Welcome to the Real World – The Minix Neo U1

With all due respect to the Wachowski brothers (sisters?) and Keanu Reeves, this NEO is The One.

I’ve reviewed literally dozens of android TV boxes and owned even more. I’ve run the cheapest little plastic boxes eBay had to offer and spent a year of my life with the Nvidia Shield and at least some time with every conceivable media streamer in between. This is the best bang for the buck I’ve ever owned when it comes to streaming media players of the Android variety.

The Minix NEO U1 boasts first-class build quality, with heavy plastics and great fit and finish. IT’s really a large step above most Android boxes and feels every bit as solid as a piece of high-end electronics should.

The NEO U1 has the Amlogic 905 SOC, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage.  It runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. I know, it doesn’t sound like the specs you get with the latest crop of TV boxes, but it’s not about sheer brawn. It’s about how you implement it. Just like two PCs with identical specs can offer completely different user experiences, so it is with Android TV boxes.

I run the Antutu benchmark app on every box I review because, while other apps will tell you what you processor is capable of, how fast you RAM is, etc., Antutu gives you the best idea of how powerful the box is as a whole. I have yet to review a TV box, regardless of processor, that beats the NEO U1.

Raw numbers aside, it’s really about what you get when you lean back with the remote or the gamepad in your hands. And that’s where the Minix delivers. From a choice of launchers to the zippiest read/write storage I’ve ever found in this application, the attention to the user experience is what sets this box apart. Mine came pre-installed with two different versions of YouTube, the Play Store version and the more remote-control-friendly version for Android TV. Now that’s thoughtful. The navigation bar and notification bar are there if you want them, but disappear when they should. 

And the fact that this is the first box I’ve used that runs my Blu-Ray rips from a portable hard drive, in Kodi, with perfect DTS and Dolby Digital pass-through, just knocked my socks off.

Throw in regular online updates (that actually work) and you’ve got what is now my every day streaming box (at least until their new NEO U9-H comes out).

Oh, and...

Add the A2 lite air mouse/remote control and the experience becomes even better. Since this NEO U1 has access to all Play Store apps, you need a mouse or air mouse to take advantage of those apps that use a touch interface. Beyond that, the A2 lite is optimized for Minix devices and adds tons of functionality like shortcut keys and transport keys for media playback. Well worth the modest investment.