CloudnetGo CR18 Review: TV Box with Android 5.1.1, HDMI 2.0 and support 4K Videos @ 60 fps powered by RK3368

As you know there is more and more TV Boxes equipped with Rockchip RK3368. There are many different manufacturers who produce TV Boxes with these chips. One of them is GludnetGo, namely Dongguan Sonicway Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd. with their TV Box called CloudnetGo CR18. The CloudneGo company has participated in the IFA 2015 in Berlin. In this review we want to bring you the the features and impressions of using CR18 TV Box and answer the question, Is CloudnetGo CR18 TV Box features a RK3368 chipset is able to play video in 4K.

I want to say thanks to CloudnetGo for sending us a CloudnetGo CR18 TV Box to review. Now CR18 TV Box is available in the official CoudnetGo store on Aliexpress.com with RC01 Fly Mouse priced at $119 + shipping cost.

CludnetGo CR18 TV Box is a stylish and aesthetically made with powdered aluminum housing in silver, inside of which is briefly mentioned at the beginning of SoC Rockchip RK3368 octa-core 64-bit Cortex–A53 processor which supports H.265 video playback in hardware decoding and output true 4K resolution video @ 60fps. CR18 TV Box runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

CloudnetGo CR18 Technical Specifications:

• Chipset: Rockchip  RK3368
• CPU: Cortex-A53 octa core 64-bit, up to 1.5GHz
• GPU: PowerVR G6110, support OpenGL ES3.1/OpenCL1.2/DirectX9.3
• OS: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop
• Memory: 2G RAM, 8G ROM
• Internal Storage: 8GB eMMC + Micro SD card slot (up to 32GB)
• Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000M), Dual Band (2.4Ghz/5Ghz) 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi (AP6330), Bluetooth 4.0
• Audio/Video Output: HDMI 2.0, SP-DIF
• Interfaces: 1x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 2.0 Host, 1 x USB 2.0 Host OTG, 1 x MicroSD card, 1x Optical output, 1x Coaxial output, 1x AV, RJ45, 1x 3.5mm DC
• Power Supply: DC 5V/2A
• Other: IR Sensor, Power button
• Dimensions: 170*115*25mm

What’s in the box?

What we find in the box? The box included everything that you need to get started:

• CludnetGo CR18 Android TV Box
• HDMI cable
• USB Power cable
• Power supply
• USB cable
• Remote control
• User Manual

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more CloudnetGo CR18 TV Box and bundled accessories.

 

First impressions, settings, overview of features

CludnetGo CR18 TV Box is solidly made and has a housing with powdered aluminum in silver (sample for review) and gold. The aluminum housing TV Box does not shine. At the front is a power button and a small LED digital display. On the right side we find the USB 2.0 OTG port, TF card slot and a button to reset the TV Box. On the right side there are 2x USB 2.0 host ports for connecting, for example external drives. At the rear: Composite AV ports, Optical Audio out, Coaxial, HDMI 2.0 output port, RJ45 LAN Gigabit Ethernet, DC 5V 2.5A and external Wi-Fi antenna.

On the digital LED display shows information about the type of connection (HDMI, AV, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and also boot info) and standard current time. The combination of the metal housing and the display looks a bit like a DVD player or receiver. Compared to most TV Boxes with plastic housing CloudnetGo CR18 is a high-end.

At the bottom of the device you will find a serial number and also see warm air outlet. Below also remote control.

To a fully be able to enjoy the Android TV Box we have a remote control. Remote control is well-made and comfortable to hold. The keys are well spaced and mouse mode is functioning properly. There are no dedicated remote application on a smartphone for handling CR18.

Booting Android to the “home screen” takes about 26.4 seconds. “Home screen” launcher CloudnetGo looks very nice and simple (a big plus) and access to functions is also simple and intuitive. In addition to the remote control I used the standard keyboard and mouse.

