TV BOX X96Q for $ 20: review, specifications
After the successful release and sales of the X96 mini, the manufacturer decided to deceive customers. Based on a cheaper chip, the Chinese launched the X96Q TV-BOX for sale at the same price. By specifying in the product description that this is a release of the previous product. In the understanding of buyers, the release is a revised version. But it was not there.
And interestingly, buyers began to buy “cheap shovels” with consoles. But a month later, exactly after receiving the goods from China and the first launch, negative reviews rained down. And this is understandable, because the gadget does not know how to do anything, from the characteristics declared by the manufacturer. But first things first.
TV-BOX X96Q: specifications (claimed)
| Chipset | Allwinner H313 |
| Processor | ARM 4xCortex-A53 (1.35 GHz) |
| Video adapter | ARM G41 |
| RAM | DDR3, 1/2 GB, 1333 MHz |
| Persistent memory | EMMC Flash 8/16 GB |
| ROM expansion | Yes, memory cards |
| Memory card support | up to 32 GB (TF) |
| Wired network | Yes, 100 Mbps |
| Wireless network | Wi-Fi 2.4 |
| Bluetooth | no |
| Operating system | Android 10.0 |
| Update support | No |
| Interfaces | HDMI 2.0, RJ-45, 2xUSB 2.0, AV, IR, DC |
| The presence of external antennas | No |
| Digital panel | No |
| Price | 20-25 $ |
The claimed specifications, if you look at the products of the same Xiaomi, are quite normal for playing video in 4K format. You can forget about toys, but there should be no problems with content from the Internet. But this is the competition. And the X96Q TV BOXING with this filling simply does not work properly.
Testing the set-top box TV-BOX X96Q
Even while studying the technical characteristics, the idea arose that the frequency of the processor is somehow non-standard. Therefore, immediately after the first launch, the console was checked for trotting. And all at once fell into place. A yellow-red cloth, a frequency drop of up to 1 GHz and a chip temperature in the range of 95-99 degrees Celsius. This is real thrash!
All these statements on the manufacturer’s website about the possibility of launching toys on the X96Q TV-BOX and watching videos in 4K @ 60FPS are a lie. You don’t even have to try - the chip will not be able to decode the video or work with games in this mode. This is technically impossible. Do not believe it - buy a prefix and see for yourself.
With performance it’s clear, but what will happen if you slip content in FullHD format on the gadget. When you started Youtube, we contemplated a black screen for a long time, after which the application spontaneously closed. And so several times. Launching online torrents was also impossible.
X96Q is worse than the standard player on the TV
Unless it was possible to reproduce content in a resolution of 1920x1080 from a USB drive. True, with a slight delay, but the video went. The prefix understands mkv, mp4, avi, but does not want to forward the sound. And the sense of it, the quality is still terrible through the AV output. There are no questions about HDMI. But the picture in HDR is not shown. It remains to verify the operation of network modules, so, purely for show.
| TV BOXING X96Q | ||
| Download Mbps | Upload, Mbps | |
| LAN 100 Mbps | 50 | 30 |
| Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | 30 | 30 |
The test results had to wait a long time. Just one running application for testing network capabilities loaded the processor to the eyeballs. Outwardly, the process itself looked like a slide show. A couple of times there was a long hang-up - it seemed that the process was hanging tight and the X96Q TV-BOX needed to be rebooted. But we are stubborn - waiting until the end. And, lo and behold, after 20 minutes we managed to test two network modules (wired and wireless).
In general, this is not a prefix, but some kind of misunderstanding. A TV box does not cost 25 US dollars. And even more - the manufacturer is obliged to pay the buyer for those nerves spent that will appear due to indignation in the process of using the prefix. The X96Q TV BOX is the worst purchase made in China. For the money it’s better to buy TANIX TX9S. At least you can watch normal video in 4K @ 60FPS with HDR from any Internet sources. And it's all the same $ 25.