Dedicated web TV set-top box/HD player lovers, in order to provide a clear understanding of the chaos in the Android box market in 2013, to help consumers and friends purchase products that are truly suitable for themselves in the dazzling Android box, the HDPfans Forum is At the end of the year of the snake, the exclusive authority released the 2013 "Android box" year-end inventory!
The inventory involved manufacturers cover three levels, a total of 18 manufacturers:
1. A veteran manufacturer who has been working in the field of high-definition player for many years, such as Mele, Kaiboer, Meilihua, Jieke, Haimeidi, Tianmin, Infik and others.
2. Big-name manufacturers who have made half-way exits, such as Huawei, Skyworth, TPLINK, Hwafung, Xiaomi, LeTV, and Tmall.
3. New fledgling manufacturers, such as quickcast, jelly beans, and fifth elements.
The Android box models involved also cover three levels, a total of 20 models:
1. Manufacturer's classic hit models, such as Huawei secret box, millet box 2, open Boer F4, Haimeidi Q5II, fifth element H300-II and so on.
2. Manufacturer's capacity models, such as Mele M6, Heidi Q12, Skyworth Boxes, and Tmall Box.
3. Taobao popular sales representative models, such as recall code S1, Infinik i6 and so on.
It is worth noting that individual models will change their chip solutions during the product life cycle, such as the Temporary d6. Therefore, the chip plan at the time of inventory will prevail; all test data will be based on the firmware and hardware versions observed.
The scale and intensity of the inventory are unprecedented in the entire industry. HDPfans is the most professional leader in the field of high-definition player. We have achieved the best in data comprehensiveness, scientific method, and intuitive result. For this count, we set up 186 observation points and 182 weight coefficients. The entire team members completed a total of 3720 tests, 7280 quantifications, 37 data statistics summaries, 16 field data analysis presentations, and 22 dimensions established. 41 charts. Here, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all members of the inventory team. You have worked hard!
In order to strive for accuracy, we have tried our best to repeatedly check the observation data and repeatedly optimize the weight coefficients. We are confident that the data accuracy of this inventory will be controlled within five thousandths of the error!
In order to ensure that the results are easy to understand, all conclusions will be visualized in the form of tables and charts, allowing consumers and friends to quickly and comprehensively understand the current real gap between Android boxes!
It should be noted that Alibaba Cloud OS is a custom version based on Android 4.2.2 that was added to the Taobao application. The basic configuration of the program embodies the hardware issues that people are most concerned about, such as "This box is a few cores?", "How fast is the system?", "Not big memory?" and so on. The ranking results reflect the basic hardware quality of each box.
Host design, workmanship, materials, number and type of interfaces, operating noise, and so on, represent the main hardware capabilities of a box, as well as what we can see and get. The results of the rankings reflect the true hardware power, because these things are not like simple program integration, this is the place that needs to reflect the manufacturer's hardware design ability.
Power consumption control reflects the trend of energy conservation and environmental protection. The power consumption is naturally as low as possible. The higher the rank of the box, the lower the power consumption. It should be noted that the power-off power consumption of the recall code S1 and Huawei's secret box is basically the same as the power consumption, indicating that it is a false shutdown, and it is recommended that the power be turned off when not in use. In addition, the Sea Medi Q5II ranking bottom score is very low, indicating that the box power control is not good.
A box removes the host, and all remaining parts belong to the accessory configuration. Important parts include power supplies, remote controls, and related cables. In particular, tpmini eyes are not equipped with a remote control and need to be operated with a mobile phone. Huawei's Secret Box is equipped with a high-end Bluetooth 4.0 remote control; the Mele M9 and several other boxes are equipped with a 2.4G remote control. All of these remote controls are 360-degree blind-free remotes.
The basic ability of a HD box is its local media broadcast control capabilities, including file system support, audio and video media type support, screen output capabilities, playback control capabilities, and color adjustment capabilities. In this session, the inventory team tested the box's capabilities extremely harshly. We built a test sample library containing more than a dozen video formats, over 50 image formats, and a dozen audio formats, and tested the boxes one by one. In addition, we have included the scope of investigation for various important factors that affect local broadcast control capabilities. The ranking results fully illustrate the product positioning of each box. The Hermes Q5II attaches great importance to the local broadcast control experience, and the bottom 7 are basically boxes that only value the online on-demand experience.
For the Android box, the 3D effect can be said to be much worse than the professional RTK/MARVELL/SIGMA box, but it is better than nothing. For those people who like the full development of morality, art and craft, it is better than nothing. In particular, some Android boxes are completely free of 3D capabilities.
