Need help making a choice...

[Android_User5000]

Been researching android tv boxes hard for the past couple months and would like to know what everyone uses here daily. i would use the box for kodi mainly streaming 1080p content and also playing my video library that consists of mkv and lots of hd media. My price range is $60-80
i was considering this box: http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...ug-349164.html
Help me out guys!
Thanks in advance

[billmakr]

Avoid geekbuying as a vendor. Slow shipping and no support. I purchased the exact mx3+ and it was a piece of crap from the moment I turned it on. No help from geekbuying at all. I have purchased 3 MS8's and all work flawlessly right out of the box. Kodi runs fantastic.

[Lurker]

I have been using the MXIII M82 (older version of MXIII-G/MXIII Plus) for the last year and I have been very happy with it. I use it to stream from Hulu Plus, Netflix, MovieHD, Mobdro, Showbox, XBMC, playback a wide variety of downloaded content from USB storage etc. I am even watching some 3D anaglyphic content on my 2D HDTV using a pair of cheap red/blue glasses and I must say that there isn't a big difference between this cheap option and an expensive active or passive 3D TV set.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Whole...314523465.html

The MXIII-G/MXIII Plus is one of the most popular machines currently - you are really spoilt for choices with firmware with Kitkat, Lollipop and OpenELEC currently supported. The only other machines in this price range are the unsupported copies that you can find on Aliexpress, Amazon and **** etc. which are often poorly designed with small heatsinks, unstable firmware with limited upgrade options etc. There are very few places selling genuine Beelink/Tronsmart/Netxeon devices so I would suggest purchasing from either Geekbuying (MXIII Plus) or Gearbest (MXIII-G). If you are in the UK, the Geekbuying Spain warehouse might be your best option as you may get the product quicker and avoid customs fees.
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/-Spai...TG-357896.html

http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_230334.html

If you require more advanced DTS-HD, True HD sound features, Blueray BD-J menu navigation, 3D BDMV and ISO playback etc. then you could also look at one of the latest S905 Tronsmart Vega S95 Meta ($80) or Telos ($100) devices which include a customised version of VidOn XBMC which has options not available on the free versions of Kodi. This version of Kodi would cost an additional $15 per year to purchase for the MXIII-G/MXIII Plus. There will probably be several early teething problems with these devices as they have just been released and the firmware still needs to be improved.
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...TA-359700.html

You might be eligible for a discount of 5% from Geekbuying using the retailmenot discount code or 7% from Gearbest using the promoproGB code at ***checkout***.

[Lurker]

Here are a few reviews of the MXIII-G/MXIII Plus (same device just rebranded).

http://forum.xda-developers.com/android-tv/android-sticks/mxiii-g-review-t3160863

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/tronsmart-aml-devices/518403-tronsmart-mxiii-plus-android-4-4-2-tv-box-amlogic-s812

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmKn2dwSFxQ

I am currently using this airmouse with my MXIII which doubles up as a cheap game controller to play titles such as Riptide GP2, Beach Buggy Racing and various 3D balancing type games such as Rolling Seed, Labyrinth 2 Lite etc.

http://www.gearbest.com/mice-keyboards/pp_152937.html

[Android_User5000]

Here are a few reviews of the MXIII-G/MXIII Plus (same device just rebranded).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/andr...eview-t3160863
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...x-amlogic-s812

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmKn2dwSFxQ

I am currently using this airmouse with my MXIII which doubles up as a cheap game controller to play titles such as Riptide GP2, Beach Buggy Racing and various 3D balancing type games such as Rolling Seed, Labyrinth 2 Lite etc.
http://www.gearbest.com/mice-keyboards/pp_152937.html

Thanks for the detailed reply. I have researched the mxiii-g and mxiii extensively and will most likely go with the mxiii G as it has nothing but good reviews and I am a big fan of lollipop. Does this **** post look like a legitimate mxiii G?: http://pages.****.com/link/?nav=item...340103&alt=web
I don't really want to wait a month for the box to arrive at my door

[Lurker]

I'm not sure about that link that you posted. Most of the Aliexpress/Amazon/**** machines are not genuine. If you look at the photos carefully in those reviews, the circuit board inside the MXIII-G and the MXIII Plus are identical. There is no difference between these two devices and all the different firmwares should run on either device. You must just try to find a convenient supplier. I assume that you want to purchase in the US?

