TV Box Z28: review of the new product on RK3328, Android 7.1.1, 2/16GB

Z28 TV set-top box , running on the recently introduced Rockchip RK3328 and the latest Android 7.1 . The new single-chip system is capable of playing 4K video with H.265, H.264 and VP9 codecs. In addition, the processor supports HDR, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Thanks to the Gearbest.com store, we had the opportunity to personally test this model in action, for which we are very grateful.

The Z28 TV box is powered by the new RK3328 processor with 4 ARM Cortex A53 cores operating at up to 1.5 GHz and with the long-known Mali-450MP2 . The set-top box runs the new Android 7.1 Nougat . The Z28 set-top box has support for Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and a 100mb Ethernet port. Two models are available for sale with different amounts of memory: 1/8 GB and 2/16 GB, and the internal memory can also be expanded using a micro SD card up to 64 GB. In our case, we are considering the version of the set-top box with 2/16 GB of memory.

Z28 Specifications

Model: Z28
Operating system: Android 7.1 Nougat 64 bit
Processor: RK3328 (4 cores ARM Cortex A53 1.5 GHz)
GPU: Mali450MP2
RAM: 2GB
RAM type: DDR3
Flash memory: 16GB
Memory expandable: up to 64GB
Hardware decoding support: H.264, H.265
Video formats: ASF, AVI, DAT, FLV, ISO, MKV, MOV, MPEG, RM, RMVB, TS, WMV
Audio formats: AAC, AC3, APE, DDP, DTS, FLAC, HD, MP3, OGG, TrueHD, WAV, WMA
Photo format: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF
Support 5.1 Surround Sound Output: Yes
Connectors: 1 x USB2.0 + 1 x USB 3.0, S/PDIF, HDMI, RJ45, microSD
Bluetooth: BT 4.0
HDMI Version: 2.0
External subtitle support: No
Set-top box weight: 0.2500 kg
Attachment size: (L x W x H): 11.00 x 11.00 x 2.50 cm
Package Contents: 1 x TV Box, 1 x Power Supply, 1 x Remote Control, 1 x HDMI Cable.

Package

TV Box Z28 is packaged very modestly, an ordinary cardboard box, without any drawings, only a couple of inscriptions and an identification sticker.

The equipment is standard for most similar set-top boxes, with the exception of the absence of any paper user instructions.

Design

The appearance of the console can be said to be ordinary, an ordinary black box, without any zest. The name of the console is printed on the top cover.

The rear surface contains the following connectors: RJ45, HDMI, S/PDIF and DC power connector.

On the side panel there is one USB 3.0 connector, one USB/OTG connector and a slot for a Micro SD card. There are no connectors for outputting analog audio and video signals, although set-top boxes in this price range are often purchased to work specifically with older TV models.

On the bottom cover there are four rubber pads, which give the very light body greater stability. There are 4 cover securing screws hidden under the rubber pads. Also on the cover there is a sticker with the MAC address of the WiFi module and a single small hole behind which the reset button is hidden. The absence of any ventilation holes implies the presence of a well-designed cooling system inside the case.

Remote Control

The remote control is simple, there is only the minimum required set of keys.

The remote control is powered by two AAA batteries, which are traditionally not included.

power unit

The power supply is the most common, with a European plug, the characteristics are on the sticker: input voltage 100-240V, output voltage 5V with 2000 mA DC. There is enough power for normal operation, including with a connected external HDD. Despite the mediocre quality of the unit, there were no complaints about its performance.

HDMI cable

A standard HDMI cable of normal quality, about 80 cm long. There were no problems with it.

Disassembly

The Z28 to disassemble ; just unscrew the four screws under the rubber pads.

Inside the case there is a printed circuit board of the console. On the bottom side of the board, in a place with the rest of the elements, there are two Samsung RAM modules and a reset button. The soldering is neat, with small traces of flux visible in places.

After unscrewing two more bolts securing the board to the case, you can see a massive radiator with a rubberized heat-conducting gasket and a WiFi antenna. The presence of many empty spaces for components is immediately noticeable - the minimum number required for stable operation is set. For example, there is no security strapping near the HDMI port, no separate Ethernet and audio chip - only built into the SoC.

List of main elements:

CPU: Rockchip RK3328
RAM: 4 elements K4B4G1646D-bcma manufactured by Samsung
Flash: KLMAG2WEMB-B031 manufactured by Samsung
WiFi: Realtek RTL8188
Power controller Rockchip 805-1 CAADP7735

For more detailed photos of the board and components, see the spoiler.

Expand

Inclusion

When the power is connected, the set-top box immediately turns on, and the only blue LED indicator on the front panel lights up. It should be noted that it does not shine brightly, like many similar set-top boxes, so a popular life hack - sealing it with black electrical tape is not needed. The manufacturer has already taken care of this and put a black cambric on the LED (seen in the photo of the board). After a short loading time - about 10 seconds, we find ourselves on a standard work desk.

The standard Z28 desktop, like on other consoles, consists of large buttons, the purpose of which cannot be changed, except for the bottom row of small icons with plus signs for selected applications. The top leftmost button opens a brief user manual. This is the first time we have come across this unusual solution, although the idea is not bad. Such instructions will never get lost and will always be “at hand”.

The application menu is divided into separate pages - applications, games, music and videos. The very small number of installed applications is immediately noticeable.

Separate page with applications.

Installed: Calculator, Google Chrome browser, file manager, Gmail email client, Play Market application store, Play Movies application, RKMC media center, TV Launcher, WiFi Display, YouTube and one Chinese media player for watching videos, music and photos.

