B2GO GT6 Review: Android TV Box powered by Amlogic S905W

We are after the test, so today we want to introduce you to B2GO GT6 review.  As you remember new Amlogic S905W which is cheaper than the Amlogic S905X and supports 4K@30fps video and is also an alternative (and competitive) for the cheap Rockchip RK3229. 

Is this TV Box worth our recommendation? you will learn from our B2GO GT6 review.

We want to say thanks to B2GO (Shenzhen B2GO Technology Co., Ltd) manufacturer of Android TV Boxes. More details and contact details can be found on the manufacturer’s website. 

If you plan to start a business with TV Boxes, or you need a reliable manufacturer who also offers OEM customization, then you should be interested in the B2GO company offer. B2GO is a Professional Manufacturer of Android TV Box since 2006. More information about B2GO‘s capabilities and services, you can find on their website – www.tvbox-manufacturer.com

[tie_index]Product details[/tie_index]

B2GO GT6 Review: Product details

GT6 TV Box is available on B2GO Alibaba Store  from $24.10 – $25 (depending on the size of the order)

GT6 Android TV Box Specifications:

• CPU – Amlogic S905W quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.20GHz
• GPU – Penta-core Mali-450MP @ 750 MHz
• OS – Android 8.1

• Memory – 2GB DDR3
• Storage – 16GB eMMC flash + micro SD card slot (up to 32GB)
• Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 30 fps, AV port Audio – HDMI, AV port (stereo audio), SPDIF optical
• Video Codecs – 4K H.265, MPEG1/2/4, H.264, HD AVC/VC-1, RM/RMVB, Xvid/DivX3/4/5/6 , RealVideo8/9/10
• Video Formats – 4K@30fps, H.265, AVI, H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DIVD/DIVX, Real8/9/10, RM,RMVB, PMP, FLV, MP4, M4V, VOB, WMV, 3GP, MKV
• Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports
• Misc – IR receiver
• Power Supply – DC 5V/2A
• Dimensions – 10.00 x 10.00 x 1.75 cm
• Weight – 150g

The box included everything that you need to get started:

• GT6 Android TV Box
• Power Adapter
• HDMI Cable
• Remote Control

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more B2GO GT6 TV Box and bundled accessories.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em0PjOg7IBo[/embedyt]

[tie_index]First impressions, settings, overview of features[/tie_index]

First impressions, settings, overview of features

GT6 TV Box is made solidly, with good quality plastic, in the center of the upper cover there is a B2GO logo. The housing on the bottom has a lot of holes, so there should be no problem with ventilation. The front panel has IR receiver and power LED. On one side are two USB ports USB 2.0 and micro SD card slot. On the rear panel are: AV port, RJ45 Ethernet port, HDMI 2.0 port, SPDIF port,  DC jack.

TV Box has a similar launcher as in TV Boxes from Beelink, with features bar. We can chose typical the resolution of FHD 1920×1080 (1080p 60Hz) but you can also adjust the preferred resolution or set the auto switch. Everything worked stable and quickly without delays. TV Box support Miracast via preinstalled AirScreen app. We had no problem with Ethernet and WiFi connection to the router and to the Internet, but Wifi connection could be faster. Ethernet: Download – 95.0Mbps Upload – 36.3Mbps, WiFi: Download – 23.3Mbps Upload – 16.4Mbps.  In addition to the remote control, we used wireless Logitech MK540 Advanced set and a gamepad from iPega called iPega PG-9076.  If you need to control TV Box via smartphone, you can use great application called CetusPlay (Install CetusPlay On TV/Box app on TV box and open, Install CetusPlay on a smartphone).

Impressions from the use

TV Box supports Youtube only up to 720p, but via Youtube Android TV supports 4K (2160p). Unfortunately, through 4K 2160p, it doesn’t run smoothly. Netflix up to 540p. We installed Kodi 18.3 for testing. At GT6 TV Box run simple games from Google Play, like Beach Buggy Racing. We used iPega PG-9076 with 2.4Ghz receiver (because the TV Box does not have bluetooth). Below some screenshots.

