MECOOL KD5 Review: Certified Full HD HDR AV1 Android TV Stick

We’re already testing the MECOOL KD5 Full HD Android TV Streaming Stick, so today, we would like to show you the MECOOL KD5 review. So we encourage you to read our experiences of testing and using a KD5 FHD TV Stick streamer.

MECOOL KD5 is a portable Netflix and Google Certified Android Streaming TV Stick. Besides, the MECOOL KD5 TV Stick is another certified streaming stick after MECOOL KD3. Visually, it is no different from the KD3 Google TV Stick aside from the color. On the other hand, the KD5 Android TV Stick is dedicated to all cord-cutters for which 1080p resolution is sufficient. In addition, MECOOL KD5 is for all people who want to make their old Full HD TV, a smart TV. 

The KD5 Streaming TV Stick is powered by the Amlogic S805X2 SoC which supports 1080p @ 60fps HDR AV1 decoding. Besides, it supports Netflix, Prime Video, Disney +, and other popular streams. Currently, on the market, you can find not many devices that can compete with MECOOL KD5. The main competitor of the KD5 TV Stick is the Realme Smart TV Stick 2K. It has similar specifications and a similar price. 

However, many of you ask yourself is it worth buying the KD5 Android TV Stick? In our MECOOL KD5 review, you will find the answer to this question without a doubt. We encourage you to read our test impressions.

Availability and price

I want to say thanks to the MECOOL brand for sending us a MECOOL KD5 Full HD TV Stick to review. Now MECOOL KD5 Streaming Stick is available via the MECOOL website for $45 after coupon code: ANDROIDTVBOX. Also via AliExpress for $49 and up.

Alternatively MECOOL KD3 4K Streaming Stick is available for $56.70 after coupon code: ANDROIDTVBOX.

Besides, now you can get 15% off for all products (Father’s Day Sale) use coupon: FD15. 

You can also find the KD5 Full HD TV Stick on the Amazon US store. You may also need OTG Cable Compatible with MECOOL KD3 / KD2 / KD1.

BTW, also read: MECOOL KP1 is an FHD Android 11 Smart Projector with MECOOL KD5 HDMI Stick

MECOOL KD5 Review: Product details

MECOOL KD5 Full HD Android TV Stick Specification

• CPU – Amlogic S805X2 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 processor @1.8GHz
• GPU – Arm Mali-G31 MP2 GPU, 1080p60 10-bit AV1, H.265, VP9 P-2, H.264, AVS2, MPEG4/2/1 video decoder
• Memory – 1GB LPDDR4
• Storage – 8GB eMMC flash
• OS – Android TV 11
• Video Output – HDMI 1.4 port up to 1080p60
• HDR – Supports HDR10, HDR10+, HLG HDR processing
• Networking – Dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) 2T2R 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2
• USB – 1x Micro USB OTG port (also used for power)
• Misc – LED indicator
• Power Supply – 5V via Micro USB port
• Dimensions – 92.5 x 29.5 x 14.5mm

The box included:

• KD5 FHD Android TV Stick
• Bluetooth Voice Remote Control
• Micro USB cable
• USB Power plug
• User Manual
• HDMI extended lead 

Unboxing MECOOL KD5 Full HD TV Stick on Youtube

On our YouTube channel, you can take a look at more MECOOL KD5 details and bundled accessories.

KD5 FHD TV Stick First impressions, settings, overview of features

As we have already mentioned, the MECOOL KD5 does not differ visually from the MECOOL KD3 4K TV Stick, apart from the color. The KD3 TV Stick is black while the KD5 Android TV Stick is white. Besides, unlike the KD3, the KD5 Streaming Stick comes with a white Bluetooth voice remote.

On the front, there is a LED that lights up when the device is turned on. To connect the device, all you need is an HDMI port on the TV. You can power the device directly from the USB TV. The device only has a micro USB (OTG) for the power supply. Besides, if you can’t plug the stick into the HDMI port, you can use the included HDMI extended lead.

The KD5 streaming player also comes with the well-known G10 Bluetooth voice remote control. G10 Android TV / Google TV reference design remote control has 4 dedicated buttons (Youtube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+) and the distinctive Google Assistant button. Pictures below.

