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With Intel releasing newer and newer processor models, I was a little surprised to find that mini PCs are still being made with older chips, such as the X5-Z8500. But since I’ve reviewed quite a few computers based on Atom processors, I decided to take a look and see whether anything had changed since my previous review.

Some time ago, the ambitious Beelink GT-King Pro TV box was unveiled. Essentially, it’s an updated version of the Beelink GT1-K, and today I’ll take a look at this new model. As usual, I’ll inspect it, take it apart, run some tests, and share my conclusions.

Not long ago, Rokchip launched a new budget SoC, the RK3318. Calling it a competitor to Amlogic’s latest processors would be a stretch, so I picked one up for review mostly out of curiosity. In any case, as usual, the review will include an inspection, teardown, tests, conclusions, and a summary table.

Not long ago, Beelink released another new product: a compact computer with a Core i3 processor. Though, in my opinion, it’s hard to call a fifth-generation processor new, since it was developed quite a while ago. Still, this computer turned out to be pretty good in its own way. But you can read all about it in the review, which covers the inspection, teardown, tests, and conclusions, along with a summary table.

It’s already May, and I haven’t reviewed a single computer yet, so let’s fix that. Today we’ll look at a model that stands out from the crowd in its own way. Design is a matter of taste, of course—some people like one thing, others something else—but you have to admit this one is definitely original. As always, the review covers the exterior, teardown, tests, conclusions, and a final summary table.

I’ve already tested a TV box based on Amlogic’s new S905X2 SoC, and wasn’t entirely satisfied. Although it offered good performance and ran cool, it had a lot of software issues. Now I’ve finally got my hands on another model from the well-known Mecool brand, and today I’ll take a look at what it’s like and whether anything has changed. As always, I’ll inspect it, take it apart, run some tests, share my conclusions, and wrap up with a summary table.

This is my third review of TV boxes based on the Allwinner H6 system-on-chip (SoC). In my opinion, this processor is unfairly overlooked, with more attention given to models using Amlogic and Rockchip chips. Though the recently released models with newer Amlogic chips, made using a smaller process node, will probably draw even more attention. But let’s get on with the review: as always, I’ll take a look at the box, take it apart, run some tests, and wrap up with a summary table.

Not long ago, I reviewed a hybrid TV box with tuners for satellite and terrestrial digital TV. At the time, someone pointed out that “there’s almost the same one, but cheaper,” so naturally I got interested and ordered it for review. So today’s review is of the “budget” version, without the satellite tuner, but unfortunately with a few other compromises as well.

I once wrote that somehow every memory card I review ends up being twice the capacity of the previous one. I reviewed 32, 64, and 128 GB versions, and now it’s time for a 256 GB card. So, here’s a brief review of a tiny memory card from Alfawise.

I've already reviewed quite a few different TV boxes, but today I'm taking a look at a somewhat unusual model. In addition to its TV box functions, it also has a tuner for digital terrestrial and satellite TV. As usual, I'll take a look, take it apart, run some tests, share my conclusions, and finish with a summary table.

At the beginning of autumn, I tested and reviewed an interesting mini PC of mine, the HYSTOU FMP04 with an i5-7200U processor. Unfortunately, that was also when I showed the “Achilles' heel” of both the device under review and many other Chinese devices: overheating. After that, I decided to try a slightly less powerful version with an i3-7100U processor, and it really managed to surprise me. But it's better to read all about it in the review.

This story began quite a while ago, probably right at the start of the year, when I received this set-top box. But things worked out so that I'm only writing the review now. The box turned out to be not so bad, though it does have its "pitfalls. Still, as always, it's best to read the full review, which will include the usual inspection, tests, modifications, and a table.

The Amlogic S912 SoC has been around for quite a while, but companies are still making new models based on this processor. As I’ve already mentioned in my smartphone reviews, most devices are basically “construction kits”—just combinations of the same “building blocks.” And this is another such kit, this time branded X9T. Let’s take a look, take it apart, run some tests, draw some conclusions, and fill in the table.

As it happens, SoCs from Allwinner are quite uncommon and are almost completely overshadowed by options from Rockchip and Amlogic. In all this time, I’ve reviewed only one TV box based on an Allwinner processor. The Zidoo H6 Pro I covered back then was actually pretty good and even had working AFR, but its price of over $80 spoiled the whole picture. Today I have another member of this family of TV boxes, but at a more affordable price—that’s what caught my interest. A look inside, teardown, tests, conclusions, and of course, the table.

Somehow, despite having more than 35 years of experience with a soldering iron, I had never used soldering paste, although I’d heard a lot about it. So I decided to fill that gap by picking up a tube of one product from this large family for review: Best BS-706 paste. If you’re interested in my first attempts at using soldering paste and what I thought of it, come on in.

Today I’m reviewing another TV box from Mecool, built around the long-familiar S912 SoC. There’s nothing unusual about it, except for a slight sense of déjà vu that stayed with me while using the box, especially when inspecting it. Why? Read on for the review, which, as always, includes an inspection, a teardown, a few tests, and my conclusions.

About six months ago, I reviewed a Mecool TV box with voice control. Today, I’ll show you a very similar, though different, TV box from the same company with roughly the same features. As always, the review will include an inspection, teardown, tests, and a summary table.

It wasn't that long ago that computers with Gemini Lake core (SoC) processors started appearing on the market (I already covered one), and other manufacturers soon began releasing their own models. Today I'll be taking a look at one of them. Its key differences are 6 GB of RAM and an SSD instead of eMMC flash storage, along with a few other minor details. As always, I'll take a look inside, take it apart, run some tests and share my conclusions.