We’ve recently started seeing TV boxes based on the latest Amlogic S905X2 processor that offers slightly better speeds, USB 3.0, and several other improvements over Amlogic S905X. Models we’ve covered before including Beelink GT1 Mini, and X96 Max which started selling for under $50 with 2GB RAM and 16 GB storage at the time of the announcement.
With competition and the holiday season coming soon, prices have started to come down, and you can now get H96 Max X2 TV box with 4GB RAM, and 32GB storage for $49.99 shipped on Banggood.
H96 Max X2 specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S905X2 quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 2.0 GHz with Mali-G31 MP2 “Dvalin” GPU
- System Memory – 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage – 32GB eMMC flash, micro SD card slot up to 32GB
- Video & Audio Outputs
- HDMI 2.1 output up to 4K @ 75 Hz with HDR/HDCP 2.2/CEC
- 3.5mm AV port (composite + stereo audio) supporting 480i/576i
- Video Codecs – VP9 Profile-2 up to 4K 60fps, 10-bit H.265 up to 4K 60fps, AVS2-P2 up to 4K 60fps, H.264/AVC up to 4K 30fps, H.264 MVC up to 1080p60, MPEG-4 ASP up to 1080p60 (ISO-14496), etc..
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (WiFi 4), Bluetooth
- USB – 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x USB 2.0 port
- Misc – IR receiver, power LED
- Power Supply – 5V/2A
- Dimensions – 10 x 10 x ?? cm
The box runs Android 8.1, ships with an HDMI cable, a remote control, a power adapter, and a USB port. The promotion on Banggood looks to be limited to the first 200 orders, after which the prices rise to $50.99 for the next 300 units, and $55.99 after that. If you miss that promotion, you’ll also find H96 Max (no X2) in 4GB/32GB configuration on Aliexpress for $53.71 with a further 2% discount during the upcoming Singles’ day event on November 11 if you pay a deposit.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Pity it is only 100Mbit Ethernet.
Also not sure on the actual achievable throughput on the USB3 (would a USB3Gb Ethernet dongle give better speeds?)
Which use case are you talking about? This is an Android box made for passively consuming media. Not even USB3 is needed here.
If you think about Linux/NAS: https://www.cnx-software.com/2018/09/25/x96-max-amlogic-s905x2-tv-box/#comment-556275
I was thinking about media streaming.
E.g. the other day I wanted to cast the output of an app on my phone to my TV but the app did not allow me to cast the video. Apparently a restriction in the app due to licensing or so as they did allow to cast other videos.
Workaround for this could be a TV box connected via HDMI (and run the app from the box)
Now I know I do not need Gbit for that. It could even be done wireless (although in my case maybe a bit less reliable).
I have an RJ45 outlet near my TV but all my infrastructure is 1G and I don’t really like to add 100M devices to my switch.
I know this does not affect the other ports, but if the traffic is bursty it still can cause the switch buffers to fill up temporarily.
Wrt the NAS case: that crossed my mind as well but I think there are better options for that.
> I have an RJ45 outlet near my TV but all my infrastructure is 1G and I don’t really like to add 100M devices to my switch.
Hmm… then I would give an RTL8153 a try. AFAIK best USB attached 1 GbE chip around wrt features and driver support. Even RPi Trading Ltd. had to admit if they would’ve put an RTL8153 on their latest VideoCore thingy an awful lot of network problems could’ve been avoided: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=208512&start=100#p1297857
But no idea whether Amlogic’s Android kernel builds the module or not (rtl8152 driver)
If you are playing UHD Blu-ray rips, you need GigE not 100Mbs for some demanding rips as the bitrate required can max out a 100Mbs connection. GigE USB 3.0 adaptors, even if plugged into USB 2.0 ports, deliver a high enough throughput to solve this problem (you don’t need USB 3.0 ports as the ~300Mbs you get with USB 2.0 connectivity is fine)
GigE built in is a neater solution though, which is why people with high bitrate media look for it these days.
there is a gigabit version available and the beelink gt1 mini which also has gigabit.
Nice thing but would Widelive L1 be supported fpr Netflix HD/4K
How does it look with Android Update? System as good as Mi Box?
@cnxsoft: this article is a bit misleading.
The image and the banggood link mention this box is H96, not X96
Also, the link goes to “shareasale.com” (blocked by my browser) not Banggood…?
Strange, indeed.
sharesale redirects to banggood
@cnxsoft: thanks for fixing the title and providing the link to x96 max below
When a $50 tvbox has 4GB LPDDR4 while the just-announced $1.2K macbook air has 8GB of LPDDR3…
‘Lightness strikes again.’ indeed.
GeekBuying has X96 Max model starting at $39.99 with 2GB/16GB configuration @ https://promotion.geekbuying.com/promotion/tv_box_new_arrivals
Online videos show these scoring between 59500 and 60300 in Antutu. Not comprehensive test true but roughly informative.