The Chromecast with Google TV ushered in a completely new streaming expertise for Android TVs when it launched in September 2020. While the Google TV interface has made its method to a substantial variety of sensible TVs, it’s only out there on a couple of streaming sticks and containers.
Thankfully, a Chinese firm referred to as Mecool launched its personal Google TV-certified streaming dongle in April. The Mecool KD3 checks all of the containers for those who’re in search of a Chromecast with Google TV various, though it suffers from the identical shortcomings as Google’s dated streamer.
In the 2 weeks that I’ve been utilizing the streaming stick, I’ve found that it could actually deal with any process you throw at it. When you mix that with a superb distant that features a few extra devoted buttons to your favourite streaming providers, the KD3 turns into a worthy rival to the perfect Google TV-compatible streaming sticks and containers cash can purchase.
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 may be bought straight from Mecool’s on-line storefront. If you like to purchase the product by Amazon, it prices $80.
Fortunately, the corporate has supplied Android Central readers a 15% low cost. By getting into the code KD3MECOOL on the Mecool web site, you will get the KD3 for a lower cost.
The firm mentioned the product ships to the U.S., EU, and UK markets.
Mecool KD3: What I like
The KD3 is available in a reasonably compact package deal. Its design is monotonous, which is ok as a result of it isn’t one thing meant to be seen on a regular basis. The dongle itself has received some weight to it, giving it a stable really feel regardless of its small measurement. It plugs straight into the HDMI port of your TV, similar to Google’s streamer. If you’ve hassle plugging the dongle into your TV’s HDMI port, the KD3 ships with an HDMI extension cable that can assist you out.
The majority of the stick can also be matte plastic, with a shiny strip within the center bearing the Mecool brand on one finish and the facility indicator gentle on the opposite. A micro USB port on the again connects to the included USB energy cable, which you should utilize to activate the dongle by plugging it into the AC adapter.
In my case, nevertheless, I did not want the AC adapter to energy the factor as a result of it labored flawlessly on my TCL Union TV’s built-in USB port. This eliminates the necessity for a further wire when utilizing the streaming dongle, which is all the time a plus.
Like the Chromecast with Google TV, it contains help for 4K streaming as much as 60fps, HDR10 content material, in addition to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Mecool did a superb job of adapting Google’s G10 reference design for the distant and including a couple of extra buttons. While the distant seems much like these included with many streaming units or Android TVs, it has much more buttons than the Chromecast with Google TV distant.
Of course, the distant will not be full with out a Google Assistant button that permits you to communicate to the voice assistant. It’s noticeably quicker right here than on Google’s media gadget, although that is in all probability as a result of the latter is growing old.
The KD3 helps Apple TV, which Chromecast with Google TV nonetheless lacks.
As typical, there are the facility, enter, and quantity buttons to your TV. It needs to be famous that the amount buttons perform as anticipated because of HDMI-CEC help and IR blaster configurations, so you will not want to make use of your TV’s included distant to regulate the amount.
At the underside, there are devoted buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. You can not help however admire the fast entry to main streaming platforms they supply, and as somebody who makes use of Netflix and YouTube ceaselessly, the shortcuts turn out to be useful.
If you’ve an Apple TV subscription, you may be happy to be taught that the KD3 helps Apple’s streaming service. This is one thing that, even after a couple of years, the Chromecast with Google TV nonetheless lacks.
In addition, you may discover a novel profile button on the left facet of the Assistant button. You will not usually discover this button within the included distant of most of the finest streaming units, and its presence on the KD3’s included distant is presumably 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 toddler’s profile. However, you will not discover it very helpful till Google introduces customized profiles. However, it is encouraging to see Mecool getting ready the media gadget for the long run.
Speaking of future-proofing, the KD3 is powered by an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset, a more recent kind of processor with help for AV1 encoded content material. This video streaming codec is not out there on many streaming providers simply but.
The KD3 is future-proofed with an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset and a novel profile button.
However, in comparison with the extra common HEVC and H.264 requirements, it supplies a greater compression system that ought to permit for important information effectivity financial savings with out compromising video high quality. As a consequence, it’s poised to grow to be a extra preferrred normal sooner or later as video content material adopts larger body charges and 8K decision.
