There are many devices on the market that greatly change the usual processes in everyday life. For example, Android TV - a set-top box for a TV set, was almost unknown to anyone not so long ago. However, now, for a small amount, everyone can freely turn their old TV into a full-fledged entertainment center with access to the Internet, applications and games. The choice of such devices on the market is quite large, and prices vary. The article will discuss what is the Android TV Box Beelink R89 and the like.
What is Android TV?
The prefix "Android TV" is a device that runs on the Android operating system. The familiar interface of modern smartphones and tablets was “sewn up” into a board, wrapped in a beautiful package and made it possible to connect any image source to it. And all this is achieved thanks to the large number of universal video and audio connectors that are on every TV and monitor.
In addition, this kind of set-top boxes, in particular, Beelink R89, have sufficiently powerful processors capable of processing large amounts of information in a minimum period of time. It is worth adding that Android Smart TV-boxes have their own memory, which allows you to store information directly on them. But more on this later in the article.
Features of Beelink R89
The first thing worth noting about the console is its relatively low price. You can buy R89 within 100-110 US dollars. Plus, for this price, you get a device powerful enough for any need, which is good news.
Additionally, the Beelink R89 Android TV smart box is equipped with the fastest Wi-Fi adapter currently available, namely AP6335 WiFi 11ac 2.4G/5G, which supports data transfer rates up to 433Mbps. The indicator, by the way, is worthy of expensive flagship smartphones of many well-known brands.
For a small cost, you get a universal device that will replace a smartphone, computer and TV combined. With it, you can not only watch TV shows, but also use the Internet, applications from Google Play and run full-fledged computer games.
Specifications
One of the most important advantages of the R89 is the processor. The quad-core RK3288, based on the Cortex A17 chip, is capable of clocking up to 2.0 GHz per core. This is quite an impressive figure, which allows you to easily handle everything that happens in the preinstalled Android 4.4 OS. Another nice feature is the modern updated video chip Mali-T764, which supports all OpenGL, OpenCL, OpenVG standards and other "chips".
To all this, you can add the presence of 2 GB of RAM in the simplest version, and with a surcharge, the volume can be increased to 8 GB. Built-in memory is also unlimited, from 16 to 64 GB in different versions. In addition, there is support for flash cards of the MicroSD standard, which will allow you to add another couple of tens of gigabytes for storing multimedia files. Well, to all this "as a gift" there is support for 3D (if there are playback conditions on the TV) and 4K format, thanks to which the Beelink R89 Android TV set-top box can cover all the needs of modern entertainment.
Shipping and package contents
When purchasing this device through well-known online stores, most often the delivery will be made from China or the Netherlands. Depending on the seller and shipping method, delivery time to different locations will vary from 15 to 60 days. On average, you will have to wait about a month for the treasured box to be on the table.
Opening the package, you can see that the Beelink R89 Android TV box comes with a remote control, a US power supply, HDMI and OTG cables, and an English user manual. Basically, there is everything you need. However, you will have to find an adapter for "our" sockets and buy batteries for the remote control, which for some reasonthe manufacturer forgot. Though maybe that was the intention.
Appearance
Android TV-box Beelink R89 looks quite unusual, because the usual rectangular case has been replaced with a triangular one in the side view. As a result - good stability and pleasing to the eye shape. The front part is made of glossy plastic, which looks quite nice at first glance. But as soon as the prefix is \u200b\u200btransferred a few dustings, small scratches immediately become noticeable. By the way, the dust also does not go unnoticed. It is very important that the case as a whole is assembled without gaps and crevices, which prevents unwanted dirt from entering the device.
The number of connectors is large, because the set-top box has 3 USB ports (two on the left side of the case and one on the back), USB-OTG (that is, a Micro USB connector), and there is also a microSD slot. In addition, there is an optical SPDIF connector and a LAN interface (RJ45). On the case there are holes for cooling the set-top box, which helps to avoid overheating. As for the remote control, it is quite standard, and you should not focus on it. In general, the build quality is very pleasing.
Connection and interface
To connect TV Android Smart Box R89 to a TV, you need to perform standard manipulations for any such device. Connecting with an HDMI cable is the most convenient. The procedure will not take long. When you turn it on for the first time, the set-top box will "think" longer than usual, since the first setting is in progress.
The standard launcher installed on Android 4.4.2 is rather boring, monotonous and non-functional, so many people advise installing the Android shell or other custom ones. The latter, by the way, will be much more profitable if you need to customize the desktop and the number of icons on it for yourself.
In order not to suffer with a standard remote when typing and other manipulations, many users advise connecting a wireless keyboard and mouse. THIS is a fairly logical solution that will help simplify the work with the prefix. Although the Android version out of the box is not the newest, updates to 5.0 and higher are coming in the near future, which will expand the functionality. But the pre-installed version of the OS is enough for any entertainment.
Speaking of entertainment, thanks to the powerful modern filling, the console is able to play any demanding game. Of course, controlling the hero on a remote control, and even more so on a keyboard with a mouse, is not an easy task, so you can connect any convenient joystick using USB or Bluetooth 4.0 interface and enjoy. Of special note is the fact that you can connect any webcam to the R89 to use Skype, which works quite well on this version of Android.
Analogues and clones
Due to the fact that Beelink is one of the best-selling and high-quality, according to user reviews, set-top boxes, many competing companies are trying to copy devices. There are more and more cheaper clones every day, but the quality leaveswish for the best. Actually, this trend was not bypassed by the monitored R89.
If you wander around the Internet for a bit, you will see the Android TV Box set-top box Orion R28, created, or rather cloned by Tronsmart. If outwardly Orion differs from R89, then internally these are two absolutely identical devices. Of course, everyone will choose according to their financial capabilities, but if there is enough money, it is recommended to take the original directly.
User opinions and reviews
Currently, many people prefer not to change their old TV to a new one just for the sake of the Smart TV function, but to purchase set-top boxes that can turn any TV into a "smart" one. That is why more and more reviews about such devices appear on the Internet. Of course, they all differ, but if we talk about branded devices like Beelink R89, then you can always stumble upon more than a dozen satisfied users who advise you to definitely purchase such devices. But you should be careful, because if now we are talking about a high-quality original, then clones and analogues can prove much worse, which will spoil the opinion about set-top boxes in general.
Android TV set-top box is currently a fairly globalized phenomenon. Almost no owner of TVs that do not have Smart TV can do without such devices. That is why you should not be afraid and worry about the fact that the prefix cansomething not to like, because there will always be someone who will definitely buy it.
