This is an absolute bargain and its dispatched from the EU warehouse so no waiting weeks for it to turn up! Perfect for first time users of TV Boxes as it has Kodi pre installed!
Most Affordable 4K Google TV Player XBMC H.265 Decoding Android 4.4 H3 Quad Core 1GB 8GB 2.4G WiFi LAN HDMI.
Website description below
Main Features:
● Support DLNA.
● KODI pre-installed: Over 50 most popular Add-ons installed in your KODI.
● XBMC supported. XBMC can be used to play almost all popular audio and video formats.
● True 4K x 2K Quad Core XBMC H.265 decoding. High performance quad core cortex-A7 CPU paired with the powerful Mali400MP2 GPU graphics processor which provide the best TV box experience.
● Features 1GB DDR3 RAM 8GB ROM (with maximum external capacity up to 32GB).
● 2.4GHz WiFi, connect effortlessly in a world without wires.
● HDMI connectivity for the best 4K x 2K FHD multimedia experience.
● Full HD 1080P supported.
● Comes with a RJ45 port for 10 / 100M Ethernet which provides a strong network extension.
● Support Miracast.
● Multi-language supported for multiple regions and dialects around the world.
Upgrade Method:
● USB fastboot (the USB cable is must be A-type): http://www.mediafire.com/download/wwaan2md61uva4z/update_XII_V104k4.img
● Local update: https://mega.nz/#!00BD1SCB!-g2e8sJdA5rvH5cNh407vkKom4aYH_b6SvOYU9qcUhQ106k
Beelink X2 new software upgrade introduction:
● Version: X2_201k4.
● Based on: 106k4.
● Selection of audio/ pass through/ SPDIF can be saved after reboot.
● Revised kodi 14.2 based on ALLWINNER H3 SOC. 50Mbps H.264 video can decode, update audio sync.
● Some trival adjustments, such as remove power off pop-up message, built allcast for airplay and so on.
Note: Local upgrades should via USB 2.0 disk or copy the files to your Beelink X2, can not use TF card.
Specifications
General
Brand: Beelink
Model: X2
Type: TV Box
GPU: Mali400MP2
System: Android 4.4
CPU: H3
Core: Quad Core,Cortex A7
RAM: 1G
ROM: 8G
Max. Extended Capacity: 32G
Color: Black
Media Supported
Decoder Format: H.265
Video format: 1080P,AVI,MKV,MPG,MP4,WMV,RM,MOV,DAT,MPEG,4K x 2K
Audio format: WMA,AAC,MP3,OGG,FLAC
Photo Format: JPEG,GIF,BMP,JPG
Product Details
Support XBMC: Yes
WIFI: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Power Supply: Charge Adapter
Interface: HDMI,USB2.0,RJ45,SPDIF,Micro SD Card Slot
Antenna: Yes
Dimension and Weight
Product weight: 0.162KG
Package weight: 0.470 KG
Product size (L x W x H): 11.00 x 11.00 x 1.75 cm / 4.33 x 4.33 x 0.69 inches
Package size (L x W x H): 20.00 x 11.50 x 5.50 cm / 7.87 x 4.53 x 2.17 inches
Package Contents
Package Contents: 1 x Beelink X2 Android 4.4 TV Box, 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x Remote Control, 1 x English Manual
Top comments
spufmonkey to g8spur
17 Jun 165#7
I run kodi perfectly well on a raspberry Pi 2 with 1gb Ram, i would imagine this will do just as well... even better with a custom build.
Also many people use Amazon firesticks for kodi with no issues.. again 1GB Ram :smiley:
AndyRoyd
17 Jun 164#86
Sounds like naff advice bordering on disinformation. The S905 is the most effective SOC available at the moment and capable of playing virtually anything thrown at it including high bitrate 10bit x265/HEVC. Suggesting a mk808b plus stick is "best bet" for x265 1080p is equally bizarre as it is now simply outdated by the "mk808b Pro" that uses an SOC of... S905, Seriously doubt the average user could find any mainstream (sic) advantage of the S805 used in the mk808b+ compared to the S905.
Would suggest the best bang for buck at the moment will fall into one of these, including one for the tinkerers:
£31.90 ex-UK 2GB RAM 16GB storage http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_349815.html?wid=3
£28.51 ex-China fully featured hardware of 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, bluetooth, dual wifi, gigabit LAN, 4xUSB, AV output, utter rubbish firmware requiring a straightforward reflash via USB A-A cable, http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_359008.html plus optional 99p USB cable ex-UK http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132 .
If absolutely minimal money is to be spent, £20.20 ex-UK: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391476043010
baldrick45
17 Jun 164#43
Would just add a slight note of caution.
Got one of these around 6 weeks ago for around £30. It had constant 'noise' on the screen and would periodically freeze then restart itself (every 10-15 mins). Gearbest were - despite a generally perception on HUKD that they have poor aftersales - very good and after a few emails and photos / low res vids to prove there was a real problem - gave me a full refund and told me just to keep the defective unit.
At that point I opened it up and found there was only one of the sticky thermal pads to transfer heat from the processor to a large heatsink in the lid. The pad was well stuck to the metal plate of the heatsink but had only the tiniest square indent to suggest there was any contact with the top of the processor itself. I suspect this was the problem for me. As soon as I ran an app (KODI) it got too hot and eventually some thermal protection mechanism cut in and forced a reboot.
I also have a Minix TV box which cost me £100 two years ago - but that is one seriously well-engineered piece of kit with excellent wifi reception and it has never missed a beat. Beelink are a long-time OEM manufacture for TV boxes and are now a reasonably well recognised and regarded manufacturer under their own name - but you need to recognise this is bottom end low-margin gear which just won't have the same manufacturing QA as more expensive units.
At this price it is worth a punt? - Yeah - probably. But if you're someone who just needs your gadgets to work, understand that its cheap for a reason and at least consider whether you'd be better off paying a bit more.
My 2 cents anyway!
g8spur
17 Jun 164#5
Don't see the point of buying one of these for Kodi with only 1gb of Ram.
