicker

SeamusFX

jeffk wrote: »

Yeah I got it from Poland without customs issues, took 11 or so days, thought be quicker

It's cheaper from Gearbest, but since they ship from Hong Kong, I assume there's a strong likelihood that customs would be required. Does anyone know how much extra would be required for customs and in the long run would it be cheaper to order from Poland?

Ten Pin

VAT is 23% on goods over 22 euro but is only collected on goods over 26 euro.
Customs only due on goods over 150

But there may be a handling charge or an admin fee which could be another tenner plus a percentage of the goods value.

Some non EU sellers cover the cost if the VAT & customs are levied, don't know if gearbest do.

TL,DR buy it from Poland

jeffk

Don't chance customs

Herselfs brother got stung on a x96 mini, 20 odd customs on 20 odd box

May as well get it off adverts etc and get it yourself at that rate

SeamusFX

Ten Pin wrote: »

VAT is 23%
But there may be a handling charge or an admin fee which could be another tenner plus a percentage of the goods value.

Thanks Ten Pin! I forgot about the handling/Admin charge, not worth the hassle or the possible extra delay, so I ordered it from Poland.

Kenny Logins

Is is just me, or can anyone else see it cheaper from Germany or Italy?