If you are looking to invest in a powerful, premium Android TV box, someone has probably mentioned the Beelink GT King to you. The Beelink GT is being called by many the most powerful TV box on the market. But what do I think? Read on for my complete Beelink GT King Android TV box review.
Beelink GT King Android TV Box Rating
I’m going to give this box four stars.
I think this is an excellent box and a good choice if you are looking for a powerful media hub to serve up your own content. However, if you mainly stream content from the likes of Netflix and Prime Video, this box is pricey and won’t deliver what you are looking for.
I think that the latest NVIDIA Shield device is more powerful, and I still prefer the Skystream 8K Pro as my preferred premium Android streaming device.
If you are looking for budget devices, check out my list of the best cheap Android TV boxes here.
Specifications
Delivers:
- 4K @ 75 frames per second
- HMDI 3D Video Formats
- 7.1 Audio Passthrough
Hardware:
- S922X-H Hexa-core CPU
Hexa-core ARM G52 MP6 GPU - 1 x USB 2.0 and 2 x USB 3.0
- TF Card slot
- 4 GB RAM
- 64 GB ROM
- 2.4G+5.8G Dual Wi-Fi
- 1000M Ethernet connection
- Bluetooth 4.1
Software:
- Android 9.0 Pie
- H,263, H.264, H.265 and HD MPEG4
Accessories:
- Voice remote with Google Assistant
- Air mouse remote control
Review
There is no denying the hype; the Beelink GT King is a very powerful Android TV Box and has some of the highest-end specs you will see on any TV boxes on the market today.
The whole system is built on an S922X-H Hexa-core CPU and a Hexa-core ARM G52 MP6 GPU. It is a matter of opinion whether this is a more powerful system than that offered by the Tegra X1 core used in the NVIDIA Shield, and it probably doesn’t really matter because they are both amazing.
On top of this, you get 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage. There is a TF card slot, allowing you to plug in up to another 4 TB of storage if desired. This makes the Beelink GT King one of the most spacious boxes available and a great choice if you are looking for a TV box that will also act as your personal media hub.
Also great for this TV box is that the Beelink GT King has one USB 2.0 slot and two USB 3.0 slots. These slots allow you to personalize your device by plugging in controllers, keyboards, and pretty much anything else you want to get up on your big screen via this box. Gamers will love it.
It is able to deliver 4K output at 75 frames per second, and you get great 7.1 surround sound with Dolby Audio and DTS Listen.
Connection speeds are lightning based as you choose between dual Wi-Fi at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz or a 1000 Mbps ethernet connection. You have H.265 decoding for lightning-fast processing, and I didn’t experience any lag times, no matter what I tried to stream through this device.
The remote control is also really good. It is an air mouse, which makes navigating a breeze, and it also has Google Assistant built-in, which works well.
Well, wow, this all sounds great, so where is the but? And there is a but?
This box runs on Android 9.0 Pie, which is the standard smartphone version of the operating system. So, it is not the Android TV operating system 9.0, and it is not even the latest version of the standard operating system, which is 10.0.
Why does this matter, except that you think you deserve better for the price tag attached to the device?
The most important problem is that it won’t unlock Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in 4K as it doesn’t have approval. You can get around this by sideloading different versions of the apps, but there is no denying that this is a major bummer and a major oversight.
Also, using this operating system generally indicates that updates won’t be available, so your machine may become outdated relatively quickly.
This is just one negative in a sea of positive, but it is a big one.
Pros And Cons
Pros:
- Powerful and most modern hardware
- Streams 4K @ 75 fps and 3D
- Loads of storage with 64 GB of ROM and expandable up to another 4 TB
- Lots of USB 3.0 ports for customizing
- Air mouse remote with good voice command in-built
Cons:
- Runs off Android Pie 9.0, which will not unlock 4K content on major streaming services
Analysis
So, what does all that mean?
Well, in my opinion, this means that the GT Beelink King is one of the best Android TV boxes you can buy if you are all about doing your own thing. You have your own media library that you want to stream to your TV, you like to do other things such as gaming, and you want something powerful enough to deliver the experience.