All comments (133)
pete_l
17 Jun 16#1
System: Android 4.4 Shame it's running such an old (vintage 2013) version of android.
I know kit-kat isn't the newest either but its just an example showing it can be upgraded :smiley:
g8spur
17 Jun 164#5
Don't see the point of buying one of these for Kodi with only 1gb of Ram.
spufmonkey to g8spur
17 Jun 165#7
I run kodi perfectly well on a raspberry Pi 2 with 1gb Ram, i would imagine this will do just as well... even better with a custom build.
Also many people use Amazon firesticks for kodi with no issues.. again 1GB Ram :smiley:
ibrahih6
17 Jun 16#6
It comes up to £20.15?
spufmonkey to ibrahih6
17 Jun 16#8
Not on mine..
utigers
17 Jun 16#9
Whats the advantage of this over the fire stick?
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#10
4K... Price... Hardwired option.. i dont have one myself but thats just a few benefits i can see. hope this helps :smiley:
OdhranC
17 Jun 161#11
Sometimes old is good. To be fair, Kitkat is a pretty sold and robust OS. Besides it could be a heck of a lot worse... Imagine it being eclair or donut lol anyway heat from me considering spec and cost
HazzerPB
17 Jun 16#12
Coming up £20.15 for me
rev6
17 Jun 16#13
That's slightly different. Android being much more overhead than a tiny Linux installation. If you make sure there's no baggage you can get away with 1GB.
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#14
True, a custom lightweight kodi build will make this a cracking box!
BubaMan
17 Jun 162#15
Cheers OP - having a punt at this price.
Now, what to do with the 3x NowTV boxes and 2x Fire Sticks I won't need :stuck_out_tongue:
spufmonkey to BubaMan
17 Jun 161#16
Stick em in the for sale section on here :smiley:
mrew42
17 Jun 161#17
+ True Android and Google Play store .
bluntendo
17 Jun 161#18
Moan moan moan, £20 for an android computer that can play snes Megadrive psx game boy , nes, Amiga, Atari , c64, surf the net, Facebook , torrents, sound cloud, and you're upset that kodi might not play a film copied with a camcorder with people walking past and coughing at 4k with no frames dropped? Duh... How much does a fire TV cost and what are the specs of that? Plus you have to sideload the firetv stick which is quite annoying...
spufmonkey to bluntendo
17 Jun 16#19
Good point.. this is sooo much more than copyright infringement tool! :smile:
ji29zard
17 Jun 161#20
Thanks OP :smiley:
HazzerPB
17 Jun 16#21
Now at £20.69, price keeps going up. Ordered anyway. Any recommended software/updates?
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#22
when i click the link on the post its still £17.44??? weird...
Is this going any better than plugging your laptop into your TV ?
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#27
Not for me???
Tapasman
17 Jun 161#28
Still £17.44 for me, even after adding it to cart and proceeding to checkout. Try clearing your browser cache and (Gearbest) cookies.
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#29
depends what your gonna use it for? its soo much more than a movie player/streamer
genmaxiu
17 Jun 16#30
good price however I would rather buy something which is OTA upgradeable.
wpj
17 Jun 16#31
"No waiting weeks for it"............. Have to disagree; bought the M18 Beelink (7 in stock in UK warehouse at the time) and it took almost 3 weeks to arrive. Only started to move when I told them to cancel. I then received a shipping notification, but it didn't go out until 3 days later.
Having said all that, things ordered for the EU warehouse have, previously, arrived within a few days.
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#32
So how can you disagree then?? :confused::stuck_out_tongue:
jouster
17 Jun 16#33
The 4K benefits are sketchy at best. A lot of reviews I've seen online show native 4K clips being played (filmed with a 4K cameras gone) and even the 2GB machines have issues with stuttering and the like.
So id say DONT buy it for the 4K alone, price is good of course The description doesn't mention the NIC speed so I'll assume 10/100, to be honest that will work BUT if you are streaming anything with a hi nitrate like 4K rips, without a gigabit port you might get a bit of stutter.
I bought a beelink MXIII with 2GB/16GB and that plays back my server based media stuff without issues and it was only £4 more from eBay seller via China.
sminton9
17 Jun 16#34
Does this broadcast HD Freeview channels? And does it record?
agoatson
17 Jun 161#35
ordered cheers
RHodgett
17 Jun 161#36
Thanks
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#37
Its not a freeview/freesat box bud. its for streaming content iplayer, on demand ect. it will however allow you to watch TV channels through Kodi (a media streaming system) https://kodi.tv/
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 163#38
The reason the box is so cheap is because it's using an Allwinner SoC, which is by far the worst chipset due it not being open source, which means no community support.
Can forget about running OpenElec or dual booting on these, it's worth spending an extra few quid for an Amlogic.
rdbradshaw
17 Jun 161#39
For me says $24 then goes into basket changes to £24.99
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#40
its an entry level android box, hence the pre installed stuff.. but the spec is well worth the money!
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#41
try clearing cookies ect :smiley:
cjhilton49
17 Jun 16#42
Will I be able to load a vpn/proxy server on this to use outside the UK?
baldrick45
17 Jun 164#43
Would just add a slight note of caution.
Got one of these around 6 weeks ago for around £30. It had constant 'noise' on the screen and would periodically freeze then restart itself (every 10-15 mins). Gearbest were - despite a generally perception on HUKD that they have poor aftersales - very good and after a few emails and photos / low res vids to prove there was a real problem - gave me a full refund and told me just to keep the defective unit.
At that point I opened it up and found there was only one of the sticky thermal pads to transfer heat from the processor to a large heatsink in the lid. The pad was well stuck to the metal plate of the heatsink but had only the tiniest square indent to suggest there was any contact with the top of the processor itself. I suspect this was the problem for me. As soon as I ran an app (KODI) it got too hot and eventually some thermal protection mechanism cut in and forced a reboot.
