The X98 S500 is a new Mini TV Stick powered by S905Y4 SoC. X98 Mini TV Stick runs on Android 11 OS and supports up to 4K @60fps AV1 decoding with HDR10+ technology. Besides, it has a pocket-size (it measures 97.5 x 33 x 15mm) and its price is wallet-friendly.
The X98 S500 is another device that has recently appeared under the X98 brand. Before that, you might have met the X98Q S905W2 TV Box, or the X98 Plus S905W2 TV Box. This time we are dealing with a device in the HDMI TV Stick format. X98 Mini TV Stick with its small size offers a very good specification that allows smooth streaming and video playback in 4K with AV1 decoding. Unfortunately, this is not a certified streaming stick, so you need to use a modified application to watch Netflix at least in 1080p.
Availability and price
At the moment, the X98 S500 S905Y4 Mini TV Stick can only be found on Alibaba. However, it is a matter of a few days when the X98 Mini TV Stick will appear on Aliexpress (we’ll let you know). Prices start from around $20 (2GB / 16GB) to around $30-$40 for a version with 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC storage. After the photos are available in the offer, it seems that the 4GB / 32GB model will enter the market for individual sales, but we do not want to prejudge.
[UPDATE 06/22/22] X98 S500 Mini TV Stick is now available on Aliexpress from $45 and up.
Also Read: BuzzTV HD5 Android Streaming Dongle is Now Available
X98 S500 Mini TV Stick Overview Features
Under the small housing of the Android Mini TV Stick, we find the well-known Amlogic S905Y4 SoC. Quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A35 processor with Mali-G31 MP2 GPU supports 4K @60fps AV1, H.265, VP9 decoding. Besides, the device supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG technology. As already mentioned, the streaming stick is to be available with 2-4GB RAM and 16-32GB eMMC storage.
In addition, the device runs on Android 11 OS and supports Dual-Band 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.2. Despite its small size, the device has a USB 2.0 port, USB Type-C IN (5V / 2A power supply), as well as a 3.5mm IR input for an IR receiver (included in the set). Besides, the X98 S500 TV Stick is shipped with IR remote control, User Manual, HDMI Extension, Type-C USB cable, and USB plug. In addition, the Mini Android TV Stick is expected to support OTA updates.
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