One of the devices I am thinking of buying for CoreELEC is the Odroid N2+. But I see that it is a 5 year-old device.
For how many years are Odroid N2+ users expected to be covered?
The N2+ remains a very capable and stable CoreElec machine (I have an N2 and an N2+, effectively identical).
That said, if buying now, Iād buy the Ugoos AM6B+ instead - from a CE perspective, itās basically the same thing, but with (easy) DolbyVision support (and a handy power switch, and the eMMC is built in). There are workarounds for DolbyVision on the N2s, I believe, but itās a lot more complicated.
For an āoff the shelfā CE install-and-go thing, the Ugoos is simple and excellent and itās already replaced the N2+ as our primary family player.
Iāve read that with Odroid N2+ we can expect a maximum of 2-2.5 years. Other sites say that an Odroid N2+ user will always be covered.
If I am going to enjoy CoreELEC longer with Ugoos I will buy an Ugoos, but I am also interested in Odroid N2+ so I want to know if there will only be CoreELEC for Odroid N2+ for a maximum of 2.5 years.
What does the CoreELEC team say?
Covered in what way? What do you expect in the future not being covered?
I have an 8 year old box that is not ācoveredā for a long time now, but runs an older version (9.2.8) of CoreElec without any problem, the same way it did when it was new.
Odroid N2+ is doomed ?
Ugoos is just hyped because DV + FEL - very great marketing gag
But there is no more DV + FEL in CE releases after generation NG
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If after 8 years, on your equipment it is no longer possible to install the latest version of CoreELEC that seems to mean that the Odroid N2+ has a maximum of 3 years left, as has been pointed out on some forums.
The Odroid N2+ I believe is from 2019 and the Ugoos AM6B+ from 2020, so the Ugoos might only have 1 more years left. Maybe at this point they are a bad investment, I donāt know. I imagine Odroid and Ugoos will have new, more advanced devices in mind to be released soon.
What I donāt want is to buy a device where it is only going to be possible to install the latest version of CoreELEC for approximately 3 more years. Iām sure it will be the same for everyone else.
The CoreELEC team has the answer. It would be nice if they could confirm if the average is 8 years per device.
Well thatās the age of CoreELEC, 8 years give or take. We canāt assure anyone of anything. N2+ is in the new kernel 5.15.137, we donāt know how long itās gonna last. If Amlogic keeps supporting it weāre also going to support it. As an example the g12b soc, which includes N2+, skipped a generation and wasnāt supported in 5.4.x and it wasnāt our choiceā¦
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None of these devices are āinvestmentsā - theyāre just bits of fun to use and move on from after youāve had reasonably good value. For me, Iām happy to get a couple years out of these things (at about $100/yr) - and then if thereās something better move on (the old box becomes a tester, or is moved on to some other use, or recycled).
In the days of more complex Kodi boxes, sure, the goal was a platform for a number of years but these things are so cheap, you have to be realistic about them - if they do what you want now then enjoy the moment, and worry about the future when it comesā¦because know one can predict it accurately, especially when it comes to the murky world of amlogic <> linux <> kodiā¦
My N2s are still daily drivers for me. I couldnāt be happier with them. Iām continually grateful of the CoreELEC teamās continued support of this chipset. Looked bleak for a while during the 5.4 kernel era but here we are, a ways away from 2019 and theyāre still plugging away happily.
When I recently had to replace a failed N2 (my own fault I killed the HDMI output but it still works as a Homeassistant hub) I seriously thought about jumping ship and going for an Intel N100 based box which are now capable of doing everything you need for Kodi at a reasonable price. But when I surveyed the field I still came to the conclusion that the N2+ was the best box for a media player so I went and bought two for the living room and the bedroom. Its got all the processing power to rarely stall and when it does its generally a kernel flaw rather than Coreelecs. Amlogic hasnāt really brought much new to the table since the S922x chips apart from throwing a few new decoders into the mix so the N2+ will remain one of the best choices for Coreelec into the future.
N2(+) is not a box, but a SBC; a box with S922X SoC that brings more to the table is Ugoos AM6B+.
N2(+) is not a cheap TV box using dubious chips.
Needs no Android to run CE !
TV boxes like AM6B+ are just hyped.
My daily driver is a N2+ in my living room, running CE 19.5 stable from 2022 without any issue.
No need yet to update to newer versions.
Have a look at the TV boxes like Kinghank G1, X96 X10, Ugoos SK1 etc.
Every new day You get a new issue 
Many of these TV-boxes you will be lucky to get a years service before some component or the emmc burns out. Cheap as chips for a reason.
Well over twice the price of the N2+ for very little extra mileage, would pass on that one.
Well, I have an old N2 (not +) for years now, an AM6B+ and G1 for 7-8 months in everyday use, and NONE give me any issue.
G1 was bought to replace my old Amazon Firestick 4k as my streamer (NF, Max & Prime) which it does perfectly - no issues whatsoever. CE with DV P7 FEL on it is just an unexpected bonus, which I donāt need nor use.
AM6B+ was bought to replace my N2 to bring DV experience to my main media center room, and N2 was transferred to my weekend place as replacement for an old X92 (S912) box which btw. still runs CE 9.2.8 flawlessly.
Of all mentioned N2, being an SBC is most versatile, Iām running on it two CE versions, official and DV version along with Ubuntu and Android-LineageOS; perfect companion for my weekend/holiday place.
DV experience on my 75" G4 is worth every cent to me; to each their ownā¦
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If DV is important to you then maybe, really couldnāt care less myself.
I consider the cost difference being basically irrelevant over the life span of these devices, being likely to be a couple of years at least - less than a cup of coffee a month difference. And once you add the eMMC, case etc to the Odroid, itās not actually much different anyway (where I am at least).
For CE use, I find AM6B+ to be a definite improvement on the N2, in terms of having a power button, built in eMMC, better/more consistent IR remote reception, and of course DV support (which I find useful as it increases the range of what is playable, and those thing to my eye look better than HDR10+). But for ages I resisted getting oneā¦didnāt see a lot of point, but just occasionally something DV only would appear and it would be an annoyance, and then I needed another machine anyway, so gave it a go and no regrets - itās definitely just a bit better experience in all.
I donāt think a Ugoos device is any less likely to last a few years than an Odroid - e.g. N2s, plenty of those have failed with the notorious HDMI issues (that being one of the main things improved on the N2+).
But for sure if you anticipate non CE uses, then the N2(+) is a great machine - and even with CE it does 95% of what the Ugoos does, so if the price really is an issue, then you wonāt go wrong. Iād definitely only get a plus version, though, as I have personally experienced the N2 HDMI issues and they are a PITA.
And with all of these devices, again, look to the NOW experience, not the future. Pick the one that best covers your needs/wants NOW, and not to some imaginary future as God only knows where all this ends up. If youāre relying on some sort of future where you must have X or Y, thereās a high chance youāre just going to end up disappointed. The CE folks are amazingly good at this stuff but so much is just fundamentally out of their controlā¦