MECOOL KM9 Pro Max Review: Great for Streaming, Not So Much for Gaming

Streaming devices have become the unsung heroes of our living rooms, quietly transforming how we consume entertainment. Enter the MECOOL KM9 Pro Max—this little powerhouse runs on official Google TV, which means it comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern streaming experience.

From its sleek design to its promise of 4K HDR streaming, the MECOOL KM9 Pro Max seems like it has a lot going for it. It’s packed with features like Dolby Atmos support, a user-friendly interface, and even a Bluetooth remote with shortcuts to your favorite apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. On paper, it sounds like the perfect companion for your TV setup. But as we all know, specs only tell part of the story. Real-world performance is what truly matters, and that’s exactly what we’re here to dig into.

Design and Build Quality

The MECOOL KM9 Pro Max doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel in design, but it brings a clean and functional aesthetic that fits well in most setups. The box itself is wrapped in a matte black finish, giving it a sleek and understated look. It’s not flashy or over-the-top, which is a good thing because no one really wants their streaming device to steal the spotlight from the TV. The MECOOL logo sits proudly on the top in silver, adding just a touch of elegance without going overboard. On the front, you’ve got three small LED indicators—IR, internet, and power—that light up to let you know what’s going on with the device. These lights are subtle enough not to be distracting but bright enough to give you a quick status update at a glance.

Flip the box around, and you’ll find all the ports neatly lined up on the back. There’s an HDMI 2.1 port for connecting to your TV, a 100MB Ethernet port for those who prefer a wired connection, an SPDIF optical audio port for hooking up sound systems, and a DC-in for power. You also get an AV port if you’re using older equipment, though chances are most people won’t need that.

Moving to the sides, there’s nothing on one side, but the other has two USB 2.0 ports and a tiny reset hole. The USB ports are handy for connecting external drives or dongles, though they’re limited to USB 2.0 speeds, so don’t expect blazing-fast transfers. Still, they get the job done for most use cases like playing local media files.

On the bottom, you’ll notice some ventilation holes designed to keep the device cool during extended use. This is a thoughtful touch, especially since overheating can be an issue with some compact streaming boxes. The rubber feet underneath help keep the device stable on whatever surface it’s placed on, preventing it from sliding around. While the build quality isn’t groundbreaking, it feels solid enough in your hands. Sure, it’s made entirely out of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It strikes a nice balance between being lightweight yet sturdy, which is exactly what you’d want from a device like this.

One thing worth noting is how compact the KM9 Pro Max is. It doesn’t take up much space, making it easy to tuck away behind your TV or entertainment center. And while it might not win any awards for innovation in design, its simplicity works in its favor. It’s functional, practical, and gets the job done without trying too hard to impress. For most users, that’s more than enough. After all, the real magic happens inside the box, but having a well-thought-out exterior certainly doesn’t hurt.

Technical Specifications

The MECOOL KM9 Pro Max isn’t shy about showing off its tech specs, and for good reason—it’s packing some solid hardware under the hood. At the heart of this device is the Realtek RTD1325 quad-core processor. Now, this isn’t the most cutting-edge chip on the market, but it gets the job done for what most people need from a streaming box. Paired with the Mali G57 GPU, it’s capable of handling 4K content and even some light gaming without breaking a sweat. Sure, it’s not going to replace your gaming console or high-end PC, but for streaming apps and casual use, it’s more than adequate.

Memory-wise, the KM9 Pro Max comes with 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM. That might sound decent on paper, but in real-world use, it can feel a bit limiting. Navigating between apps or opening and closing them often introduces a noticeable delay—sometimes as long as 2 to 3 seconds. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make the device feel less snappy compared to others with more RAM. On the flip side, you’ve got 32GB of internal storage, which is a nice touch. Out of that, about 28GB is usable, leaving plenty of room for apps, games, and other downloads. If you’re someone who likes to load up their streaming box with all kinds of apps, this should be more than enough space.

On the back of the box, you’ll find an HDMI 2.1 port, which is a standout feature. This allows the KM9 Pro Max to support 4K resolution at 60Hz, along with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG formats. Gamers will appreciate the HDMI 2.1 capabilities, even though the box itself isn’t exactly built for hardcore gaming. There’s also support for the AV1 codec, which is becoming increasingly important for streaming efficiency. Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos are supported too, making this a solid choice if you’ve got a good sound system hooked up. Just don’t expect Dolby Vision support—that’s one feature missing from the list.