I also have a Minix TV box which cost me £100 two years ago - but that is one seriously well-engineered piece of kit with excellent wifi reception and it has never missed a beat. Beelink are a long-time OEM manufacture for TV boxes and are now a reasonably well recognised and regarded manufacturer under their own name - but you need to recognise this is bottom end low-margin gear which just won't have the same manufacturing QA as more expensive units.
At this price it is worth a punt? - Yeah - probably. But if you're someone who just needs your gadgets to work, understand that its cheap for a reason and at least consider whether you'd be better off paying a bit more.
My 2 cents anyway!
jouster
17 Jun 16#44
Buy cheap buy twice.
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 16#45
But see... here is the problem.
What if you want to watch a movie with the preinstalled Kodi (the only one that semi works due it being closed source, you cant run official well) starts stuttering.... that's it, there is nothing you can do.
You are taking a massive gamble that the movie you want to watch, with the codec and bitrate will work correctly - if it doesn't then you can absolutely forget about it ever working.
They are low in price because people who tend to use these devices do not touch them with a 10 foot barge pole for a reason. Rockchip is just as bad but they actually have some impressive specs.
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#46
you could use one from the playstore :smiley:
bazjf
17 Jun 161#47
So, it wouldnt be possible to just uninstall the pre-installed Kodi and then download the latest from google playstore?
duynguyendav1
17 Jun 16#48
So how long does it take for the MXIII to reach your house since you ordered on ebay? I'm planned to ordered one but have to leave the country after 3 weeks so I unable to receive the box if they delivere after 3 weeks.
Thanks a lot
David
Jimmyboy
17 Jun 16#49
I'm not sure this would be capable of outputting 4K as no mention the HDMI is HDCP 2.2 which I believe is required?
(or is this just for HDR, I can't remember)
spannerzone
17 Jun 161#50
Thanks for the link, interesting read that..... sadly it seems inevitable that something has to give and no one will care until Kodi disappears and/or their free movies/tv/music stops working one day. It seems to be like kazaa or limewire all over.
rdbradshaw
17 Jun 161#51
My kids cleared them out yesterday before tea
AndyRoyd
17 Jun 16#52
Strongly suggest consider cancelling. The far superior AMLogic S905 can be had for less money ex-UK with similar 1GB/8GB hardware spec and gigabit connectivity, example £20.20 dlvd: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391476043010
notavalidaddress
17 Jun 16#53
Are these not aimed at watching TV channels you normally don't have access to or have to pay for?
Can't say I'd be too keen on sticking this on my network - who knows what dodgy software is running in the background.
hcc27
17 Jun 16#54
These boxes are more flexible than the Amazon devices (though you can add Kodi to the FireStick now). The only issue I see is that none of these boxes will ever give you Full HD Netflix or Amazon content. Netflix pre-approve (in that they physically test) devices to which they deliver Full HD content and the list is rather rarefied - Amazon devices are included:
Any box not on this list will not receive a Full HD stream, as for 4K well forget about it. All you'll receive is a piddling 480p stream and that's a crying shame. I bought an M8S mini off the Gearbest sale recently and (apart from the well known wifi issue) it really is very good; unfortunately watching Netflix on it wants to make me cry. Only realised after some Googling that the above is the issue.
Jump to 16:08s on this video where the guy demonstrates the Netflix issue with this particular box:
This looks good, but interesting they don't mention the brand of box or even show a piccie of the top of the box in the adverts.
cjhilton49
17 Jun 16#56
Thanks will give that a go
toiletseatlicker
17 Jun 16#57
Follow comment no.2 and then reinstall kodi.
Ghastlie
17 Jun 16#58
Very tempting... Any idea what the H265 support is like? That's the one thing that RPi/Fire TV Stick is missing for me
toiletseatlicker
17 Jun 16#59
So, it wouldnt be possible to just uninstall the pre-installed Kodi and then download the latest from google playstore?[/quote]
Follow comment 2 and then reinstall kodi.
joshs86
17 Jun 16#60
I have this box and it works great for the price. I haven't upgraded the OS either.
wpj
17 Jun 16#61
Because things seem to have changed! I saw one place that said the EU warehouse has now been moved to Hungary, though I don't know if it is true.
jouster
17 Jun 16#62
Mine took just over 2 weeks so could be cutting it close....definitely worth the wait though
duynguyendav1
17 Jun 16#63
Can you pm me ebay link that you ordered? I'm unable to find it right now, cheapest I found is £27.
Thanks a lot
David
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 161#64
Yes, but it will use the CPU to decode for some codecs, not the GPU - it will run significantly worse and will struggle to hit 1080p.
At that point, the £5 Pi would be a better choice as a media player.
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 16#65
The 905 is a new chipset and doesn't have much support yet, usually they are not fully working and need a few months to mature. I imagine it shouldn't be too bad and you will be able to use hardware decoding on official Kodi.
If you're looking for h265 and happy at 1080p your best bet would be an mk808b plus stick, it has OpenElec and can dual boot to android - should be around £20, or wait until the support is there and get the similiary priced new 905 revision with 4k.
Please explain? it will struggle anyway or because of the 'clean' install from the play store?
pannan
17 Jun 16#68
Where do you get that from? Sounds completely untrue to me
john184
17 Jun 16#69
Nothing. I have had both and the fire stick is the better for running Kodi although I haven't found a way of completely removing the Amazon interface.
The best thing about this box is the ethernet port if you have flaky WiFi.
4K is pointless IMO on this box as the limited RAM and processor speed will result in buffering unless you have top notch fibre.
Also the android 4.4 will limit your add-on compatibility and the preinstalled Kodi addons are nearly all broken and require a clean install.
Despite this, the box is still good value and alnist half the price of a fire stick.
fatdeeman
17 Jun 162#70
"4K is pointless IMO on this box as the limited RAM and processor speed will result in buffering unless you have top notch fibre."
I'm sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about. CPU speed and network speed are two separate things, you can't make up for a lack of one by having an excess of the other.
