Mecool KD3 Android TV streaming stick evaluation: A worthy contender

The Chromecast with Google TV ushered in a wholly new streaming revel in for Android TVs when it introduced in September 2020. While the Google TV interface has made its strategy to a substantial choice of good TVs, it is just to be had on a couple of streaming sticks and containers.

Thankfully, a Chinese corporate referred to as Mecool offered its personal Google TV-certified streaming dongle in April. The Mecool KD3 tests all of the containers if you are on the lookout for a Chromecast with Google TV choice, even supposing it suffers from the similar shortcomings as Google’s dated streamer.

In the 2 weeks that I’ve been the use of the streaming stick, I’ve found out that it could possibly deal with any job you throw at it. When you mix that with a very good far flung that incorporates a couple of extra devoted buttons in your favourite streaming products and services, the KD3 turns into a worthy rival to the most productive Google TV-compatible streaming sticks and containers cash should buy.

Mecool KD3: Price and availability

Mecool introduced the KD3 on April 20, working Android TV OS 11. The stick prices $63 within the United States and can also be bought immediately from Mecool’s on-line storefront. If you want to purchase the product via Amazon, it prices $80.

Fortunately, the corporate has presented Android Central readers a fifteen% cut price. By coming into the code KD3MECOOL on the Mecool website, you’ll get the KD3 for a lower cost.

The corporate stated the product ships to the U.S., EU, and UK markets.

Mecool KD3: What I really like

The KD3 is available in a gorgeous compact bundle. Its design is monotonous, which is ok as a result of it is not one thing intended to be noticed always. The dongle itself has were given some weight to it, giving it a cast really feel in spite of its small measurement. It plugs immediately into the HDMI port of your TV, identical to Google’s streamer. If you’ve gotten hassle plugging the dongle into your TV’s HDMI port, the KD3 ships with an HDMI extension cable that will help you out.

The majority of the stick could also be matte plastic, with a shiny strip within the heart bearing the Mecool emblem on one finish and the ability indicator gentle at the different. A micro USB port at the again connects to the incorporated USB energy cable, which you’ll use to show at the dongle through plugging it into the AC adapter.

In my case, on the other hand, I did not want the AC adapter to energy the object as it labored flawlessly on my TCL Union TV’s integrated USB port. This gets rid of the will for an extra energy outlet, which is at all times a plus.

Like the Chromecast with Google TV, it comprises enhance for 4K streaming as much as 60fps, HDR10 content material, in addition to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Mecool did a very good task of adapting Google’s G10 reference design for the far flung and including a couple of extra buttons. While the far flung appears very similar to the ones incorporated with many streaming gadgets or Android TVs, it has much more buttons than the Chromecast with Google TV far flung.

Of direction, the far flung would possibly not be entire with out a Google Assistant button that lets you talk to the voice assistant. It’s noticeably quicker right here than on Google’s media tool, regardless that that is almost definitely since the latter is getting old.

The KD3 helps Apple TV, which the Chromecast with Google TV nonetheless lacks.

As same old, there are the ability, enter, and quantity buttons in your TV. It must be famous that the amount buttons serve as as anticipated due to HDMI-CEC enhance and IR blaster configurations, so you will not wish to use your TV’s incorporated far flung to regulate the amount.

At the ground, there are devoted buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. You can not assist however respect the fast get entry to to main streaming platforms they supply, and for any person like me who makes use of Netflix and YouTube steadily, the shortcuts come in useful.

If you’ve gotten an Apple TV subscription, you can be happy to understand that the KD3 helps Apple’s streaming provider. This is one thing that, even after a couple of years, the Chromecast with Google TV nonetheless lacks.

In addition, you can understand a singular profile button at the left aspect of the Assistant button. You would possibly not generally to find this button within the incorporated far flung of lots of the easiest streaming gadgets, and its presence at the KD3’s incorporated far flung is probably in preparation for the long run rollout of customized Google TV profiles.

When you press that button, the profile selector seems, permitting you to change between your primary profile and a kid’s profile. However, you will not to find it very helpful till Google introduces customized profiles. However, it is encouraging to peer Mecool making ready the media tool for the long run.

Speaking of future-proofing, the KD3 is powered through an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset, a more recent form of processor with enhance for AV1 encoded content material. This video streaming codec is not to be had on many streaming products and services simply but.

The KD3 is future-proofed with an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset and a singular profile button.

