When the Chromecast with Google TV was launched in September of 2020, it ushered in a completely new streaming experience. The interface is only available on a few streaming sticks and boxes and is not available on a lot of smart TVs.
In April, a Chinese company called Mecool introduced its own streaming device. The Mecool KD3 checks all the boxes if you are looking for an alternative to the dated streamer.
I have been using the streaming stick for two weeks and have found that it can handle any task I throw at it. When you combine that with an excellent remote that has more dedicated buttons for your favorite streaming services, the KD3 becomes a worthy rival to the best Google TV-compatible streaming sticks and boxes money can buy.
The KD3 was announced on April 20. The stick can be purchased from the online store. The product costs $80 if you buy it through Amazon.
The company has offered a discount. You can get the KD3 for a lower price if you enter the code KD3 MECOOL on the Mecool website.
The product is shipped to the U.S., EU, and UK.
The best Mecool KD3 deals are here.
The KD3 is a small package. It is not something that is meant to be seen all the time. Despite its small size, the dongle has a solid feel thanks to its weight. It plugs directly into the HDMI port of your TV. The KD3 ships with an extension cable to help you plug the dongle into your TV.
The majority of the stick is made of plastic, with a glossy strip in the middle bearing the Mecool logo on one end and the power indicator light on the other. You can use the included power cable to turn on the dongle if you plug it into the AC adapter.
I did not need the AC adapter to power the thing because it worked perfectly on my TV. It eliminates the need for an additional wire when using the streaming dongle.
It supports 4K streaming up to 60 frames per second, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Mecool did a great job of adapting the G10 reference design for the remote and adding more buttons. The remote is similar to the ones included with many streaming devices, but it has a lot more buttons.
The remote will not be complete without a button that allows you to speak to the voice assistant. It is noticeably faster here than on the media device of the search engine.
The KD3 supports Apple TV, which the Chromecast with Google TV still lacks.
The power, input, and volume buttons are the same as always. Thanks to the included remote, you won't need to use it to adjust the volume since the buttons function as expected.
There are buttons at the bottom for Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. You can appreciate the quick access to major streaming platforms that they provide, and as someone who uses both of them frequently, the shortcuts come in handy.
If you have an Apple TV subscription, you will be happy to know that the KD3 supports Apple's streaming service. This is something that, even after a few years, the Chromecast still lacks.
There is a profile button on the left side of the assistant button. You won't typically find this button in the included remote of many of the best streaming devices, and its presence on the KD3's included remote is presumably in preparation for the future roll out of personalized Google TV profiles.
You can switch between your main profile and a child's profile when you press that button. You won't find it useful untilpersonalized profiles are introduced. Mecool is preparing the media device for the future.
The Amlogic S905Y4 is a newer type of processor with support for AV1 encoded content, which is why the KD3 is powered by it. It isn't available on a lot of streaming services.
The KD3 is future-proofed with an Amlogic S905Y4 chipset and a unique profile button.
It provides a better compression system that should allow for significant data efficiency savings without compromising video quality. As a result, it is poised to become a more ideal standard in the future as video content adopts higher frame rates and 8K resolution.
Mecool deserves a pat on the back for making up for what Google failed to do with the Chromecast. The KD3 has an advantage over the Chromecast with it's expandable storage. While the streamer has the same internal storage as the media device, you can expand it with a $9 OTG cable. It allows you to connect a flash drive to the cable for more storage space.
The KD3 gets the job done well. The setup process is easy and the video content is excellent.
I had no trouble launching my apps on the streamer because it was the same experience as the Chromecast. The KD3 did a good job of putting together content based on what I like to watch.
The streaming stick has an operating system that is one generation ahead of the Chromecast. Mecool has not stated when the latest security update will be released.
I would like to see Mecool have the ability to map its buttons. This feature is not common in other media devices, but having the ability to change the button functions is always useful.
You can always download and install third-party apps from the Play Store. I use the Button Mapper app to change how buttons work. For example, I remapped the home button to make it easier to navigate to the home screen.
8GB of storage space is not enough due to the large storage space consumed by the system itself.
The KD3's successor should have larger built-in storage. The app install limits for the KD3 are the same as the ones for the Chromecast with Google TV, which didn't sit well with customers. Only half of the storage space is left for your apps and files due to the large storage space consumed by the system itself.
If you subscribe to more than one streaming service, you may want to consider the NVIDIA Shield TV, which comes with more storage. It is always a plus to be able to install as many apps as you need without running into this kind of limitation.
If you don't mind paying more for a few features not available on the latter, the KD3 is a good alternative. Mecool faces a lot of competition from brands that cost less. At $50, it might be a better option for some consumers, except that it is a bit dated already.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K supports 4K and is only $50. It has the same amount of storage as the other model and has a voice remote. The two run the same software.
The TiVo Stream 4K is a device that supports 4K resolution, and it is powered by an app. The app that provides personalized content based on your subscriptions is included. It is only $49, which is the best part.
You should buy this.
If you buy this, you shouldn't...
It is hard to recommend this product as a better purchase than the one you already have. The KD3 has everything you could ask for in a streaming device, but it is not as spec heavy as the Shield TV 4K. It is an excellent choice when it comes to helping you discover content.
There are tons of new updates for the TV operating system that are happening at the moment. As more streaming devices are expected to add support for the interface in the coming months, we will have to wait and see how the KD3 holds up. While the streamer is a worthy challenger to the hardware, it isn't giving it a run for its money.
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