CNXSoft: An other review by Ray for an Amlogic S905X powered TV box provided by Videostrong.
MECOOL BM8 specifications
The specifications are pretty standard, except for the large flash:
- SoC – Amlogic S905X quad core Cortex A53 @ 2.0GHz with a penta-core Mali-450MP GPU
- Memory – 2GB DDR3 RAM
- Storage – 32GB eMMC flash + card reader for SD/SDHC/MMC cards
- Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K*2K “super HD video” with HDR support and AV outputs
- Audio Output – HDMI, AV, and optical S/PDIF
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 port
- Supports HEVC (H.265) decoding
The TV box runs Android 6.0.
Unboxing
The box comes with 3 different Power Adapters, a HDMI cable, power supply and a completely oversized (20cm/5cm) remote control with “learning modes ability”. No manual was inside the box.
The Videostrong MECOOL BM8 is a 4-core Android TV box, very small and astonishingly smart. Both its length and width are only 95mm and the height is just at a amazing 19mm. You can hold it in your palm.
Review / Impressions
Videostrong MECOOL BM8 is one of the new Android 6.0 TV Box models in 2016. Android 6.0 is to improve user experience compared with other versions of TV Boxes. People can install or uninstall software, games and application programs more convenient and easily. Android 6 is supposed to handle the old memory handling of older Android versions better and more effective.
Videostrong MECOOL BM8 comes with Android 6.0.1 OS, an impressive 2GB RAM, and a massive 32GB storage. It provides users with a better experience to enjoy 4K Ultra HD video. Crispy Pictures and a fantastic sound quality are delivered by this very well designed box.
The device booted in just 13.8 seconds the first time, and the second time even faster. This box reboots in a shocking 11.4 seconds! Boot times are with a 500GB USB HDD and a MeLe F10 Deluxe remote. Those are the best results I ever saw so far with an Android box!
I tested Bluetooth with my iPhone 5S, and it worked flawlessly. MeLe F10 Deluxe air mouse also just worked with out issues. I could install all apps I wanted with the Google Play store.
Kodi is working in a glance, gone the times, where we have to wait endless time, before Kodi switched off, now in 1 to 2 seconds done. The Box comes with a Krypton 17.0 (compiled 28. July 2016.)
By my opinion not a good choice, Krypton Kodi is still in “pre-release” and if you want to install a “build” later on, you may have to uninstall and go for the latest Jarvis Release 16.1. Not many builds made for Krypton right now.
In the apps Section we find a Kodi ADD-ons updater. What this App really does, stays unknown, no update to find, because of the newest version already installed.
Truly one of the better boxes. I never have had any kind of “bad feeling”, by using and testing this box. Big Points collect this box in the field of IPTV and streaming. Glas clear picture, crispy sound. I connected my Samsung Dolby Soundbar, and the result was great. So it should be and has to be!
I am not a big fan of fancy lab testing, these results are often not to read or to handle for the ordinary customers. A TV Box should give no headache, so easy is that, and I must say, this box gives the buyer no headache or trouble at all. I highly recommend this box for the average use.
Benchmarks
Vellamo 3.2: Browser 2026; Metal 1057; Multicore 1520
Antutu 6.2.1: Overall 34429; 3D 3026; UX 13714; CPU 12396; RAM 5293
Conclusion
IPTV Fan? This Box is for you! Kodi Fan? This Box is for you!
- Pros:
- Speedy LAN, great Wi-Fi, perfect Bluetooth 4.0
- Highly stable, smooth and fast firmware
- Superfast booting
- Nicely designed, small and compact
- Very good value for the money
- No temperature issues
- Cons
- Again the Remote, to huge, to unhandy
Wholesalers can purchase MECOOL BM8 from Videostrong on Alibaba. I could not find the device on any Chinese online stores at this time [Update: Geekbuying offers MECOOL BM8 for $68.99], but GearBest sells a similar looking – but with lower specs (1GB/8GB) – MECOOL HM8 TV box for $29.75 including shipping.
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If I can make comments on the ‘editor’ side, the review is interesting but a bit heavy on superlative.
e.g.
an impressive 2GB RAM, and a massive 32GB storage. It provides users with a better experience to enjoy 4K Ultra HD video. Crispy Pictures and a fantastic sound quality are delivered by this very well designed [and astonishingly smart] box.
