4K UltraHD content is the new standard for visual entertainment and we’ve taken a look at a lot of high-end graphics cards to experience 4K gaming but for those like me that do have 4K screens, the problem is enjoying video content on them. With Youtube now offering 4K as well as many other online streaming platforms doing the same, there’s a whole world of enjoyment out there ready to be experienced. That brings up the issue though that not all 4K TVs offer support for these online services which means you’ll need something to enjoy these content as well as your other multimedia files and there are many solutions out there and today we have exactly that: the MXIII-G 4K TV Box from GearBest.
Specifications
General | Type: TV Box Model: MXIII-G Color: Black System: Android 5.1 GPU: Mali-450 CPU: Amlogic S812 Core: Quad Core RAM: 2G ROM: 8G Max. Extended Capacity: 32G |
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Media Supported | Decoder Format: H.265 Video Format: MKV, MPEG, MOV, RM, MP4, AVI, DAT, WMV, MPG Audio Format: FLAC, RM, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG Photo Format: JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG |
Specification | Support XBMC: Yes Support 5G WiFi: Yes WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth: Bluetooth4.0 Power Supply: Charge Adapter Interface: SPDIF, USB2.0, OTG, HDMI, AV, RJ45, TF Card |
Dimension and Weight | Product Weight: 0.201 kg Package Weight: 0.529 kg Product Size (L x W x H): 11.4 x 11.4 x 2.0 cm / 4.48 x 4.48 x 0.79 inches Package Size (L x W x H): 20.5 x 15.5 x 5 cm / 8.06 x 6.09 x 1.97 inches |
Package Contents | Package Contents: 1 x MXIII-G TV Box, 1 x Power Adapter, 1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x IR Remote Control, 1 x English Manual |
Closer Look
The MXIII-G is measures around 4″ x 4″ and is just 1″ in thickness. The MXIII logo is emblazoned on the top of the device with a 4K marking denoting its output capabilities. Underneath the device is a simple raised base with venting holes for cooling. The sides are mostly bare with the expansion ports on 2 sides including the rear breaking up the uniformity. The power button is located on top and has a LED indicator for status display. Our sample is the EU 2GB + 8GB model which has 2GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. The MXIII-G also features WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 as well as expansion via USB2.0 ports and an OTG port. The device comes with Android 5.1 OS. Included in the package is an the MXIII-G TV box, an OTG cable, an HDMI cable, a power adaptor and a remote.
The I/O ports for the MXIII-G are in the back which includes the DC adaptor jack, an audio output port, the Gigabit LAN port, an HDMI and SPDIF.
A simple remote is included which has shortcuts for easy access of mostly used functions for the MXIII-G. Also a mouse toggle button is present to navigate through menus, not easy to use though as compared to a touchpad or mouse.
User Interface
The main interface is a tile-based menu along with the apps menu. The settings UI is also made for easier use with a remote but we used a wireless keyboard/touchpad to make using it more suitable in our tastes as we were going to install a few applications first.
Our display supports 4K @ 60hz but the device is only capable of outputting up to 4k2k 30hz.
User Experience & Conclusion
Straight out of the box, the MXIII-G TV box is already fully functional. You have the entire Google Play store for your content and multimedia connectivity for your media at home. Hooking it up in our 4K TV, we decided to up the display resolution to the maximum 4K resolution but since we really don’t have much 4K content to view we highly recommend dipping it to the standard 1080p resolution. 4K reso seems a bit laggy when browsing around but content playback (if you have it) is relatively smooth with no noticeable lag in playback. For general use though, 1080p is fine and is where you’ll mostly be comfortable at given the number of content right now is in 1080p. Playing from various sources like Twitch, Youtube, our inhouse NAS (you may need an app for this) or a USB flash drive was all smooth and you have the option to use any video player you want.
The UI isn’t as smooth as more refined products in the market but in terms of accessibility its decent. If you’re not going to be staying around in the home menu and mostly just browsing around your media files, then its fine. For those that would be using apps though, its either you use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo or like mine, a keyboard/touchpad combo for easier navigation. It also makes the MXIII-G TV box a home PC substitute for browsing.
Currently priced at $60 at GearBest for the 2GB+8GB model, the MXIII-G is a fairly decent device. Modern Smart TVs will mostly cover what the MXIII-G can do but if you’re like me that want to watch Twitch on the big screen or something more efficient than a Windows mini-PC, the MXIII-G is a perfect choice. Consuming an average of only 5w, the MXIII-G Android TV Box cost-effective way to extend your TVs functionality, even if its already a smart TV.
The MXIII-G can be purchased at GearBest right now for $60.21.