The popularity of streaming applications has made many people start to move from using ordinary "dumb" televisions to smart televisions. Based on personal experience, this causes a non-smart television to sit at home as if it has no value even though it is still operating well. If this happens to you, we recommend purchasing an Android TV dongle or TV box that will replace these old televisions at a low cost.
There are dozens of TV boxes and Android TV dongles in the Malaysian market now. The one we recommend the most is Chromecast with Google TV because it is released by Google itself with the best experience so far. But it is still not perfect because there is no LAN support, support for playing media via USB drive and the price is quite expensive.
The Mecool KM7 Plus that just arrived at the our labs is a TV box that we feel is not only good but offers a host of extra features you might want. More interestingly, it uses the latest Google TV interface which is not yet offered on most Android TVs in the Malaysian market.
Specifications
Mecool KM7 Plus
4K resolution (60Hz)
Specifications Amlogic S905Y4, 4X Cortex-A35
2GB of RAM
16GB eMMC ROM
Android TV 11 Operating System with Google TV
HDR HDR10
HDR10+
HLG
Dolby Atmos audio
I/O 1xHDMI
2xUSB-A 2.0
1x 3.5mm audio jack
1x RJ45 LAN
1x memory card reader
1x Optical
Google Assistant Virtual Assistant
WiFi Internet 2.4/5GHz
Bluetooth BT 5.0
Chromecast Yes
AirPlay 2 None
Size 98 x 98 x 20.7mm
Weight 360 grams
Selling Price RM 299
Design
The design of the KM7 is a box with sharp corners which is very anti Apple which likes the design of all the corners to be rounded. Hard plastic material is used in black and white. Is it important for an Android TV box to look attractive? If you ask us the answer is no because it is a small box that will be hidden under the TV. For those who love aesthetics, just buy the Apple TV 4K which is admittedly more beautiful at a price that is several times higher.
There is a power indicator light, internet connection and an IR beam receiver on the front. On the left side are placed 2x USB-A and 1x memory card reader. Then behind it there is 1x HDMI, 1x RJ45 LAN, 1x power plug, 1x 3.5mm audio jack and 1x optical output. In terms of I/O options, KM7 is more luxurious when compared to Chromecast with Google TV, Apple TV 4K and Mi Box S.
There is no wasted space on the Mecool KM7 because a variety of accessories can be installed for the convenience of the user. We are only upset that the power plug connection is of the non-universal DC Connector type. It would be good if the updated model offered in the future the use of a USB-C port could be provided so that if the power plug is damaged it is easy to replace it with a USB-C power cable like on the Chromecast with Google TV.
Actually the KM7 is the same as the Mecool KD3 dongle that we reviewed last year. Still the Amlogic S905Y4 (4X Cortex-A35) processor, the memory is only 2GB RAM and the internal storage is now 16GB eMMC RAM instead of 8GB. In terms of performance this is a processor that has lower performance than Chromecast with Google TV (Amlogic S905X3 4x Cortex-A55) or Apple TV 4k (A15 Bionic).
The KD3 remote control is reused. The quality of the rubber buttons is still not very satisfactory because it is too hard. But this remote comes with a variety of buttons that Google's official dongle doesn't have. The circular navigation buttons are paired with special buttons to change user profiles and Google TV settings. It's very easy to switch profiles for those who share the TV with others at home.
There are also four quick shortcuts for YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+. More luxurious than just two (YouTube and Netflix) on Chromecast With Google TV. The only drawback is that the Disney+ button cannot be used because it is not programmed to open Disney+ Hotstar. There is no way to change this button natively which makes it useless.
This remote control requires two AAA batteries to function. We would have preferred if a replaceable alkaline cell battery was used as there is no issue with the rechargeable battery going bad after a few charge cycles.
Android TV 11
The Android TV 11 operating system with Google TV launcher is used which is the same as Chromecast with Google TV and some Android TV smart television models on the market today. The interface is easy to understand because it's the same as a regular Android TV only with some additions such as better content recommendations depending on the installed streaming application.
