Review of TV set-top boxes Vontar X96 Mini vs Vontar X96 Max

TV set-top boxes today are gaining popularity more and more actively. And all thanks to the opportunities they have. Thanks to this simple device, you can turn your TV into a full-fledged Android device with the functions of surfing the Internet, watching videos from YouTube, etc. Today we are reviewing the popular TV Box X96 Mini.

Design

The Vontar X96 console externally is a small black box with cut corners. The lid is matte, and its corners and sides are glossy. The dimensions of the Max attachment are 105x105x28 mm, weight 150 g. The Mini size is 82x82x17 mm, so it fits easily in the palm of your hand.

The top of the TV box is covered with translucent plastic. Below it you can see the indicator, which in the Mini lights up red during activity and blue during rest. The Max displays 4 dashes in the sleep state, and during operation it glows dark blue, indicating the time and operating mode. The light from it is dim and does not interfere with work.

On the back wall there are connectors:

• Power
• Ethernet for connecting a LAN cable (wired Internet connection)
• HDMI for connecting to a modern TV
• AV for connecting older TV models
• IR cable output (remote control). Allows you to install the set-top box behind the TV, and place the sensor with a cable (purchased separately) in front.
• The Max has an SPDIF connector added.

On the left side there are two USB 2.0 ports and a slot for a TF memory card. At the same time, the 2.0 standard port works no worse than 3.0. At the bottom there are a large number of holes for ventilation and cooling and holes for mounting. The Max version additionally has one USB 3.0 port.

The bottom cover is removable and can be easily removed by lifting the edge. The latches will release and the cover will be removed. A thick plate is installed on it, designed to remove heat. It is fed to the plate using a 5 mm thick rubber band. She copes with her task mediocrely.

Connection procedure and setup

The set-top box should be connected to the TV via an HDMI cable. If there is no such connector on the TV, you will have to use the possibility of an analog connection through the AV ports of the set-top box and TV receiver. The set-top box itself must be connected to the mains via a power supply.

When you turn it on for the first time, the device’s operating system may request to update the desktop to the latest version, which characterizes the manufacturer on the positive side: it develops its product and takes care of the user.

After loading the system files, the TV screen will display a desktop with a large “Google Play Store” button on the left and three rows of category icons for the KODI media player, which can be configured through the pre-installed applications menu. The device comes with root rights, so the user can customize the desktop to suit themselves. The settings menu is made in a classic style for Android systems and slides out on the right side. Using the KODI media player, you can watch any content: your favorite TV series and films, videos from the Internet, digital television channels.

Advice! If you connect the smart set-top box to a PC using a USB cable and follow certain setup steps, you can connect to IPTV.

The cost of the X96 Mini model on the market is from $25 or $32, depending on the version of RAM and hard drive, which is approximately equivalent to 1,700 rubles for the younger version or 2,200 rubles for the older version. Good performance and build quality, coupled with an affordable price, are strong arguments for users who are not looking for gadgets with special bells and whistles.

Specifications

The technical parameters of the Vontar X96 set-top box are collected in the table:

A review of the technical characteristics of the Vontar X96 TV box shows that the processor here is budget. For Mini, this is a simplified version of the S905W. Some sources claim that it does not support the VP9 codec. 4k resolution video has a speed of 30 fps. At 60 fps. slowdowns are noticeable. This happens because the device does not have enough power.

The initial setup menu is only available for the Max version. The quality of playback largely depends on the firmware. If on stock it is 720 rubles, on YouTube up to 1080 rubles. After installing OG YouTube, you can watch videos of any quality on all firmware.

Therefore, the results of the Vontar X96 Mini in synthetic tests are not high. In AnTuTu, the Mini version scores about 26 thousand points. The Antutu Video Test shows that the set-top box does not play back about a quarter of the formats presented there. This problem can be solved by flashing it. But Super Su cannot be installed.

There is a Mini version with 1 and 2 GB of RAM. Experts do not recommend purchasing the version with 1 GB of RAM because of its slowness. It is better to take 2 GB/8 GB or 2 GB/16 GB of memory. Flash memory tests show a read speed of 77 MB/s, a write speed of less than 30 MB/s. The speed is sufficient for viewing any content, but the small amount of memory itself can be an obstacle.

The factory firmware of the Vontar X96 Mini set-top box based on Android 7.1.2 does not have navigation buttons or a status bar. Not all users like this. There is a large selection of different applications that not everyone needs either. The interface is smooth, there are no delays or slowdowns. Switching to another application is quick. All interfaces are made in HD format, so when viewed on a large-diagonal TV, there is a lack of detail. But when watching a video, its original format is preserved.

What is the model?

The smart console is located in a box made of black cardboard. On the packaging, the manufacturer writes the name of the TV box, as well as its main technical characteristics.

In addition to the smart console, the kit includes:

• Remote control.
• HDMI cable 1 m long.
• Power supply 5V 2A.
• A short user guide, which provides the main technical characteristics of the model and the device connection diagram.

Now let’s take a closer look at the appearance of the TV box.

Results

The Vontar X96 set-top box is suitable for users who use it to watch movies online or torrent TV.