Software and User Interface

The MECOOL KM9 Pro Max runs on official Google TV, which is essentially a polished version of Android TV. This gives the device a modern and clean interface that’s easy to navigate, even for people who aren’t tech-savvy. The home screen is laid out in a single-page format, which keeps everything simple and straightforward. You don’t have to dig through multiple menus or tabs to find what you’re looking for. Everything is right there in front of you, organized into sections like “For You,” “Movies,” “Shows,” “App Store,” and “Library.” It’s a no-nonsense approach that gets the job done without overwhelming you.

One of the standout features of the interface is how customizable it is. You can rearrange shortcuts and sections to suit your preferences, which makes the experience feel more personal. For example, if you’re a big fan of Netflix or Prime Video, you can prioritize those apps so they’re always within easy reach. The remote control also has dedicated shortcut buttons for popular apps like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. These shortcuts are a nice touch because they save time when jumping between your favorite streaming services. If you don’t use one of the pre-programmed shortcuts—say, Disney+ because you don’t have an account—you can reassign it to something else, like the App Store or another app you use frequently.

The Google TV interface brings some extra perks compared to standard Android TV. One of the biggest is support for multiple user profiles. This means each person in the household can have their own account with personalized recommendations, app layouts, and settings. Switching between profiles is as easy as pressing a button on the remote, which is labeled specifically for this purpose. There’s also integration with Google Home, so you can use your phone as a remote or control smart home devices directly from the box.

Regarding apps, the Play Store on this device is the Android TV version, so it’s not as extensive as the one on your phone or tablet. Still, it has all the major streaming apps pre-installed, including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Disney+. Downloading additional apps is straightforward, and sideloading APKs works just like it does on other Android TV boxes. The App Store section of the interface makes it easy to browse and install new apps, though power users might miss some advanced customization options found on other platforms. That said, the simplicity here is intentional—it’s designed to be user-friendly rather than overly complex.

A few quirks stand out during everyday use. For one, there are some sections of the interface that seem to populate automatically, like ads or suggestions for shows and movies. These can’t be removed easily, which might annoy people who prefer a clutter-free experience. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth mentioning if you’re someone who likes full control over your home screen. On the plus side, the wallpapers for the idle screen look great and add a bit of personality to the device when it’s not in use. They change dynamically based on the time of day or content you’ve been watching, which is a nice visual touch.

Built-in Chromecast functionality is another highlight. This allows you to cast content from your phone or other devices directly to your TV without any hassle. It works seamlessly with Android devices, though iPhone users will need to download a third-party app to get the same functionality. Voice commands via Google Assistant are supported too, thanks to the Bluetooth remote. Just press the voice button and say something like “Open Netflix” or “Play Stranger Things,” and the system responds quickly. It’s not perfect—sometimes it misunderstands commands—but overall, it’s reliable enough for basic tasks.

Performance-wise, the interface feels smooth most of the time, but there are moments where lag becomes noticeable. Opening and closing apps often introduces a delay of 2 to 3 seconds, which can break the flow of your browsing. Part of this can be blamed on the modest 2GB of RAM, which struggles to keep up with heavier multitasking. Navigation isn’t unbearable, but it’s far from snappy. The good news is that once you’re inside an app, things generally run smoothly. Streaming apps load quickly, and switching between them doesn’t cause crashes or freezes.

Performance Testing

Testing the performance of the MECOOL KM9 Pro Max reveals a mix of strengths and weaknesses that paint a clear picture of what this device is capable of. To start, boot-up speed was one of the first things I checked because it’s often a good indicator of how snappy a device will feel in everyday use. From a cold start, it took about 20 to 30 seconds to reach the home screen. That’s not lightning-fast, but it’s also not painfully slow. Once you’re on the home screen, though, the experience starts to show some cracks. Navigating between apps or opening and closing them introduces a noticeable delay—usually around 2 to 3 seconds. Sometimes, the wait stretches even longer, especially if you’re jumping between heavier apps like Netflix or Prime Video. This lag feels tied to the modest 2GB of RAM, which struggles to keep up with multitasking or heavier workloads.

Benchmark scores from Antutu confirmed the device’s limitations, clocking in at 119k. This score places it firmly in the mid-range category, behind higher-end boxes designed for performance. CPU-Z showed the Mali G57 GPU running as expected, but the modest processor and RAM combo clearly hold it back from competing with top-tier devices.

Gaming isn’t the primary focus of this device, but I still ran some basic tests to see how it handles casual games. Crossy Roads, a simple yet demanding mobile game, ran fine, though it wasn’t buttery smooth.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi performance were tested next. The Ethernet port is limited to 100MB speeds, which feels outdated in 2025. During testing, it maxed out at around 97Mbps, which is fine for most households but far from ideal for those with gigabit internet.

