It has been less than a year since the Chinese brand Mecool released another creation. And again, in the budget class. This time, the TV BOX MECOOL KM1 is based on the most powerful chip on the market – Amlogic S905X3. Recall that the manufacturer’s masterpiece, Mecool KM3, was built on the basis of Amlogic S905X2. What came out of it can be learned from the video review of the Technozon channel or from our article.
MECOOL KM1 TV BOX: specifications
| Chipset | Amlogic S905X3 |
| Processor | ARM Cortex-A55 (4 cores, 1.9 GHz) |
| Video Adapter | Mail-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 2/4 GB LPDDR3-3200 SDRAM |
| Internal Storage | 16/32/64 GB eMMC |
| Storage Expansion | Yes |
| Memory Card Support | Yes, microSD up to 64 GB |
| Wired Network | 10/100 Mbps Ethernet |
| Wireless Network | 2.4G/5 GHz 2T2R WiFi |
| Bluetooth | Version 4.2 |
| Operating System | Android 9.0 |
| Update Support | Yes |
| Interfaces | 1xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB 3.0, HDMI, LAN, AV, DC |
| External Antennas | No |
| Digital Panel | No |
| Network Capabilities | Chromecast, Fast Streaming, Google Certified |
| Price | $50-$90 |
The ability to individually select the set-top box based on technical specifications is pleasantly pleasing. You can choose a “light” version for video viewing or the maximum configuration for gaming and other entertainment. The price of the MECOOL KM1 TV BOX varies proportionally.
Among the disadvantages, after studying the specifications, the slow LAN port (up to 100 Mbps) stands out. It’s unclear what the manufacturer was thinking, using a top-tier chipset. Additional negatives include the absence of a digital SPDIF audio output and an old DDR3 module. For the 4 GB version, DDR4 could have been used.
MECOOL KM1 TV BOX: review
The appearance of the set-top box and its remote control shows that the manufacturer has seriously worked on the design. The TV box looks luxurious. Both the gadget and the remote control evoke positive emotions at first glance. The build quality is excellent. Nothing squeaks, the remote buttons are soft, and the ports on the set-top box are centrally located in recesses.
The remote control operates via Bluetooth. Its responsiveness is pleasing even when working near a 2.4 GHz router. The button layout is convenient, and voice control is available. On the remote panel, there are quick access buttons for YouTube, Google Play, and Prime Video. It’s very unfortunate that the Prime Video button did not work during testing. It is suspected that the set-top box is “tailored” for a specific operator. The issue may be resolved after the release of a firmware update.
For a set-top box based on the Amlogic S905X3 chip, the MECOOL KM1 demonstrates excellent performance under load. The TV box does not throttle or overheat. In stress tests, the device heats up to a maximum of 72 degrees Celsius, which is very pleasing.
The network interfaces of the set-top box work excellently. The MECOOL KM1 demonstrates high speed in both wired and wireless networks.
| MECOOL KM1 TV BOX | ||
| Download, Mbps | Upload, Mbps | |
| LAN 100 Mbps | 95 | 90 |
| Wi-Fi 5 GHz | 215 | 230 |
| Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | 50 | 60 |
MECOOL KM1 TV BOX: multimedia and gaming
When testing audio passthrough from the set-top box to audio equipment, it was found that the MECOOL KM1 supports:
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital +
- DTS
There are no issues with playing videos from external media. The promised 4K 10-bit with HDR is present. Lag, even with quite large files, is completely absent.
There are no problems with playing videos from YouTube in Ultra HD 3840×2060@60. The only thing is that sometimes it is necessary to manually set playback to 4K format, as the set-top box by default tries to pick up Full HD. But these are minor issues.
Owners will not face problems with UHD IPTV playback either. The set-top box quickly detects the video and displays the image on the screen. Which is pleasing. Very fast rewinding, channel switching, or video transitions.
Playing torrents is a separate story. In the budget segment, not many devices can quickly detect and play giant (over 60 GB) torrent files without lag. An excellent result that will surely appeal to movie lovers who want to watch high-quality movies without downloading to a local disk. The MECOOL KM1 TV BOX will be a great purchase for cinephiles.
Regarding gaming, opinions are mixed. The set-top box can run all games at maximum settings – that’s a fact. It can’t overload the processor with memory or overheat the chip. But there are issues with control. When using a Bluetooth gamepad, game management creates inconvenience. The problem is not with the Wi-Fi module at 2.4 GHz but specifically with the Bluetooth controller. The solution is to connect the gamepad via USB port.