Built-in media center RKMC - analogue of KODI

System information in the RKMC media center

The settings menu slides out as a panel on the right side - a characteristic feature of the new Android 7.1.

Screen Size Settings Page

About page

Over-the-air firmware update available, but no updates available at the moment

There is a standard settings menu

When you click on the Screen (Adaptive adjustment) item, a crash appears and the settings are closed

Another feature of the new Android 7.1 is the ability to create user profiles

Testing

ADIA64

Of the unusual, the screen resolution shows 1280x720. The desktop is also displayed in this resolution, but the video is played in normal 1920x1080.

CPUX

The RAM access speed test showed average results for similar set-top boxes, but the speed of flash memory was slightly lower than expected.

RAM speed:

Z28: 3455,39
Beelink GT1 Ultimate: 3369.03 Mb/s

Built-in memory speed:

Z28

Read: 53.00 Mb/s
Recording: 13.60 Mb/s

Beelink GT1 Ultimate:

Read: 46.47 Mb/s
Recording: 21.70 Mb/s

AnTuTu Benchmark 6.3.3 showed a result of 33752 points. For comparison, the result of Beelink GT1 Ultimate running on the Amlogic S912 processor is 39079 points.

Geekbench 4.0.3 produced average results:

Single-core Score: 578 (Beelink GT1 Ultimate - 471)

Multi-core Score: 1507 (Beelink GT1 Ultimate - 2121)

Vellamo Mobile Benchmark test suite

Bonsai Benchmark : 2400 Points FPS: 34.2 (Beelink GT1 Ultimate has 2249, FPS: 32.1)

Ethernet and Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi module operates in the 2.4G range, the Ethernet port operates at a speed of 100Mb. For both connection options, the connection occurs without problems and is maintained at a completely decent level.

Root Checker shows that root is not installed.

Playing video

The AnTuTu video tester showed good results. Out of 30 video files, the set-top box played 27 without problems and 3 with partial support.

There were no problems with playback of all test videos, including 4K.

Playing Sony_4K_HDR_Camp.mp4 - without stuttering or artifacts

Unfortunately Youtube plays videos at a maximum of 720p

Heat

Despite the complete absence of ventilation holes, the set-top box maintains normal temperature conditions. In rest mode, the temperature stays around 600C, and the maximum rises to 800C during long-term operation of powerful applications, which is not low, but not yet critical. You can see the temperature values in different modes in all our screenshots above.

Conclusion

TV Box Z28 is a typical modern device in the price range up to $50.

Pros:

+ Test performance at the Amlogic S912 level + AC3 support + Play any video without problems + Good WiFi sensitivity + USB 3.0 port available

Minuses:

- No ROOT - 2 USB ports - Youtube plays up to 720p

Considering the good characteristics and low price of this TV box (only $39.99

), it turned out to be quite an interesting device. A new processor, a new Android 7.1 OS, a USB 3.0 port, good WiFi reception and no problems with video playback are convincing advantages of this TV set-top box.

Order TV Box Z28

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TV box Alfawise Z28 PRO, review with disassembly and comparison of test results.

Good afternoon, dear readers.
Today I present to you a review of the Alfawise Z28 PRO TV box on the relatively new SOC RK3328. The review will include a description, disassembly and comparison of its characteristics with a TV box based on the Amlogic S905X SOC. I ask everyone who is interested under cat. UPD 07/25/2017. After a few days of use, a minor problem emerged. If you turn off the box using the remote control, it is not always possible to turn it on. The problem is not fatal (I don’t turn off the TV box at all and use an air mouse), but it exists. I looked at the 4PDA - many people found this drawback in their Z28PRO TV boxes. I contacted GB support, they will contact Alfawise suppliers to resolve the problem. If they answer something useful, I’ll write it in a review.

Recently the need arose to purchase a TV box. After looking through the product pages of a well-known store, we chose the Alfawise Z28 PRO TV box on the relatively new SOC RK3328. Rockchip was also chosen for comparison with the existing Mini M8S II on Amlogic S905X. The order was made and paid for on July 2, 2017. Taking into account the remaining accumulated points, the purchase cost me about $40 (let me remind you that if there were more points, the cost could have been reduced by a third - to about $30). The next day, the store sent a message about the shipment of the goods and gave a tracking number. The parcel arrived at the Nova Poshta office after 11 days, which is not bad at all for delivery to Ukraine from China.

Payment and order tracking

The parcel was a cardboard box with stickers from the postal company and the store, it contained a little bubble wrap and a nondescript box of the TV box itself.

Box

Delivery set: 1. TV box; 2. Remote control; 3. Charger 5V 2A; 4. HDMI cable; 5.Instructions and warranty card. Let's look at the characteristics and appearance itself

TV box Alfawise Z28 PRO, review with disassembly and comparison of test results.

UPD 07/25/2017. After a few days of use, a minor problem emerged. If you turn off the box using the remote control, it is not always possible to turn it on. The problem is not fatal (I don’t turn off the TV box at all and use an air mouse), but it exists. I looked at the 4PDA - many people found this drawback in their Z28PRO TV boxes. I contacted GB support, they will contact Alfawise suppliers to resolve the problem. If they answer something useful, I’ll write it in a review.

hidden text↓ Parcel.

The parcel was a cardboard box with stickers from the postal company and the store, it contained a little bubble wrap and a nondescript box of the TV box itself.

hidden text↓

Delivery set: 1. TV box; 2. Remote control; 3. Charger 5V 2A; 4. HDMI cable; 5.Instructions and warranty card.