A new review for another TV Box, which is not new, but one of the most popular, so today I am asking if this tv box is worth buying in 2021. This we will learn about in the X96Q review, this device is equipped with an Allwinner H313 Quad Core processor and G31MP2 graphics card and 8G/16GB eMMC storage space with 1GB/2GB memory DDR3 is all coordinated by Android 10 and is priced under $30, However, is it a good deal now? This is what we will find out in this review.
X96Q TV BOX Features
- CPU: Allwinner H313 Quad Core
- GPU: G31MP2
- OS: Android 10
- Memory: 1GB/2GB DDR3
- FLASH: 8G/16GB eMMC
- Support 10/100M Ethernet, 2.4G Wifi
Design And Build Quality:
The design implemented in the X96Q is considered normal compared to the modern TV Box, however, it is beautiful and simple through a sturdy square plastic case in black with the X96Q logo on the top and smooth curved sides, and unusually there is no LCD panel, is just a blue LED that lights when connected, and At the bottom there are vents to improve air circulation.
For connectors on the side, there are not many: 2x USB 2.0, TF cards slot, HDMI 2.0, AV Audio port, RJ45 Ethernet port (10 / 100M), DC 5V / 2A, AV port, It’s disappointing not having a USB 3.0 for high speed.
Under The Hood:
X96Q Tv Box is powered by the SoC Allwinner H313 with Quad-Qore Cortex-A53 at 1.3 GHz and manufacturing quality at 28 nm, which frankly is not the best thing because there are better alternatives, including the processor of the same series, H616. Regarding the GPU, it comes with a Mali-G31 MP2 that supports H.265 decoding up to 4K 60fps and OpenGL ES 3.2.
I will not say that it will be good at playing games, but at low settings, there is hope, with the help of 1 GB or 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, of course, I will not recommend the 1 GB version because it will be just a mess and the 2 GB version is more acceptable to get the better capabilities for Multitasking, however, remains at a minimum. The storage capacity has 2 options of 8GB / 16GB eMMC, also not the best thing, but it can be expanded with a TF card up to 64GB or linked directly to an external hard drive.
Connectivity:
For connection, this box has only 2.4GHz, the network is acceptable but not the most stable, it has a 100Mb LAN port that is better and more reliable than WI-FI and provides better data transmission. Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth, however, there is a solution to use a dongle to connect a joystick, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and other devices.
Remote can’t navigate on some Apps, It is a common issue for almost all android tv boxes that hard to navigate on some Apps with the remote, as these Apps are mainly provided for tablets and phones that have a touch screen. I suggest purchasing the iPazzPort mini Wireless Keyboard/Remote, It will make it much easier navigating the screen in apps that aren’t remote-control friendly.
Software:
One of the strengths of X96Q TV Box is that it is equipped with an Android 10.0 operating system to provide you with a more efficient and secure operation, better compatibility with the latest applications, and thus better user experience, the operating system is pre-configured to access more permissions and install applications that require root activation with the ability to enable/disable.
In the beginning, it’s fast to boot up, it will not take more than a few seconds to take you directly to the launcher with no setup wizard. The Pixel launcher is clean with a flat design, On the home screen, you look at 9 shortcuts that are: Chrome browser, Youtube app, My APPS, Play Store, Settings, My files, Miracast, Netflix, KDPlayer, which that you cannot remove them, its a downside since android is all about being customizable according to what the user likes and what makes him comfortable. But, you still get an area for customizable shortcuts bottom of the previous one, where you can add as many shortcuts as you please, there also is a big and clear widget for the date and time display and has the logo “Smartbox” on the other side.
Unfortunately, What I find missing is the lack of a navigation bar and status bar for easy navigation and multitasking but, you can try an alternative application for this matter. Also, does not contain Google Assistant for the voice control function.
Applications:
X96Q supports Google services and Android 10 it allows to you install some app that is available in the play store because is not a certified Android TV box don’t get access to the full Google Play Store, has pre-installed Apps like the Chrome browser, file manager, Hulu, Miracast, Netflix, Prime Video, KDPlayer, Google Play Store, and YouTube.
Even if you do not find some of the applications that you need on Google Play, you can use a third-party store like Aptoide app store, all you have to do is search for them on Google from any browser and download them in APK format, and the matter is done. And some applications are pre-installed once updated it might not work, so we do not recommend updating it.
The firmware update is necessary to solve some possible problems or upgrade the system. When you turn on this tv box for the first time, after connecting to the internet, please click the “FOTA Update” app on my apps, if it’s not the latest firmware, please follow the prompts to update it.
X96Q TV BOX Performance:
The X96Q TV Box offers you a good solution if you are a fan of series and movies and like to enjoy the highest possible resolution, then this device will give you a resolution of 4K and compatibility with most programs that display video content with the ability to play some games with a great experience.
