Is it important to go for android tvbox that is google certified? Let's take this example: Beelink GT king vs Mecool KM3. What would I lose if I get a non-certified box?
Is it important to go for android tvbox that is google certified? Let's take this example: Beelink GT king vs Mecool KM3. What would I lose if I get a non-certified box?
Just be aware the Beelink GT King has been known to have Ethernet problems:
https://discourse.coreelec.org/t/s922x-bee-link-gt-king/5334/475
For legit certified Android TV devices - they get proper Chromecasting keys from Google themselves. All the non certified ones do not.
Not all devices can even stream Android TV HD Netflix either, that is a seperate Netflix approval process.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/cguehm/androidtv_device_comparison_table/
Anything with an AMLogic chipset in it that is also Google AndroidTV OS Certified cannot be rooted due to a locked bootloader.
No streaming services beyond 480p. So if you don't care about Amazon Prime video, Hulu or Netflix, you are ok with a Android TV box.
Basically you would give up all the advantages that a Widevine DRM Level 1 TV box has over most of the TV boxes. If you do not want to use it with Netflix/Amazon Prime/HBO Go (where available), then you would better get an oDroid N2 with LibreElec.
Android is not suited for multimedia playback, I am using a HiMedia Q10 Pro for 2 years now and I know for sure that Android is not ok as a multimedia OS, unless it is Android TV from top to bottom and it is certified by Google (Widevine DRM Level 1).
I have the Mecool KM3, and I think one of the downsides (might be big depending on your usage) for Netflix and Amazon, you're gonna have to install them through workarounds
Fire stick 4K is a good cheap buy
It's tempting to look at the best non cert devices like the Beelink, as they are much cheaper than the shield and much better speked than the MiBox. But have owned last years highly regarded minix neo, I would stick to a certified unit. Even though its got low speks the Mibox just works, you can improve connectivity /mem/storage if you wish with a USB ethernet/3port hub.
Doesn't Google Certification also include guaranteed software updates for a certain period of time?
It's for DRM bullcrap. If you like those "cute" services like Netflix, you probably do care. But if you just want to stream stuff from torrent sites from your own computer you probably don't care that much.
Hassle free Chromecast and support for Android Tv apps.