The device worked in the resolution of FHD 1920×1080 (1080p 60Hz) but you can also adjust the preferred resolution or set the auto mode. CR18 TV Box has supports Miracast and DLNA and allowing display images and data from the smartphone to the TV screen. On the “Home screen” launcher CloudnetGo we have access to the most important features: settings, apps, play store, youtube, Kodi, etc. and for applications: shafa (kind of store play only in Chinese) and games (playing also in Chinese). Below a few screenshots.

TV Box has a Kodi 14.2 with TVADDONS. In addition to the typical engine Kodi we have access to a large additional applications for Kodi (a big plus). Belowe screenshots from Kodi.

On the CloudnetGo CR18 you can run simple games such as Beach Buggy Racing and Jetpack Joyride. They work without a problem and stable. The problem occurs when controlling games using a mouse and keyboard, the lack of compatibility.

Operating system and components

The CloudnetGo CR18 runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop, namely version 5.5.1 and the Linux Kernel version 3.10.0. CR18 is equipped with a SoC Rockchip RK3368 Octa-core 64-bit Cortex–A53 processor and GPU PowerVR G6110, CPU speed between 312 MHz and 1.5 GHz. On the following screens you can see exactly the components used and their specification (Information taken from the application AnTuTu Benchmark v5.7.1 and AIDA64).

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing we used the app AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 and AnTuTu Benchmark 5.7.1. The following screenshots from the video test. The result 568.

Video playback by Kodi (14.2) and MX Player runs smoothly and stable. CR18 without problem seems plays movies with the resolution of 480p,720p and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) and also 4K with various codecs video such as H.264, H.265, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB and audio – DTS and AC3. Also I tested several video formats – AVI, MKV, MP4 (typical formats in which it holds the majority of films) and also videos was played without any problems. The CR18 TV Box tested 4K video play without any major problems. In a few samples of the video were minimal jumping frames. The following table compares Kodi and MX Player for some video samples.

Typical 1080p	KODI	MX Player
MPEG2 / MP2 2.0 – 6.6Mbps	OK	OK
MPEG4 / MP3 2.0 – 7.6Mbps	OK	OK
H264 / AAC 2.0 – 7.2Mbps	OK	OK
VC1 / WMA3 2.0 – 25Mbps	Only sound	OK
VP8 / VORBIS 2.0 – 7.8Mbs	OK	OK
–	–	–
4K Video
Sintel – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 24fps	OK	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 60fps	Jumping frames	OK
Honey Bees – 96fps	OK	OK
Skyfall – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 10Mbps	OK	OK
Puppies Bath – h264/AAC 2.0	OK	OK
Cinemartin H265/HEVC	Jumping Frames	OK
Tears of steel – 60fps	OK	OK, slight jumping frames
HD Club Chimei – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 60Mbps	OK, slight jumping frames	OK
–	–	–
H.265/VP9 Video
Tears of steel – H265-HVEC / AAC 2.0 – 15Mbps	OK	OK
Youtube – VP9 / 1080p	OK	OK

 

So we can now answer the question at the beginning (Is CloudnetGo CR18 TV Box features a RK3368 chipset is able to play video in 4K ?). Yes, CloudnetGo CR18 TV Box play video in 4K and the majority of samples tested play without a problem.

The CloudnetGo CR18 scored 34764 on AnTuTu Benchmark 5.7. Below a lot of screenshots of AnTuTu and GeekBech 3.

The CloudnetGo CR18 scored 1691 on Ice Storm Extreme and scored 7821 on Ice Storm Unlimited.

Below screen with the results in Vellamo.

Conclusions

The CloudnetGo CR18 is a stylish, solidly and aesthetically made TV Box. It has an aluminum housing with LED digital display. The heart of the CR18 TV Box is a Rockchip RK3368 octa-core 64-bit Cortex–A53 processor which supports H.265 / H.264 video playback in hardware decoding and output 4K resolution video. CR18 in addition to playing standard formats and 1080p, successfully play 4K video. Simple UI is easy to navigate and provides quick access to favorite features and applications. CR18 TV Box is available in the official CoudnetGo store on Aliexpress.com with RC01 Fly Mouse priced at $119 + shipping cost. If you are looking Android TV Box that will play 4K video, worked stably and additionally look good then you should consider buying CloudnetGo CR18.