Subtitles are an important part of HD lovers who often download foreign movies and TV shows. Unless you have foreign life experience, you can easily understand a foreign language, otherwise you must deal with Chinese subtitles. The six boxes in the bottom of the rankings do not have any subtitle control capabilities and are not recommended for such HD enthusiasts.
Blu-ray discs belong to a niche group, and such niche groups are enthusiasts among HD enthusiasts. For the Android box, we do not have any expectation of their Blu-ray broadcast control capabilities, because Blu-ray enthusiasts are not only able to play, but also how the quality of the picture, and the current Android box quality, and professional HD playback There is a certain gap between machines. In the ranking results, the two boxes of Haimedi are leading significantly. If you are an entry-level Blu-ray enthusiast, then these two boxes are worth trying.
CUE support and DTS source code output is a lot of flaws in the Android box. Here to TPmini big eyes and Mele M6 blue and white porcelain to praise, their advantage in the audio field is obvious. It is particularly critical to criticize the number of China Rainbow Boxes. In fact, it does not support all of the 10 areas.
User experience is one of the important criteria for measuring the quality of a product. We often refer to it as "user-friendliness" or "convenience." Surprisingly, Yidian S1 won the first place in this session. The Chinese number of rainbow boxes and his "vest" Tmall box, there are half-way TPmini big eyes, the experience is relatively poor. It is commendable that the fifth element, as a newcomer to the industry, ranks in the top three in the user experience of the H300-II.
LAN service capabilities include many aspects, from sharing to downloading, from client to server, and from multi-screen interactions to mobile apps. Haimeidi Q5II has achieved a big score to surpass its opponents in this link and is worth commending. For HD enthusiasts who focus on home LAN applications, this is a model worth considering.
Radio and television network live broadcast, this gray zone, do not know how long it can survive, but as long as it survives for a day, there are countless fans. After all, it is still the people's free plots. The inventory team conducted accurate and rigorous testing of all boxes, and each test result was hard-won, and even required a lot of time and effort. The ranking results can explain many problems. First of all, all big-name manufacturers are afraid to touch the interests of radio and television, so they all without any built-in live broadcast feature; Second, almost all the old HD box manufacturers dare to brave the big god of radio and television. The pressure to integrate live streaming into its box products fully demonstrates the invincibility of the cottage. Third, if you are a user who is very focused on the live experience, then this ranking is your direct purchase guide.
Compared with live broadcasting, the on-demand risk is much smaller. We also spent a lot of time and effort to get these statistics. In addition, the inventory team attaches great importance to genuine content, because only genuine content can provide consumers with a stable and long-lasting service experience, piracy is not just the rights of copyright parties, as well as the rights and interests of consumers. In addition, we advocate that all box manufacturers pay attention to the "content rating and child lock" function, which is very important for the healthy growth of our next generation. Unfortunately, all manufacturers are not aware of this.
The energy saving of the device and the previously described power consumption are two different concepts and dimensions. The energy saving focuses on the power management of the device through its own hardware and software cooperation capabilities, thereby realizing energy saving. In this session, many boxes received zero scores, which is the direction that these related manufacturers need to make further efforts.
The hedge rate and warranty period, which are two important aftermarket indicators, collectively determine the depreciation rate of the box in the hands of consumers. In this session, we put special commendation on the fifth element of the H300-II. Its warranty period is two years, which is more than double the time of other boxes, and the hedge rate is also high.
Each box has its own characteristics, and of course there are problems that are specific to them, so the inventory team made the necessary additions to each box, as follows.
The overall hardware strength ranking reflects the hardware level of a box. If you are very concerned about the hardware configuration, then this ranking is what you need most. However, the quality of a box cannot be seen only in hardware. Firmware is also a very important aspect of inspection.
First of all, we divide the firmware strength into two levels: local media playback strength and network application strength. This will enable consumers and friends to better understand the areas that these boxes are good at, in order to pick the boxes that are truly suitable for them. The first is the ranking of local strength. Haimeidi Q5II won the first place without suspense, but the gap with the second place is not obvious. Therefore, the inventory team must give special praise to Meile, and in the field of local strength, Haimeidi and Meile formed a direct competitive relationship. Also note that if you are a local HD fan, stay away from the bottom of the box.
The Haimeidi family maintained its lead in the network strength of the firmware, but other boxes did not fall far behind, indicating that Haimeidi’s dominant position has been shaken. The boxes after the rankings are almost all big boxes. Although they have genuine content, the network strength is a comprehensive game. This feature of pure on-demand content obviously cannot be the final winner.
