Minix NEO X8-H Plus (Amlogic S812-H) REVIEW

Minix recently upgraded their flagship 4K model with the latest Amlogic S812-Hquad-core processor. The new Minix NEO X8-H Plus is now one of the most powerful Android media players and brings faster network connectivity and improved media performance.

Compared to the previous model Minix NEO X8-H powered by Amlogic S802-H processor, the new Minix NOE X8-H Plus offers the following improvements; Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac with data rates up to 433Mbps, Gigabit Ethernetand native 4K H.265/HEVC hardware decoding.

	Minix NEO X8-H	Minix NEO X8-H Plus
Release date	2014/5/27	2014/11/21
CPU	Amlogic S802-H	Amlogic S812-H
Wi-Fi	Broadcom AP6330 802.11n Dual-Band (2.4GHz/5.8GHz)	Broadcom AP6335 802.11 ac Dual-Band (2.4GHz/5.8GHz)
Ethernet	10/100Mbps	10/100/1000Mbps
H.265 Hardware Decoding	No	Yes

In The Box

Just like all the previous Minix TV box devices the Minix NEO X8-H Plus comes well protected in a strong and good looking packing box. As seen in the photo above the devices is bundled with a set of accessories including, external WiFi antenna, AC power adapter, IR remote, USB cable (for PC upgrade), HDMI cable (1m) and a micro USB OTG adapter.

One important thing to mention here is that Minix also pays attention to quality of its accessories, something that most competitors often overlook in order to cut corners. The included IR remote not only looks good but also feels better in hand, it has the right buttons in the right place and they are solid rubber buttons. The USB and HDMI cables are also made of better quality.

But maybe the most important accessory for such a powerful device is it’s power supply. Minix is producing own branded AC adapters with better quality and correct specs which results in better stability. Included is a 5V / 3000mA power adapter which is more then enough to supply the fast CPU / GPU, any external USB accessories and hard drives.

Ports and Design

The Minix NEO X8-H Plus uses the same design and ports layout as the previous model. On the right side of the device you will find the well placed Power button, 3.5mm headphone jack, MIC in, USB 2.0 port, SD card slot and microUSB OTG port.

At the back, from left we find, Recovery reset hole, HDMI 1.4b port, optical SPDIF port, two USB 2.0 ports, RJ-45 Ethernet port and the AC port.

The WiFi antenna is attached to a gold plated connector on the left side of the device.

Looking at the bottom of the device, we once again notice the focus Minix puts on small but important details. The bottom of device have four rubber feet which will better keep it in place but also creates a small gap between the underlying surface for better cooling.

Android UI and Software

Another major strength with Minix devices is focus on the software side and good support from the company for all their products. Anyone who have ever used an Android device may have noticed compatibility issues with hardware drivers and app support due to the nature of the open and defragmented Android platform. Keeping an OS up to date is not a easy task even for the biggest names in the industry.

The new Amlogic solutions introduced a new block Android UI for easier operation and navigation on TV using IR remotes navigation buttons. Minix have modified the block UI to improve the experience even further.

The device comes pre installed with the most common features and apps out of the box. First time users don’t have to send hours search which app works best with the device. Google Play is supported and give you easy access to all the millions apps in Googles store.

One of the reasons people choose an Amlogic devices over other solutions is the better support for the very popular media center app XBMC / Kodi. But even here there are sometimes some codec and playback issues, Minix keeps an eye on the XBMC / Kodi development and provides custom versions with all the latest fixes.

Support

As mentioned earlier Minix takes their customer support seriously and promises to provide long-term firmware support (18-24 months) for all their newer devices. Minix have authorized resellers in many different countries and you may even get local support if things go wrong. Minix also hosts own forum where customers can get help and leave feedback. There is also good support form other communities where developers release customs ROMs and other tweaks for Minix devices.

Final Thoughts

The main news with the latest Minix NEO X8-H Plus and the Amlogic S812-H solution is support for faster WiFi speeds, faster wired speeds and the new H.265/HEVC hardware decoding, features that maybe overkill for most users. If you are looking for a low cost Android device to watch Youtube, Netflix, HD movies and stream from your mobiles devices than there is plenty of good and cheaper options.

However if you are into the highest video resolution, at highest bitrate and 4K support the faster network speeds together with H.265/HEVC codec support will allow you to stream and decode the best image quality.

Minix NEO X8-H Plus sells for about 160USD with shipping from Gearbest and Geekbyuing.

Compared to other TV box brands and models you pay a slight premium price for a Minix device, but you also get premium quality and a more future proof product, and the extra cost will most likely pay off in the long term.

Minix NEO X8-H Plus links:

Minix product page: http://www.minix.com.hk/Products.htm
Minix NEO X8-H Plus forum: http://www.minixforum.com/forums/neo-x8-h-plus.81/