>[Ray is] not a big fan of fancy lab testing, these results are often not to read or to handle for the ordinary customers.
We are not ordinary customers, we are readers of CNX Software. And we do care if it plays 4K and if the WiFi is slow.
@Bruce
Yeah good points. This “mini review” sounds a lot like an advertisment. Except for the “Beta” Kodi there is nothing negative mentioned in this “review”. Sounds fishy.
@Bruce
Hi Bruce
this box has no “issues” in playing “rare 4K’s”, the Wifi is, like i mentioned, fast and with no issues at all.
I am a IPTV specialist, Bruce, and the most customer’s or buyer’s of these 30 to 50$ TV Boxes
are simply Kodi user’s or watching IPTV, maybe even call their mailboxes..This Box do all without any kind of issues. I must say even outstanding, compaired to many other boxes! NO ISSUES with this fantastic little beauty. And fancy Lab testings with a 30 to 50$ Android Box…come on, Bruce…
@Hulk Hogan
Fishy? why this sounds so for you, Hulk Hogan? You like negatives, but sorry, with this box I can not serve you with
any kind of negatives, except the remote (by my opinion) and maybe the installed Kodi-Version, which is easy to replace from a buyer.This Box is great! No doubt about it!
Scores are slightly higher (in some tests) than S802. I made upgraded AOSP based kernel for S802 (3.10) and did exactly same tests few days ago (Vellamo, Antutu).
Any 3Dmark tests?
And in Antutu are there artifact, square patches problems where land meets water?
@Stane1983
It’s also slightly faster than my results with NEXBOX A95X and MINI M8S II, but still slower than all Amlogic S905 TV boxes I’ve tested.
Should be noted that it comes with Kodi Kodi 17.0 Alpha, Beta or a Nightly Build, and not the final version of Kodi 17.0 …because that is not even available yet.
@Harley
You are right, but i “noted” exactly this.((By my opinion not a good choice, Krypton Kodi is still in “pre-release”)) Anyway, even this Pre-Release was pretty stabil, but as a lover of “builds” like i said, not a good choice, i guess.
@ray
What about OTA software updates? Is it supported?
In the Videostrong on Alibaba site they only sell 10 pieces…
@Paulo
You can buy more if you want…
Ray gave me a few other pictures, but I did not include them all. One of them shows OTA firmware update support.
@digeratus
@cnxsoft
Just a new fancy redesigned software update, which on most TV boxes never updates anything from the date the device was bought. It just sits there reporting that the box is up to date, completely useless and firmware and security updates are never forthcoming.
@cnxsoft
I mean … i only want to by one 🙂
@Paulo
Alibaba is for wholesalers who buy in quantities to resell the device, but maybe you could try to purchase one sample for evaluation there by chatting with the salesperson there.
I think you’d better just be patient, and it will most probably be listed on some others websites soon for people who want to buy one.
@Paulo
You did not have to wait for too long. It’s just been added to GeekBuying for $68.99 -> http://www.geekbuying.com/item/BM8-Amlogic-S905X-Android-6-0-Marshmallow-KODI-17-1-TV-BOX-371458.html
@Paulo, you will NOT be disappointed in buying this Box!
@ray
This so called “Review” IS nothing but an advertisement for this Box. A blatant one at that.
eg.
“This Box do all without any kind of issues”
What absolute rubbish. You are running a bleeding edge Android 6.0 on a brand new AMLogic SoC and then using a very early Kodi Krypton pre-release. There are actually a SHITLOAD of bugs on AML Kodi, not to mention the bleeding edge AML Firmware.
I’m calling this the biggest “Pinocchio” review of the year on CNX-Software !
You call me a liar? Are you gone mad? What is it with people like you anyway? Your language, buddy, is more then disturbing! We on cnxsoft do our very best, neutral and without any false recommendations! Over 300 Boxes already going through my hands, so..i guess i have the right to call a good box a “good box”, right?
Never understand people like you, out for trouble and offend other people!
COOLEME is a re-branded MiniM8SII.
http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905x/others-aml-s905x/firmware-roms-tools-bx/589497-mod-for-tanix-tx5-pro-minim8sii-and-nexbox-a95x-cooleme-mb1-frankenstein-firmware-wip?p=592026#post592026
Check the MiniM8SII review also.
