|
PRODUCT DETAILS
Unboxing
The Android TV-Box Mecool KM1 comes in a standard cardboard box with a generic the image of the device in the top, inside we found the TV-Box, BT remote, HDMI cable 4K@60fps compatible, Manual and a DC 5V 2A adapter.
Description
The case of the Mecool KM1 is made of plastic, it has the embossed Mecool logo on the top and it stands out on the top it has an imitation leather design, on the front it has a status led that changes color. This Box includes a Bluetooth remote control with basic microphone to carry out the most common operations on the Android TV system and it does not have the Flymouse option. In the lower area we have enough ventilation slots that help keep temperatures under control.
- To synchronize the remote with the TV-Box on the first start, press OK and Volume- at the same time.
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 2×2 MIMO + BT 4.2 (MTK7668RSN) chip little known and has two internal Wi-Fi antennas. The cooling system is simple, a thermal pad in contact with a metal sheet on the upper face as we will see fulfills its function.
- Remote Control: Basic BT Remote with copy keys/ NO Flymouse / YES microphone / We can choose other alternatives.
- Alternate control: We can use Android TV Remote Control app in our smartphone
SYSTEM AND PERFORMANCE
Environment and Android system
We connect the Mecool KM1 to the DC adapter, it starts automatically and we arrive at the default Android TV 9 launcher based on windows where we can customize the top row. In this device if we can use the mouse pointer on the main screen something not very common in Android TV. In the installed apps, Google’s own stand out, such as YouTube, Prime Video and from Google Play we can install any other compatible one. The performance of Android TV 9 is good thanks to the S905X3 SoC, it works correctly without forced closings with the classic apps and the system moves quite fast.
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: We can change launcher but we recommend the official / Android UI render at 1080p.
- Multitasking and access: Multitasking only from the remote control icon / Android notifications in the upper icon.
- Languages and Google Play: All the international Android classics / Google Play installed.
- Check our Android TV User Manual to install classic Android Apps, prevent screen rotation and much more.
- 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 TV 9 (32 bit) (v10 with OTA) / NO root by default / NO root menu / Build 2020-01-10 / Model VS KM1.
- Support: Mecool have a site with firmware / Firmware not available / Custom firmware not available yet.
Network, storage, RAM and ports
The TV-Box Mecool KM1 has eMMC memory for internal storage + DDR3 RAM, it has one USB 3.0 port and SD card reader. In the network section it has a wireless adapter Wifi ac 2×2 MIMO + BT 4.2 (MTK7668RSN) 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 two internal antennas.
- Storage: Total 32GBÂ – Free 29GB / NTFS + exFAT compatible / Expandable with a USB or SD external memory.
- RAM: Total 4GB – Free 3GB / DDR3.
- Network: Good speed with two internal wifi antennas / 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.
USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 | microSD | SATA | |
Read / Write | 23/18 MB/s | 82/37 MB/s | 21/19 MB/s | – |
Power and performance
The Mecool KM1Â 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, the performance is good in this device. 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 1MHz / Max 1,75 MHz
- Check our Amlogic S905X3 SoC Comparison against all SoCs in the sector for more details.
- Thermals: Min. 40ºC / Working 52ºC / Max. 65ºC / Maintains performance up to 100% / Heat zone on the top / Noise 0db
- Consumption: Off 0.6W / Min 3W / Working 4.1W / Max. 6.9W
- 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
The playback aspect in the Mecool KM1 is good thanks to the Amlogic S905X3 SoC and the 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.
This model has Chromecast that allows us to send Youtube, Prime video and Disney+ but it will not work with Netflix since it requires special certificates. Check out our Amlogic S905X3 SoC Comparison against all SoCs to see more details about A/V aspects of this SoC.
- Video Settings: NO image quality settings / RGB and SDR / HDMI-CEC available, see manual / NO automatic refresh rate
- Audio Settings: HDMI up to 5.1 audio / Stereo Jack.
