Android Mini PC RK3188, Quad-core 1.6 GHz 2G RAM 8G Flash, Bluetooth, headphone jack, standard female HDMI
The Android Mini PC RK3188 is one of our favorite Android Mini PC TV devices. The price, slim design and smooth operation make it a step above most of the other Android TV Devices on the market. This is an item we not only tested but that we use on a daily basis right along with our G-Box Midnight MX2. The question is, does it have enough to knock the MX2 off of our pedestal as the best Android TV on the market.
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The Hardware
Processor:
The RK3188 comes equipped with a quad-core 1.6 GHz CPU, this is an incredibly powerful processor for such a small device. The processor appears to run cool as the device I use is kept in a cabinet and we have had not one single issue with heating problems that exist on some of the units for sale. When you stop and think about the power that exists in this little box it is a statement as to where we are with technology.
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Wireless
The processor and wireless we have found to be two of the crucial parts to a successful Android TV product. In tests and daily use we have found that this device has the best available wireless signal without having an external antenna. The design of this unit is very sleek and the antennas are internal but the wireless antenna is of high quality and the reception appears to work seamlessly. We have been very happy with the reception and even with no clear line of site and stored in a cabinet the device performs wonderfully. The device also has integrated Bluetooth that had an update released recently that is included with new units. The update fixed a major problem that had plagued the connectivity of the issues to Bluetooth devices.
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Design
The design of this unit is really spectacular. It is not the smallest device on the market but it is very small measuring 1.75 x 0.50 x 3.25 inches and weighing less than 1.5 ounces. The device comes with 1 USB port, an HDMI port, a stereo head phone jack, and a power port. The size does limit the extras but for what we have needed there has been more than enough and we wanted something very small for this cabinet it is installed in and it fit the bill perfectly.
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Whats Included
This has seemed to vary over time. When we purchased our device for testing we received an HDMI cable and a micro USB adapter. The adapter was USB on one end and a micro USB on the other end. It is important to note that some people report not receiving the HDMI cable, but I do think that has been an exception to the rule. It is also important to note that it does not come with a charger just the USB cable. However, a charger with a USB port on it will allow it to work. We do caution you to make sure the voltage matches, but if you are using a phone charger you should have no problems with that.
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Performance
The performance of this unit is exceptional. We paired this device with aTaoTronics TT-MK001 Mini 2.4G Wireless Flying Mouse and have not been dissapointed. Essentially our TV is now one large tablet device that moves and responds incredibly well. I use a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 as my personal phone, yeah I know its basically a tablet, but the RK3188 Mini PC responds and performs very similarly. The only complaint I have is that once in a while the toolbar at the bottom pops up and it throws the calibration of the screen off a little bit during XBMC, this problem exists on many of these devices but it is more of a minor annoyance than a deal breaker.
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Conclusion
With a price of around $75, a sleek design, great wifi and functionality we give this box a great review and it comes in as our second favorite device.It is great where size is a concern and wireless is needed. However, the device is still a step behind the G-Box Midnight MX2 when it comes to functionality. However we use this device on a daily basis in a room where space was a concern as well as the wireless signal being weak, We highly recommend the RK3188.
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