Geekbuying also appears to sell the MXIII Plus on Amazon. You can also get it on Amazon Canada for around $65 but I'm not sure about shipping costs to US.
http://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-MXII...art+MXIII+Plus
http://www.amazon.ca/Tronsmart-Andro...art+MXIII+Plus

You can also get the MXIII Plus for slightly cheaper but you need to confirm with the seller that it is genuine or you will return it.
http://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-MXII...art+MXIII+Plus

[Android_User5000]

I'm not sure about that link that you posted. Most of the Aliexpress/Amazon/**** machines are not genuine. If you look at the photos carefully in those reviews, the circuit board inside the MXIII-G and the MXIII Plus are identical. There is no difference between these two devices and all the different firmwares should run on either device. You must just try to find a convenient supplier. I assume that you want to purchase in the US?

Geekbuying also appears to sell the MXIII Plus on Amazon. You can also get it on Amazon Canada for around $65 but I'm not sure about shipping costs to US.

http://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-MXIII-Android-Amlogic-Gigabit/dp/B01760XDCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450686905&sr=8-1&keywords=Tronsmart+MXIII+Plus

http://www.amazon.ca/Tronsmart-Andro...art+MXIII+Plus

Yes i do want to purchase in the US. The mxiii G has Bluetooth correct?

[Lurker]

Only the 2GB MXIII-G/MXIII Plus have Bluetooth. The 1GB version does not if I remember correctly.

[Android_User5000]

Only the 2GB MXIII-G/MXIII Plus have Bluetooth. The 1GB version does not if I remember correctly.

Okay because Bluetooth is important. Is DHL pretty fast with shipping? Might just spend the extra money and buy a nvidia shield tv which is considered the best as far as I know

[Lurker]

NVidia has a promotion on currently where you get a free remote as well as a game controller until 31 December. There have been some really good specials on the Shield TV this Christmas - apparently some customers bought them for as little as $125. It seems to be currently selling on Amazon for $200.

[Android_User5000]

I'm going to go with the mxiii G 2GB I think. Do you know of a model with more than 8 gb of memory similar to the mxiii G?

[Lurker]

You can look at the Tronfy MXIV Telos - this uses the same circuit board as the MXIII-G/MXIII Plus but includes 16GB of flash. Otherwise the Tronsmart Vega S95 Telos also has 16GB of storage but has only just been released so the firmware still needs to be refined. You can also try the tronfy4 discount coupon code at checkout.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/andr...eview-t3184824
http://www.tinydeal.com/tronfy-mxiv-...-p-154403.html

Tronsmart Vega S95 Telos (Geekbuying/Amazon)
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...TA-359700.html
http://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-S95-...Vega+S95+Telos

[Android_User5000]

Thanks for all the help. I decided to go with the mxiii-g. Do you know of a twrp recovery that would work with that box?

You can look at the Tronfy MXIV Telos - this uses the same circuit board as the MXIII-G/MXIII Plus but includes 16GB of flash. Otherwise the Tronsmart Vega S95 Telos also has 16GB of storage but has only just been released so the firmware still needs to be refined. You can also try the tronfy4 discount coupon code at checkout.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/andr...eview-t3184824
http://www.tinydeal.com/tronfy-mxiv-...-p-154403.html

Tronsmart Vega S95 Telos (Geekbuying/Amazon)
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Trons...TA-359700.html
http://www.amazon.com/Tronsmart-S95-...Vega+S95+Telos

[Lurker]

Android_User5000: I'm sure that you will be very happy with your purchase. Regarding TWRP, abdul_pt is the best person to ask in the Amlogic TWRP thread. The MXIII Plus version should also work on the MXIII-G.

http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/aml872mx/other-aml8726-m/16228-twrp-for-amlogic-devices

[Android_User5000]

Guest: I'm sure that you will be very happy with your purchase. Regarding TWRP, abdul_pt is the best person to ask in the Amlogic TWRP thread. The MXIII Plus version should also work on the MXIII-G.
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...mlogic-devices

I am very happy with the mxiii-g. Very fast. Didn't have any problems with it besides running out of space for apps. I now use link2sd to put all my apps on my sd card. Twrp is not needed but will give me peace of mind BC I always back up my rom just in case something bad happens