2016-10-29, 07:31
Well thanks to Mr briand095, the Australia Post Kangaroo hopped up to the front door yesterday and I retrieved a Mi Box from its pouch !
You would not believe the amount of mail those hoppers can carry
Updated September 7th 2017
The Xiaomi Mi Box is running Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 with AMLogic S905X SoC hardware & Firmware update 12th Jan.
Tested with SPMC 16.7.1 and Kodi Krypton 17.4....
The Good:
The Bad
The Downright Ugly:
With about 4 Firmware updates since October 2016 the Mi Box has turned into a reliable media streamer. You get all the bells and whistles of an officially licensed Google ATV product in a nice snappy package with a really excellent remote.
Its looks like Xiaomi and AMlogic are actually providing decent Firmware support. The lack of Kodi (auto) dynamic refresh rate switching really is a PITA for those that love ultra smooth video playback. (can still switch manually). Hardware deinterlacing is still broken when using both SPMC and Kodi with TvHeadend.
WeTek Hub vs Xiaomi Mi Box - which is the better Kodi box ?
Further Hub vs Mi Box comparisons found in this link
By a nose, the LibreELEC / Android Lollipop (or unofficial Android TV OS) - WeTek Hub because of working refresh rate switching and TvHeadend deinterlacing when using Kodi for HD OTA TV. A proper GigaE port on the Hub too.
Its just a Pity the included IR remote control is rubbish.
Paid for, protected content, video streaming using proper Android TV, 4K Netflix with 5.1 Audio and Chromecasting baked in. With very easy to use, designed for TV - Apps. Then the Mi Box is the winner. Adoptable (External) Storage when using Android Marshmallow Firmware is useful to increase the limited internal storage on the Mi Box. The Mini 3.5mm Combo Headphone /SPDIF/Optical port on the Mi Box may be useful for some users too.
Android Marshmallow on the Mi Box seems at least 2X as fast as Android Lollipop running on the Hub.
I wish the Hub could have come packaged with the Mi Box's excellent Bluetooth, Voice - remote control.
W.
You would not believe the amount of mail those hoppers can carry
Updated September 7th 2017
The Xiaomi Mi Box is running Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 with AMLogic S905X SoC hardware & Firmware update 12th Jan.
Tested with SPMC 16.7.1 and Kodi Krypton 17.4....
The Good:
- Well built quality little device, Xiaomi really should have called it the "Saucer" - its not a box !
- The Android TV OS launcher and its specifically designed for TV, easy to use Apps, no damn Air Mice needed.
- The ultra responsive - Bluetooth Voice Remote really is excellent - in fact the best on the market for Android TV.
- A snappy device for $69, when navigating around the ATV GUI and Kodi.
- Chromecast / Googlecast built.
- 5.1 DD+ 4K - reliable Netflix confirmed working when connected to DD+ HDCP2.2 capable AVR / TV.
- 5.1 / 7.1 AC3 / DD+ / Dolby Atmos/TrueHD, DTS:X/HD-Master Audio passthrough confirmed working with Kodi Krypton
- 8/10bit 720/1080p playback is fine.
- AC WiFi is excellent, with great WiFi receiver sensitivity, no issues streaming 1080p Blurays via a MIMO Apple Extreme (N) router.
- There is an undocumented IR receiver, hidden on the front lower edge of the Mi Box.
- Harmony IR remotes programmed as a Xiaomi Mi Box3 mirror exactly the included Bluetooth remote functions.
- Tested out an old, (relatively power inefficient) 500GB 2.5" Hard Drive and have no issues with it running reliably on the Mi Box from the USB2 port due to the Mi Box's 5.2V / 2.0 Amp power pack.
- ASIX AX88772 Chipset - USB to Ethernet Adapters such as this cheap (Apple clone) one have been confirmed working on the Mi Box
- Other ASIX AX compatible adapters listed HERE and HERE
The Bad
- All Android TV devices will only output Netflix 5.1 DD+ Audio when HDMI connected to a DD+ capable AVR / TV. DD only, HDMI connected Audio equiptment will result in 2.0 PCM only audio.
- 99% of Android devices cannot Auto Resolution switch 1080p/4K for optimal quality picture outputs on a 4K TV.
- Chromecasting is not that reliable on Android TV devices vs proper Google Chromecasting Hardware.
- NO dynamic refresh rate switching.
You can still switching TV refresh rates manually in Android settings for 23.976 / 29.97 / 59.94fps video output.
- You will NOT get ultra smooth Kodi / Plex video playback. 3:2 Pulldown judder is evident for those sensitive to this type of video playback.
- Problematic Hardware deinterlacing when using Kodi/SPMC and TvHeadend. Use TvHeadend Live Channels App but you will still have poor deinterlaced picture quality.
- Workaround - SPMC TvHeadend - Software De-Interlacing tips for SD mpeg2 OTA TV - click HERE
- This device is locked down tight with Android SELinux, you cannot Root it. So I cannot even test my Bluetooth PS3 controller for compatibility. It will not work via a USB connection either. Other Android controllers reported to work fine. (see Reddit).
- Unless users have good home - N or AC WiFi - then 4K Netflix video streaming needs Ethernet for reliability. A USB to Ethernet adapter should be used. A reminder Android Settings > Display > Screen Resolution - need to be set to a 4K2K resolution.
The Downright Ugly:
- Because the Mi Box does not have a LAN/Ethernet port, High Bitrate 4K video with HD Audio - Kodi playback will be unreliable even when using a USB > Ethernet adapter. Do NOT buy the Mi Box for 4K Kodi video streaming !
With about 4 Firmware updates since October 2016 the Mi Box has turned into a reliable media streamer. You get all the bells and whistles of an officially licensed Google ATV product in a nice snappy package with a really excellent remote.
Its looks like Xiaomi and AMlogic are actually providing decent Firmware support. The lack of Kodi (auto) dynamic refresh rate switching really is a PITA for those that love ultra smooth video playback. (can still switch manually). Hardware deinterlacing is still broken when using both SPMC and Kodi with TvHeadend.
WeTek Hub vs Xiaomi Mi Box - which is the better Kodi box ?
Further Hub vs Mi Box comparisons found in this link
By a nose, the LibreELEC / Android Lollipop (or unofficial Android TV OS) - WeTek Hub because of working refresh rate switching and TvHeadend deinterlacing when using Kodi for HD OTA TV. A proper GigaE port on the Hub too.
Its just a Pity the included IR remote control is rubbish.
Paid for, protected content, video streaming using proper Android TV, 4K Netflix with 5.1 Audio and Chromecasting baked in. With very easy to use, designed for TV - Apps. Then the Mi Box is the winner. Adoptable (External) Storage when using Android Marshmallow Firmware is useful to increase the limited internal storage on the Mi Box. The Mini 3.5mm Combo Headphone /SPDIF/Optical port on the Mi Box may be useful for some users too.
Android Marshmallow on the Mi Box seems at least 2X as fast as Android Lollipop running on the Hub.
I wish the Hub could have come packaged with the Mi Box's excellent Bluetooth, Voice - remote control.
W.
