REVIEW: A95X F3 the best cheap Smart Box with SoC S905X3

A95X F3 is a new low-cost Android TV-Box that we present today in his review, a model that has the extended Amlogic S905X3 SoC, a chip that includes ARM Cortex-A55 CPU cores that replace the ARM Cortex-A53 from the previous S905X2.

This smart box has several very similar hardware versions, the A95X F3 Air and the A95X F3 Slim, all with the Android 9 Pie system. Let’s see in our review how this device behaves and how it defends itself against its rivals.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Unboxing

The A95X F3 comes in a standard cardboard box with a generic name in the top, inside we found the TV-Box, IR remote, HDMI cable 4K@60fps compatible, Manual and a DC 5V 2A adapter.

Description

This model A95X F3 is made in plastic and has a box design with lines and stands out for its superior LED strip that changes color rhythmically (can be disabled). On the front we have an LED display that indicates the time, on the sides and in the back area we have all the connectors in a classic configuration. This model includes a simple IR remote control that allows us to perform basic functions in apps like KODI but is limited for more complex ones.

Inside the audio jack we have the update button in case it is necessary to update the firmware. On the motherboard we can see the Wifi aC Dual Band + Bluetooth 4.2 (Mediatek MT7668RSN) chip little known and has one internal Wi-Fi antenna. The cooling system is simple, an aluminum heatsink attached to the SoC that as we will see fulfills its function, while on the top cover we have attached the module of the LED strip with four cables to the motherboard.

• Remote Control: Basic IR Remote with copy keys/ NO microphone / We can choose other alternatives.
• Alternate control: Have its own control app / We can try Cetusplay in our smartphone.

SYSTEM AND PERFORMANCE

Environment and Android system

We turn on the A95X F3 boots automatically, we arrive at a simple launcher based in squares, it is valid for use with the default remote, it has a upper row that we can customize with the icons of the apps we want. The installed apps include Airscreen, Miracast, Cetusplay, PLEX and TVMC (KODI) with various addons installed. The performance of Android 9 is quite good at the desktop level or with heavy apps, it works stable and without forced app closures. You can turn off the light LEDS with the app color light settings.

If we are going to play and make intensive use of this model we recommend buying the variant with 4GB of RAM, if we want to adjust our budget and we are only going to use it as a media player we may have enough with the 2GB model.

• Launcher: As an alternative we have Pixel launcher to use mouse or Ugoos for IR control / Android UI rendering at 1080p.
• Multitasking and access: Multitasking ONLY available in lower bar / YES lower Android bar but NO upper bar.
• Languages and Google Play: All the international Android classics / Google Play installed.

• On/Off Controls: If we keep press the power button we have reset and power off option / Configurable in settings.
• System version and root: Android 9 Pie (32 bit) / YES root by default / YES root menu / Build 2019-11-25 / Model Droidlogic Ampere.
• Support: A95X don’t have a site with firmware / Firmware available / Custom firmware not available yet.

Network, storage, RAM and ports

The model A95X F3 has eMCP memory for internal storage + DDR3 RAM, it has two USB 3.0 port and SD card reader. In the network section it has a wireless adapter Wifi aC Dual Band + Bluetooth 4.2 (Mediatek MT7668RSN) and Ethernet 10/100 port. As we can see in the tests the results are good, the wifi does reach decent speed figures although the range is normal for a model with an internal antenna.

• Storage: Total 32GB  – Free 29GB / NTFS + exFAT compatible / Expandable with a USB or SD external memory.
• RAM: Total 4GB – Free 3GB / DDR3.
• Network: Good speed with one internal wifi antenna / Range 42dBm, fine. / Bluetooth OK.
• We recommend reading our Tutorial SAMBA on Android networks if we are going to use files from our network PC.

Power and performance

In the performance level the A95X F3 has installed the Amlogic S905X3 a Quad Core SoC with ARM Cortex-A55 processors and in the graphic section a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU that is in the mid-range. This SoC is manufactured in 12nm, has a fairly low consumption but as we have seen the cooling system is basic and the temperatures are low all the time, the processor correctly scales the speeds so as not to overheat.

