There are many Android TV Kodi boxes available these days from cheap to expensive top-end units.
With the many available it may be confusing to someone new with Kodi to decide which is best for them.
First of all if you are new to Kodi than I always recommend running it for free on a old computer or smartphone.
Kodi is free to download and setup on many devices from a Raspberry Pi to a desktop computer.
Kodi boxes are nice since they fit into a entertainment center nicely along with a remote control and all the features a android TV box can give.
The box being reviewed today is one of the new cheap Kodi boxes called the MXV.
Keep in mind many of these low cost Kodi boxes are generic with a logo stamped on it so the same hardware specs can be found in other boxes, possibly at a lower cost.
Also Always check the hardware specification as boxes can have similar names but different hardware
I reviewed the MXQ last year which actually ran Kodi good and is still working streaming video.
The new MX V is a big improvement over the older version since it runs the S905 SOC CPU which performs much better than the S805 CPU the old ones have.
It also has 2GB of RAM which greatly improves performance from the 1 GB of RAM the old boxes ran.
Hardware Specification
CPU: Amlogic S905 Quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 up to 2.0GHZ
GPU: Penta-core ARM Mali-45
RAM: 2GB DDR3
ROM: Flash 8GB
Expand Memory: Micro SD Card (Maximum support 32GB)
Operation System: Android 5.1
Ethernet:1000Mbps LAN
Support: Full HD 1080P, UHD 4K×2K, HEVC H.265
The Package comes with all the basics including the android TV box, remote control, power cord, HDMI cable, and manual.
It has three USB ports, Micro-SD card slot, HDMI, AV, along with a power plug.
The box does feel mass produced and is not the best quality but as long as it is not dropped hard it shouldn’t be much of a issue.
Plugging it in it boots up to the main screen.
I was surprised by how responsive the remote control was since in the past they have worked less than desirable leaving me to use a USB mouse or keyboard.
Like the box itself I wouldn’t suggest dropping it but as long as it is pointed directly at the box it works quite well.
It is listed as having Bluetooth but there is no built-in Bluetooth options which is something to keep in mind if you are like me and like the small Kodi keyboard remotes.
Connecting to the WiFi was easy with-in the settings. It is best if you have a Ethernet cable and plug the box in.
Starting up Kodi it had 15.0 Isengard installed with the new version of Kodi being 16.0 Jarvis.
Having the newest version installed is not necessary as I have older boxed with 14.0 Helix still working.
But eventually maybe in a year or so it will need to be upgraded to a newer versions of Kodi which is something to keep in mind.
Upgrading Kodi boxes is not usually too difficult with Kodi needing to be downloaded from the Play Store and installed, along with repositories for all the add-ons.
Any Kodi box will need to be upgraded eventually but many of the more top-end boxes will have it automated along with support.
Cheaper boxes will need a bit more technicality since there is likely no support when an upgrade is needed. With the many forums and YouTube videos this shouldn’t be much of a issue for someone with basic tech skills.
All the major add-ons are installed along with many I have never heard of.
Kodi add-ons can always be installed or uninstalled, customized by the user.
When the box first started Kodi it took 15-20 minutes for all the add-ons to update which also made the box restart a few times.
I tested out the streaming using 1Channel and like any Kodi box once a good server was found it played the video fine.
Read More Reviews Here on Amazon
Tops MXV Android TV BOX Amlogic S905 Quad-core Mini PC Streaming Media Player DDR3 2GB/ROM 8GB
Summary
Kodi boxes running the S905 and 2 GB of RAM run Kodi good.
2 GB of RAM should be the minimum a box should have in 2016, so beware of the many being sold with on 1 GB of RAM.
The S905 also is a nice improvement over the S805 with better performance.
With cheap Kodi boxes be sure to pay attention to the specification rather than the box name as many fly-by-night companies sell boxes with a similar name and less hardware.
If you have the money to spend than I recommend getting a top-end box such as the Nividia Shield.
If you are on a budget looking for a low cost box than sticking with the basics specs (S905 CPU and 2GB RAM) will get you a good box, just dont expect too much.
As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
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Review: Cheap KODI Box MX V S905 Android TV 2GB RAM
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