Read the above, if in doubt or have no idea still simply don't buy.
john184
17 Jun 16#74
Obviously, but the RAM is insufficient to store virtually any 4K runtime and the processor doesn't help to deinterlace the larger file sizes regardless of codecs. You can play 4K on patchy fibre if there is enough RAM to buffer but there isn't in this case. I have KODI on this box, on PC and on fire stick and this box is the worst by a fair margin.
chickentikkaman
17 Jun 161#75
Just leaving this here : Linux on Beelink X2
Hope you don't mind Spufmonkey? :wink:
fatdeeman
17 Jun 161#76
Do you know what deinterlace means?
What bitrates are the files you're streaming? I can stream 4k netflix fine and I don't have fibre. The bitrates of 4k content you find in Kodi is generally much lower than the approx 15mbps of Netflix.
67traveller
17 Jun 16#77
This is Sooooo going to get me laughed at, but is there a link to somewhere that will help me understand what this thing actually is, and what I can do with it? I really don't 'get' this tv box business at all, I just have Sky+
zombrex
17 Jun 16#78
why runs fine on firestick
bryanhaines399
17 Jun 161#79
put filmon on the now tv boxes and sell them on eBay as IPTV boxes. plenty with Plex installed but few with filmon which is much more use to noobs who aren't streaming from a server
This.
As for the person who was saying that it takes a couple months for the s905 chipset to kick in, it's been out since last November - 8 months ago. I have had no issues with my boxes on s905 and would recommend Amlogic all the way.
mrew42
17 Jun 16#84
Yeah OK fella. I was posting on my mobile and didn't see all the stuff above.
Nice an condescending BTW
AndyRoyd
17 Jun 16#85
I haven't found an S905-based box that couldn't smoothly decode x265/HEVC even at 10bit and high bitrates. Some lesser boxes can handle x265 but fallover at 10bit, but not the S905.
AndyRoyd
17 Jun 164#86
Sounds like naff advice bordering on disinformation. The S905 is the most effective SOC available at the moment and capable of playing virtually anything thrown at it including high bitrate 10bit x265/HEVC. Suggesting a mk808b plus stick is "best bet" for x265 1080p is equally bizarre as it is now simply outdated by the "mk808b Pro" that uses an SOC of... S905, Seriously doubt the average user could find any mainstream (sic) advantage of the S805 used in the mk808b+ compared to the S905.
Would suggest the best bang for buck at the moment will fall into one of these, including one for the tinkerers:
£31.90 ex-UK 2GB RAM 16GB storage http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_349815.html?wid=3
£28.51 ex-China fully featured hardware of 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, bluetooth, dual wifi, gigabit LAN, 4xUSB, AV output, utter rubbish firmware requiring a straightforward reflash via USB A-A cable, http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_359008.html plus optional 99p USB cable ex-UK http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132 .
If absolutely minimal money is to be spent, £20.20 ex-UK: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391476043010
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 16#87
Really depends on how you use it, as the 905 OpenElec port isn't quiet there yet, which means you will need to run the Android version which will potentially have the framerate issue which plagues near all Android devices if you are using the adjusting framerate option.
The mk808b plus currently will do everything the 905 does bar 4k, it can also dual boot into Android with minimal fuss via remote.
I plan to replace it when it gets to that stage, but lets agree that this really should not be the device you should be buying, as the Amlogics are the better product by far. It would be worth getting the 905 if you want to use Android only and happy to flash a custom rom, or waiting a few months until OpenElec with hopefully dual booting.
Edit: On Gearbest you can buy the NexBox MXQ Pro for £18, that's using 905 has an OpenElec port (no dual boot yet), completely puts this deal to shame which is why despite not voting I shall now be voting cold.... seriously, spend the extra £1.
spufmonkey
17 Jun 16#88
nice one.. this should run sweet with Linux on :wink:
TwentyTwo
17 Jun 161#89
I apologise, it was not intended to be condescending - some people buying these will expect it to work flawlessly out of the box which will not be the case.
Ferris
17 Jun 16#90
Apart from the remote, what is the advantage of this over an identically specced, similarly priced Android tablet connected over HDMI, which you can then also use for far more (as it has a screen)? Or is it just the remote that makes the deal?
nekoangel
17 Jun 162#91
Care to show us all the tablet your thinking of?
rajja
17 Jun 16#92
wouldnt touch anything like these with a bargepole. If you want a proper kodi experience go for an old pc £30 with libreelec installed or openelec for the old boys. If you want a proper android experience without using a tablet or phone use an old pc with amiduos installed.for cheap kodi experience rasp pi latest model will just about do it.
an old dual core pc with a 2 to 4gb ram with windows 7 ,kodi and amiduos would work a treat. Or spend a bit more and build a cheap htpc.
These boxes are so crap and you will probably end up with it in the cupboard collecting dust or selling on gumtree.
fatdeeman
17 Jun 163#93
An old dual core isn't going to play 4k for a start and unless it has hardware x264 decoding it's going to be inefficient even for 1080p. You'd be better off with a Raspberry pi with hardware decoding or a windows tablet or an Android tablet or indeed one of these boxes. Anything but buying a bulky 10 year old PC just so it can get out of breath playing 1080p video whilst burning through 50 times the electricity.
woodg8
17 Jun 16#94
i've had an s805 for 4/5 years but recently bought an s905 and it was literally packed with little bugs. it can't passthrough audio very well so DTS/Dolby Digital surround sound constantly stutter every 5 seconds which make it impossible to watch. There's no real multitasking compared to the s805 (as soon as you press the home button, every app just shuts off) and countless other little bugs.
Kodi 17 has helped with dolby decoding but there's still plenty of other problems with it. I wouldn't recommend getting an S905 just yet until all the problems are sorted. I've gone back to my tried and tested S805, which just works perfectly.
kalico
17 Jun 16#95
DON'T chance it with GearBest.
I bought this exact device from them. Arrived ok and seemed a nice bit of kit. After 3 days it stopped working so I contacted Gearbest. Or should I say that I tried to. I would have had more success just banging my head against a wall.
They are, without question, the absolute worst of any company I have ever dealt with. Needless to say I have a now kaput Beelink box gathering dust. Just take your money and flush it down the loo. If anyone needs a power adaptor or remote for one,.....