• CPU performance: Min 500 MHz / Working  MHz / Max 1,75 MHz
• Check our Amlogic S905X3 SoC Comparison against all SoCs in the sector for more details.

• Thermals: Min. 40ºC / Working  53ºC / Max. 60ºC / Maintains performance up to 100% / Heat zone on the top / Noise 0db
• Consumption: Off 0.6W / Min 3W / Working 4.1W / Max. 6.8W
• Games and emulators: IS possible to play titles such as PUBG with low settings / Emulators up to Wii / NO Vulkan support.
• Controls: Compatible with Gamepads by cable or bluetooth.

VIDEO AND AUDIO TEST

Video playback test

For the video playback aspect, the A95X F3 features the Amlogic S905X3 SoC and a VPU Advanced Video Engine Gen10 compatible with most modern video formats such as h.265 and VP9 with 4K HDR native resolution or even 8K@60fps support, don’t have video quality settings. We can use players like KODI or PLEX without the slightest problem, the system comes by default with a version of KODI full of addons that we recommend uninstalling. At the audio level we can play DD and DTS sound up to 5.1 through the HDMI port. Check our Amlogic S905X3 SoC Comparison against all SoCs to see more details about A/V aspects of this SoC.

• Video Settings: Image quality settings / RGB and SDR / HDMI-CEC available, see manual / Automatic refresh rate with root + AFRd.
• Audio Settings: HDMI and SPDIF up to 5.1 audio / Stereo Jack.
• Media sharing: GoogleCast NO / Miracast YES* / DLNA with BlubblePnP / Airplay YES* / *With Airscreen.
• LibreELEC: This model can be compatible with LibreELEC or CoreELEC.
• Tutorials: Install add-on in KODI / Judder effect, how to fix it / Multi-channel audio guide / Correct dark video playback in Android.
• We recommend reading the Setup Guide of our TV to get the best picture quality.

Video 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.

Audio test results

• Native – Supports the format directly in our AV receiver or similar / More info.
• Core – Only the 5.1 core of the format is played so we go to the Dolby or DTS base system / More info.
• PCM – Only stereo downmixing from DD or DTS.

Streaming services

We pass our usual tests with streaming services to check how the most popular services work. The A95X F3 presents the classic configuration without certifications which limits us in quality in several streaming services, luckily if it is compatible with most services even if they are in its most basic quality of SD video

• DRM: Google Widevine L3.
• Audio certification: No.
• Tutorials: Change the size of the captions and the mouse pointer on Android / Install Addons in KODI in a simple way

CONCLUSIONS AND BUY LINKS

Score

A95X F3

0.00

7.4

DESIGN AND CONNECTIVITY

7.5/10

HARDWARE

7.5/10

SYSTEM

8.0/10

SUPPORT

6.5/10

PRICE/QUALITY

7.5/10

Pros

• Cheap
• Fine tuned Android 9
• Good Wifi ac
• Root selector and lower Android bar
• LED lud can be turned off

Cons

• No Android upper bar
• Only Ethernet 10/100

Opinion

As we have seen in our analysis, the A95X F3 is Android TV-Box low-cost with many positive aspects, it has surprised us positively in general. In this device we have the Amlogic S905X3 SoC that improves its CPU cores to the Cortex-A55 and updates its VPU with VP9 video support up to 8K. The GPU allows us to play quite powerful titles like PUBG, if we are going to play we recommend the 4GB model, the 2GB model we only recommend as a media player with KODI programs.

At the level of WiFi connectivity the A95X F3 is quite good, its Wifi ac Dual Band adapter has acceptable speeds within its price, although its 10/100 Ethernet port could be Gigabit to take advantage of our local network. With this model we also have a basic IR control, a firmware with lower Android navigation bars, root selector, its cooling system works correctly and we will not have thermal problems at any time. Luckily the LED lighting strip located at the top is configurable and we can deactivate it through an app that includes.

In short, the A95X F3 is a low-cost TV-Box with good performance in general, at thermal level we have no problems, we have root selector and quite good Wi-Fi.

Where to buy for A95X F3

Add-ons