Nokia Streaming Stick 800, review: basic HD TV-Stick

Nokia Streaming Stick 800 is the new Nokia TV Stick that we present today its analysis or review. A small device to connect behind our TV.

The small Nokia Streaming Stick 800 is powered by an Amlogic S805X2 SoC, a processor sufficient to handle streaming applications. We have the operating system Android TV 11 Certificate that we control via a backlit Bluetooth remote control with microphone to use the Google Assistant with which we can control manage apps on the device. As usual Chromecast is implemented, the necessary certificates to watch for example Netflix FullHD and also supports HDR10+ and Dolby sound.

We test our review of the new Nokia Streaming Stick 800 and see what it has to offer.

Product details for Nokia Streaming Stick 800

Unboxing

The Nokia Streaming Stick 800 comes in a cardboard box with the usual Nokia design and the product image in the upper area. Inside we find the TV-Stick, remote control, AAA batteries, HDMI cable, AAA batteries, 5V 1A charger and a first steps manual.

Description

The Nokia Streaming Stick 800 features the same design similar to the Nokia Streaming Box. The design is oval and only has the Google logo at the top as a differentiating mark. On the front we have the HDMI cable to connect to our TV, in the side area we have a microUSB OTG port on the opposite side a reset button.

• Reset: hold down the side button for a few seconds.

The Nokia Streaming Stick 800 includes a complete Bluetooth remote control that also has LED lighting to control our TV with volume keys, off and signal output. On the remote we have a crosshair, OK button, home, mute, Youtube, Netflix, , Disney+, Prime Video and volume controls. At the bottom we have the integrated microphone hole for Google Assistant and a white status LED.

• Remote Control: BT remote control with illuminated keys / Compatible with partially with keyboard and mouse.
• Alternative control: It has a control app for Android TV.

The new Nokia Streaming Stick 800 has a micro USB OTG port that allows us to connect a USB + Ethernet HUB with power connector, this allows us to connect peripherals and expand the internal storage with a USB memory. The speed of this port allows us to reach up to about 220 MB/s and the Android TV system detects perfectly this connector in the settings.

• USB port: It allows us to connect a USB 3.0 HUB + microUSB OTG cable, for peripherals or to add Ethernet.

System and Performance

Environment and Android UI

We connect the Nokia Streaming Stick 800 to the power and it starts automatically. We will go through a configuration wizard where we can connect it with the Google Home app to our network of home devices, we can adjust the Wi-Fi, we also have backlit keys to see the remote control in low light.

Once the configuration is finished we get to the Android TV launcher based on rows with tabs of the contents or shortcuts to the installed apps. By default the system comes with some rows that can not be disabled, we have many recommendations and little own content, although we have the option to change the launcher if we want something without advertising. The overall performance is acceptable but not very fast if we have many rows activated. In addition the Android UI renders at 720p and looks quite poor.

• Launcher: We can change the launcher / Android UI rendering at 720p.
• Multitasking and access: Multitasking NOT available / Notifications the upper icon.
• Languages and Google Play: All the international Android languajes / Google Play for Android TV installed.
• Check our Android TV User Manual to install classic Android Apps, prevent screen rotation and much more.

System Settings

We review the system data and the options included in terms of root, we also note that power systems allows us this device. When starting the Android TV system we directly enter several OTA updates that fix bugs and jump to the Android 11 version.

• On/Off Controls: Sleep mode / Shutdown settings available.
• System and root: Android TV 11 (32 bit) / NO root / CPU S805X2 / Model Boreal.
• Support: Nokia OTA support / IMG firmware NOT available, only OTA update.

Network, storage, RAM and ports

The small Nokia Streaming Stick 800 has only 1 GB of RAM and for storage we have only 8 GB eMMC that fortunately we can expand it with a USB memory. It has a USB Type-C 2.0 port where we can connect an external HUB-C with different peripherals.

In the network section it has a Wifi ac 2T2R + Bluetooth 5.2 wireless adapter and an external USB Ethernet adapter that reaches USB 2.0 speeds can be connected. As we can see in the tests the results give sufficient values and we have enough speed for streaming and moving through apps, although the performance of the 4K model is better.

• Network: Internal Wifi antennas / Range -45 dBm / Link 5G 433 Mbps / Ethernet USB 2.0 / Bluetooth OK.

We found that the storage performance has good speed even though it is not the fastest, the system moves quite smoothly, on the other hand the RAM memory offers acceptable data. The performance of these components is noticeable in the speed at which apps start or in the switching between different sections of the device.

• Storage: Total 8GB  – Free 4GB / Expandable with a USB external memory.
• RAM: Total 1GB – Free 300MB / DDR.
• Ports: microUSB 2.0 OTG.
  
• We recommend reading our Tutorial SAMBA on Android networks if we are going to use files from our network PC.

Power and performance

The engine that drives the Nokia Streaming Stick 800 is the Amlogic S805X2 Quad Core chip with ARM Cortex-A53 processors up to 1.8 GHz and in the graphics section a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU which is in the mid-range. This processor is bit better than the classic S905W2 which is somewhat inferior to the S905X3 or the superior S905X4, but it is not bad at all. As can be seen in the results we only have a small improvement in single-core performance, it is well positioned equal to Fire TV-Stick 4K and somewhat below the Googlecast TV. A hardware inferior than the similar Chromecast with Android TV HD for example.