67traveller
17 Jun 16#96
Do any of you people speak English at all? :disappointed:
chickentikkaman
18 Jun 16#97
you can put linux on these boxes too
Ferris
18 Jun 16#98
Generic Chinese ones with similar specs go for this sort of price or less all the time on eBay. I bought one last year that I now use for Kodi/iPlayer etc, but I can always disconnect it from the TV and use it for games or browsing or whatever. It's just always puzzled me why anyone would buy a single use box when everything it does can be done just as well (if not better) by a more multi-functional device. On another telly I run Kodi off a Windows tablet, which cost £25 and is essentially a PC.
The only exception I can see is that the Kodi remote app is most likely inferior to a physical remote.
cb-uk
18 Jun 16#99
Never use your main debit/credit card on GearBest. Always use a prepaid/disposable card to avoid theft of your identity.
This is why most banks' security teams will contact you immediately after you make a GearBest transaction.
HTH :wink:
porkchopkid
18 Jun 16#100
agree buffering issues galore
rev6
18 Jun 16#101
Zero cache works. Or get one that you can install OpenELEC or LibreELEC on.
beastman
18 Jun 16#102
Can you clarify the detail on the reflash please? What does the reflash do and where are the instructions? Also this is for the MXQ Pro+ right? Thanks.
fatdeeman
18 Jun 16#103
Just use zero cache, it will use the device storage instead of RAM then. I guess Android must be inefficient with RAM compared to windows, don't get buffering issues on my 1gb windows tab.
rev6
18 Jun 16#104
The memory management is just completely different. You could say inefficient :smile:
Uridium
18 Jun 16#105
So contact paypal or or credit card company. If you paid using Debit card then there is a lesson there..
honest_geezer
18 Jun 16#106
I haven't had any of the issues you've mentioned
smiler594
18 Jun 161#107
For all the complainers - stick to fire sticks. Since my £19.99 lightning deal last year, I've never been happier.
However, this deal is HOT on price alone. Have heat op!
AndyRoyd
18 Jun 161#108
Simplisticly: the firmware supplied with the MXQ Pro+ (repeat: MXQ Pro+) is rubbish, as are the manufacturer firmware updates to time of this post. Even Gearbest who sell the MXQ Pro+ advise customers not to buy it (see post 235 on this page, posted 15 June 2016) however the box is very useable after a workaround firmware reflash. The suggested firmware reflash is to clone/port a respected Tronsmart box's firmware to the MXQ Pro+. Easiest reflash method can be summarised via
1) loading simple software to a device running a Windows OS (example: windows PC, windows tablet)
2) copying a file to the reflash program's installation folder
3) running the reflash program, two-click language change & telling it where the new firmware is
4) hitting the program's start button
5) connecting a USB cable from the windows device to the OTG USB port of the MXQ Pro+ (the only usb port on the MXQ Pro+'s rear panel). Example 99p USB A-A cable for full-size USB port http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132
6) waiting 3 minutes for the flashing to do its thing whilst you make tea / go to the toilet / stare at the program's flash progress indicator in boredom.
Job done, and you didn't even need to connect the mains power supply to the MXQ Pro+.
Download the .img firmware to be flashed (circa 1GB .img file) : https://yadi.sk/d/hShDYbf2ru7n3/Firmware/Port
Download the windows reflash prog and the file to be added to flash program's lic folder: https://yadi.sk/d/hShDYbf2ru7n3/USB%20Burning%20Tool
The full reflash methodology can be viewed at post 3 here, just ignore the first three lines and start from "Install the USB burning tool..."
Although the box is very useable after the reflash, further updates will depend on enthusiasts' support, unless the manufacturer releases something decent, although this is not expected (30mins of reading this thread only indicates poor manufacturer support).
AndyRoyd
18 Jun 161#109
Agreed, although OP is via EU warehouse providing notable shipping / source benefits over the China-despatched similarly-priced but prefereable S905-based MXQ Pro option.
castley1
18 Jun 16#110
Nice. But beware u need 2gb for 4K or you will constantly see "buffering"
fatdeeman
18 Jun 16#111
For £17 quid you can't go wrong, if you get buffering issues just use zero cache.
An s905 based system would be preferable but this is still cracking for £17
Personally I'm waiting for the new chipsets to come out that will at least technically have the necessary DRM to allow netflix 4k, I don't want to buy one of these till they can do 4k netflix, even on a 1080p display 4k looks better due the downsampling condensing the detail and increasing the colour fidelity.
fatdeeman
18 Jun 16#112
You can set zero cache so the permanent storage is used instead of RAM but more importantly the statement doesn't make any sense, a 1080p file can be much larger than a 4k files it all depends on the bitrate.
The limited RAM in itself is not an obstacle to playing 4k content, it won't cause stuttering or buffering if you were playing back from local storage, it's only an issue if your connection or the file host is slow and even then the zero cache setting will get around it.
HereKittyKitty
19 Jun 16#113
I have this box. It's pretty nifty but does struggle sometimes, with Samba Server, ES File explorer, uTorrent and either PopcornTime/Showbox/Kodi running. I'd be inclined to spend a bit more and get one with 2gb RAM
rack
19 Jun 16#114
Gearbest worst company ever selling shi* for peanuts
AndyRoyd
20 Jun 16#115
Seems a reasonable general cost ethos; nobody in their right mind would want to pay big money for shi*.
BubaMan
20 Jun 16#116
I would have thought that most people will be using this as a consumption device (i.e. running one playback app only) but it's interesting that you have those other apps running...
I take it you stream some content and down/upload others...?
I use an old desktop to serve out Plex (populated via SickRage / uTorrent) to my house and friends & family and an Andoid box would be a neater solution but I don't think it's very easy to serve Plex out from Android and I'd lose transcoding.
Food for thought though :smiley:
adam0812
20 Jun 16#117
Sorry if this is a stupid questions but can this plan films (say in MKV format) from an SD or USB stick? Would playback at 1080p be smooth?
honest_geezer
20 Jun 16#118
yes and yes
porkchopkid
20 Jun 16#119
Ok I'll try that on firestick
AndyRoyd
20 Jun 16#120
Resolution probably not as important as bitrate.
