Does your TV Box freeze when navigating menus? Does YouTube take forever to open? Don't throw it in the trash just yet! Whether you have a budget TV98 , a popular X96 , or even a decent X88 Pro , factory settings are rarely optimized for speed. Manufacturers often load these boxes with unnecessary animations and background apps that eat up all your RAM. In this guide, I will show you 5 secret settings that will noticeably speed up your device in just 2 minutes. 1. Turn Off Animations (Developer Options) ⚡ This is the single most effective trick. By reducing or turning off animations, menus will snap open instantly without the sluggish visual effects. How to do it: Go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> About . Find the Build Number . Click on it 7 times rapidly until you see a message: “You are now a developer!” . Go back one step and open the new Developer Options menu. Scroll down to the "Drawing" section and change these three settings from 1x to .5x o...
Is Widevine L1 certification enough to save a device with only 1GB of RAM?
Today I am reviewing the Mediabox Neo. On paper, it looks like a great deal for around €30: it supports AV1 decoding, has Dual-Band Wi-Fi, and comes with Widevine L1 (which means official 1080p Netflix).
But after testing it, I was honestly disappointed. Actually, I was a bit angry. Why? Because the hardware inside (Cortex A35 & 1GB RAM) is simply too weak for 2026.
Here is why you should probably think twice before buying this stick.
🛒 Where to Buy (If you still want it)
If you are looking for a stick for simple streaming, check it out here. But I highly recommend checking the Better Alternative below first.
👉 Mediabox Neo (The Stick I reviewed): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c32V2SkP 👉 BETTER Choice (X88 Pro X5M): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4tfEML5
(Transparency: I may earn a commission from these links.)
1. Design: The "Missing" Ports Problem
Let's start with the build. It’s a tiny stick that hides behind your TV. It comes with a handy HDMI extender (great for wall-mounted TVs) and a decent Bluetooth voice remote.
BUT... Here is the first major issue:
NO USB Ports.
NO MicroSD Slot.
This is a huge limitation. You cannot connect a USB flash drive to watch your own movies. You cannot connect a mouse or keyboard. You cannot expand the storage. You are strictly limited to the internal 8GB and whatever you can stream from the cloud.
2. The Performance: The "Patience Test"
Booting up the device takes a long time. Once the menu finally loads, you realize the problem immediately: 1GB of RAM is choking the system.
Navigation: Moving through the menus feels "heavy" and sticky.
Loading: Waiting for app icons to appear takes forever.
Multitasking: Non-existent.
It feels like a device from 5 years ago. Even simple scrolling stutters. If you are used to fast phones or PCs, this stick will test your patience.
3. Streaming: The Only Saving Grace?
The main selling point of this stick is the Widevine L1 certification.
Netflix: Yes, it plays in native 1080p Full HD. The remote works perfectly (no mouse mode needed). This is the only advantage over cheaper uncertified boxes like the TV98.
YouTube: It is capped at 1080p 60fps. I tried to push it higher, but it wouldn't go. I also noticed occasional frame drops. To get a smooth stream, I sometimes had to lower the quality to 720p.
Plex: It works, but loading high-bitrate files (H.265) takes a very long time.
4. Gaming & Emulation: Don't Bother
I paired a Bluetooth controller to test some games.
Android Games: I installed Crossy Road—a very basic game. It was unplayable. The lag was unbearable. If it can't handle Crossy Road, it can't handle anything.
Retro Gaming: Because there are no USB ports, transferring ROMs is a nightmare (you have to use wireless transfer tools). Combined with the slow speed, this device is useless for emulation.
5. The Verdict: 3/10
I recently reviewed the X88 Pro X5M and Vontar X2. Those boxes are "beasts" compared to this.
For €30+, the Mediabox Neo is a bad deal.
✅ PROS: Widevine L1 (Netflix HD), Compact size.
❌ CONS: Extremely slow, no USB ports, 1GB RAM causes lag, unplayable gaming.
My Advice: Do yourself a favor and spend $10 more for a box with at least 4GB of RAM (like the X88 Pro or Vontar). You will get a much faster, smoother experience.
Only buy the Neo if you absolutely need a tiny stick for a kitchen TV and only watch Netflix.
📺 Watch the Full Rant
Want to see the lag and the "Crossy Road" fail in real-time? Watch my full video review here:
Thanks for reading! Hopefully, I saved you some money and frustration. Check out my other reviews for better TV box options!
👉 See the Better Alternative (X88 Pro):
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