We combine the local strength and network strength of the firmware to form a comprehensive final ranking of the firmware. This ranking reflects not only the software strength of each box, but also reflects the software R&D capabilities of various manufacturers.
Comprehensive strength = hardware strength + firmware strength. This is also the result of the final ranking of the 2013 "Android Box" year-end inventory. We have gone through thousands of data analysis and found the most "bull" box and the most "bear" box. Please applaud them ~~.
If we only want to find the most powerful box, then our inventory is very regrettable, because strength and price are two very disturbing factors - the relationship between them is what we are most concerned about, that It is cost-effective. As an ordinary consumer, if we consider from the perspective of capability and price, what we pursue is neither an extreme powerist nor an extreme white school, but an affordable school. We count the team's ability to divide each box's capacity by its price, and get a price/performance ratio. It is ranked as follows. Obviously, the top three boxes of comprehensive strength, their price rankings are very tragic, which also shows from another perspective, the pursuit of "tall (high-end, atmosphere, upper grade)" is to pay a disproportionate price of money. If you want to have "tall," then you have to "local tyrants." It is also worth mentioning that, as a representative model of Taobao's popular sales, the first comprehensive price/performance ratio of the Codex S1 fully confirms his high sales.
Since the pursuit of "tall" is costly, it is very sensible for ordinary users to choose the box that fits their own needs according to their actual needs. Therefore, the inventory team produced their product capability maps from 15 levels for each box's characteristics for consumers’ friends to purchase for reference.
"Awards ceremony"
HDP's most cost-effective box of the year: Recall S1, Haimeidi Q12, Lynx Box
HDP Hardware Box of the Year: Mele M9 Extreme Edition, Quickcast Small Party, Kale F4
HDP's Best Firmware Box of the Year: Haimeidi Q5II, Meile M6, Haimeidi Q12
HDP's Best Live Box of the Year: Recall S1, Mele M6, and Hermes Q12
HDP Best Box on Demand of the Year: China Rainbow Box, Tmall Box, New Millet Box
HDP Box: The Fifth Element H300-II, New Millet Box, Skyworth i71 Box
Editor recommends: Mele M9 Extreme Edition
Strong hardware configuration, good firmware capability, suitable for enthusiasts to use.
Editor's Choice: Sea Medio Q5 II
Although it is only a dual-core chip solution, it still holds the top spot in multiple evaluations with its powerful firmware capabilities. Suitable for HD enthusiasts
Editor's Pick: Kai Bor F4
The first machines based on the RK3188 quad-core chip solution, from the point of view of the evaluation, the firmware capabilities can be described as a new look compared to the beginning of the release. It can be seen that Kai Bor's efforts in software.
Editor's Pick: Yidian S1
Recalling S1's performance in network playback is quite satisfactory, but because of its low price of 199, it has a higher price/performance ratio, and it is recommended only for users who choose to play online.
Editor's Choice: Haimeidi Q12
Excellent firmware capabilities and network playback capabilities, there is genuine authorized content of mango Taiwan (Haimeidi official has not released mango firmware in this evaluation, all data based on the previous version firmware), less than 300 prices, making this machine High cost performance. Recommended for users who are concerned about network play.
Other contestants' single rating links are as follows:
Huawei Secret Box | Lynx Box| Fifth Element H300-II | New Millet Box | Mele M9 | Sweet Bean T4 | LeTV Box T1S
Quick Broadcasting Small Party | Skyworth Box | Open Borel F4 | Meile M6 | TP-LINK Mini Eyes Sea Meidi Q5II | Yi Dian s1 | Haimeidi q12 | Infik I6 | Temporary D6 |
About copyright attribution: It is forbidden to use or forward in any form without the permission of the copyright owner!
1. Test data for this article and all boxes are copyrighted by HDPfans.
2. Observing points, weight coefficients, and Android box logo are copyrighted by Dragon (part of which is owned by wxandy).
Regarding objection processing: Data errors are unavoidable. If you have any objections to individual data, please contact the relevant judges for advice!
1. LeTV box T1S, fast broadcast small square, picturesque V5, Jieke G5 - @hanchan88;
2. Huawei Secret Box, Lynx Box, Fifth Element H300-II - @Dragon;
3. New millet box, Mele M9, Tangdou T4 - @wxandyzhu;
4. Mai Le M6, TPLINK mini big eyes - @ Ye Haifeng;
5. Haimeidi q12, Infinik I6 - @wuxiaowei;
6. Haimeidi Q5II, Yidian s1 - @ Real Dragon Emperor;
7. Skyworth Boxes, Kaibor F4 - @peku;
8. Hua number box - @ 995264;
9. Tempest D6 - @ Martian;