1080p MKV x264 at (almost) any bitrate will be OK.
1080p MKV x265/HEVC up to reasonable bit rate should be OK.
1080p MKV x265 at high bitrate will be questionable.
1080p MKV x265 10bit at any bitrate will be a disaster.
HereKittyKitty
21 Jun 16#121
My connection isn't reliable enough for streaming so I just download stuff in uTorrent/PopcornTime/whatever and save it to my hard drive
amour3k
22 Jun 16#122
Debit Cards ALSO have a form of the Credit Cards 'Section 75' thing too!.
But unlike that of the Credit Card where its more or less instant.
The Debit Cards equivalent is at the discretion of the 'Card Company' that issued you with the Debit Card in the first place (eg. your Bank, rather than Mastercard instead ..... )
So depends how you look at it?. :-)
scunny
22 Jun 16#123
Will these stream live football like a firestick loaded with kodi?
AndyRoyd
22 Jun 16#124
This item has Kodi pre-loaded, together with a selection of circa 50 add-ons. It will be the add-on(s) used with Kodi that gives you potential access to streams. Probably best to identify whatever add-on you believe you need, than load it to Kodi if not already installed.
dommyboy2
22 Jun 16#125
Recieved mine today and it doesn't even boot up!will have to get in touch with gearbest and see what can be done.
kalico
22 Jun 16#126
Haha! (Not at you, BTW). All I can say is "Good luck with that" and when you despair of Gearbest and decide that they are the absolute epitome of how NOT to do customer service, then please be sure to come back on here and let everyone know. Really, that company should be put out of business. Despite shocking service from many other firms, I can think of none of them that I would say that about.
AndyRoyd
23 Jun 16#127
Maybe times are changing? One exampe of HUKD member's recent happy Gearbest customer service experience here.
scunny
23 Jun 16#128
Thanks. Think I'll buy and try at this price
AndyRoyd
23 Jun 16#129
If you don't like Gearbest, maybe consider similar item ex-UK at around £19 but with S905 chipset which as you may have noticed from posts in this thread is regarded as beneficial compared to OPs Allwinner H3: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182177674617
In reply,i've gotten in touch with gearbest and they replied within 24hours,asked a few stupid non related questions,i replied and they offered me a full refund.they've processed it via PayPal. So all in all,ive had a pretty good experience with them.
jazzuk777
18 Jul 16#132
Anyone know whether this item and similar can be used to cast from my phone, and whether casting is dependent on an internet connection, if casting media is on my phone SD Card? TiA! :smiley:
AndyRoyd
18 Jul 16#133
Not tried it, but most of these devices support Miracast and have a Miracast app pre-installed which by definition do not require internet access if the source media is physically and completely stored on source device.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Most Affordable 4K Google TV Player XBMC H.265 Decoding Android 4.4 H3 Quad Core 1GB 8GB 2.4G WiFi LAN HDMI.
Website description below
Main Features:
● Support DLNA.
● KODI pre-installed: Over 50 most popular Add-ons installed in your KODI.
● XBMC supported. XBMC can be used to play almost all popular audio and video formats.
● True 4K x 2K Quad Core XBMC H.265 decoding. High performance quad core cortex-A7 CPU paired with the powerful Mali400MP2 GPU graphics processor which provide the best TV box experience.
● Features 1GB DDR3 RAM 8GB ROM (with maximum external capacity up to 32GB).
● 2.4GHz WiFi, connect effortlessly in a world without wires.
● HDMI connectivity for the best 4K x 2K FHD multimedia experience.
● Full HD 1080P supported.
● Comes with a RJ45 port for 10 / 100M Ethernet which provides a strong network extension.
● Support Miracast.
● Multi-language supported for multiple regions and dialects around the world.
Upgrade Method:
● USB fastboot (the USB cable is must be A-type): http://www.mediafire.com/download/wwaan2md61uva4z/update_XII_V104k4.img
● Local update: https://mega.nz/#!00BD1SCB!-g2e8sJdA5rvH5cNh407vkKom4aYH_b6SvOYU9qcUhQ106k
Beelink X2 new software upgrade introduction:
● Version: X2_201k4.
● Based on: 106k4.
● Selection of audio/ pass through/ SPDIF can be saved after reboot.
● Revised kodi 14.2 based on ALLWINNER H3 SOC. 50Mbps H.264 video can decode, update audio sync.
● Some trival adjustments, such as remove power off pop-up message, built allcast for airplay and so on.
Note: Local upgrades should via USB 2.0 disk or copy the files to your Beelink X2, can not use TF card.
Specifications
General
Brand: Beelink
Model: X2
Type: TV Box
GPU: Mali400MP2
System: Android 4.4
CPU: H3
Core: Quad Core,Cortex A7
RAM: 1G
ROM: 8G
Max. Extended Capacity: 32G
Color: Black
Media Supported
Decoder Format: H.265
Video format: 1080P,AVI,MKV,MPG,MP4,WMV,RM,MOV,DAT,MPEG,4K x 2K
Audio format: WMA,AAC,MP3,OGG,FLAC
Photo Format: JPEG,GIF,BMP,JPG
Product Details
Support XBMC: Yes
WIFI: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Power Supply: Charge Adapter
Interface: HDMI,USB2.0,RJ45,SPDIF,Micro SD Card Slot
Antenna: Yes
Dimension and Weight
Product weight: 0.162KG
Package weight: 0.470 KG
Product size (L x W x H): 11.00 x 11.00 x 1.75 cm / 4.33 x 4.33 x 0.69 inches
Package size (L x W x H): 20.00 x 11.50 x 5.50 cm / 7.87 x 4.53 x 2.17 inches
Package Contents
Package Contents: 1 x Beelink X2 Android 4.4 TV Box, 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x Remote Control, 1 x English Manual
Top comments
Also many people use Amazon firesticks for kodi with no issues.. again 1GB Ram :smiley:
Would suggest the best bang for buck at the moment will fall into one of these, including one for the tinkerers:
£31.90 ex-UK 2GB RAM 16GB storage http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_349815.html?wid=3
£28.51 ex-China fully featured hardware of 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, bluetooth, dual wifi, gigabit LAN, 4xUSB, AV output, utter rubbish firmware requiring a straightforward reflash via USB A-A cable, http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_359008.html plus optional 99p USB cable ex-UK http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132 .
