EACHLINK H6 Mini Review: 6K Android TV Box

We are after the Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box tests, which is why today we would like to encourage you to read Eachlink H6 Mini review. You probably want to know if this 6K Android TV Box is worth your interest, so we’re already answering. Considering the very attractive price, specification and capabilities of the TV Box, it is worth buying, but ….. but more in the review.

We want to say thanks to Gearbest store for sending us an Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box to review. Now Eachlink H6 Mini Android TV Box  is available on Gearbest store for $35.99.

EACHLINK H6 Mini TV Box specifications:

• CPU – AllWinner H6 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor up to 1.8GHz
• GPU – Mali-T720MP2
• OS – Android 7.0
• Memory – 3GB RAM DDR3
• Storage – 32GB eMMC flash, micro SD card slot upt 64GB
• Video Output – 1x HDMI 2.0a up to 4K @ 60hz with HDR support, AV port (composite)
• Video Playback Support
  • H.265/HEVC Main/Main10 profile @ level 5.2 high-tier up to 4K @ 60fps / 6K @ 30 fps
  • VP9 Profile 0/2, up to 4K @ 30fps
  • H264/AVC BP/MP/HP @ level5.1, MVC, up to 4Kx2K @ 30fps
  • SmartColor 3.0 image optimization engine
• Audio I/F – HDMI, composite S/PDIF
• Connectivity – Fast Ethernet 10/100mbps, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (Chip: 8723), Bluetooth 4.1
• USB – 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x USB3.0 port
• Misc – IR receiver
• Power Supply – 5V/2A
• Dimensions – 9.6 cm x 9.6 cm x 1.9 cm
• Weight – 120 grams

The box included everything that you need to get started:

• Eachlink H6 Mini
• Power Adapter 
• HDMI Cable
• Remote Control
• User Manual

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more Eachlink H6 Mini Android TV Box and bundled accessories.

First impressions, settings, overview of features

Eachlink H6 Mini is a small TV Box,  made solidly, with good quality plastic. On the top cover has an interesting perforation.  H6 Mini TV Box is equipped in new Allwinner H6 (CortectA53 architecture and up to 1.8GHz, as in ZIDOO H6 Pro) which supports [email protected] ultra-HD video decoding and low-latency H.264 4K encoding and supports 6K video. There is also supports for HDR10 and HLG HDR, integrated Smartcolor 3.0 display system, more in H6 brief here. On the front panel is IR receiver and LED digital display. On one side there are USB 2.0 port, reset hole, USB 3.0 port, and micro SD card slot. On the sides of the housing are also visible holes. On the next side, there is a USB 3.0 port. On the rear panel are 5V DC micro USB, IR port, AV port, RJ45 Ethernet port, HDMI 2.0a and a composite S / PDIF port.

At the bottom of the device, there are also four rubber pads to prevent shifting, and there are also holes for hanging the TV Box. Below also typical Remote Control.

As you can see TV Box is powered via the micro USB port, so you just a typical charger, or power bank to run TV Box.

Eachlink H6 Mini has a simple UI with easy access to important functions. We can choose 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 very quickly without delays. We had no problem with Ethernet and WiFi connection to the router and to the Internet, but Wifi connection could be faster (hopefully the next firmware will be better). Ethernet: Download – 93.2Mbps Upload – 35.5Mbps, WiFi: Download – 14.8Mbps Upload – 34.5Mbps). In addition to the remote control, we used a standard keyboard, mouse and a gamepad from iPega called iPega PG-9076.  Although the device in its specification has 32GB eMMC, storage has 24.56GB of data. TV Box supports also Miracast. If you need to control the TV Box through a smartphone, you can use the Android TV Remote Control app or our favorite CetusPlay (Install CetusPlay On TV/Box app on TV box and open, Install CetusPlay on a smartphone). H6 Mini supports Netflix up to 720p and 1080p Youtube (only full HD). TV Box has pre-installed FilmOn application with access to many live channels. We also installed the latest Kodi 17.6. On Eachlink H6 Mini you can play in games from the Google Play store, as on other Android TV Box. Games run smoothly with maximum settings.  Just connect gamepad or keyboard. We used iPega PG-9076 and played Beach Buggy Racing, and other famous games Asphalt 8, Real Racing 3. Below the screenshots.

Operating system and components

The Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat and the Linux Kernel version 3.10.65. TV Box comes with firmware petrel_fvd_p1-eng 7.0 NRD91N 20181025 test-keys. H6 Mini TV Box is equipped with a SoC AllWinner H6 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor up to 1.8GHz and GPU Mali-T720MP2, CPU speed between 480MHz and 1.8GHz. On the following screens, you can see exactly the components used and their specification (Information taken from the CPU-Z app). After using the DRM info (app) we know that H6 Mini TV Box supports Google Widevine but unfortunately does not support Microsoft Playready DRM, Marlin DRM, and Verimatrix VCAS. The device also has root access. Below screenshots.

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing, we use the AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 app and  AnTuTu Benchmark 7. 1.0. The result 842. The test showed problems with 2 video samples.  Video playback by Kodi 17.6 Krypton runs almost smoothly and stable. The Eachlink H6 Mini without problem seems plays 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 (also 60fps) almost without any major problems. The following table of video samples tested for Kodi 17.6. TV Box also copes well with playing the video on YouTube, videos play only in 1080p. We tried to play VP9 4K video and also runs smoothly.

Typical 1080p	Kodi 17.6
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	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 30fps	OK
BBB Sunflower -H264 – 60fps	Sound delays
Honey Bees – 96fps	OK
Skyfall – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 10Mbps	OK
Puppies Bath – h264/AAC 2.0	OK
Cinemartin H265/HEVC	OK
Tears of steel – 60fps	OK
HD Club Chimei – H264 / AAC 2.0 – 60Mbps	OK
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 140Mbps	OK
Jellyfish 4k uhd HEVC 10bit – 200/250/300/400Mbps	Not smooth
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	OK
Samsung UHD DUBAI TS/HEVC 10bit – 51Mbps	Not smooth
H.265/VP9 Video
Tears of steel – H265-HVEC / AAC 2.0 – 15Mbps	OK
Youtube – VP9 / 1080p	OK
VP9 / 4k – Eye of the Storm 4K Ultra HD.webmv	OK
VP9 / 4k – 10 Incredible 4K (Ultra HD) Videos.webmv	OK
VP9 / 4k – Australia – Land Down Under in 4K.webmv	Not smooth

 

Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box Benchmarks

Below Benchmark screenshots we were able to do: AnTuTu Benchmark, GeekBench 4, 3D Mark: Ice Storm Extreme, Ice Storm Unlimited, Sling Shot, GPUBench, GFXBench Benchmark, Vellamo. H6 Mini TV Box has the internal memory benchmarks: Read 118.32MB/s – Write 0.00MB/s (??). RAM copy speed was 2593.39MB/s.

Conclusions

Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box is a good TV Box if you do not have too many requirements. It works stably and quickly. TV Box copes well with 4K video playback. Unfortunately, it should (in our opinion) support Youtube 4K or at least 2K. You can not count on Netflix HD. WiFi needs improvement (works too slowly). We do not think that a new firmware will be available, but we can be wrong. If you have a limited budget and are looking for a TV Box with good parameters, you can consider buying an Eachlink H6 Mini TV Box, or wait and buy a better Android TV Box.