We noted some Android TV dongles with Amlogic S905Y4 Cortex-A35 processor in January 2021, and one of the first Amlogic S905Y4 devices available in this form factor is the Mecool KD3 with a certified Android 11 TV operating system.
The KD3 is equipped with 2GB RAM, 8GB storage, and the minimal design only offers only one HDMI 2.1 port and a Micro USB port used for power, and of course WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
Mecool KD3 specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S905Y4 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 processor with an Arm G31-MP2 GPU
- System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4
- Storage – 8GB eMMC flash
- Video Output – HDMI 2.1 port up to 4Kp60
- Video decoder
- AV1 MP-10 @ L5.1 up to 4Kx2K @ 60fps
- VP9 Profile-2 up to 4Kx2K @ 60fps
- H.265 HEVC MP-10 @ L5.1 up to 4Kx2K @ 60fps
- AVS2-P2 Profile up to 4Kx2K @ 60fps
- H.264 AVC HP @ L5.1 up to 4Kx2K @ 30fps
- HDR – Supports HDR10, HLG HDR processing
- Networking – Dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) 2T2R 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0
- USB – 1x Micro USB OTG port (also used for power)
- Misc – LED indicator
- Power Supply – 5V via Micro USB port
- Dimensions – 92.5 x 29.5 x 14.5mm
Mecool KD3 ships with a power supply together with a one-meter Micro USB cable, an infrared & Bluetooth voice remote control, a 12.6cm HDMI extension cable, and a user manual. The company also told CNX Software they can provide a “U-Disk and an OTG cable for people who need it”. I understand the OTG Y-cable would allow you to connect your own USB flash drive to the device, but Mecool did not confirm my assumption before the publication of this article.
Pre-orders are up for under $60 including shipping on Aliexpress, or you can also order the HDMI dongle on Mecool online store for a little over $60 [Update: 10% off code CNXmecool]. Deliveries are expected to start on April 27.
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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The ali link brings me to a page that charges usd 69.99 at the time of writing.
It is a pity that the mecool web shop does not participate in the EU tax program, now when ordering one does not only need to pay taxes but also a substantial handling fee for the agent
In recent weeks we’ve seen a frenzy over RK3588.
Does Amlogic have any aspirations beyond the tv-box market?
Because a 2/8 GB Android box doesn’t excite me above and beyond the Mecool Amlogic 2/16 tv box I bought 4 years ago for less than this thing is retailing. Newer codecs and Vulkan support – that’s about it.
The Amlogic S908X unveiled in 2019 looked promising, but there hasn’t been any news since then.
They have “IoT” processors too, and the Amlogic A311D2 should be available soon. I understand Khadas VIM4 will come out next month.
Security updates? Maybe, sometime. Or not.
OS updates? Ahahaha.
Haha, never.
Their kd2, km2 and km6 have never been updated and now in true tradition if one needs an update then have to buy their next iteration of devices.
Got rid of all my mecool boxes.
How it compares with Google TV Chromecast? Any advantages Hardware or Software?