If absolutely minimal money is to be spent, £20.20 ex-UK: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391476043010
Got one of these around 6 weeks ago for around £30. It had constant 'noise' on the screen and would periodically freeze then restart itself (every 10-15 mins). Gearbest were - despite a generally perception on HUKD that they have poor aftersales - very good and after a few emails and photos / low res vids to prove there was a real problem - gave me a full refund and told me just to keep the defective unit.
At that point I opened it up and found there was only one of the sticky thermal pads to transfer heat from the processor to a large heatsink in the lid. The pad was well stuck to the metal plate of the heatsink but had only the tiniest square indent to suggest there was any contact with the top of the processor itself. I suspect this was the problem for me. As soon as I ran an app (KODI) it got too hot and eventually some thermal protection mechanism cut in and forced a reboot.
I also have a Minix TV box which cost me £100 two years ago - but that is one seriously well-engineered piece of kit with excellent wifi reception and it has never missed a beat. Beelink are a long-time OEM manufacture for TV boxes and are now a reasonably well recognised and regarded manufacturer under their own name - but you need to recognise this is bottom end low-margin gear which just won't have the same manufacturing QA as more expensive units.
At this price it is worth a punt? - Yeah - probably. But if you're someone who just needs your gadgets to work, understand that its cheap for a reason and at least consider whether you'd be better off paying a bit more.
My 2 cents anyway!
All comments (133)
http://chinagadgetsreviews.com/download-latest-kitkat-4-4-2-stock-firmware-for-beelink-x2-tv-box.html
Also many people use Amazon firesticks for kodi with no issues.. again 1GB Ram :smiley:
Now, what to do with the 3x NowTV boxes and 2x Fire Sticks I won't need :stuck_out_tongue:
http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_193367.html?wid=3&utm_campaign=7988612&utm_source=cj&utm_medium=affiliate&from=affiliate_cj
Also i posted link to the kit-kat update walkthrough earlier :smiley:
https://kodi.tv/the-piracy-box-sellers-and-youtube-promoters-are-killing-kodi/
Having said all that, things ordered for the EU warehouse have, previously, arrived within a few days.
So id say DONT buy it for the 4K alone, price is good of course The description doesn't mention the NIC speed so I'll assume 10/100, to be honest that will work BUT if you are streaming anything with a hi nitrate like 4K rips, without a gigabit port you might get a bit of stutter.
I bought a beelink MXIII with 2GB/16GB and that plays back my server based media stuff without issues and it was only £4 more from eBay seller via China.
Can forget about running OpenElec or dual booting on these, it's worth spending an extra few quid for an Amlogic.
Got one of these around 6 weeks ago for around £30. It had constant 'noise' on the screen and would periodically freeze then restart itself (every 10-15 mins). Gearbest were - despite a generally perception on HUKD that they have poor aftersales - very good and after a few emails and photos / low res vids to prove there was a real problem - gave me a full refund and told me just to keep the defective unit.
At that point I opened it up and found there was only one of the sticky thermal pads to transfer heat from the processor to a large heatsink in the lid. The pad was well stuck to the metal plate of the heatsink but had only the tiniest square indent to suggest there was any contact with the top of the processor itself. I suspect this was the problem for me. As soon as I ran an app (KODI) it got too hot and eventually some thermal protection mechanism cut in and forced a reboot.
I also have a Minix TV box which cost me £100 two years ago - but that is one seriously well-engineered piece of kit with excellent wifi reception and it has never missed a beat. Beelink are a long-time OEM manufacture for TV boxes and are now a reasonably well recognised and regarded manufacturer under their own name - but you need to recognise this is bottom end low-margin gear which just won't have the same manufacturing QA as more expensive units.
At this price it is worth a punt? - Yeah - probably. But if you're someone who just needs your gadgets to work, understand that its cheap for a reason and at least consider whether you'd be better off paying a bit more.
My 2 cents anyway!
What if you want to watch a movie with the preinstalled Kodi (the only one that semi works due it being closed source, you cant run official well) starts stuttering.... that's it, there is nothing you can do.
You are taking a massive gamble that the movie you want to watch, with the codec and bitrate will work correctly - if it doesn't then you can absolutely forget about it ever working.
They are low in price because people who tend to use these devices do not touch them with a 10 foot barge pole for a reason. Rockchip is just as bad but they actually have some impressive specs.
Thanks a lot
David
(or is this just for HDR, I can't remember)
Can't say I'd be too keen on sticking this on my network - who knows what dodgy software is running in the background.
These boxes are more flexible than the Amazon devices (though you can add Kodi to the FireStick now). The only issue I see is that none of these boxes will ever give you Full HD Netflix or Amazon content. Netflix pre-approve (in that they physically test) devices to which they deliver Full HD content and the list is rather rarefied - Amazon devices are included:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/why-android-and-other-devices-cant-stream-hd-netflix/
Any box not on this list will not receive a Full HD stream, as for 4K well forget about it. All you'll receive is a piddling 480p stream and that's a crying shame. I bought an M8S mini off the Gearbest sale recently and (apart from the well known wifi issue) it really is very good; unfortunately watching Netflix on it wants to make me cry. Only realised after some Googling that the above is the issue.
Jump to 16:08s on this video where the guy demonstrates the Netflix issue with this particular box:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEVXKRdOj5M
Follow comment no.2 and then reinstall kodi.
Follow comment 2 and then reinstall kodi.
Thanks a lot
David
At that point, the £5 Pi would be a better choice as a media player.
If you're looking for h265 and happy at 1080p your best bet would be an mk808b plus stick, it has OpenElec and can dual boot to android - should be around £20, or wait until the support is there and get the similiary priced new 905 revision with 4k.
