Hi, Geeks:
Sorry for you wait, i really spent much more time to test this NEO X7 quad core tv box. I have so many hopes like you guys to this device, so i test everything i can. Now i will share with you guys for ths review:
NEO X7, The Quad Core Model from MiniX. if you ever got Minix G4 or X5, you might be quite happy for their quality.
Here is the basic information for MINIX NEO X7:
Specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RK3188 Cortex A9 Quad Core CPU @1.6Ghz + Quad Core Mali-400MP GPU 533 MHz
- OS: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- System Memory – 2GB DDR3 RAM
- Storage – 16GB Flash + SD card slot (Up to 32GB)
- Video Output – HDMI™ 1.4a, Full HD 1080p, 3D movie file format supported
- Audio Output – HDMI™ 1.4a
- Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Dual Band Wi-Fi(2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth V4.0+ 10/100 Ethernet Port
- USB – 3x USB 2.0 Ports
- Power Supply – 5V/3A
- Weight: with full package:631g (22.27oz),only NEO X7:272g(9.58oz)
- Size:12.7cm*12.7cm*2cm
MINIX Neo X7 should be the first quad core TV BOX in market which support 16GB storage,and Built in bluetooth function. We have taken pre-orders since July, and MINIX has sent us the first bulk, we already shipped them all as order place date,new stock will come in 10th Aug. Please be patience, guys.
MINIX NEO X7 Unboxing Pictures:
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NEO X7 Comes in the following package, very similar to the Neo X5 package
The box contains NEO X7 set-top box, a user’s manual in English, a 5V/3A power supply, and an IR remote control.a micro usb to usb cable,a OTG cable,an external wifi antenna,a male to male HDMI Cable;
Now Let’s check the ports on NEO X7, the reason we like TV BOX is multi-port support.There are following ports in NEO X7:
DC Port,RJ45(Ethernet Port),3 USB 2.0 Port,optical audio,HDMI port,Recovery Button,Power button,headphone port, microphone port,SD Card Slot,OTG port;
Compare with the other tv box i test, i can say, the NEO X7 has the best wifi signal after you connect with the external antenna. I will do the compare with other tv box in the following reviews. but it do really have excent wireless performance, so i think the external antenna is one of the selling point for NEO X7
About the Remote control in the package, Please notice,it just the simple IR remote control,it don’t have GRYO, it just can do some basic operations.(it can power on/off the NEO X7 directly) If you want some real Air mouse, we do test with this one, working great in my test.
Open the NEO X7 case, here is the photo, There is heatsink near the CPU, and i run long time,don’t met the over-heat problem.
If you like the Unboxing review, please check this video:
NEO X7 Unboxing Review Video, made by Geekbuying Team.
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System Review:
First boot, We get the standard Android Home Screen with “Minix” style wallpaper. volume buttons and power button are shown in the status bars, but it miss the screenshot button, so if you want to do the screenshot,you need use the other app.
After you press the power button on status bar, it will have the following window to make you choose make the NEO X7 in sleep mode, or power off or reboot? Also we have tested, you also can get this windows while pressing the power button on the IR remote in package, that’s the sweety function.
Now i will go to setting menu to configure wifi, I have no problem to connect. and i have to say, after connect with the external antenna, NEO X7 has the best wifi signal in all of the tv sticks/tv box i have ever test. I don’t have any wifi drops or become slow problem during my whole test.
But one thing you should notice, The NEO X7 also use the AP6330 wifi chipset(same as Tronsmart T428),Though it is dual band, support 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz, however, the max speed is still 65MBPS when you check. In my opinion,i don’t know why some customers are caring about 65mbps, and 150mbps so much, when i do the test, i put neo x7 and the other tv box (with max 150mbps speed) in same network,i can better download speed and upload speed in the X7.
Next,i go to check the bluetooth function in NEO X7, I have no problem to connect with bluetooth keyboard, bluetooth gamepad, bluetooth headphone, bluetooth mouse, no lags, and connect fast.
Ethernet function is a lot of people need, NEO X7 is working good when i use Ethernet, but the wifi and Ethernet can’t work together, means when you use Ethernet , you can’t connect to the wifi.