• CPU performance: Min 0.5 GHz / Working  1.2 GHz / Max 1.8 GHz

In the gaming aspect we can run games medium/low quality and also cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GForce Now or using the APK to install it. In the emulators section we can get at most run some Wii titles, but we will not have problems with 2D games of classic consoles with emulators like Retroarch or using KODI, the full OS EmuELEC is not compatible.

• Games and emulators: Is possible medium-low games /  NO Vulkan support / Basic emulators in RetroArch or KODI.
• Controls: Compatible with Bluetooth or USB Gamepads.

This low-cost SoC is manufactured in 12nm, has a fairly low power consumption and the cooling system maintains low temperatures in normal use. The processor manages the speeds correctly so as not to heat up excessively.

• Thermals: Min. 40ºC / Working 42 ºC / Max. 69ºC / Maintains performance up to 78% / Heat zone on the top / Noise 0db
• Consumption: Off 0.9W / Min 3W / Working 3.2W / Max. 5W

Video and Audio test

Video playback test

On the video playback side the Nokia Streaming Stick 800 supports most modern formats such as h.265, VP9 with native 1080@60fps HDR resolution support and is compatible with the recent AV1 codec but only with streaming apps such as YouTube or with the internal media player. We have good performance with 10bit color formats with HDR support and also with HDR10+. In the settings we can disable the HDR effect, we can also activate the Game Mode, which improves the lag of games. Now we also have auto refresh change in Android TV 11, but it is not yet functional in many apps.

In the audio aspect we can play DD and DTS sound up to 7.1 through its HDMI port with support for Dolby Audio and DTS 5.1 codecs. The Chromecast system works perfectly with all compatible services including apps like Netflix. It is possible to use players such as, IPTV, KODI or PLEX without the slightest problem by installing them directly from the Android TV store.

• Video Settings:  NO image quality settings / HDMI-CEC available, see manual / Automatic refresh rate not functional yet.
• Audio Settings: HDMI 7.1 / NO USB audio settings.
• Color and HDR: 10Bit / RGB / HDR 10+ / HDR on/off option.
• Media sharing: GoogleCast YES / Miracast NO / DLNA with BlubblePnP / Airplay NO.
• LibreELEC: This model is NOT compatible with LibreELEC or CoreELEC.
• Tutorials: Install add-on in KODI / Judder effect, how to fix it / Multi-channel audio guide / Fix dark video playback.
• We recommend reading the Setup Guide of our TV to get the best picture quality.

Video and audio results

• The maximum bitrate depends on the port used to connect or the limitations of SAMBA Networks.
• SW = does not have hardware acceleration and may have have some frameskip in very heavy files.

• PCM – Stereo only with downmix from DD or DTS
• Core – Only the core of the format is played back with what we passed to the Dolby or DTS base system / More info

Streaming services

We passed several tests on the streaming services to check how the most popular services work. The Nokia Streaming Stick 800 offers maximum compatibility with all current streaming services. As we have checked Netflix allows us to watch 1080p content with HDR10+ and Dolby Audio certificates. We also have Disney+ without sound problems and Prime video, Apple TV or HBO Max in good quality installable from Google Play if we look for it.

• DRM: Google Widevine L1 / Playready / CENC Clearkey.
• Audio / Video Certificates: DTS 5.1 – Dolby Audio / HDR10+.
• Tutorials: Change the size of the captions and the mouse pointer on Android.

Conclusions and buy links for Nokia Streaming Stick 800

Score

Opinion

Once we tested the Nokia Streaming Stick 800 we found that we are dealing with a fairly simple stick. With the Amlogic S805X2 SoC we can use any basic streaming app, simple games, emulators up to 16/32bit, although having only 1GB of RAM limits us in performance. This hardware is compatible with all streaming apps in high quality, plays Netflix or other streaming services with HDR10+ system and Dolby sound without problems, although it does not have Dolby Vision. It is also possible to use IPTV apps and run KODI where we can play 1080p video without problems.

In the connections section Nokia Streaming Stick 800 has a Wifi aC + BT 5.2 adapter with correct speeds for streaming, but if we want to connect it via Ethernet we need a USB OTG Hub. This Stick as we have tested does not get very hot in continuous use. The operating system is Android TV 11 Certificated, it offers stability and moves smoothly although this new OS needs to be polished a bit, this hardware also integrates Chromecast to send content from our mobile to the TV and is controlled with a Bluetooth remote control with backlit keys and integrated microphone compatible with Google Assistant to give orders.

As we have seen the Nokia Streaming Stick 800 is a TV-Stick with Android TV 11 economic and basic device for streaming apps or IPTV. A device that is interesting if we find it at a low price.

Where to buy

Nokia Streaming Stick 800

0.00

6.6

Hardware

6.0/10

Software

6.5/10

Connectivity

7.0/10

Design

7.5/10

Price

6.0/10

Pros

• Nice design
• Remote control with light and microphone
• Certified Android TV
• Netflix support
• Compact

Cons

• Only 1GB RAM
• Android UI 720p