However, in comparison to the extra in style HEVC and H.264 requirements, it supplies a greater compression gadget that are supposed to permit for vital knowledge potency financial savings with out compromising video high quality. As a end result, it’s poised to turn into a extra very best usual at some point as video content material adopts upper body charges and 8K solution.

One other thing: Mecool additionally merits a pat at the again for engaging in what Google didn’t do with the Chromecast with Google TV. One benefit the KD3 has over the Chromecast with Google TV is expandable garage. While the streamer has the similar 8GB of inside garage as Google’s media tool, you’ll formally make bigger that house with a $9 OTG cable. It allows you to attach a flash power to the cable’s USB port for added cupboard space.

In all of those key spaces, the KD3 will get the task finished neatly. The setup procedure is unassuming, navigating menus and apps is simple, and the video content material is superb.

The Google TV revel in is the same to that of the Chromecast, and I had no hassle launching apps at the streamer. As anticipated, the KD3 did a excellent task curating content material in response to what I steadily watch.

Another benefit is that the streaming stick’s running gadget is one technology forward of the Chromecast with Google TV. However, the dongle nonetheless has the February 2022 safety patch, and Mecool has now not said when the most recent safety replace shall be launched.

Mecool KD3: What I do not like

I want Mecool would upload the power to map its buttons to its destiny streaming tool. However, whilst this selection isn’t not unusual in different media gadgets, with the ability to customise the far flung’s button purposes is at all times helpful.

While you’ll’t formally remap the buttons, you’ll at all times obtain and set up third-party apps from the Play Store. I’m the use of the Button Mapper app to modify how sure buttons paintings. For instance, I remapped the house button for such things as taking a screenshot along with navigating to the house display.

8GB of cupboard space isn’t sufficient because of the massive cupboard space fed on through the gadget itself.

I’d additionally like to peer the KD3’s successor include better integrated garage. The KD3 suffers from the similar app set up limits because the Chromecast with Google TV, which failed to sit down neatly with shoppers. 8GB of cupboard space on my own is clearly now not sufficient, and proper off the bat, most effective part of this is left in your apps and recordsdata because of the massive cupboard space fed on through the gadget itself.

If you’re subscribed to more than one streaming products and services, it’s possible you’ll need to believe the NVIDIA Shield TV, which comes with extra garage. While there is an legit workaround for this shortcoming with Mecool’s dongle, it is at all times a plus so that you can set up as many apps as you wish to have with out working into this sort of limitation.

Mecool KD3: The pageant

The KD3 is a cast challenger to the Chromecast with Google TV if you do not thoughts paying extra for a couple of options now not to be had at the latter. This way Mecool’s streaming stick faces a heap of pageant from extra in style manufacturers that value much less. At $50, Google’s {hardware} may nonetheless be the simpler choice for some customers, aside from that it’s kind of dated already. 

Perhaps the KD3’s closest rival is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which helps 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and Atmos for most effective $50. It comprises an Alexa-powered voice far flung and provides the similar 8GB of garage. The two most effective vary within the tool they run.

You may additionally have an interest within the TiVo Stream 4K, which is any other Android TV-powered tool that helps 4K solution, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It additionally comprises the TiVo Stream app, which gives customized content material in response to your subscriptions. The easiest section is that it is just $49.

Mecool KD3: Should you purchase it?

You must purchase this if…

• You like to flow content material in 4K at 60fps, HDR, and Dolby Vision
• You need an interface that does an excellent task of curating content material
• You’re on the lookout for an approach to build up the cupboard space
• You need an all-in-one far flung
• You watch a large number of Apple TV content material

You mustn’t purchase this if…

• You do not need to pay greater than it’s a must to for different choices
• You need greater than 8GB of mounted inside garage
• You hate micro USB ports

At $63, it is exhausting to counsel this product as a greater acquire than the Chromecast with Google TV. The KD3 could also be now not as spec-heavy because the NVIDIA Shield TV 4K, which has the whole lot you should ask for in a streaming tool. But on the subject of serving to you find content material, it is a very good selection.

Google I/O 2022 is in complete swing, this means that heaps of recent updates for the quest large’s TV running gadget. We’ll have to attend and spot how the KD3 holds up as extra streaming gadgets are anticipated so as to add enhance for the interface within the coming months. While the streamer is a worthy challenger to Google’s {hardware}, it is a long way from giving it a run for its cash.