MXQ yes or no ?

[tim007]

hi there,

I've got a reasonable medium experience of Android devices the last 2 years on phones, tablets and tv-devices, and this forum has been priceless for roms + install info.
Wondering if you guys could help me decide on yes/no too.

I've noticed MXQ 1GB/8GB devices dropping under 30$ now from Aliexpress, and looking at the specs wondering if it will do what I want:

My requirements are easy : all it has to do is run Kodi with Fusion and playback tv-series and the occasional movie from online sources.

The one thing stopping me is that none of my android devices ever were lower then 2GB of ram and wondering if that would badly influence kodi.

I'm considdering getting a few of the MXQ's for Xmas gifts to users with no/low experience (parents, friends with no it skills, etc) and when buying several the 20$ gap to a MXIII is big enough to considdering the MXQ.

If there's a list of cons on the MXQ elsewhere, a point to there would be nice too.

thanks
Tim

[RISCy Dude]

If I remember correctly, the one without the red stripe, is to be avoided. But I'm not certain.

[tim007]

This is the one I'm considering :

MXQ Android TV Box Quad Core Amlogic S805 1G RAM 8G ROM Smart TV Box KODI 14.2 full loaded Airplay APK & ADD-ONS Pre-installed

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MXQ-XBMC-Preload-smart-S805-Android-4-4-TV-BOX-Quad-Core-1GB-8GB-Cortex-A5/32364867258.html

(from AliExpress Android)

That's not the red stripe you meant right?

[RISCy Dude]

Don't base your decision on what I have said, as I am not sure. I have no experience on either. I just posted as a caution, based on reading about other's experiences. I remember that one was a dud, and the other one was not bad for an S805 1GB/8GB . The one you link to does not have the red stripe. Here is an example of the red stripe version. I think the red stripe is the preferred MXQ. I think this is why you can find the non-striped version so cheap, might be a dud.
Also, there is an unofficial OpenELEC for one of them, I am not sure which one.
Sorry, but as stated, I have no experiences with either of these. As such, I am not making any recommendations. Just some words of caution.

[veclinux]

This is the one I'm considering :

MXQ Android TV Box Quad Core Amlogic S805 1G RAM 8G ROM Smart TV Box KODI 14.2 full loaded Airplay APK & ADD-ONS Pre-installed
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MXQ-X...364867258.html
(from AliExpress Android)

That's not the red stripe you meant right?

I have owned both boxes you want the one WITH THE RED STRIPE the one your url points to is very inferior spend a couple more dollars and get the good one. My experience with the mxq with i gig of ram plays movies fine just art work loads a little slower in xbmc/kodi

cheers,
Vec

[tim007]

Thanks both of you!

Vec thanks for confirming 1gb would suite it's purpose

Off to do a bit more reading on that red stripe thing.

[RISCy Dude]

Oh and....

[tim007]

hehe.. yes.. first love, true love

It's actually why I love this Freaktab community.. projects like the Pipo project remind me fondly of the c64 scene that has such a competitive scene in software development bringing new features to the box even 33 years after it's introduction to the market.

I seriously doubt we'll be using our tv-boxes and such 30+ years down the line.. but all the effort pumped in this forum prolonging shelf life and improving hardware devices just puts a big smile on my face.. hence the avatar

back on topic.. the red stripe MXQ, seems like I can't find it lower then $44 incl. shipping to NL..
but then logic applied this being much better then the $30 ones, I guess $53 for a good mxIII on Finless rom is probably worth that small gap too.

Oh well.. It's breaking the gift limit we've set for xmas, but i'll just use the same excuse as always "oh yes, haha - found a lucky deal only valid for 1 day in China" and hope I don't get busted on it by the family

Thanks guys for giving some food for thought!

[Compos]

My requirements are easy : all it has to do is run Kodi with Fusion and playback tv-series and the occasional movie from online sources.

My all black MXQ performs brilliantly using OpenElec. I've seen the red stripe model also using OpenElec and the owner was very satisfied with it. Have a look here:

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/23766-rom-unofficial-openelec-for-mk808b-and-mxq

[RISCy Dude]

tim007 That is how they upsale...this box is nice, but for just a few dollars more I can get one with feature x, but for just a few dollars more I can get one that has 2GB RAM, but for a few more dollars more I can get one with that whiz-bang CPU, but for just a few dollars more I can get one that........to infinity and beyond!
That's how I went from a TV box budget of $70 to the well over $100 I ended up spending on my first box. This is "car salesperson" psychology at work.

After saying all that, I have no regrets in my choice, just saying it is easy to get swept upstream. The unfortunate(?) thing is, through it all, I caught the TV box fever. So one box was not enough, now I have two and am shopping for #3 and #4. And wouldn't you know it, my psychologist is on vacation.

So hopefully, after #4 I'll quit. But..............who knows?
Have fun, I hope you don't catch the fever though!
BTW Sales due to "Black Friday", Christmas and other events will be occurring soon, so shop wisely and you could save a few bucks.

Best wishes.