However, if you mainly watch content from major streaming services such as Netflix and Prime TV, and you want to be able to watch this content in the best quality on your nice big 4K TV, this device won’t suit you because it doesn’t unlock that content.
The GT Beelink King is a powerful device for techies, and isn’t worth the dollars for most regular streamers.
Buying
Another reason why this TV Box is for the Android TV box fanatics out there is that it is not cheap. If you are looking to buy on Amazon today, you will be paying $189.
You can get other Android TV boxes that are almost as powerful and deliver the same quality viewing experience for between $70-$100. If you are going to pay the extra $100, you need to know that you want the extra power and features you are paying for.
The Competition
But the GT Beelink King is a premium Android TV box, so we shouldn’t really be comparing it with budget options. If you are looking at this box, it is because you are looking for something premium. So, the big competition for the GT Beelink King is the NVIDIA Shield and the SkyStream Pro 8K.
GT Beelink King vs NVIDIA Shield
The best NVIDIA Shield device is of a comparable price to the GT Beelink King at about $200. It has a powerful Tegra X1+ core, which is on par with the GT Beelink King’s powerful CPU. It delivers 4K and smart AI 4K upscaling to improve other content.
The NVIDIA Shield mostly matches the GT Beelink for hardware in terms of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and USB ports, though it also has a gigabyte ethernet connection for the best possible speeds. It has Google Assistant voice control built-in as well, but is also compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Some people might turn their nose up at the NVIDIA Shield because it only has 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM, but the design is so intelligent that it doesn’t need more than that. Plus, you can plug in external storage via the USB 3.0 ports.
The big difference? With the NVIDIA Shield, you unlock Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services in full 4K. If that is what you are looking for, then the NVIDIA Shield should be your choice between these two powerful players.
GT Beelink King vs SkyStream Pro 8K
The SkyStream Pro 8K is actually a lot cheaper than the other two, currently available for only $125 direct from their website. For this reason, you would expect it to be a little less powerful, with an AMLogic S905X3 Quad-core, 4 GB of RAM, and 32 GB of ROM (expandable).
Nevertheless, the result is a powerful machine that not only delivers 4K at 74 frames per second but can also deliver 8K super ultra HD at 24 frames per second. However, it has the same problem as the GT Beelink King in that it only unlocks Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in HD and not in 4K.
But where the SkyStream squarely outperforms the GT Beelink King is when it comes to support, they offer over-the-air updates so you always have the most up-to-date functionality. They also local U.S.-based support centers for fast and immediate troubleshooting. The Facebook support group is also an excellent place to figure out how to get the most out of this machine.
FAQs
What Is A Beelink TV Box?
A Beelink TV box is an Android TV Box made by Beelink, a premium electronics manufacturer that focuses on TV boxes and mini-PCs. They tend to focus on premium technology rather than affordable options.
Is Beelink A Good Brand?
Beelink is considered a reliable, premium brand that sells good-quality electronics. They are based in China and are a part of Shenzhen AZW Technology.
How Do I Set Up Beelink?
Beelink TV boxes run off the standard Android operating system and are relatively easy to set up. It is mostly just a matter of plugging it in, singing into your Google account, and then downloading apps from the store. You can read our complete Android TV Box Setup Guide here.
The Verdict
The GT Beelink King Android TV Box is a powerful TV box that offers a lot under the hood. This box is sure to be a hit with media buffs and gamers looking for something sophisticated enough to deliver all their content and with enough storage space to act as a media hub.
However, this premium product probably won’t appeal to your average streamer. It is twice the price of other Android TV boxes that also deliver 4K, and it doesn’t have the credentials to unlock 4K content on Netflix or Prime Video. If this is your main streaming activity, you won’t be happy with this box.
But if you want the freedom to stream your own library how you want, and get in some serious gaming on the big screen, the GT Beelink King is worth considering alongside the likes of the NVIDIA Shield Pro and the SkyStream Pro 8K.
Have you used any Beelink Android TV boxes before? What do you think of them? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below.
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