MECOOL KM3 Review: 4K Android TV Box with Voice Remote Control

There are several new TV Boxes from MECOOL brand on the market equipped with Android TV OS and Voice Remote Control. One such TV Boxes is MECOOL KM3 Google Certified TV Box powered by Amlogic S905X2 SoC. Today we want to introduce you to MECOOL KM3 review.  MECOOL KM3 ATV supports voice remote control and works similar to MECOOL M8S PRO L TV Box (review here). KM3 is another TV Box worth of interest and purchase. We invite you to read.

We want to say thanks to Gearbest store for sending us a MECOOL KM3 TV Box to review. Now MECOOL KM3 Android TV Box is available on Gearbest store for $68.99 with coupon code: GBCNMEKM (only 200pcs).

KM3 Android TV Box details

MECOOL KM3 Android TV Box Specifications:

• CPU – Amlogic S905X2 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 2.0 GHz
• GPU – Mali-G31 MP2 “Dvalin” GPU
• Memory – 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage – 64GB eMMC
• External Storage – micro SD card slot
• OS – Android 9.0 TV
• Video Output – HDMI 2.0a output with HDR, AV port (composite)
• Video Codecs – VP9 Profile-2 up to 4K 60fps, 10-bit H.265 up to 4K 60fps, AVS2-P2 up to 4K 60fps, H.264/AVC up to 4K 30fps, H.264 MVC up to 1080p60, MPEG-4 ASP up to 1080p60 (ISO-14496), etc..
• Audio Output – HDMI, AV
• USB – 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x USB 2.0 port
• Misc – IR receiver, LEDs
• Power Supply – 5V/2A
• Dimensions – 10.90 x 10.80 x 1.66 cm
• Weight – 130g

The box included everything that you need to get started:

• MECOOL KM3
• Voice Remote Control
• Power Adapter
• HDMI Cable
• User Manual

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more MECOOL KM3 TV Box and bundled accessories.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Atz5iU2No[/embedyt]

MECOOL KM3: First impressions, settings, overview of features

KM3 TV Box is made solidly, with good quality, but unfortunately from shiny plastic (you can see the fingerprints on the housing). But the black piano color looks great. As mentioned at the beginning of TV Box is equipped with a new Amlogic S905X2 SoC, which supports VP9-10 Profile-2 up to 4Kx2K@60fps, H.265 HEVC MP-10@L5.1 up to 4Kx2K@60fps, H.264 AVCHP@L5.1 up to 4Kx2K@30fps, H.264 MVC up to 1080p @60fps, MPEG-4 ASP@L5 up to 1080P@60fps (ISO-14496) and more. TV Box also runs on Android TV OS 9.0.

The front panel has IR receiver and LED bar (with smart breathing light). On one side are two USB ports (USB 2.0  and USB 3.0) and micro SD card slot. On the rear panel are AV port, RJ45 Ethernet port,  DC jack. On the bottom, there are holes for good ventilation. At the bottom of the device, there are also four rubber pads to prevent shifting. Bluetooth Voice Remote Control works very well. Recognizes voice commands (in English) without any problem. Just press the button with colored circles and say the command. Below pictures.

There is no surprise here. The launcher is known for models equipped with Android TV OS.  Android TV launcher is based on recommendations from many external sources, Youtube, Google Movies, Google Play Games, Google Play Music, etc. The recommended content is displayed in rows.

We can choose typically 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. TV Box supports Chromecast (you can stream your favorite entertainment and apps from your phone, tablet or laptop). We had no problem with Ethernet and WiFi connection to the router and to the Internet. WiFi connection works stable and very quickly, faster than ethernet. Ethernet: Download – 93.4Mbps Upload – 36.0Mbps, WiFi: Download – 225Mbps Upload – 32.5Mbps). In addition to the bluetooth remote control with voice feature, we used a standard keyboard, mouse, and a gamepad from iPega called iPega PG-9076 (paired via bluetooth). The device has 57GB eMMC storage (in the specification 64GB).  

Impressions from the use

As we mentioned at the beginning of the TV Box is equipped with Bluetooth remote control with a voice search button (colored circles), so by pressing the button, you can output voice commands. The service works well and fast. Big plus! You do not have to navigate the remote control, just tell what you are looking for. TV Box supports YouTube 4K (2160p) and Netflix only up to 540p (we have installed the Netflix version v4.16.1). Because the installed version displayed an error: This device is not optimised for Netflix (-14). For testing, we installed the latest available Kodi 18.2 “Leia”. If you need to control the TV Box through a smartphone, you can use the Android TV Remote Control appl or our favorite CetusPlay (Install CetusPlay On TV/Box app on TV box and open, Install CetusPlay on a smartphone). On the MECOOL KM3 with Voice Remote, you can play in games without a problem just connect gamepad or keyboard. We used iPega PG-9076 gamepad (paired via bluetooth). Beach Buggy Racing, Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8 works without a problem. Below some screenshots.

MECOOL KM3: Operating system and components

The KM3 TV Box runs on the Android TV 9.0, Kernel version 4.9.113 and (probably) supports OTA updates. The TV Box comes with firmware build number PI.V1.20190329 release-keys. TV Box is equipped with Amlogic S905X2 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ processor up to 1.8GHz and GPU Mali-G31MP2, CPU speed between 100MHz and 1.8GHz. On the following screens, you can see exactly the components used and their specification (Information taken from the CPU-Z app, the application does not yet recognize Amlogic S905X2 SoC). After using the DRM info (app) we know that KM3 supports Google Widevine and ClearKey CDM. The device does not have root access. Below screenshots.

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing, we use the AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 app and AnTuTu Benchmark 7. 2.0. The result 1027! and one unsupported codec. Video playback by Kodi 18.2 Leia runs almost smoothly and stable. The TV Box 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 18.2. TV Box also copes well with playing the video on YouTube, videos play in 4K (2160p). We tried to play VP9 4K video and also runs smoothly. 

Typical 1080p	Kodi 18.2
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	video OK/ 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	OK
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	OK
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	OK

Benchmarks

Below Benchmark screenshots we were able to do: AnTuTu Benchmark, GeekBench 4, 3D Mark: Sling Shot Extreme, GPUBench, Vellamo. KM3 TV Box has the internal memory benchmarks: Read 136.92MB/s – Write 117.90MB/s. RAM copy speed was 2919.09MB/s.

MECOOL KM3: Conclusions

MECOOL KM3 Box with Voice Remote is another great TV Box from MECOOL. TV Box copes well with 4K @60fps video without any major problems. Android TV OS, bluetooth Voice Remote Control, and specification based on Amlogic S905X2 should satisfy the majority of users. The big advantage is the support of Youtube 4K (2160p). Unfortunately Netflix only up to 540p and needs improvement. We know that other MECOOL’s TV Boxes support Netflix HD. KM3 TV Box in combination with an iPega PG-9076 gamepad provides great entertainment. The MECOOL KM3 works quickly and smoothly.  WiFi is faster than Ethernet. If you are looking for a TV Box for home entertainment that is well-made, easy-to-use (via voice control), runs smoothly then you should consider buying MECOOL KM3 with Voice Remote, now at an even better price for $68.99 with coupon code: GBCNMEKM.