MECOOL KM8 Google Certified Android TV Box with Voice Remote - S905X Android 8.0 2/16GB VP9 HDR10 Dolby Audio YT 4K

[sweetnonso]

They don't have a license for the M8S Pro L, the Netflix app on this box is dead now.........

Ok I get it now.

[zelder]

That is why Mi Box or Shield is the only viable boxes if you want Netflix, Amazon ++ to work

[trebor]

This Unit MAY get Netflix being certified as was mentioned previously, just have to wait and see,
and don't forget the MINI PC's they do it all Pretty good, cost a bit more yes but can do it pretty easy.

[panchovilla]

That is why Mi Box or Shield is the only viable boxes if you want Netflix, Amazon ++ to work

Don't forget Fire TV 2nd gen box. Hah! Probably still the best box , dollar per dollar, ever .

[Floki]

Don't forget Fire TV 2nd gen box. Hah! Probably still the best box , dollar per dollar, ever .

In the last month bought two of these, 80e€ for both, what great little boxes they are indeed.

[zelder]

But no 4K? Unusable for me. I watch 15 GB + x265 2160p HDR movies.

[panchovilla]

In the last month bought two of these, 80e€ for both, what great little boxes they are indeed.

Yup. Shows UHD Netflix and Prime even. And you can move programs to the sim card.

[Floki]

But no 4K? Unusable for me. I watch 15 GB + x265 2160p HDR movies.

h265 - Hardware accelerated up to 3840x2160p (4K) @ 30fps, 25 Mbps, Main 10 Profile Level 5.0. No HDR on FTV2 only on FTV3 or FTV4 (cube)

[Jancales]

So what's the difference between this box and a M8S Pro+ that warrants double the price ?

Same processor

Android TV ( can install magendanz custon rom )

[wrxtasy]

So what's the difference between this box and a M8S Pro+ that warrants double the price ?

Same processor

Android TV ( can install magendanz custon rom )

- Google (Chrome) Casting
- I bet it has better WiFi reception due to that external antenna
- faster RAM by the look of it.
- chances are there are no dodgy, unreliable eMMC Flash storage in this one vs the M8S Pro+
- Microsoft Playready for Amazon Prime Video
- HDCP 2.2 for streaming of 4K copy protected content (4K Netflix will work once this device gets Netflix approval)
- Bluetooth
- Wireless Bluetooth Voice remote
- Google (voice) Assistant
- Licensed Android TV 8.0 Oreo
- a Dolby Audio Licence, so if Videostrong get their act together 5.1 DD+ audio can be downmixed into 5.1 DD to support older DD only - HDMI connected audio equiptment

Downsides:
- the bootloader likely locked down tight, and you cannot Root or modify this device or dual boot and run the superior LibreELEC Kodi Krypton
- No yet Netflix Approved, so no Android TV Netflix streaming at all or modding and masquerading as another already approved Netflix device.

- a very strong chance there will be AMLogic Oreo Firmware bugs very similar to the Xiaomi Mi Box.

Think of it as a direct competitor to the Android TV Oreo - Xiaomi Mi Box, minus Netflix, Dual Band AC WiFi and SPDIF, but you get 100M Ethernet instead

[AlleV8]

- the bootloader likely locked down tight, and you cannot Root or modify this device or dual boot and run the superior LibreELEC Kodi Krypton

That's why i didn't buy it yet, i wanna know if i can install libreelec at least.

[Jancales]

- Google (Chrome) Casting
- I bet it has better WiFi reception due to that external antenna
- faster RAM by the look of it.
- chances are there are no dodgy, unreliable eMMC Flash storage in this one vs the M8S Pro+
- Microsoft Playready for Amazon Prime Video
- HDCP 2.2 for streaming of 4K copy protected content (4K Netflix will work once this device gets Netflix approval)
- Bluetooth
- Wireless Bluetooth Voice remote
- Google (voice) Assistant
- Licensed Android TV 8.0 Oreo
- a Dolby Audio Licence, so if Videostrong get their act together 5.1 DD+ audio can be downmixed into 5.1 DD to support older DD only - HDMI connected audio equiptment

Downsides:
- the bootloader likely locked down tight, and you cannot Root or modify this device or dual boot and run the superior LibreELEC Kodi Krypton
- No yet Netflix Approved, so no Android TV Netflix streaming at all or modding and masquerading as another already approved Netflix device.