[tie_index]Operating system and components[/tie_index]

B2GO GT6 Review: Operating system and components

The GT6 TV Box runs on the Android 8.1, Kernel version 4.9.76. Firmware build gt6-8.1.0-201907101159. TV Box is equipped with   the Amlogic S905W SoC quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.2GHz processor and GPU ARM Mali-450MP, CPU speed between 100 MHz and 1.20 GHz. CPU speed between 408Mhz and 1.10GHz. On the following screens, you can see exactly the components used and their specification (Information taken from the CPU-Z app). The device has root access (you can enable root access in the settings). Below also DRM info screenshots.

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing, we use the AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 app and AnTuTu Benchmark 7.2.3.

[tie_index]Video Tests[/tie_index]

Video Tests

Unfortunately, during the test, it stops on one of the video samples and we could not continue testing. That’s why we don’t have the result for Antutu Video. Video playback by Kodi 18.3 runs almost smoothly and stable up to 4K@30fps

We played movies with the resolution of 480p,720p, and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) and also 4K (60fps) with various codecs videos such as H.264, H.265, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB, and audio – DTS and AC3. Dolby Digital 5.1 passthrough worked fine via HDMI. Also, we tested several video formats – AVI, MKV, MP4 (typical formats in which it holds the majority of movies), ISO and also videos was played fine. The tested TV Box plays video files in 4K (30fps, for 60fps it was not smooth, jumping and / or artifacts) almost without any major problems. 

Video Playback via Kodi 18.3

The following table of video samples tested for Kodi 18.3. TV Box plays the video on YouTube only in 720p, but via Youtube Android TV runs 4K 2160p (not smoothly).

Typical 1080p	Kodi 18.3
MPEG2 / MP2 2.0 – 6.6Mbps	OK
MPEG4 / MP3 2.0 – 7.6Mbps	OK
H264 / AAC 2.0 – 7.2Mbps	OK
VC1 / WMA3 2.0 – 25Mbps	OK
VP8 / VORBIS 2.0 – 7.8Mbs	OK
Jellyfish 1080p HEVC 10bit – 90Mbps	OK
4K Video
Sintel – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 24fps	Not Smooth, Sound delays
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 30fps	Not Smooth, Sound delays
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 60fps	Sound delays
Honey Bees – 96fps	Not Smooth
Skyfall – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 10Mbps	OK
Puppies Bath – h264/AAC 2.0	Not Smooth
Cinemartin H265/HEVC	Not Smooth, artifacts
Tears of steel – 60fps	No, artifacts
HD Club Chimei – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 60Mbps	Not Smooth
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 140Mbps	Not smooth
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 200/250/300/400Mbps	Not Smooth, artifacts
LG Demo – Istanbul 3840×2160 MP4/H264 8bit – 116Mbps	Not smooth
Sony 4K – Camp HDR MP4/HEVC 10bit – 75.8Mbps	OK
Demo Samsung 2014 – USA Road Trip TS/HEVC 10bit – 51.4Mbps	not smooth
Samsung UHD DUBAI TS/HEVC 10bit – 51Mbps	not smooth
H.265/VP9 Video
Tears of steel – H265-HVEC / AAC 2.0 – 15Mbps	not smooth
Youtube – VP9 / 1080p	OK
VP9 / 4k – Eye of the Storm 4K Ultra HD.webmv	not smooth
VP9 / 4k – 10 Incredible 4K (Ultra HD) Videos.webmv	OK
VP9 / 4k – Australia – Land Down Under in 4K.webmv	OK

[tie_index]Benchmarks[/tie_index]

Benchmarks

Below Benchmark screenshots we were able to do: AnTuTu Benchmark, GeekBench 4, 3D Mark: only Ice Storm / Extreme (the device is too weak for Sling shot tests), GPUBench. B2GO GT6 TV Box has the internal memory benchmarks: Read 40.88MB/s – Write 11.75MB/s. RAM copy speed was 2259.51MB/s.

[tie_index]Conclusions[/tie_index]

B2GO GT6 Review: Conclusions

B2GO GT6 like MECOOL M8S Pro W with the same chipset (S905W SoC) is a good budget TV box. It does not have great performance, but in normal operation, it works well, works stably and fast. Most of the video playback samples in 4K did not always work smoothly or there were sound delays, but the video up to 1080p@60fps worked fine. If you have a limited budget and do not care about playing 4K video (more than 4K@30fps) and you do not need bluetooth then this TV Box should satisfy you.

Of course, the B2GO portfolio includes more other models with better specification and performance. However, the B2GO manufacturer offer is addressed to distributors.