So it MECOOL a rebrand of a rebrand perhaps or a different brand?
Now I’m confused, but all these boxes should have the exact same boards inside.
@ray
Ray, I’m new to cnx-software, but have been actively reading for the past 3-4 months and can also find the superlative description in your article being more marketing than technology oriented.
Words like massive, impressive, crispy, shocking, flawlessly are raising a warning flag and readers today expect non-biased review from sites like this. Most of the times superlative word choice in a tech review results in skepticism with negative effect on the good product.
@feelgood, can you understand, that..after so many miserable designed and fabricated Boxes i saw, that it’s like a “summer breeze” having a box in my hands, who fulfils most of the buyers exception’s? The Mecool BM8 is a great little Box, i have no doubt about it! Jean-Luc and me are European’s, not native Anglo-Saxons, so..sometimes simply a kind of hyper english we write, buddy. I forget many times the little more sensibility of english people..Guess you understand.
@cobra89
the MiniM8SII has only 8 GB Ram (Meecool BM8 32GB) and a few other minor differences..
@cobra89
Not that model. The case dimensions are different, and the ports arrangements even more different.
There are different MECOOL models, so it’s possible one of them is similar.
From what I know, Videostrong is a manufacturer, and they have several customers using their designs.
http://www.videostrong.com/about.asp
Did it drm widevine support?
@userkare, Supported:Google Widevine Level3
@ray
I see that they have OTA capabilities, but does it actually work? Do you know if they intend in maintaining their software and releasing it OTA? Last but not least, do you know if they have a 2G/8G version or 2G/16G version? 32 just seems like a lot and it increases the price.
Thanks
@digeratus, yes, they have other versions as well. But i have no information when they are availabe for the enduser, hopefully soon.
Take a look:https://videostrong.en.alibaba.com/productgrouplist-803530268/Amlogic_S905X_New_.html
in the OTA matter, i will contact them asap and let you know
@ray, I’m saying your lazy as well.
Where is the 5.1 / 7.1 Audio testing ?
Where is the 720/1080p/2160p video testing ?
What about refresh switching ?
Where is the 24p testing on AMLogic devices to look for those Oh so famous “black playback screens” after the TV refresh switches at the start Kodi video playback ?
Crap AMLogic Android Firmware when used with Kodi is famous for this 24p black screen bug, especially with Kodi Jarvis.
How about HDMI CEC control which virtually every TV comes out with these days ?
If you are reviewing media players this is the shit users care about.
There are a bunch of guys over on the Kodi forum that tell it like it is with their reviews, without regurgitating Marketing crap from the device seller and manufacturer. Stop drinking the company Kool-Aid.
I would not trust a review coming from cnx-software if my life depended on it now. The site has turned into nothing better than product Marketing advertisements for sellers and Manufacturers if this is going to be the standard of reviews going forward.
@Mr Netflixer
i use KODI 16.1 @ 60hz , 720p , 1080p with a 2gb s905 box and hdmi to Samsung HD 46″ TV and I am well happy with video and my KODI is the update off Google Play.
I am not a paid reviewr either.
@theguyuk, Netflixer don’t want to hear that, he is a simple troublemaker with no manners
@ray, could you not even take a constructive feedback from the readers without taking it personally? This is not about you, it’s about your review, calm down, think about what you are writing, take the feedback and do something about it, answer it in the way of new extended review covering our concerns so you might win our trust back.
I hope the owners of this site will read these comments and act upon it before you loose too many readers.
Please don’t answer my comment, again is nothing personal …
@cnxsoft
Thanks
@ray, this is not the one you have covered right?
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/MECOOL-BB2-Android-6-0-Amlogic-S912-KODI-17-0-TV-BOX-371022.html
@eli landers, No, it was the Mecool BM8, https://videostrong.en.alibaba.com/product/60523040089-803530268/Videosrong_MECOOL_BM8_Amlogic_S905X_quad_core_full_4k_hd_Android_tv_box_S905X.html
and i still can give “recommendations” for this Box, Eli.
@ray
@digeratus
Videostrong just contacted me and confirmed the upcoming and working OTA Updates in the near future.
