While Beelink offers some of the best TV/PC boxes in the market, they also have a long lineup of media players that cater to diverse entertainment needs. One recent release from this brand is the Beelink i One (i826) TV box, and just like its predecessors (the Beelink S82 and MXIII plus), this version is powered by Android 4.4.2 and the advanced Quadcore Amlogic S812 chipset. There’s a lot more to this gadget than just upgraded hardware and software though. A few new features have been added as well, which gives it an upper hand when compared to previous models.
In this review, we’ll discuss all there is to know about Beelink’s i One (i826) TV box to help you decide whether this device will serve your entertainment needs. Let’s start off with the features that come with it.
High Performance Hardware Specs
Besides running on the Amlogic S812 chipset, the new Beelink i826 comes with H.265 hardware decoding, which is great for streaming online videos on low bandwidth connections.
With its 8-Core Mali-450 graphic processor unit, this TV box also allows viewers to watch ultra HD videos in 4k and 2k quality. Issues of blurry motion pictures will not be a problem too thanks to the GPU’s core speed of 400MHz, the 2.0GH Cortex-A9r4 microprocessor and 2GB of DDR3 memory. All of these hardware features work together to support high quality playback.
This box offers up to 16GB of ROM storage, so there is plenty of room to store all your favorite apps, movies, games, data and other media files. With the support of a micro SD card, users can choose to expand storage up to 32GB.
Multiple Connectivity Options and Ports
The i826 offers all the standard connectivity options and ports you would expect from a Beelink TV box. For those connected to wireless networks, this box offers dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 connectivity. Users on LAN networks, on the other hand, can stream online content by simply connecting the TV box via twisted pair cables with RJ-45 connectors. Also included among connectivity options is the Bluetooth 4.0 technology, which allows easy pairing with many compatible devices. For instance, you can use your smartphone like a remote controller by pairing it with the TV box.
As far as connection ports are concerned, this is what you can expect to get on your Beelink i One (i826) TV box:
- Two USB 2.0 ports and one USB OTG connector
- Micro SD card slot
- 10/100 Ethernet port
- Input and output HDMI ports
A new interesting addition to the Beelink i826 is the HDMI In port that brings with it the ability to record TV or gameplay footage directly from the TV box. Only a few Android devices like the Zidoo X9 have offered this function before, and Beelink’s i One i826 TV box is the first Android device to offer HDMI In recording with support for H.265 or 4k content.
Supports Numerous Media File Formats
Support for numerous multi-media files has become a basic feature of TV/PC boxes and the i826 does not disappoint on this front since it recognizes a wide range of video, audio and picture formats. Supported media includes:
- 264 and H.265/AVC decoder formats.
- 264, 1080p, VC -1, AVI, MKV, MPEG4, MPEG, AVC, MOV, DAT, AVC, RM, and 4K x 2K video files.
- MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC, and WMA audio formats.
- JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF picture files.
Compact and Stylish Design
For people who love to adorn their living rooms with stylish entertainment gadgets, the Beelink i826 TV box makes a great addition to any interior décor. Not only does it look great with its sleek and glossy black-grey finish, it also has an excellent build quality. On top of that, the Beelink i826 is also very sturdy and quite compact. As a result, you don’t have to worry about finding sizable extra room on your TV cabinet when you go with this device.
Dimensions
The Beelink i One media player measures 4.68(L) x 4.68(W) x 0.90(H) inches and weighs 0.45 pounds.
Pros
- Clear, stable and reliable picture quality
- Support for 1080p full definition as well as ultra HD, 2k, and 4k video quality
- HDMI In with recording function
- Sturdy and space saving design
- High performance firmware and hardware specs
Cons
- Only has 2 full size USB ports
What’s in the Box?
- 1 Beelink i One (i826) TV/PC box
- Power adapter
- HDMI cable
- OTG Cable
- Remote control
- Information booklet
- Owner’s manual
Consumer Ratings
The Beelink i One (i826) TV box has managed to acquire lots of positive reviews so far, and ratings on independent review websites such for this entertainment device are generally good. Although some people have expressed that they wished the i826 could have more features like additional USB ports, the majority of buyers still say that this TV Box is a great buy.
Conclusion
The Beelink i826 is arguably one of the best TV box units within its price range. It is value packed with high performance hardware, support for ultra HD videos, and flexible connectivity options. Users will love some of the new features that come with this unit such as the HDMI In recording and Picture-In-Picture playback.
Overall, this TV box makes a great purchase if you want to expand your digital entertainment options but don’t want to break the bank doing so.
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