Next let’s check other function in NEO X7, VPN is working great, i don’t test with other VPN app, just enter the VPN information in settings, it can connect well;
I never test the hotspot function in other tv box, because i don’t think they can work well on them, however, this time, i test on NEO X7, it do give me the surprise, i even think, it can replace my routers, after set up the hotspot via NEO X7, i use my nexus 7 to connect to this hotspot, wifi speed is steady and fast. so this is a PLUS + for NEO X7;
NEO X7 should also support external 3G dongle, however, minix hasn’t released the supported model information, but they do have suppoted model for NEO X5 in their website, you can try that.
then Next i find another sweety design. When you get the NEO X7, power on, and on the first menu, the system will ask you to choose one launcher, if you mistake click one launcher as “always”, some customer will hard to find how to change that, but Minix give you simple way to change that in “display” settings.
Now we are in the hdmi output choice, this is a lot of people asking. I have to tell you,
the NEO X7 is still upscale to 1080P, not real 1080p in the stock firmware. same like other quad core tv box.
However,please don’t worry. Our developer has been worked hard on the 1080p kernel for NEO X7, so if you ordered it from Geekbuying, you will get the 1080p firmware update in the first time.
The next, let’s check the storage for NEO X7, NEO X7 comes with 2GB Ram and 16GB Storage, in the 16GB Storage,it also divide into two part, for the device, it has 4GB Storage, it will be enough for your streaming videos or play games. (the other quad core tv sticks only have 1GB or 2GB)
Check the RAM here, and the rest RAM and Storage is taken by the android system, and pre-installed app. Basic information for noob 🙂
In the end, let’s check the system information, NEO X7 is running Android 4.2.2 with Linux kernel 3.0.36+.
Benchmarks
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Antutu Benchmark score is 16394, the Stock rom is make CPU @1.6Ghz, and we get this scores. 
Linpack test, Run Single Thread, i get 53.194, Run Multi-Thread, i get 102.47
NenaMark 2.4, score is 60.1.
Vellamo Benchmark,We get HTML5 2049,Metal 515, the HTML5 score is the highest i have tested in all of the quad core tv box, i don’t know how minix make it, but it is good.
APP Review:
1 Airpin(Pro)
Minix NEO X7 built in Airpin(Pro) app, this app worth $4.99 in Google Play Store, but if you get neo x7, it is free for you, because minix paid this app for you, on this app’s offical site, they said:
This app can be installed in Android devices to work as a receiver to wirelessly receive media sent from Apple products(iPhone, iPad, iPod) via AirPlay protocol, or from Android products(Android phone, Android pad) and PC via DLNA protocol.
So now you can transfer your iphone/ipad or android smartphone/tablet pc local file to TV via Neo x7, also if you download some apps called: iMediashare, you can watch streaming videos online, and push it to your TV with the DLNA and Airplay function,it is really cool.
2 XBMC
Minix release a XBMC version on their official forum, they suggest to use that version to work on their NEO X7.
It is Gotham 13 Alpha6, we have tesetd, no problem to play 720p file with the XBMC, however, still can’t do hardware decoding for 1080p vidoes.If you want to play 1080p video smoothly,we suggest to use the XAF version of XBMC, you can download this XAF version here!
3 Netlix
We test with the latest netflix version, with the minix newest firmware (the one release on 3th Aug), all the movies play smoothly.
4 Skype
Most of customers are wondering if the skype video chat working on neo x7, we have tested with the following device:
Web camera: Logitech C170
Skype version:download here
Eric
Geekbuying Team
Thanks eric…
Does it support multichannel output via HDMI, too or only via SPDIF?
Does it have Bluetooth to audio (speaker/headset ) support
Tethering on 5ghz any good
How is the range/wifi signal using 2.4 and 5 and bluethooth
Does the ‘statusbar’ hide
Does it run 720 or a 1080p kernel
Does it support a external : webcam / game controller / big hd / hub
Will there be a android 4.3 upgrade later on ???
Ohh.. and whats the power usage.. while playing video and benchmarking
Ohh.. does it have
The jitter ( frame drop) issue like most other rk3188 devices?
Cheers… keepup the good work (geekbuying/lewy20041/leolas) 🙂
Hi
Does this support miracast and DLNA? also can you have the wireless and the RS45 working at the same time?