They said they are working on it right now.
How is this different from the BM8 PRO that costs $79 at Geekbuying?
@Dartigo
The BM8 PRO is based on Amlogic S912, the model review above BM8 is based on Amlogic S905X SoC.
How do you get the remote to pair with the box again. After the update of the box, the only way i can use it is up close.
@Marshall
That’s very odd that a firmware update somehow reduced the remote control range… Can you try with new batteries?
@Marshall, Just tested it again, can not confirm this remote issue, still working fine by me (OTA Version 90640001)
Could you specify your update more specific? OTA? Local? Version?
Some new firmware files for various VideoStrong models including BM8 [Update: removed links since the images have been removed]:
S912 KM8 Pro:
S912 BM8 Pro:
S912 KB2:
S912 BB2:
S905X KM8:
S905X BM8:
Changelogs:
Changelog of S912&S905X Android TV Boxes
For Model NO.:
Amlogic S905x solution: HM8/KM5/KM8/BM8/KB1
Amlogic S912 solution: KM8 pro/BM8 pro/BB2/KB2
==================================
Changelog–2016-08-27 version
1. optimized booting videos to play more smoothly.
2. Optimized lanubcher crashing problem during working.
3. Defaulted HDMI CEC to be off.
4. Solved play services crashing problem during working.
5. Solved cursor displays unclear of some options in settings menu
6. Added some porpular add ons to KODI
==========================================
Changelog for 2016-09-09 version
1. Turned the volume of booting video to be lower
2. Changed Youtube to be TV version, which is supported to operate by remote.
3. Added some porpular add ons to KODI
===================================
Changelog for 2016-09-29 version
1. Added system navigation bar, operate “settings-Display-Statubar” ON/OFF is optional.
2. Updated KODI version to be KODI 17.0-Beta3
3. Deleted KODI add on–photo app
==================================
Changelog for 2016-10-10 version
1. Optimized system running performance
2. Compounded the latese code of Amlogic
Sounds like a good box. one thing i am not sure of is, what difference does the 32GB make to this boxes performance, compared to a KM8 box which has 16GB? Will this make any improvement in video quality or is this just for storing files, as opposed to just streaming?
@Peter
Although larger eMMC flash have usually better performance, storage capacity should not affect the performance much, and certainly not affect video capabilities or quality at all. It will mostly provide more space for apps and files. It’s like using a 1GB hard drive in a PC, instead of a 512 MB one.
The odd thing is the MECOOL HM8 TV Box Amlogic S905X Quad Core 64 Bit Android 6.0 H.265 1GB/8GB UK is going so cheap on ebay UK.
£21.00 including postage, these boxes just keep getting cheaper !
What is the last OTA version for MECOOL HM8 TV Box Amlogic S905X?
KM8 S905x firmware
I don’t find file which i can burn with usb tool. I need that PLease help ans share
Just recently bought this box (Amazon, 31 euro + 1 for shipping) and it works fabulous and most of all very easy. Smooth, fast great view.
The only thing i can’t manage is to install my vpn on this box.
Anyone there who has installed Mullvad on ?
Hi, I’m trying to add a file source to my box in Kodi file manager. But when I follow the proceedure it doesn’t work properly and I get a message saying it is probably due to the network not being connected. But the network is connected so what have I missed?
@cnxsoft S905X BM8: https://mega.nz/#F!jQNyjQrS!Ki6Ppfw_Lria9VVZH_tK5A link ist wrong have you new link for this firmware
What kind of firmware did the link point to? I can’t seem to be able to find the full ROM for this box. Any alternatives to flash perhaps?
@GanjaBear
You can check the mini changelogs @ https://www.cnx-software.com/2016/08/22/mini-review-of-mecool-bm8-tv-box-with-android-6-0-and-kodi-17-0/#comment-533246
Everything was released in 2016, so they may have new firmware, but no sure where. VideoStrong has stopped answering my emails for whatever reasons.
@cnxsoft
Thx. Hmm, all those different symbols: HM8/KM5/KM8/BM8/KB1 but I need to find a full ROM image for the BM8 tv box. In case it got mirrored somewhere, can anyone help me?
Can anybody here please share firmware downlink link for BM8 S905X quad core android TV box?