Downloading apps is very easy as the Play Store offers a variety of popular apps. So far we haven't found any apps that can't be downloaded. In short, the Android TV ecosystem is quite mature at this time, especially for users in Malaysia.
Even if it is not in the Play Store, users can install the application by sideloading if necessary with the help of the USB-A port placed on the right side of the KM7. We don't recommend you do this for security reasons but there are users who want to use "illegal" apps for certain purposes.
Usage And Visual Quality
The installation process is as simple as plugging the included HDMI cable into the back of the KM7 and the TV. Then connect the power plug to the port on the back of the KM7. On TVs with CEC which we are sure many people use, it will automatically be detected as a media box.
How to activate the dongle for the first time is very easy with 5GHz WiFi support. The first time it is installed the user only needs to use a Google account to register the product. A Google account is a requirement for Android TV products. It's just that we don't know why Android TV doesn't have a feature to restore settings from the cloud like on Android phones. A few applications need to be downloaded one by one manually.
To test the capabilities of KM7 we installed YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, Tubi, HBO GO and Apple TV+. After logging in, the Google TV home page will display content recommendations from all installed services. This should make it easier to find the content you want to watch when you're bored, but since the RAM is only 2GB, it causes the scrolling to get stuck. Stuck operation only disappears after entering a certain application.
The Amlogic S905Y4 processor with four Cortex-A35 cores and a memory of just 2GB of RAM is clearly not able to provide a smooth user experience. It feels like using an entry-level smartphone. But we have to be fair because this is an issue that occurs on all Android TV TVs and dongles ever reviewed including Chromecast with Google TV.
On the KD3 we have complained of unsatisfactory WiFi performance. This is an advantage of KM7 because this issue does not recur. Maybe because the KM7 box is placed under the TV and not hidden behind the TV which prevents a good connection to the wireless internet network. If this happens though there is an RJ45 LAN port that allows us to connect it directly to the Time Internet modem at home with a very fast 500 Mbps speed.
Another satisfying feature is the support for playing media directly from a USB drive or other external storage. Various video formats including MP4, H.265 HEVC and Real Media are supported. For those who still have a large collection of movies collected over the years KM7 can play them without issue. Personally we install the VLC app because it is the best for Android TV so far.
HDR support is only HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. A little disappointed that there is no Dolby Vision support because this is the most beautiful HDR format in our opinion. HDR10+ content from Netflix and Apple TV can be displayed smoothly. 4K HDR 60FPS videos from YouTube can also be played at the same smoothness.
Audio Quality
There is support for Dolby Atmos on the specification and there is no issue to enjoy this output on smart televisions that support it. Audio quality depends on the speakers used.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Mecool KM7 Box.
1x Remote control.
1x HDMI Cable.
1x DC Connector power plug.
1x Manual.
Conclusion
Mecool KM7 is the alternative to Chromecast with Google TV and Mi Box 4K that we have been waiting for. The advantage lies in the amount of I/O which is the most luxurious we have ever seen. For those with an old non-smart monitor or TV, the KM7 is a box that will turn it into a smart TV at low cost.
The performance of playing various types of media at 4K HDR 60p settings is very satisfactory including with Dolby Atmos support. Android TV is an ecosystem that has many necessary applications and is very easy to use.
The only downside is that if a lot of applications are installed the smoothness performance will plummet, there is no Dolby Vision and the remote control is quite hard. That all. At a selling price of around RM299, Mecool KM7 is a TV box that we can recommend to all readers.
Pro
Easy to install on the back of the TV.
Excellent I/O options.
Using the latest Android 11 based Google TV operating system.
Quite a luxurious choice of applications.
Huge 16GB storage compared to other dongles and TV boxes.
Cons
The processor is less powerful so there are some lags.
The remote control buttons are a little hard.
No Dolby Vision.