[RISCy Dude]

My all black MXQ performs brilliantly using OpenElec. I've seen the red stripe model also using OpenElec and the owner was very satisfied with it. Have a look here:

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/23766-rom-unofficial-openelec-for-mk808b-and-mxq

Under supported devices, the OP lists the all black MXQ as partially supported. While running the OpenELEC, are there components that don't work on the all black MXQ that do work on the red striped box? For instance, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. I have no idea, just curious what they mean by partially supported.
Good day.

[tim007]

tim007 That is how they upsale... *snip* ...Best wishes.

Hmz.. shopping fever you say.. now why does that sound familiar *grin*

I actually started on a MK908 stick late 2013, which ran reasonable on a finless rom.
Dodgy wifi connection, but it quickly got me hooked, gave it away to a good friend on his birthday.

In the meantime I had already bought a Minix neo X7, which was supposed to be all that with sprinkles.. but, well it was not.
Just a very expensive box with excellent wifi which I never needed.. other then every movie with a DTS soundtrack playing silent, 3D movies wouldnt work, and so on.

And then somewhere on a local dutch forum a guy decided to do a big bulk 'lets buy together' action on a MBOX S82B, dirt cheap and I thought..
well, what the hell.. if anything it'll go to the bedroom TV.
Surprised as hell this box worked straight out of the box - DTS played, 3D movies (although a lot of ghosting) worked too, happy days

And then friends started asking me, so I got about 10-20 of the round shaped 4K boxes from all sorts of places, not even realising there were a lot of versions.
Most friends were happy with stock versions of the OS, and It's not untill I got VERY stuck on one of those trying to re-rom, that I really dug deeper into things to notice they might look the same but basicly I got VERY lucky with mine.
I actually had to go through 10+ different roms on that machine to get it working, even the finless rom didn't work, openelec did - but bizarly fusion installer refused to fire up, and most roms had failing wifi... and around the point someone said MXIII and I started reading up on those.

So.. having read a ton and happy with the MXIII that was originally meant to go in the bedroom - that's the one I'm buying for friends that just want a 'does all' box.

I wish Compos would not have posted (nah just kidding, thanks a lot for that actually) because now I have itching fingers and noticed my hand 'slipped' putting a black MXQ in my wishlist for aliexpress' 11-11
I'm just too curious and hoping a default OS will run atleast reasonable.. I just can't resist

Other then that RISCy - I am curious now.. what features drive you to other boxes?
I mean.. having had such a bad experience on the Minix (not that it was bad, it just doesn't bring me anything), what boxes would bring extra's vs. a MXIII ?
The only thing I could think of would be a dual-boot android/windows - but perhaps i'm overseeing something worth chasing?

[RISCy Dude]

tim007 Wow! You have been on quite the TV box journey, I had no idea. I thought I would lose the fever after I get numbers 3 & 4. But after reading of your experience, I'm really worried this condition could last quite a bit longer.

Many things drove me to my first box. I looked for a long time. Video was not my primary interest in these devices when I bought my original box. Dual-booting Linux from SD was an interest for me. High quality hardware and good support, from both maker and Freaktab was a huge part of the draw. I wanted the first one to be less of a gamble. The RK3288 is very difficult to brick, so that was also a draw. Thanks to some remarkable individuals and good support from the maker and Freaktab members, my first box was, and is, a very pleasant experience.
Due to Freaktab and having gained some experience and knowledge since my first, I am more open to taking a gamble these days. I am open to budget boxes/devices and the higher end models too. I lose all interest in these devices as they move above $140, I lose interest in most over $100.
Our needs and expectations vary, so it seems there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to these things. It is nice to have so many options.
Sorry to learn your experience with the Minix device fell short of your expectations. Actually the first box I bought was a Minix X8-H Plus, but do to a pricing error at the retailer, they cancelled my order after a few weeks of waiting. Your experience makes me feel a bit fortunate to have missed it.
I have nothing against the MXIIIs, I have almost pulled the trigger, on one version or another, many times. I have not ruled them out(MXIII S812 models).
I am anxious to try an AMLogic device. Like you, I am considering one of the little S805 boxes. Likely the next budget box will be an AMLogic SoC. Likely my next non-budget box will be either a Rockchip, AMLogic or MSTAR.
But who knows? What with all the pretty pictures, crazy sales and new models coming out at every sunrise. It's a crap shoot.
Fun though!

[clarkss12]

If I can toss in my 2 cents, having traveled the same path with these android boxes, including the Minix X8-H Plus, I am elated with my Windows 10 box, the Tronsmart Ara X5 Windows 10 TV Box Cherry Trail Z8300. Is it perfect, not by a long shot, but it comes very close. I was concerned about the heat issues I had read about, but I have not experienced it. It plays all my videos perfectly, including my BluRay rips and the really difficult live HD TV streams in mpeg 2 TS format. Netflix plays in HD with Dolby Surround, and Kodi works without any problems at all.

In another year or two, these boxes will become the holy grail of the entertainment center.

[Lurker]

Gearbest have the 1GB MXIII-G for $47 ($50 EU warehouse) at the moment which is now cheaper than the older MXIII. The Antutu score is ~40000 vs 16000 for the MXQ. If you can stretch your budget I think the additional cost will be money well spent in the long run. I think you might be able to avoid some customs duties if you purchase from the EU warehouse.

http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_202595.html