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The Mecool KM7 Plus is being advertised as the first Android TV BOX that is running the Google TV OS. Though, it’s a bit of a technicality as there are several dongles that run Google TV OS.

The Mecool KM7 Plus differs from the older Mecool KM7 because:

  • It’s a fully certified Google, Netflix, and Prime Video streaming player
  • Netflix will run at 4K vs 1080P on the KM7
  • It runs Google TV software based on Android TV 11 operating system vs Android TV

Specification

  • Android 11.0 Google TV system
  • Google Assistant and Chromecast Built-in
  • 2GB DDR4 +16GB EMMC
  • WiFi 2.4 & 5 GHz
  • Ports: HDMI 2.1 / 2x USB 2.0 / 100Mb Ethernet / AV Jack / micro SD.
  • Support thousands of Apps for the big screen with Google Play Store
  • Built in lots of content and entertainment, such as YouTube, Disney Plus, etc
  • Extras: BT + IR Remote Control / Manual / HDMI Cable / Adapter DC 5V 2A (10W).

Chipset Specification

  • SoC: Amlogic S905Y4
  • CPU: 4x ARM Cortex-A35 @ 2.0 GHz –  16500+ DMIPS
  • GPU: ARM Mali-G31 MP2, 850MHz
  • DRM: Widevine, Playready
  • HDR: HDR10/10+, HLG
  • Video Decoder: 4Kp60 10bit: AV1/H.265/VP9 P-2/AVS2 4Kp30: H.264

This is the same chipset used in the Realme 4K Smart Google TV, but that dongle had half the storage capacity.

The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) uses the superior Amlogic S905X3 and has 2GB of RAM but only 8GB of storage. It has the same GPU, but the CPU is 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.9 GHz

The Amlogic S905X2 that is used in other Android boxes should be more powerful thanks to its superior A55 CPU, and so should the MediaTek MT8696, which is used in the Amazon FireTV 4K Max.

Google & DRM Certified

The Mecool KM7 supports Widevine Level 1, which is the top level of DRM support.

Apps Available

It has been a while since I used the Chromecast With Google TV, so I am unsure what apps were on it and how it compares to this.

  • Plex was available to install, but Kodi was not (it was available on the Realme 4K Smart Google TV)
  • ITVX and Channel 5 are available, but All4 and BBC are not.
  • Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime are all available and can do 4K HDR, but they can’t do Dolby Vision.
  • You also have Spotify and YouTube
  • VLC was available to download, but MX player was

I have noticed a couple of other reviews seemed to be able to install VLC as standard, so I am not sure why my box wasn’t available to do this.

You can, of course, sideload any apps that may be missing, such as Kodi.

Performance

The Google TV interface is nicer than Amazon FireTV or even the Nvidia Shield. There are adverts, but it is less intrusive than the other devices. It is also far superior to the old Android-based interfaces you would get on Android boxes.

Disappointingly, the Ethernet is only 100Mbps. Bizarely, the £140 Fire TV Cube (3rd generation) is also limited to 100Mbps.,

Ethernet speeds

Therefore the Mecool had faster transfer speeds with WiFi, which topped out at 275Mbps. In comparison, my Pixel 6 achieves 506Mbps.

Similar to many other devices like this, there is no automatic framerate or resolution switching. Also, just like the Realme dongle, there is no Dolby Vision, whereas there is with the 4K Chromecast Google TV.

Using Plex, I was able to play content from my Plex server without problems. This includes 4K HDR content. There appeared to be no issues with buffering for any of the content I played, and it performed better than the tubular Nvidia Shield that I used to own (even though that’s more powerful). It also appears to support Dolby Atmos.

I also experimented with playing some Jellyfish video bitrate test files from my network and directly from a thumb drive. I was able to get up to the 160Mbps test files using HEVC before I started to experience issues with stuttering.

Similarly, I experienced no issues with 4K content on any of the streaming services, including 4K 60fps on YouTube.

Price and Alternative Options

The Mecool KM7 Plus is available for just £65 when you buy it directly from Mecool, but it can take 3 to 45 business days for the package to arrive, depending on where you live, as they are shipped from Shenzhen, China.

Shipping and tax are included, but returns will need to be sent back to China.

Alternatively, it is available on Amazon for about £20 more.

The 4K Chromecast with Google TV is £60.

The global version of the Realme 4K Smart Google TV can be imported from AliExpress for just £27.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is £60, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is £65. The Fire TV Stick 4K regularly drops down to £40-45.

Overall

The Mecool KM7 Plus is a good streaming box and definitely the best Android TV box I have tested. I am glad that these brands are finally getting rid of the old custom UI with out of date versions of Android.

With it being certified with Google and Netflix, you can enjoy streaming services with 4K HDR and don’t have to deal with sideloading apps.

The 4K Chromecast is cheaper and supports Dolby Vision which is going to make it more appealing in a lot of situations, but it will quickly run out of storage, and there is no way to expand it.

The Mecool KM7 Plus has expandable storage, wired Ethernet, optical out and 3.5mm out. The expandable storage is a big selling point for me as I always find these streaming devices run out of storage quite easily.

Originally posted on mightygadget.com – Follow on TwitterInstagramFacebookMighty Gadget Latest Reviews

Mecool KM7 Plus Review Rating

Summary

The Mecool KM7 Plus is a good streaming box and definitely the best Android TV box I have tested.

Overall
80%
80%
  • Overall - 80%
    80%

Pros

  • Google Certified Android 11.0
  • 4K HDR support with streaming apps such as Netflix/Disney/Prime
  • 16GB of storage and can expand it via microSD

Cons

  • 100Mbps Ethernet
  • Amlogic S905Y4 is lower specced vs similarly priced 4K Chromecast with Google TV
  • No Dolby Vision

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