Switching to Wi-Fi, the 5GHz band delivered respectable speeds, hitting around 241Mbps in my setup, which is great for streaming high-quality content without interruptions. The signal is stable, and during testing, there weren’t any major hiccups when streaming 4K videos. The 2.4GHz band wasn’t bad either, achieving speeds that should suffice for casual streaming or browsing. Bluetooth 5.0 worked reliably, pairing quickly with headphones and other devices without any dropouts.

Media Playback Tests

Testing media playback on the MECOOL KM9 Pro Max revealed a mix of impressive capabilities and some frustrating limitations. To start, I ran a series of tests using local 4K video files loaded onto a USB drive. For this, I used the VLC player, which is a reliable app for testing high-bitrate content. The first file I tried was the standard 160Mbps 4K jellyfish demo, a classic benchmark for streaming boxes. To my surprise, it played back perfectly—smooth motion, no dropped frames, and no audio sync issues. Encouraged by that result, I moved on to the next step: an 180Mbps version of the same jellyfish video.

Again, the box handled it without breaking a sweat. It was only when I pushed it to the extreme with a 400Mbps high-bitrate file that the KM9 Pro Max hit its limit. The video froze on the first frame, refusing to play. While most people won’t encounter files with such high bitrates in everyday use, this test showed that the device has its boundaries when it comes to local media playback.

Next, I tested a variety of 4K 60fps clips with different HDR formats like HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. These files played back smoothly, with vibrant colors and sharp details. The box supports AV1 codec playback, which is becoming increasingly important for efficient streaming, and this feature worked flawlessly during testing. Playing back an AV1-encoded sample showed no stuttering or glitches, proving that the KM9 Pro Max can handle modern codecs well. That’s a big plus for anyone who streams content from services that prioritize AV1 for bandwidth efficiency.

For more advanced users, checking DRM info revealed that the box supports Google Widevine Level 1, which means it can handle premium streaming content securely.

Switching gears to online streaming, the results were mostly positive but came with a few caveats. Netflix performed admirably, delivering 4K HDR content with Dolby Atmos audio. The picture quality was stunning, and the sound added an extra layer of immersion. Amazon Prime Video also streamed 4K HDR content without any hiccups, making it a great choice for watching shows or movies from that platform. YouTube was another strong performer, handling 4K videos effortlessly. However, Disney+ was a major disappointment. After signing in and trying to load the app multiple times, all I got was a black screen. Reinstalling and updating the app didn’t help either. For fans of Disney+, this could be a dealbreaker.

The box also includes Plex, which is handy for organizing and playing your personal media library. Testing a few files through Plex showed solid performance, though not everything worked as expected. For example, a VC-1 encoded video refused to play, even though the specs claim support for this codec. Instead, the video skipped frames constantly, making it unwatchable. This limitation isn’t unique to the KM9 Pro Max—many devices struggle with VC-1—but it’s worth noting if you have older media files in your collection.

Audio performance deserves a mention too. The KM9 Pro Max supports Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio, and both worked well during testing. Watching a movie with Dolby Atmos felt immersive, with clear dialogue and dynamic surround effects. Similarly, DTS-HD tracks played back without issues, delivering high-quality sound. The HDMI 2.1 port ensures that audio passthrough works seamlessly, so connecting the box to a home theater system or soundbar should be hassle-free.

Pros and Cons

Final Thoughts

The MECOOL KM9 Pro Max is a device that sits in an interesting spot. On one hand, it brings a lot to the table for anyone looking for a straightforward, reliable streaming box. On the other hand, it has some quirks and limitations that might make you pause before hitting the buy button. After spending time testing its performance, software, and media playback capabilities, it’s clear that this box isn’t perfect—but it doesn’t need to be. For most people, it’s more than capable of delivering a solid entertainment experience.

At the end of the day, the MECOOL KM9 Pro Max is a solid choice for anyone looking for a budget-friendly streaming box with official Google TV support. It’s not going to blow you away with its speed or versatility, but it gets the job done for the majority of users. If your primary goal is to stream shows, movies, and videos in crisp 4K with minimal setup required, this box will serve you well. However, if you’re after something faster, more feature-packed, or better suited for local media playback and gaming, you might want to explore other options.

For $80, it offers good value, especially considering its official Google TV certification and ample storage. Just go into it with realistic expectations, and you’ll likely be satisfied. The MECOOL KM9 Pro Max might not be the best streaming box out there, but it’s far from the worst—and sometimes, that’s all you really need.