Beelink GS-King X: Review, Specifications

While some manufacturers are lowering the cost of TV boxes to compete in the market, other brands are taking a step towards increasing functionality. Released in early June 2020, the TV box Beelink GS-King X is hard to call a simple TV set-top box. It is a full-fledged multimedia center capable of fully satisfying any buyer.

 

It cannot be said that the gadget has no competitors on the market, but at this price and with such functionality, it can compete with more well-known set-top boxes. We are talking about ZIDOO Z10, which recently visited our testing laboratory.

The Technozon channel released a wonderful detailed review of the Beelink GS-King X, which we recommend you to check out. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, and you will always be up to date with all the news. Plus, you can participate in giveaways of TV boxes and new graphics cards. We like the author because he publishes honest reviews. Sometimes Technozon expresses very negative opinions about products from well-known brands, but that is a problem of the manufacturers producing subpar goods.

 

 

Beelink GS-King X: Technical Specifications

 

Chipset	AMLOGIC S922X-H
Processor	ARM 4xCortex-A73 (1.7GHz) + 2xCortex-A53 (1.8GHz)
Video Adapter	ARM G52 MP4 6-core
RAM	DDR4, 4 GB, 2333 MHz
Internal Storage	EMMC Flash 64 GB (includes a microSD card 8GB with Linux OS)
Storage Expansion	Yes, via memory cards, 2xSATA III (3.5 inches)
Memory Card Support	up to 64 GB (SD)
Wired Network	Yes, 1 Gbps
Wireless Network	Wi-Fi 2.4/5.8 GHz Dual Band
Bluetooth	Yes, version 4.1
Operating System	Android 9.0
Update Support	Yes
Interfaces	HDMI 2.1, RJ-45, 2xUSB 3.0, 2xUSB 2.0, AV, SPDIF, HeadPhone, RCA out, Balance out, built-in 2xSATA III, DC
External Antennas	No
Digital Panel	No, features a glowing brand logo
Price	$250-$300

 

 

Beelink GS-King X: Review – First Impressions

 

The Chinese manufacturer has never skimped on packaging. Therefore, unboxing the gadget is a separate story full of positivity. Considering that the Beelink GS-King X is positioned as a NAS, we expected to see a huge coffin, but had to agree that the media center is very compact. It vaguely resembles Synology NAS 218, which we reviewed earlier.

In the kit, besides HDMI, power supply, and remote control, you can find clips for fixing hard drives and an 8 GB memory card. As it turned out, Linux (CoreELEC) OS is pre-installed on it with all necessary programs. And I wanted to wave a finger at the manufacturer and ask how this NAS will work on an unstable Android OS. But the manufacturer was one step ahead. For those who don’t know, Linux OS can set up a full-fledged home server and use it as a cloud with external access.

 

Another pleasant surprise was the metal case with ventilation grilles on all sides. During further testing, this assembly will allow the TV box to operate under maximum load without overheating above 50-55 degrees Celsius.

First Boot of Beelink GS-King X

 

Those familiar with the brand’s products know that managing it will not be a problem. The excellent and very user-friendly interface does not require deep Android settings knowledge. Everything is simple and accessible. No restrictions on fine-tuning or installing applications from different sources. Overall, it’s good that the manufacturer sticks to its traditions. With experience in managing Beelink set-top boxes, users will easily switch to the new gadget.

There is only one question about the remote control included. It’s 2020, and the company still packs all its devices with the old model – G10s. Yes, it has voice control and a gyroscope. But it’s inconvenient to use. Fortunately, HDMI CEC is available, which allows controlling the set-top box with a more advanced TV remote. For this price, they could have added something interesting, like G20s.

Network Module Performance

 

First of all, everyone is used to running Speed Tests, so we won’t dodge the crowd. Honestly, there was no need to check, as Beelink has never had issues with wired and wireless modules. As expected, the specifications are excellent.

	Beelink GS-King X
	Download, Mbps	Upload, Mbps
LAN 1 Gbps	780	860
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz	72	30
Wi-Fi 5 GHz	305	305

 

The only thing that looks modest is Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz. But considering that buyers of the Beelink GS-King X are likely to use modern routers, we hope they have already switched to more advanced models. By the way, the TV box was tested with a budget ASUS RT-AC66U B1 router. On more advanced models, the device may show better results.

Working with Storage Devices

 

Considering that this is still a NAS, the manufacturer installed 2 slots for 3.5-inch HDD or SSD drives. Support for two disks with a total capacity not exceeding 32 TB is declared. So, for the next 5-10 years, the server will be enough for any tasks.

 

There are no questions about the speed of the drives. Reading and writing are performed very quickly, which is very pleasing. By the way, we did not notice any difference in the operation of HDDs with 64 MB and 256 MB of RAM onboard. So, there is no point in overpaying for technologies.

As expected from a Linux OS, the drives can be combined into arrays (to increase performance or fault tolerance). RAID in mirror mode does not affect data transfer speed. Interestingly, just like professional NAS servers. Managing the server from Android OS is difficult. Even installing third-party applications does not evoke enthusiasm. Maybe we demand too much, considering the server equipment, but after all, this is a NAS.

 

Sound Quality in Beelink GS-King X

 

The manufacturer claimed support for 7-channel sound. They even specified the chipsets for the sound card and amplifier: DAC ES9018 Sabre 32bit and RT6862/RiCore. We will not criticize Beelink too harshly; the sound is good but not perfect. After testing with the NAD T748 AV receiver, we concluded that the sound quality via SPDIF is significantly better. Perhaps the manufacturer was aiming at something else, it’s unclear. Buyers may evaluate all these audio outputs differently.

Performance of the TV Box in Video and Gaming

 

There are only two Chinese brands in the world whose advertising can be trusted – Ugoos and Beelink. The manufacturer claimed support for 4K@60Hz with HDCP 2.2, and it works in the specified mode. Without lag or quality loss. This applies to YouTube, IPTV, and torrents. The throttling test can be skipped, as the graph shows a clean green field. Moving the mouse causes no reaction from the chip or visible performance loss. The most powerful chip in the world makes itself known.

In Conclusion

 

The multimedia center Beelink GS-King X (it’s hard to call it a set-top box) is worth its money 100%. We really hope that programmers will take on its setup and release new and in-demand firmware. After all, most Beelink TV boxes have long been running on these wonderful firmware versions.

 

The device is solid. If you are considering buying a NAS and dreaming of watching high-quality content from the internet (or gaming), then you can confidently take this device. It will not replace a computer but will definitely improve everyday life. You can order the Beelink GS-King X at partner price with a discount here: https://s.zbanx.com/r/qK0rwJR0OUZm