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The €33 Wonder: My Hands-On Review of the HK1 4K Android TV Box

HK1 android tv box The quest for affordable yet capable home entertainment often leads down rabbit holes of questionable devices. So, when I stumbled upon the HK1 4K Android TV Box boasting a respectable spec sheet – an Amlogic S905X4 quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage – all for the incredibly low price of just €33, my curiosity was piqued. Could this budget-friendly box actually deliver a decent smart TV experience, not just for local playback, but for popular streaming services and even the versatile Kodi? After spending some quality time with it, here are my even more detailed thoughts. Unboxing the Basics: The unboxing experience was straightforward, as expected for a device in this price range. Inside the compact box, I found the HK1 unit itself, a standard IR remote control, an HDMI cable (a welcome inclusion!), a basic instruction manual, and the necessary power adapter. Nothing fancy, but everything you need to get started. Unboxing KH1 A Closer Look at the Hardware...

Mortal T9 Android TV Box – Is This the Best Budget Streaming Device?

If you’re looking for an affordable Android TV box that can handle streaming, casual gaming, and even some retro emulation, the Mortal T9 Android TV Box might be worth considering. I recently bought this device for just 31 EUR (normally priced around 50 EUR), and after testing it, I have some interesting findings to share.

Let’s break down the features, performance, and overall value of this device.




📦 Unboxing & First Impressions

The Mortal T9 comes in a simple, no-frills box with a few specs printed on the outside. Inside, you’ll find:

Mortal T9 TV Box 📺
HDMI Cable 🔌
Power Adapter
Remote Control 🎮
User Manual 📖

The remote control is lightweight and works fine, though it’s not a premium design. Setup is easy: just plug in the power adapter and connect the HDMI cable to your TV or monitor.

One of the first things I checked was how fast it boots up. It took about 20–30 seconds to reach the Android TV home screen, which is pretty standard for this price range.







⚙️ System & Performance Overview

This TV box runs on Android 13 (or does it?), with:

🔹 CPU: Allwinner H728
🔹 GPU: Mali G57-MC1
🔹 RAM: 4GB DDR3
🔹 Storage: 32GB eMMC
🔹 Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz/5GHz (Wi-Fi 6 support)
🔹 Ethernet: 1000M
🔹 Video Output: HDMI 2.1
🔹 Max Resolution: 8K @ 30Hz (but more realistically, 4K)

💡 Potential Issue: When I checked the software with AIDA64, it reported that the OS might actually be Android 11 instead of Android 13. This is common with budget TV boxes, where manufacturers inflate Android versions for marketing.




🎬 Video Playback – Can It Handle 4K?

The stock YouTube app allows a maximum resolution of 2K (1440p). However, installing SmartTube (a YouTube alternative) unlocked 4K playback at 60FPS, and it ran smoothly with no stuttering.

🎞️ Streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ work, but in most cases, you’re limited to SD or 1080p resolution because this box lacks Widevine L1 certification. This is a drawback if you’re looking for true 4K Netflix.

Good for: YouTube, Kodi, Plex, IPTV apps
Not ideal for: Official Netflix 4K




🎮 Gaming Performance – What Can It Handle?

I tested several games to see how well this box performs.

🎮 Casual Android Games:
Real Racing 3 – Smooth gameplay, no major frame drops
Beach Buggy Racing – Runs well, even at high settings
Other 2D/low-end games – Work perfectly

🎮 Retro Emulation:
Super Mario (NES/SNES) – No problems, smooth performance
GTA Vice City (PSP) – Playable, but some lag

💡 Gaming with a Bluetooth Controller:
Pairing a Bluetooth gamepad was simple. I’d highly recommend using a controller if you plan to play games on this box.

Limitations:
While it can handle casual games, don’t expect it to run heavy 3D games like PUBG or Genshin Impact smoothly.




📡 Chromecast & Screen Mirroring

A big plus of this box is the built-in Chromecast functionality. Mirroring my phone screen was quick and lag-free, making it useful for casting videos or presentations.




🔍 Pros & Cons of the Mortal T9

Pros:

✔️ Affordable price – Great deal for around 30 EUR
✔️ Decent performance for streaming & casual gaming
✔️ 4K playback via SmartTube
✔️ Supports Bluetooth gamepads for gaming
✔️ Chromecast & screen mirroring work well

Cons:

⚠️ No Widevine L1, so Netflix & Prime Video are stuck at SD or 1080p
⚠️ Gaming is limited – It’s fine for casual games, but struggles with high-end titles


💡 Final Verdict – Is It Worth Buying?

If you’re looking for a cheap Android TV box for YouTube, IPTV, casual gaming, and retro emulation, the Mortal T9 is a solid budget option. For 30–35 EUR, it’s hard to complain.

However, if you need better gaming performance or official 4K Netflix support, you may want to spend a bit more on a higher-end box like the Xiaomi Mi Box S or an Nvidia Shield TV.

📌 Where to Buy?

👉 Check the best deals here: 

BUY HERE ⇉


What do you think about the Mortal T9? Let me know in the comments! 🎤

#AndroidTV #MortalT9 #TVBox #4KStreaming #GamingOnATVBox

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