Rikomagic DS02 Review: 4G LTE Digital Signage Player

We’re already after testing the Rikomagic DS02 Network Signage Player, so today, we would like to show you the Rikomagic DS02 review.

DS02 TV Box can be used to display digital content, advertisements in shops, grocery stores, restaurants, banks, etc. If you need a Digital Signage player for your project, from building a network of digital signage players to displaying content, our Rikomagic DS02 review should interest you.

Availability and price

I want to say thanks to the Rikomagic (Shenzhen Rikomagic Tech Corp., Ltd company) for sending us a Rikomagic DS02 to review.

Rikomagic RKM DS02 with WiFi version now is available at Aliexpress for $114.90. The tested version DS02 with 4G LTE is available for $149.90

[tie_index]Product details[/tie_index]

Rikomagic DS02 Review: Product details

Rikomagic RKM DS02 Android Digital Signage Player Specification:

• CPU – Rockchip RK3288 quad-core, 28nm, ARM Cortex-A17, up to 1.8GHz 12nm manufacturing process
• GPU – Quad-Core ARM Mali-T760MP
• Memory – 2GB
• Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, microSD card slot
• Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 60 Hz, AV port (composite)
• Video – AVE-10 engine with 4K UHD H.265/VP9/AVS2 video decoding up to 60 fps
• Audio – Digital audio via HDMI, stereo analog audio via 3.5mm AV jack, optical S/PDIF
• Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac, 4G LTE or WiFi supported, Support wake up via network (LAN only)
• USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 2.0 OTG port
• Power Supply – DC IN,12V
• Dimensions – 140*147*30mm (with antenna)
• Weight – n/a

The box included everything that you need to get started:

• DS02 Network Signage Player
• Power adapter
• Remote control
• HDMI cable
• external antenna

The following video from our YouTube channel where you can take a look at more Rikomagic DS02 TV Box and bundled accessories.

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

Rikomagic DS02 Review: First impressions, settings, an overview of features

RKM DS02 is a well-made, small, and fanless Android TV Box / Signage Player in a brushed aluminum housing. The front panel has a Power Led and IR receiver. All I / O ports are on the back, including 2x USB 2.0, Micro USB (OTG), headphone jack, Micro SIM for 4G LTE, TF card slot, HDMI, RJ45 Gigabit Lat, and DC jack. 

The device is shipped with a remote controller that you may have seen with other TV Boxes. Lack bracket or VESA mount for DS02 mounting, for example on the back of the display. Perhaps Rikomagic for distributors has such a solution.

Impressions from the use

RKM DS02 runs on pure Android 7.1, with a simple UI without a dedicated launcher. Wallpaper with the possibility of placing the application as on a smartphone. 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.

The device works stably. However, there were minor problems with WiFi and LTE connectivity, which were solved with a factory reset. This requires optimization. Ethernet: Download – 869Mbps Upload – 307Mbps, WiFi: Download – 35.8Mbps Upload – 36.8Mbps (802.11ac WiFi should work faster), LTE: Download – 31.7Mbps Upload – 21.5Mbps.  Most of the tests looked identical to the normal Android TV Boxes.

More details

Youtube only 720p. DS02 TV Box has network signage features (Screen rotation, Time controller/ time on/off ). We also installed Kodi 18.8 “Leia”. On the DS02 you can play simple games, for example, Beach Buggy Racing. For Digital Signage tests, we installed the XOGO Player app. Below a lot of screenshots.

[tie_index]XOGO Digital Signage on RKM DS02[/tie_index]

XOGO Digital Signage on RKM DS02

We used XOGO software for the Digital Signage tests. To display digital content, you need the XOGO digital Signage Player app, is available for Windows 10, Chrome, Android, and Fire (installed on TV Box / Network Player) and XOGO manager for player and content management (application installed on Windows 10, Android or iOS device). You can find the guide here.

We used a Free subscription (HD content) for one player. A PRO version (HD and 4K content) is also available ($20 per player per month, or paid annually), more here. We had no problem configuring the software and displaying the content on the DS02 player and remote management (for example, remote device restart). XOGO software is intuitive and everyone should cope with its service. We used WiFi and LTE connections in our tests. If you are looking for easy-to-use Digital Signage for one player or many, for example for your grocery store, the combination of RKM DS02 and XOGO is satisfactory. Below some screenshots.

[tie_index]Operating system and components[/tie_index]

RKM DS02 Review: Operating system and components

The RKM DS02 runs on the Android 7.1.2, Kernel version 4.4.143, Firmware date 20200709. TV Box is equipped with a Rockchip RK3288 processor quad-core Cortex A17 @ 1.61GHz and GPU Quad-Core ARM Mali-T764, CPU speed between 126MHz and 1.61GHz.

Below screenshots from the CPU-Z app, DRM info app, and Root Checker app. ROOT is granted.

Performance tests and benchmarks

For testing, we use the AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0 app and AnTuTu Benchmark v8.4.5.

[tie_index]Video Tests[/tie_index]

RKM DS02 Review: Video Tests

AnTuTu Video Benchmark the result 816 and four unsupported codecs. Video playback by Kodi 18.8 Leia in some samples did not run smoothly. The TV Box without problem seems to play movies with a resolution of 480p,720p, and 1080p (24fps, 30fps, 60fps) and in some 4K (60fps) with various codecs videos such as H.264, H.265, MPEG2, MPEG4, RMVB, and audio passthrough worked fine via HDMI. RKM DS02 TV Box playing the video on YouTube only in 720p. 

Video Playback via Kodi 18.8

[tie_index]Conclusions[/tie_index]

Rikomagic DS02 Review: Conclusions

Rikomagig RKM DS02 is primarily a digital network player dedicated to digital signage and should not be treated as a TV Box. Optimization requires switching between WiFi and LTE network, without using factory reset. However, in combination with XOGO Digital Signage software, it is a very good player with the possibility of connection via 4G LTE. If you are looking for an Android signage player then Rikomagic DS02 should satisfy you. Rikomagic should prepare the via a bracket or VESA mounting option.