Advantages:

• Compact size
• High quality infrared receiver
• Stable firmware
• Rich equipment
• Doesn't get too hot
• There is a remote IR receiver and a box mount

Flaws:

• MINI doesn't have navigation buttons
• Weak Wi-Fi
• No voice control

Version from VONTAR

This X96 TV box is assembled by different companies and they may differ in filling and operation. Below is a review from another buyer of the version from the seller Vontar.

I bought an X96Max TV box on Aliexpress in January 2021 from the manufacturer VONTAR. The goods arrived in Kharkov in 2-3 weeks. The box was a little dented, but everything inside was intact. At that time it cost me $49.62.

I'm happy with the set-top box, it has a powerful Amlogic S905X processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and 32 gigabytes of internal memory.

There is a slot for a memory card, I don’t use it, the internal one is enough for me. Includes HDMI cable, power supply, and remote control. To be honest, the remote control is not very convenient, I will order a Vontar air mouse.

There are no questions about performance, the set-top box is a beast, it copes with heavy video files and Internet television.

I haven’t run games on it, but in terms of power, they should work. This box can turn any TV into a smart TV, but there is one fact, I have a smart one from Samsung, but I don’t like its operating system, it doesn’t have the usual Google, there is no way to watch various videos in the browser, and these include movies and rollers, and everything else.

Samsung has a lot of paid ones. On X96Max, Google Chrome works without problems, and the Play Store also works. In general, I like the Android operating system better than the Samsung one.

There are 2 more pieces. USB input, and optical output for acoustics, but I don’t have optical acoustics. System updates work; it has been updated a couple of times in three months. I'm happy with this purchase, I got all the features I expected from it.

Product Information:

The console supports 3D games and videos, Miracast, ISO and NTSC files. It also supports multi-languages. It does not support DVDs or any external subtitles, but it does support an HDMI 2.0 cable, which is considered one of the fastest ways to connect a TV for viewing. video. An LED indicator is attached to the console, which works in a similar way. When it is in standby mode, the indicator light is red, and when it starts working, it turns blue. The box supports almost all audio, video and photo formats.

Android TV Box X96 Mini with such functionality is a must nowadays. As a rule, no one wants to watch videos, photos on their laptop, especially when the whole family is sitting at one place. And if you have a TV box that is easy to set up and can read all input formats, it will double your entertainment.

How to set up the X96 Mini Box smart TV set-top box - review of the work

Setting up X96 on Android TV is easy. And in general, the Vontar Mini Smart Box made a pleasant impression both externally and in use. It works without lags or any noticeable problems, except for those that I mentioned from the very beginning. It is extremely difficult to play 4K video from the Internet on it - it hangs and is at odds with the sound. Moreover, even in the YouTube app there is no option to select 1280P or higher quality - only 720.

As for the shell in the standard firmware, this is also the long-known Android TV with a lot of pre-installed applications. Including a complete software package from Google.

At the same time, when you turn on the X96 Mini TV Box for the first time, you do not need to make any settings - the starting desktop loads immediately. Therefore, the smart set-top box can be used immediately after connecting to the TV without additional movements.

The only thing you have to do right away is to translate it from the menu into Russian. By default everything will be in English.

And of course, connect to the Internet via the wifi network of your router

If you need to install any of the applications, then there is no difficulty in logging into your Google account and downloading them from the Play Market. I recommend my list of the most necessary programs for Android TV, as well as media players for playing videos or online broadcasts. And also in a separate article you can find an application with which you can reassign the standard functions of the remote control buttons.

Also on the same w3bsit3-dns.com there are a lot of custom firmwares. I publish instructions for installing them separately.

What's the verdict? Vontar X96 Mini can be safely taken as the first TV set-top box. It doesn't have enough stars in the sky, but it will be enough to perform simple daily tasks of playing movies. If you are interested in online games or need to organize wireless video transmission from a computer or smartphone (although there is a built-in Miracast), then it is better to take a closer look at models with 5 GHz wifi support.

Review of the appearance of the X96 Mini Box TV set-top box

I ordered this set-top box from AliExpress, and it came to me in a simple, cheap box typical of Chinese online stores - black without any frills.

Inside is a neatly packaged standard set of a TV Box, a remote control without batteries, an HDMI cable and a power cord.

Externally, the X96 Mini looks like a small plastic box. However, the design is not without some “decorations” in the form of a edging made of glossy material, while the main surface is matte.

Well, it looks stylish – that’s all. On the side faces there are connectors for connecting a monitor, speakers, SD card, as well as two USB ports for flash drives or a keyboard/mouse.

An additional advantage is the presence of a LAN port for an Ethernet cable. If you wish, you can improve the Internet signal by connecting the set-top box to the router by wire rather than via wifi.

The underside has both holes for vertical mounting and rubberized feet for placing on a table.

What is your opinion: is WiFi harmful?

Yes

22.94%

No

77.06%

Voted: 33197

Applications:

The TV box supports all kinds of trendy applications such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and others. The box can also be used for various chat options such as Skype video calls, Facebook calls, Twitter calls, MSN calls, etc. It also supports wireless keyboard and mouse. The corresponding installable apps can be downloaded through the Android store, Amazon apps, etc. The box is equipped with various fuses that can protect it from being connected to a bad charger.