Don’t go for an obsolete SoC, go for at least S905X3 if not for S922X…
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Bummer… price jumps way up. I don’t play games or anything just KODI. I looked at the Android part of my Beelink a few times, it was glitchy, stuff didn’t work, etc… SD card bypasses it and boots straight into KODI and haven’t touched the Android part since Feb 2019. So a lot of the specs I don’t think matter much which is why hoping for another under $100CAD box.
Beelink GT-King looks like about the cheapest that comes up, $170CAD, eBay not Amazon… looks like Beelink doesn’t make a lot of the more entry level stuff anymore. That’s too bad.
Look for Odroid C4 or Khadas vim3L, two nice S905X3 devices. If you go for cheap the X96 air is very popular in the forum, just search for it.
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Oh, so the Odroid is sorta like a RaspPi… I have one of those for an Arcade project, which I bought over a year ago… keeps getting delayed and now lumber is 450% more money that it was last summer. Ug.
Odroid might be cool… the whole custom case stuff. Wish I had a 3D printer, but I do have a nice chunk of black walnut.
I’d use my old RaspPi, which I did test with at one time… but never with x265 4k. If I recall the Android boxes were so good because they had chips specific for x265 and 4k video.
Oh please don’t insult the odroid calling it a Raspi. 
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Are there any potentially exciting devices (no names expected) that the team are testing under an NDA that we can look forward to in the coming months of 2021?
None, and when we would have a “NDA” we would not be allowed to speak about it anyway 
Semiconductor development is On-Hold because of COVID. And what I heard it will be problematic till end of 2022.
Here have 4 S912 boxes running and have not had any issues with these boxes except that I cannot run CoreELEC 19.1 Matrix on them.
I am looking to update these boxes to the following “el cheapo” Amazon S905X3 Quad-core 4GB.
Will this box run CoreELEC 19.1 Matix?
Amazon listed: Magicsee Android 9.0 N5 Max TV Box Amlogic S905X3 Quad-core 4GB 32GB Dual WiFi 2.4G 5Ghz Bluetooth 4.1 8K 4K HD Smart Android Box for $49.99 USD.
Will these boxes work for me?
The Topic is about the best not the cheapest device for CoreELEC. You will have to do some research if it works. Just search the forum.
Thanks Ray.
[googling NDA…] 
Edit Ah…
It would perhaps be really helpful for many to create something like a “recommendation list” according to classes (upper, middle, low budget), which however includes the devices for which new versions of Coreelec will be developed at least for a certain period of time.
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Low budget is never recommended.
Odroids or Khadas can be recommended. Get at least a S905X3. Odroid C4 is imo the best budget device for CoreELEC.
But as stated already a lot of devices work with CoreELEC, do a search on the forum if you spot a device you want to buy. If you can’t find any information don’t buy it and don’t ask if it will work. If you buy it and it works good for you.
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I bought the X96 Air 4Ram / 64Rom, CoreELEC installed in its internal memory works fine. Disadvantages of this device that heats up and must be used disassembled or with an additional mini fan. For those who are going to buy it, keep in mind that the remote control that it brings is small and bad, better a second remote control or use the CEE HDMI television control. I do not know if it will be the best device for CoreELEC 19 but if it is the most economical in value for money.
Buying recommended stuff its healthy for your budget and metal health. Really! After buying Semtex from HK, I’m annoyed because its working and its just working, no more DIY…30 euro/gbp/usd its an interesting lottery - price for a weird Chinese box. But I don’t wanna gamble anymore when I can just sit and watch without worries.
The X96 Airs seem to have been the most consistently reliable cheap boxes out there. Not really heard any complaints - apart from heat issues which plague all the bottom rung boxes equally.
Shoog
I went this route and while it was fun, i 100% agree with you there.
Love how cool the N2 design is. Literally and figuratively
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The debate will run forever because a subset of folks will never come to terms with paying a bit more for the certainty of having super hardware. I own something that keeps itself cool no matter what I do to it and does everything I want of it very well. Won’t say what I’ve got cause if you own one you know and so many have already said so. If you doubt those who’ve gone before, good look on your search for the ultimate 14 quid device. Rant over.
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Hi I´m using Coreelec on a TX9s (S912) and I understand that I will not be able to install this 19.2 version. Which box will you recommend me to play H265 and 4k HDR content? The cheapest the best.THanks