Budget TV box costing $30-50 is often considered an incomplete device for a television. Well, equipment in this price range cannot meet all user demands. The HK1 BOX S905X3 TV Box aims to break this myth. Installing a modern chip in an inexpensive device works wonders.
The Technozon channel presented an interesting review of the device (all links are provided below):
HK1 BOX S905X3 TV Box: specifications
| Manufacturer | SZBOX |
| Chip | Amlogic S905X3 |
| Processor | 4x ARM Cortex-A55 (up to 1.9 GHz), 12nm process |
| Video adapter | Mali-G31 MP2 (650 MHz, 6 cores) |
| RAM | 4 GB (DDR4, 3200 MHz) |
| Flash memory | 32/64/128 GB (eMMC Flash) |
| Memory expansion | Yes |
| Operating system | Android 9.0 |
| Wired network | Yes, RJ-45 (1 Gbps) |
| Wireless network | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz/5GHz (2×2 MIMO) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.0 |
| Interfaces | 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, HDMI 2.1, AV-out, SPDIF, RJ-45, DC |
| Memory cards | microSD up to 32 GB |
| Root access | Yes |
| Digital panel | Yes |
| External antennas | No |
| Remote control | IR, voice control |
| Price | $30-50 |
One interesting feature of the device is the sound output. The built-in DAC in the HK1 BOX S905X3 can simultaneously output signals to SPDIF and PCM. This solution is interesting for owners of combined audio systems. In fact, you can connect two systems at once for enhanced surround sound.
Attention was drawn to the device’s ability to output 8K video. Although at 24 frames per second. But this is enough for normal playback of high-definition movies. Naturally, a compatible 8K TV or projector is required.
HK1 BOX S905X3: review
The manufacturer SZBOX’s design choices for the device are somewhat confusing. In my opinion, the appearance of the device is even somewhat embarrassing. The pearly-blue hue of the top panel looks unserious. There are questions about ergonomics. The unnecessary digital display has a place, but the USB port is squeezed in the middle of one of the rounded corners of the device. But this is the only negative encountered in the review.
On a positive note, the HK1 BOX S905X3 has all existing video and audio decoders onboard. Additionally, the user has root rights to control the TV box. Such an approach is always welcomed by owners who like to experiment with settings.
The case of the device, with its vibrant color, resembles a closed pearl. Naturally, questions about cooling immediately arose. The radiator grille is at the bottom, but there are no vents on the sides. During throttling tests, drops were observed, but the indicators are minor and occur during long runs of resource-intensive tests. The device will not lag in games or work.
The shell has the same pearl-tone interface as the device itself. But this can be quickly fixed by installing a launcher. The control panel is pleasant. The minimalist design is not intrusive. The settings menu is on par with expensive TV boxes. Many useful applications are pre-installed. It is pleasing that the device is oriented towards support – there is a customizable update menu.
Network capabilities of the HK1 BOX S905X3 are particularly noteworthy. For a budget device – this is unprecedented. The Wi-Fi module on 5 GHz provides 258 Mbps download and 205 Mbps upload. For 2.4 GHz – 37/27 Mbps. The most surprising is the wired LAN interface performance – 850 Mbps download and 720 Mbps upload. I even had to run a couple of tests to verify these results.
The data transfer speed via USB ports was pleasing. The manufacturer did not skimp on technologies and equipped the device with a modern chip. On average, reading speed from an HDD is 70 MB/sec (560 Mbps). Considering that the bitrate of 4K movies is much lower, the device’s performance is impressive.
In conclusion
There were no issues with video playback, IPTV, or gaming. The HK1 BOX S905X3 heats up to 69 degrees Celsius, but there were no freezes. The budget device is suitable for any user tasks. If the manufacturer “tunes” the design, improves cooling, and optimizes interface placement, the updated device could overshadow even more expensive TV boxes.