Impressions from the use

First of all, the MECOOL KD5 is a typical streaming media player that runs on Android TV (Android TV 11). However, it stands out from other HDMI Sticks in that it is certified by Google and Netflix. So you can be sure that using the KD5 stick you have access to Netflix Full HD without any application modifications. You plug and play. The device supports 1080p @60Hz screen resolution. However, the UI is in the resolution of 1280×720 (check the AIDA64 app screenshot). WiFi connection works well, is stable, and fast. Wifi: Download – 193.6Mbps Upload – 153.3Mbps. Chromecast built-in works fine. 

In addition to the Bluetooth remote control with a voice feature (which works with no problem), you can also use a gamepad (iPega PG-9076, Xbox Controller). KD5 Full HD Android TV Stick also can be used to play games from the Google Play store (simple games) as well as in the cloud (Stadia, GeForce NOW). Unfortunately, the device only has 1GB of RAM and sometimes you may feel that it is not running very fast. Inside, we also find only 8GB eMMC storage. However, 8GB storage can be expanded using an OTG cable. Besides, MECOOL KD5 can also be used with Plex and Kodi without any problems. If you need to control the KD5 via a smartphone, just install the Google TV app from the Google Play store. A few screenshots are below.

Streaming Services via MECOOL KD5 Android TV Stick

KD3 Android TV stick supports video content in Full HD resolution. It supports all popular streaming up to 1080p @60fps with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The media player supports:

• Youtube
• Google Play Movies
• Netflix
• HBO Max
• Disney+
• Apple TV+
• Prime Video

When it comes to streaming audio, the device supports DTS HD, DTS 5.1 / 7.1, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus.

Operating system and components

KD5 Full HD streaming stick runs on Android TV 11. Kernel version 5.4.86, and supports OTA updates. As we mentioned, the KD5 Android TV Stick is equipped with an Amlogic S805X2 Quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 CPU processor up to 2.0GHz and GPU Mali-G31MP2, CPU speed between 100MHz and 2.0GHz. As you know this chipset supports AV1 decoding up to 1080p@60fps.

Besides device supports Google Widevine L1/Playready and CENC ClearKey. The device does not have root access. Some screenshots.

Why is it worth getting a streaming player that uses AV1 decoding?

Most of the currently popular streaming services use the latest AV1 decoding. AV1 is a high-performance, royalty-free video codec that provides 20% improved compression efficiency over HEVC/VP9 and manages to save up to 30% in bandwidth for the same image quality.

Performance tests and benchmarks

Video test

In addition to online streaming, the KD5 streaming stick can also be used as a media player for local playback or via NAS via Kodi 19.3 Matrix / Plex. Playback by Kodi 19.3 runs almost smoothly and is stable. However AV1 samples work better with MX Player. Below is also a screen with a 1080p AV1 sample from Youtube. A device plays movies with the resolution of 480p, 720p, and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) with various formats and codecs videos such as AV1 codec, H.265/ HEVC, VP9, H.264, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB, and audio – DTS and AC3. DTS HD / DTS/ Dolby 5.1 passthrough worked fine via HDMI.

Video Playback via Kodi 19.3

Typical 1080p	Kodi 19.3
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
Summer Nature  1080p AV1 – 6.8 mbps	Not smooth

Benchmarks

For testing, unfortunately, we used an older version of Antutu Benchmark v8.3.4, GeekBench 4, and 3D Mark (one test). Considering the specification and the fact that the device correctly plays a streaming video, the benchmark results do not matter. That is why we did not match 1080p devices with most 4K media players. However, for the curious, the screen below. Internal memory benchmarks (via A1SD Bench app): Read 96.77MB/s – Write 35.24MB/s. RAM copy speed was 3571.93MB/s. Below are benchmarks screenshots.

Review MECOOL KD5 FHD TV Stick Conclusions

MECOOL KD5 FHD Android TV Stick is another certified TV Stick after MECOOL KD3 worth buying. It easily streams 1080p HDR video content from Netflix, Youtube, Prime Video, Disney +, etc. 2GB RAM would be nice, instead of 1GB the device would work faster. In addition to this, the media player has an Amlogic S805X2 chipset that supports the latest AV1 decoding. Although the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (1080p) has been on the market for a long time, it does not support the AV1 codec. All in all, if you are looking for a certified Android TV Stick for your old Full HD TV or if 1080p resolution is enough for you, we recommend the MECOOL KD5 TV Stick.