Edit: If you need a 'box' take a look at the supported devices from here: http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/23766-rom-unofficial-openelec-for-mk808b-and-mxq
The best thing about this box is the ethernet port if you have flaky WiFi.
4K is pointless IMO on this box as the limited RAM and processor speed will result in buffering unless you have top notch fibre.
Also the android 4.4 will limit your add-on compatibility and the preinstalled Kodi addons are nearly all broken and require a clean install.
Despite this, the box is still good value and alnist half the price of a fire stick.
I'm sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about. CPU speed and network speed are two separate things, you can't make up for a lack of one by having an excess of the other.
Apps don't have access to it.
Hope you don't mind Spufmonkey? :wink:
What bitrates are the files you're streaming? I can stream 4k netflix fine and I don't have fibre. The bitrates of 4k content you find in Kodi is generally much lower than the approx 15mbps of Netflix.
As for the person who was saying that it takes a couple months for the s905 chipset to kick in, it's been out since last November - 8 months ago. I have had no issues with my boxes on s905 and would recommend Amlogic all the way.
Nice an condescending BTW
Would suggest the best bang for buck at the moment will fall into one of these, including one for the tinkerers:
£31.90 ex-UK 2GB RAM 16GB storage http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_349815.html?wid=3
£28.51 ex-China fully featured hardware of 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, bluetooth, dual wifi, gigabit LAN, 4xUSB, AV output, utter rubbish firmware requiring a straightforward reflash via USB A-A cable, http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_359008.html plus optional 99p USB cable ex-UK http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132 .
If absolutely minimal money is to be spent, £20.20 ex-UK: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391476043010
The mk808b plus currently will do everything the 905 does bar 4k, it can also dual boot into Android with minimal fuss via remote.
I plan to replace it when it gets to that stage, but lets agree that this really should not be the device you should be buying, as the Amlogics are the better product by far. It would be worth getting the 905 if you want to use Android only and happy to flash a custom rom, or waiting a few months until OpenElec with hopefully dual booting.
It's worth visiting this website for reference on progression: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=255686
Edit: On Gearbest you can buy the NexBox MXQ Pro for £18, that's using 905 has an OpenElec port (no dual boot yet), completely puts this deal to shame which is why despite not voting I shall now be voting cold.... seriously, spend the extra £1.
an old dual core pc with a 2 to 4gb ram with windows 7 ,kodi and amiduos would work a treat. Or spend a bit more and build a cheap htpc.
These boxes are so crap and you will probably end up with it in the cupboard collecting dust or selling on gumtree.
Kodi 17 has helped with dolby decoding but there's still plenty of other problems with it. I wouldn't recommend getting an S905 just yet until all the problems are sorted. I've gone back to my tried and tested S805, which just works perfectly.
I bought this exact device from them. Arrived ok and seemed a nice bit of kit. After 3 days it stopped working so I contacted Gearbest. Or should I say that I tried to. I would have had more success just banging my head against a wall.
They are, without question, the absolute worst of any company I have ever dealt with. Needless to say I have a now kaput Beelink box gathering dust. Just take your money and flush it down the loo. If anyone needs a power adaptor or remote for one,.....
The only exception I can see is that the Kodi remote app is most likely inferior to a physical remote.
This is why most banks' security teams will contact you immediately after you make a GearBest transaction.
HTH :wink:
However, this deal is HOT on price alone. Have heat op!
1) loading simple software to a device running a Windows OS (example: windows PC, windows tablet)
2) copying a file to the reflash program's installation folder
3) running the reflash program, two-click language change & telling it where the new firmware is
4) hitting the program's start button
5) connecting a USB cable from the windows device to the OTG USB port of the MXQ Pro+ (the only usb port on the MXQ Pro+'s rear panel). Example 99p USB A-A cable for full-size USB port http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251052828132
6) waiting 3 minutes for the flashing to do its thing whilst you make tea / go to the toilet / stare at the program's flash progress indicator in boredom.
Job done, and you didn't even need to connect the mains power supply to the MXQ Pro+.
Download the .img firmware to be flashed (circa 1GB .img file) : https://yadi.sk/d/hShDYbf2ru7n3/Firmware/Port
Download the windows reflash prog and the file to be added to flash program's lic folder: https://yadi.sk/d/hShDYbf2ru7n3/USB%20Burning%20Tool
The full reflash methodology can be viewed at post 3 here, just ignore the first three lines and start from "Install the USB burning tool..."
Although the box is very useable after the reflash, further updates will depend on enthusiasts' support, unless the manufacturer releases something decent, although this is not expected (30mins of reading this thread only indicates poor manufacturer support).
An s905 based system would be preferable but this is still cracking for £17
Personally I'm waiting for the new chipsets to come out that will at least technically have the necessary DRM to allow netflix 4k, I don't want to buy one of these till they can do 4k netflix, even on a 1080p display 4k looks better due the downsampling condensing the detail and increasing the colour fidelity.
The limited RAM in itself is not an obstacle to playing 4k content, it won't cause stuttering or buffering if you were playing back from local storage, it's only an issue if your connection or the file host is slow and even then the zero cache setting will get around it.
I take it you stream some content and down/upload others...?
I use an old desktop to serve out Plex (populated via SickRage / uTorrent) to my house and friends & family and an Andoid box would be a neater solution but I don't think it's very easy to serve Plex out from Android and I'd lose transcoding.
Food for thought though :smiley:
1080p MKV x264 at (almost) any bitrate will be OK.
1080p MKV x265/HEVC up to reasonable bit rate should be OK.
1080p MKV x265 at high bitrate will be questionable.
1080p MKV x265 10bit at any bitrate will be a disaster.
But unlike that of the Credit Card where its more or less instant.
The Debit Cards equivalent is at the discretion of the 'Card Company' that issued you with the Debit Card in the first place (eg. your Bank, rather than Mastercard instead ..... )
So depends how you look at it?. :-)
you can also install areswizrd (just google it)