Thank you.
Yes,it do support miracast and DLNA, will test for you if wireless and RJ45 can work together or not.
Thank you
Thanks for the review – will you be able to test how XBMC runs on it? I have read somewhere that currently viewing HD through XBMC may be an issue.
Yes i to am wondering about xbmc lets see som of that in part 2.
xbmc 1080p 720p and using networkshares.
but i think it has the same foults as all rk3188 devices.
but there is all redey a custom firmware that fixes the frameskipping and microstutter out.
http://www.minixforums.com/threads/first-customized-rom-for-the-minix-neo-x7.1924/
so if this works ill be geting me one of thees
Joachim aka BaDTaG
Eric,
Thanks for review and look forward to your part II . while doing that if you can also look at these points and would like your input also.
a. Dies it support multi channel output via HDMI or via only SPDIF
b. video frame jitter as witnessed in other 3188 chipset devices.
c.can it run on 1080 kernal or is it on 720 kernal only.
d. Bluetooth connectivity issue. does it connect freely with external game controller/web cam/audio, any issues related to that.
Hope that while reviewing the part II, you would look out for these and other points raised over here,
thanks again for your input.
@Mitchell: This is not a temporary solution, why are you saying that ?
A good custom rom has many benefits from original one (rooted, twicked, better benchmark scores, …). Anyway, this is always good that the manufacturer fix problems on his side too because a product like this one (which is not cheap) should works well by default.
still waiting for xbmc tests and video play
what’s about audio DD DTS AC3 passthrough on optical?
@Eric : We are still waiting for the next part of the review (apps, xbmx, …), please hurry up :p
@Eric: when can we expect your review part II, we look forward to it.. please keep it coming..:p
@DomZ
We can not deliver the X7 with custom rom! We need the original firmware to work properly… Custom rom’s are only fun when you use them yourself, not for customers… I understand custom roms are better sometimes, but as we all know, Minix has good firmware and we hope they come with a good solution asap
Thanks
New official firmware is out: NEO X7 2nd FW Release (0813) see http://www.minix.com.hk/Support.htm.
Keep up te good work! Hope to see more of the review soon 😉
Yes,i am waiting for this new update, and do the next review, will finish the part 2 review as soon as possible.
Thanks Eric!
Any news on the second part pf the review?
Does it support 1 TB external HDD without additional power supply (or USB cable with second plug)?
It depends on your HDD.
To Eric –
I’m planning this HDD: Hitachi (HGST) Touro Mobile Pro 1TB 7200rpm 32MB HTOMPEA10001BBB_0S03560 2.5 USB 3.0 External.
Start-up power (max) -5W; seek power-1.8W.
The USB cable of the HDD does not have additional plug. No additional power supply in the set.
Do you think the X7 will have enough power to feed it?
is it possible to connect this tool to mouse and keyboard to air mouse instead?
I’m thinking of buying the NEO X7, the only thing that’s holding me up from doing this is the DD / DTS / AC3 passthrough on the optical SPDIF port (e.g. Multichannel-Output to my AV-Receiver)!
Is this beeing supported?
Thank’s
Robert
I have this NEO X7 (v4.2) and connected as described.
So I can use the internet and I Google etc…
Now, I want to Skype. I have installed the Skype app and I can log in.
But the only thing I can do is “chat”, so, no calls no videocalls…?
I cannot see any camera icon nor mic icon…?
But I can see all my contacts…?
I have installed on the usb, a videocam which has also a micro, but I have also connect a micro in the mic-input. Still no results…?
Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Julien
hi, would i be able to see football? for instance from hahasports.com and stream?
I purchases Air mouse MELE 10 PRO,is working with my MINIX NEO 7,but sound is missing and the movie is freezing(practically is in slow motion).I try to change settings for this remote ,but nothing is happened.
Do you have any idea why?
.
Can I add more RAM? Is the RAM used on this device same with the one from our desktop and laptops?
Comment fait-on pour avoir un manuel de service pour utiliser un Minix Neo X7
Merci
Hi can you please tell me if it plays 3D movies, like those that we use glasses to watch?
Thank you
One more thing, do i need a 3d tv or it does all the job.
thx
Anybody know if there’s any official plan to release a firmware based on Android 4.4 ?