Another creation in the 4K media players market has been introduced by the well-known Chinese brand Magicsee (Shenzhen Intek Technology Co., Ltd). The company has been successfully expanding on the global market since 2007. In the budget segment, the brand offers very high-quality and functional surveillance cameras, universal remote controls, and virtual reality glasses. Therefore, the Magicsee N5 Plus TV box immediately caught the consumer’s eye.
The Technozon channel has already released a video review for the device:
You will find links to other reviews, contests, and stores on the channel below. On our side, the news portal offers a detailed introduction to the device in this material. Specifications, photos, and description are included.
Magicsee N5 Plus TV Box: Specifications
| 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 | 2/4 GB (DDR4, 3200 MHz) |
| Internal Storage | 16/32/64 GB (eMMC Flash) |
| Expandable Storage | Yes |
| Operating System | Android 9.0 |
| Wired Network | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Wireless Network | WIFI: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4+5 GHz MIMO 2×2, signal amplification antennas available |
| Bluetooth | Version 4.1 |
| Interfaces | 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, HDMI 2.1, AV-out, SPDIF, RJ-45, DC |
| Media Support | microSD up to 128 GB, 2.5” HDD/SSD SATAIII up to 4 TB, USB Flash |
| Dimensions | 125x145x45 mm |
| Weight | 800 grams |
| Price | $50-65 (depending on the modification) |
Magicsee N5 Plus: First Impressions
A classic cardboard packaging made of dense material is no longer surprising. The Chinese are well aware that their product will inevitably be transported to the buyer by various means. Therefore, they have taken precautions. The top features a photo of the device, while the bottom and sides display technical specifications.
The package includes the TV box itself, power supply, HDMI cable, IR remote control, removable Wi-Fi antenna, and a brief manual. Batteries for the remote are not included.
The case of the Magicsee N5 Plus is made of plastic. The assembly is good. All connectors are centered. The bottom features a cooling grille. Additionally, there are rubber feet to prevent slipping on smooth surfaces and improve airflow from below. Ventilation holes are also present on the side edges but only at the level of the hard drive compartment.
The remote control is standard and resembles a device for a TV more than a media player. The plastic body has rubber buttons. Button programming is possible. To simplify the process, there is an instruction sticker on the bottom of the remote.
The Magicsee N5 Plus TV box features an LCD screen. The display shows the time, network type, and connected media device. It does not add much convenience, as it is too bright and does not display useful information.
Device Functionality of the Magicsee N5 Plus
The ability to install a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD inside is truly pleasing. Easy and quick installation, even a child can handle it. The player easily detects the drive upon startup without any configuration. The interface for SATAIII storage is present, but during testing, a drawback was discovered. The TV box handles files slower than the standard requires. The reason lies in the eMMC Flash chip, which has a data transfer speed limit of 45 MB/s. Therefore, it is not necessary to look for expensive drives capable of high data transfer speeds.
The device has a built-in shell that somewhat resembles the Ugoos interface. It lacks a curtain and the bottom control panel cannot be edited. Overall, control is convenient via remote and mouse. Root access is available, expanding the device management capabilities.
Testing the Magicsee N5 Plus TV Box
Among its advantages, the device supports all 4K video formats streamed from torrents, YouTube, IPTV, or storage. It decodes sound well in various applications and can run all games. However, it suffers from throttling. Not only in games but even when watching videos on YouTube. The issue is related to cooling.
The manufacturer skimped on the heatsink. One aluminum plate is not enough to keep the chip cool. As a result, the Magicsee N5 Plus easily heats up to 75 degrees Celsius. This causes freezes in games and lag when viewing 4K content. The solution can be twofold:
- Install active cooling (fan);
- Limit the device performance via the control panel (reduce CPU frequency).
In conclusion, an interesting and inexpensive player with excellent functionality but prone to overheating, which prevents it from functioning properly. Such a device is suitable for people capable of DIY repairs. Disassembly, adding heat-dissipating plates, and installing a fan are necessary. Alternatively, placing the device in a special cooling stand. Limiting the device performance via software is not a solution. Why restrict the chip’s capabilities? Otherwise, the buyer will need to look for another TV box from China.