Playback:
X96Q Supports a 4K 30FPS video out via HDMI 2.0 port which provides you high definition viewing and fluent video playing, making it the highest resolution signal available for home movies to let you watch the 4K movie smoothly, every detail of the screen is lucidity and with high Color Saturation and excellent image quality, no latency, or stuttering, that is the power of this device.
When playing some 4k video samples from a USB Drive on a USB 2.0 port via the included Media Player, it is shown on 4k 30 FPS, it little struggled to play smoothly, however, on 2k at 30 FPS played ultra-smooth and very nice.
X96Q Streaming Service:
As it’s known, it’s not possible to watch paid services like Netflix and amazon prime in 4k because these applications requiring specific licensing, This means it don’t have the DRM support required to stream HD or 4K from Netflix or other streaming services. And this is where the strength of Android TV OS, which you cannot find in the Chinese TV box.
Nevertheless, you can still enjoy Netflix or Amazon Prime and all other streaming services at a smooth 480p. However, IPTV services remain one of the solutions that you will find on this tv box and support any high resolutions you want, and there are also other programs similar to Netflix for free.
YouTube Quality:
When you go to YouTube, you can play videos on 4k 30FPS, and this is the maximum limit with there some problems in drops and a rise in the temperature of the device, this quality will not be the best option. And to enjoy with high quality and without freezing and with smooth performance playing videos on 1080p will be more than enough. However, this box has a maximum refresh rate ranges from 24 to 30 fps on average in HD / FULL HD.
Note: This box does not have an HDR display, Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos, or DTS audio output.
Play Games:
The X96Q has a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU, even though it is a relatively weak GPU, tests confirm that it runs games that require little to medium graphic processing very smoothly and with no noticeable lagging. Despite the results, this TV Box is not for gaming, and because of that, you will notice high temperatures, this will reduce its lifespan in the long run, and may also negatively affect the overall performance of this device, so I would recommend not to use it for gaming, precisely not high graphics demanding games such PUBG or Call of Duty.
When you put this X96Q under pressure its temperature can be reached 75ºC or more, causing a performance little drop. But on normal use like watch movies, the temperature is acceptable between 55ºC – 65ºC And I find that the cooling system is unpretentious on this box because the body has some ventilation holes, which provide the necessary cooling of the tv box. I recommend using a cooling fan on the bottom for better performance.
Note: The version used in the review is 2GB Ram and 16GB eMMC, and 1GB of RAM is not enough.
Conclusion:
Finally, for watching movies and TV shows, X96Q TV Box will not disappoint you, But for Android games, they are not the best-recommended boxes, because the CPU is not the latest and there are new versions in the same price category, even the GPU is not very powerful.
The applications of paid streaming platforms such as Netflix, you can just play with 480p quality, This is expected on most Chinese devices. the launcher remains fast, but it lacks a lot of things, the most important of which is the status bar and the navigation bar, and unfortunately, the specifications are not up to par compared to the cheap TV box released this year in terms of RAM and space storage. So I wouldn’t say it’s the worst budget TV, but at this price, there are better alternatives.
X96Q Price And Where To Buy:
The X96Q TV BOX is currently available on Banggood and Gearbest and Aliexpress store for a very good price So, don’t miss out on this great deal. And to view its price or buy it, you can access the offer by clicking on the store icon.
There are two Options for X96Q in Banggood:
Package Include
- X96Q TV Box
- IR Remote Control
- HDMI Cable
- Power Adapter
- User Manual
X96Q TV BOX Specification
| General | Model: X96Q Type: TV Box GPU: Mali-G31 System: Android10.0 CPU: Allwinner H313 Core: Quad-Core RAM: 1GB (Option: 2GB) Type: DDR3 ROM: 8GB (Option:16GB ) |
|---|---|
| Media Supported | Decoder Format: H.263, H.264, H.265, HD, MPEG4 Audio format: Supports MP3, AAC, WMA, RM, FLAC, Ogg and programmable with 7.1/5.1 down-mixing Video format: MKV, WMV / VC-1 SP / MP / AP, MPG, MPEG, DAT, AVI, MOV, ISO, MP4, RM, H.263, H.264, H.265, REAL VIDEO 8/9/10, VP9 , AVS2, 4K @ 60fps Photo Format: HD JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIF Support 5.1 Surround Sound Output: Yes |
| Product Details | 5G WiFi: No Power Supply: Charge Adapter Interface: AV,DC 5V,HDMI 2.0,TF card up to 64GB, 2 x USB Language: Multilanguage, English, French, Germany, Italian, Spanish. HDMI Version: 2.0 RJ45 Port Speed: 10/100Mbps |
| Power Requirement | Power Type: External Power Adapter Mode Input Vol: 5V Adapter Output: 5V 2A |
| Dimensions and Weight | Package weight: 350g Package size (L x W x H): 17.00 x 11.50 x 5.50 cm |
