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The Chromecast with Google TV ushered in a wholly new streaming expertise for Android TVs when it launched in September 2020. Whereas the Google TV interface has made its solution to a substantial variety of sensible TVs, it’s only accessible on just a few streaming sticks and bins.
Fortunately, a Chinese language firm referred to as Mecool launched its personal Google TV-certified streaming dongle in April. The Mecool KD3 checks all of the bins for those who’re on the lookout for a Chromecast with Google TV different, though it suffers from the identical shortcomings as Google’s dated streamer.
Within the two weeks that I have been utilizing the streaming stick, I’ve found that it may well deal with any process you throw at it. Whenever you mix that with a wonderful distant that features a few extra devoted buttons in your favourite streaming providers, the KD3 turns into a worthy rival to the perfect Google TV-compatible streaming sticks and bins cash should buy.
Mecool KD3: Value and availability
Mecool introduced the KD3 on April 20, operating Android TV OS 11. The stick prices $63 in the USA and may be bought immediately from Mecool’s on-line storefront. In the event you desire to purchase the product by means of Amazon, it prices $80.
Thankfully, the corporate has provided Android Central readers a 15% low cost. By coming into the code KD3MECOOL on the Mecool web site, you may get the KD3 for a cheaper price.
The corporate stated the product ships to the U.S., EU, and UK markets.
Mecool KD3: What I like
The KD3 is available in a fairly compact bundle. Its design is monotonous, which is ok as a result of it is not one thing meant to be seen on a regular basis. The dongle itself has received some weight to it, giving it a stable really feel regardless of its small measurement. It plugs immediately into the HDMI port of your TV, identical to Google’s streamer. When you’ve got hassle plugging the dongle into your TV’s HDMI port, the KD3 ships with an HDMI extension cable that can assist you out.
Nearly all of the stick can also be matte plastic, with a shiny strip within the center bearing the Mecool emblem on one finish and the facility indicator gentle on the opposite. A micro USB port on the again connects to the included USB energy cable, which you should use to activate the dongle by plugging it into the AC adapter.
In my case, nevertheless, I did not want the AC adapter to energy the factor as a result of it labored flawlessly on my TCL Union TV’s built-in USB port. This eliminates the necessity for an extra wire when utilizing the streaming dongle, which is at all times a plus.
Just like the Chromecast with Google TV, it contains assist for 4K streaming as much as 60fps, HDR10 content material, in addition to Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Dolby Atmos.
Mecool did a wonderful job of adapting Google’s G10 reference design for the distant and including just a few extra buttons. Whereas the distant appears just like these included with many streaming units or Android TVs, it has much more buttons than the Chromecast with Google TV distant.
In fact, the distant will not be full with no Google Assistant button that means that you can converse to the voice assistant. It is noticeably sooner right here than on Google’s media gadget, although that is most likely as a result of the latter is growing old.
As regular, there are the facility, enter, and quantity buttons in your TV. It must be famous that the quantity buttons perform as anticipated due to HDMI-CEC assist and IR blaster configurations, so you will not want to make use of your TV’s included distant to regulate the quantity.
On the backside, there are devoted buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. You’ll be able to’t assist however admire the short entry to main streaming platforms they supply, and as somebody who makes use of Netflix and YouTube incessantly, the shortcuts turn out to be useful.
When you’ve got an Apple TV subscription, you may be happy to be taught that the KD3 helps Apple’s streaming service. That is one thing that, even after just a few years, the Chromecast with Google TV nonetheless lacks.
As well as, you may discover a novel profile button on the left facet of the Assistant button. You will not usually discover this button within the included distant of lots of the finest streaming units, and its presence on the KD3’s included distant is presumably in preparation for the long run rollout of personalised Google TV profiles.
Whenever you press that button, the profile selector seems, permitting you to modify between your most important profile and a baby’s profile. Nonetheless, you will not discover it very helpful till Google introduces personalised profiles. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to see Mecool getting ready the media gadget for the long run.
Talking of future-proofing, the KD3 is powered by an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset, a more recent kind of processor with assist for AV1 encoded content material. This video streaming codec is not accessible on many streaming providers simply but.
Nonetheless, in comparison with the extra standard HEVC and H.264 requirements, it supplies a greater compression system that ought to permit for important knowledge effectivity financial savings with out compromising video high quality. In consequence, it’s poised to turn into a extra supreme commonplace sooner or later as video content material adopts increased body charges and 8K decision.