- a very strong chance there will be AMLogic Oreo Firmware bugs very similar to the Xiaomi Mi Box.

Think of it as a direct competitor to the Android TV Oreo - Xiaomi Mi Box, minus Netflix, Dual Band AC WiFi and SPDIF, but you get 100M Ethernet instead

Thanks for your comprehensive response.

All valid points, but they still don't warrant the extra cost for me.

In my opinion if you want a reliable live stream you need LAN, so WIFI strength is not important .

Same goes for chrome cast, which I have no use for.

Amazon prime video I think is only of use for people located in the US, but I may be wrong about that, as I haven't and never will use anything with the Amazon name on it.

The Netflix approval, let's wait and see if it ever happens, same goes for the Dolby license

The voice remote, Videostrong told me that they now have a Pro+ with voice remote now.They also told me that the new version will be 4K/30fps, but claim it's a S905X processor.

They got me lost there.

Licensed Android TV, I'm not sure how important that is in real life.

The downsides you mention are more important to me, and I wasn't aware of the probably no root possible, as that is a definite no go for me.

The Android 8.0 bugs I was wary about, and it seems I'm not the only one, and going from past experience it will be a question if Videostrong will address them in a timely matter.

Can I ask you on what you base your comment that it has faster RAM, and probably less chance of dodgy eMMC, as to me it looks as if it has the same Samsung chips as the Pro+

Can you explain how to see the RAM speed from the screen shots?

[zelder]

Don't buy this and expect Netlix 4K. There's no guarantee that that will ever happen. Ther e are several other boxes similar to this with ATV without Netflix. My cable company offers one. They hope that they can strike a deal with Netflix, but they said to me that they don't know if that will ever happen.

If you want to watch Netflix in 4K, don't buy this.


Response to the other comment: Google Cast is not needed, but it can make your life much easier. Much faster to start something from your phone than to browse with the remote, especially if you have to type something (and yes, I know theres a ATV remote app, but it is buggy, and it is so much faster to just find the stuff on your phone).

Amazon prime is available in 242 countries.

Licensed ATV will mean that you'll be running a true ATV device. Who knows what will happen to other devices. I am running ATV custom on my Vorke Z6. No Oreo available since Amlogic has not released their SDK for Oreo. I think we can all agree on the fact that theres a big difference in buying something where you need to rely on custom updates and hacks to get things to work is not ideal. Many people has bought boxes which they thought would do Netflix 1080p. Now Netflix has blocked the loophole.

If you want to have a ATV box that is working as it should, buy a Shield or a Mi Box. Some issues with latest Oreo update on the Mi Box, but it looks like its getting sorted out.

[clarkss12]

Don't buy this and expect Netlix 4K. There's no guarantee that that will ever happen. Ther e are several other boxes similar to this with ATV without Netflix. My cable company offers one. They hope that they can strike a deal with Netflix, but they said to me that they don't know if that will ever happen.

If you want to watch Netflix in 4K, don't buy this.


Response to the other comment: Google Cast is not needed, but it can make your life much easier. Much faster to start something from your phone than to browse with the remote, especially if you have to type something (and yes, I know theres a ATV remote app, but it is buggy, and it is so much faster to just find the stuff on your phone).

Amazon prime is available in 242 countries.

Licensed ATV will mean that you'll be running a true ATV device. Who knows what will happen to other devices. I am running ATV custom on my Vorke Z6. No Oreo available since Amlogic has not released their SDK for Oreo. I think we can all agree on the fact that theres a big difference in buying something where you need to rely on custom updates and hacks to get things to work is not ideal. Many people has bought boxes which they thought would do Netflix 1080p. Now Netflix has blocked the loophole.

If you want to have a ATV box that is working as it should, buy a Shield or a Mi Box. Some issues with latest Oreo update on the Mi Box, but it looks like its getting sorted out.

My Xiaomi MiBox only supports HDCP 1.x, so Netflix in 1080p HD.

Edit: I have been testing it connected directly to my 4k Denon AVR. Since the specs for the Mi box says it supports HDCP 2.2, I will have to connect directly to my 4k TV. Perhaps my Denon is not really passing through 4k.

[zelder]

Mi Box supports 4k Netflix. Connect it directly to your TV.