- Media sharing: GoogleCast YES / Miracast NO / DLNA with BlubblePnP / Airplay NO
- 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
Formats | Result |
h.264 / 1080i / 8bit | Frameskip |
h.264 / 1080p / 4K / 8bit | OK |
h.264 / 1080p / 10bit (anime) | Frameskip (SW) |
h.265 / 1080p / 8bit | OK |
h.265 / 1080p / 10bit (anime) | OK |
h.265 / 4K@24fps / 8bit | OK |
h.265 / 4K@60fps / 10bit HDR | OK |
VP9 P1 / 4K@24fps / 8bit | OK |
VP9 P2 / 4K@60fps / 10bit HDR | OK |
VP9 P2 / 8K@60fps / 10bit HDR | OK (only in KODI) |
AV1 / 4K@24fps / 10bit | Frameskip (SW) |
Max. Bitrate | 100 Mbps = 12,5 MB/s. |
- The maximum bitrate depends on the port used to connect or the limitations of SAMBA Networks.
- SWÂ = does not have hardware acceleration and may have have some frameskip in very heavy files.
Audio test results
Formats | DD / DTS 5.1 | DD+ / DTS MA | DD True / DTS HR | DD Atmos / DTS X |
HDMI | OK / OK | Core | Core | Core* |
Optical | – | – | – | – |
- PCM – Stereo only doing downmix from DD or DTS
- Core – Only the core of the format is played back with what we passed to the Dolby / DTS base system
* Our AV receiver does not support these native formats but we verify that it is played back to 7.1
Streaming services
Passing our usual tests with streaming services we check how the most popular services work. The Mecool KM1 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 L1 / Microsoft Playready / HDCP 2.2
- Certification: Google cast certified
- Chromecast: Compatible with Youtube / Prime video / Disney+ / NO Netflix
- Tutorials: Change the size of the captions and the mouse pointer on Android /Â Install Addons in KODI in a simple way
Streaming service | Video / Audio | Result | Manual |
Youtube | 4K HDR (2160p) / Stereo | OK | – |
Google Play Movies | FullHD (1080p) / Stereo | OK | – |
Netflix | SD+ (540p) / Stereo | OK, installing the mobile apk | Netflix Guide |
HBO | FullHD (1080p) / Stereo | OK | HBO Guide |
Amazon Prime Video | HD (720p) / Stereo | OK | Amazon Prime Guide |
Disney+ | 4K HDR (2160p) / Stereo | 4K mobile app, SD on Android TV app (see audio trick) | Disney+ Guide |
DAZN | HD (720p) / Stereo | OK | – |
IPTV | FullHD (1080p) / Stereo | OK | – |
CONCLUSIONS AND BUY LINKS
Score
Opinion
After analyzing the new Mecool KM1 we can describe it as an acceptable TV-Box with S905X3 SoC that has the Google certification as an extra. This allows us to use Chromecast with various applications such as YouTube, Prime Video or Disney+, too bad that it does not have Dolby audio support that forces us to lower the audio quality in some services in order to listen to something. A device that has efficient cooling and internal storage of acceptable speed.
As for connectivity, the Mecool KM1 has good performance thanks to its Dual Band Wifi aC adapter that achieves a good acceptable although the range could be better, it only has a 10/100 Ethernet port that slightly blurs the whole. At the software level we have a stable Android TV (v10 with OTA available), although we miss options such as the automatic refresh change or root selector. The included remote has a microphone that allows us to use Google Assistant directly, it hurts that it is not Flymouse although on Android TV it is not so necessary.
As we see the Mecool KM1 an interesting Certified model that stands out for having Chromecast and being compatible with quite a few streaming platforms, which is a pity about the absence of Dolby certification. If we are interested in a cheap TV-Box Android TV this Mecool may be valid.
Where to buy
|
- Consult our recommended models to see other alternatives.
Add-ons
|
Hello, I inform you that reading a topic on the CE forum I verified that CoreELEC works on the Mecool KM1, as you also inform in your review.
So I tested Batocera and EmuELEC and I proved that these frontends also work I published two amateur videos in Portuguese on You Tube.
I used Google Translate.
Hello, where did you see this box Android 10 as an update.
Only 2 other boxes are listed on their website.
But not this box!
https://www.mecoolonline.com/pages/software-updates
The update is only available by OTA.
Contact with Mecool if you don’t have it.