Yet another factor: Mecool additionally deserves a pat on the again for conducting what Google did not do with the Chromecast with Google TV. One benefit the KD3 has over the Chromecast with Google TV is expandable storage. Whereas the streamer has the identical 8GB of inner storage as Google’s media gadget, you may formally broaden that area with a $9 OTG cable. It lets you join a flash drive to the cable’s USB port for added space for storing.
In all of those key areas, the KD3 will get the job executed properly. The setup course of is easy, navigating menus and apps is straightforward, and the video content material is great.
The Google TV expertise is an identical to that of the Chromecast, and I had no hassle launching apps on the streamer. As anticipated, the KD3 did a great job curating content material based mostly on what I incessantly watch.
One other benefit is that the streaming stick’s working system is one era forward of the Chromecast with Google TV. Nonetheless, the dongle nonetheless has the February 2022 safety patch, and Mecool has not said when the most recent safety replace will likely be launched.
Mecool KD3: What I do not like
I want Mecool would add the power to map its buttons to its future streaming gadget. Nonetheless, whereas this characteristic isn’t widespread in different media units, being able to customise the distant’s button capabilities is at all times helpful.
When you cannot formally remap the buttons, you may at all times obtain and set up third-party apps from the Play Retailer. I am utilizing the Button Mapper app to vary how sure buttons work. For instance, I remapped the house button for issues like taking a screenshot along with navigating to the house display screen.
I might additionally prefer to see the KD3’s successor include bigger built-in storage. The KD3 suffers from the identical app set up limits because the Chromecast with Google TV, which did not sit properly with prospects. 8GB of space for storing alone is clearly not sufficient, and proper off the bat, solely half of that’s left in your apps and information as a result of giant space for storing consumed by the system itself.
If you’re subscribed to a number of streaming providers, you might wish to contemplate the NVIDIA Protect TV, which comes with extra storage. Whereas there’s an official workaround for this shortcoming with Mecool’s dongle, it is at all times a plus to have the ability to set up as many apps as you want with out operating into this type of limitation.
Mecool KD3: The competitors
The KD3 is a stable challenger to the Chromecast with Google TV for those who do not thoughts paying extra for just a few options not accessible on the latter. This implies Mecool’s streaming stick faces a heap of competitors from extra standard manufacturers that value much less. At $50, Google’s {hardware} would possibly nonetheless be the higher possibility for some customers, besides that it is a bit dated already.
Maybe the KD3’s closest rival is the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K, which helps 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos for under $50. It contains an Alexa-powered voice distant and affords the identical 8GB of storage. The 2 solely differ within the software program they run.
You may additionally have an interest within the TiVo Stream 4K, which is one other Android TV-powered gadget that helps 4K decision, HDR, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and Dolby Atmos. It additionally contains the TiVo Stream app, which supplies personalised content material based mostly in your subscriptions. The very best half is that it’s only $49.
Mecool KD3: Do you have to purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You like to stream content material in 4K at 60fps, HDR, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- You need an interface that does an incredible job of curating content material
- You are on the lookout for an possibility to extend the space for storing
- You need an all-in-one distant
- You watch lots of Apple TV content material
You should not purchase this if…
- You do not wish to pay greater than you must for different choices
- You need greater than 8GB of mounted inner storage
- You wish to watch content material in Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR
- You hate microUSB ports
At $63, it is arduous to advocate this product as a greater buy than the Chromecast with Google TV. The KD3 can also be not as spec-heavy because the NVIDIA Protect TV 4K, which has all the things you would ask for in a streaming gadget. However in terms of serving to you uncover content material, it is a wonderful selection.
Google I/O 2022 is in full swing, which suggests tons of recent updates for the search large’s TV working system. We’ll have to attend and see how the KD3 holds up as extra streaming units are anticipated so as to add assist for the interface within the coming months. Whereas the streamer is a worthy challenger to Google’s {hardware}, it is from giving it a run for its cash.
Mecool KD3 Android TV streaming stick
In the event you’re on the lookout for a streaming gadget that helps 4K, HDR10 content material, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos, in addition to a wonderful distant, the Mecool KD3 Android TV streaming stick is a worthy different to the Chromecast with Google TV. It does the job properly and has some future-proofing options, comparable to assist for the AV1 commonplace.
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