One thing more: Mecool additionally deserves a pat on the again for conducting what Google didn’t do with the Chromecast with Google TV. One benefit the KD3 has over the Chromecast with Google TV is expandable storage. While the streamer has the identical 8GB of inner storage as Google’s media gadget, you possibly can formally broaden that area with a $9 OTG cable. It lets you join a flash drive to the cable’s USB port for extra space for storing.
In all of those key areas, the KD3 will get the job carried out properly. The setup course of is easy, navigating menus and apps is straightforward, and the video content material is great.
The Google TV expertise is an identical to that of the Chromecast, and I had no hassle launching apps on the streamer. As anticipated, the KD3 did an excellent job curating content material primarily based on what I ceaselessly watch.
Another benefit is that the streaming stick’s working system is one technology forward of the Chromecast with Google TV. However, the dongle nonetheless has the February 2022 safety patch, and Mecool has not acknowledged when the most recent safety replace might be launched.
Mecool KD3: What I do not like
I want Mecool would add the flexibility to map its buttons to its future streaming gadget. However, whereas this function will not be frequent in different media units, being able to customise the distant’s button capabilities is all the time helpful.
While you possibly can’t formally remap the buttons, you possibly can all the time obtain and set up third-party apps from the Play Store. I’m utilizing the Button Mapper app to vary how sure buttons work. For instance, I remapped the house button for issues like taking a screenshot along with navigating to the house display screen.
8GB of space for storing will not be sufficient as a result of giant space for storing consumed by the system itself.
I’d additionally wish to see the KD3’s successor include bigger built-in storage. The KD3 suffers from the identical app set up limits because the Chromecast with Google TV, which did not sit properly with prospects. 8GB of space for storing alone is clearly not sufficient, and proper off the bat, solely half of that’s left to your apps and information as a result of giant space for storing consumed by the system itself.
If you’re subscribed to a number of streaming providers, you might wish to contemplate the NVIDIA Shield TV, which comes with extra storage. While there’s an official workaround for this shortcoming with Mecool’s dongle, it is all the time a plus to have the ability to set up as many apps as you want with out working into this type of limitation.
Mecool KD3: The competitors
The KD3 is a stable challenger to the Chromecast with Google TV for those who do not thoughts paying extra for a couple of options not out there on the latter. This means Mecool’s streaming stick faces a heap of competitors from extra common manufacturers that price much less. At $50, Google’s {hardware} would possibly nonetheless be the higher possibility for some customers, besides that it is a bit dated already.Â
Perhaps the KD3’s closest rival is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which helps 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and Atmos for less than $50. It contains an Alexa-powered voice distant and presents the identical 8GB of storage. The two solely differ within the software program they run.
You may additionally have an interest within the TiVo Stream 4K, which is one other Android TV-powered gadget that helps 4K decision, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It additionally contains the TiVo Stream app, which supplies customized content material primarily based in your subscriptions. The better part is that it’s only $49.
Mecool KD3: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if…
- You want to stream content material in 4K at 60fps, HDR, and Dolby Vision
- You need an interface that does an ideal job of curating content material
- You’re in search of an possibility to extend the space for storing
- You need an all-in-one distant
- You watch a number of Apple TV content material
You should not purchase this if…
- You do not wish to pay greater than it’s important to for different choices
- You need greater than 8GB of fastened inner storage
- You wish to watch content material in Dolby Vision HDR
- You hate microUSB ports
At $63, it is laborious to advocate this product as a greater buy than the Chromecast with Google TV. The KD3 can also be not as spec-heavy because the NVIDIA Shield TV 4K, which has all the things you might ask for in a streaming gadget. But in relation to serving to you uncover content material, it is a superb alternative.
Google I/O 2022 is in full swing, which suggests tons of recent updates for the search big’s TV working system. We’ll have to attend and see how the KD3 holds up as extra streaming units are anticipated so as to add help for the interface within the coming months. While the streamer is a worthy challenger to Google’s {hardware}, it is from giving it a run for its cash.
Mecool KD3 Android TV streaming stick
If you are in search of a streaming gadget that helps 4K, HDR10 content material, Dolby Vision and Atmos, in addition to a superb distant, the Mecool KD3 Android TV streaming stick is a worthy various to the Chromecast with Google TV. It does the job properly and has some future-proofing options, equivalent to help for the AV1 normal.
