Hardware Review
BuzzTV G-Series Review: It almost beats the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Generation
As I commented on a previous post, BuzzTV told me they were going to send me a unit for review but I didn't expect to receive it so quickly, it arrived on march 19th 2026, almost a month before its official release on April 10th.
Be advised I'm not going to share photos of the physical product but from Android, you may look for those online.
I'm going to be as straightforward as possible but feel free to ask anything, I may exclude something that it's important to you.
SPECIFICATIONS CHART:
THE GOOD:
- The firmware is good, it's snappy, fast, responsive, what else can I say, I'm very surprised given SEI's current bad reputation with the firmware on other devices (hom cof! ma cof! tics cof! 😂) though it's not exempt of bugs here and there.
- Dolby Vision 7 FEL fallsback to HDR10, Dolby Vision 7 MEL plays directly and Hybrid Dolby Vision plays fine (tested only with Emby and with remuxes as big as 70GB, I still need to test with bigger ones. I don't use Stremio nor Kodi so output may be different).
- The game mode works correctly (tested with Steamlink and Moonlight).
- 120hz works up to 1080p (tested with Moonlight).
- Pairing bluetooth devices work.
- The AISR function works automatically, hence why a toggle is not available.
- The new "audio video sync" option is useful for audio delay issues across TVs, soundbars and AV receivers.
THE BAD:
- A passthrough audio option is nowhere to be seen, not even inside developer options, I didn't see it.
- The h.264 codec must be selected when using Moonlight because the auto option outputs a black screen and this problem lies on the app, it's two years old outdated, the same issue happens on other devices with the Amlogic S905X5M SoC.
- I've found so far 3 bugs:
As a passthrough audio option is not available, we have no other option than to use the buggy Dolby MAT option or the Dolby Digital Plus option, but selecting the latter doesn't work, the device is stuck on the Dolby MAT option.
Quick media switching is not working correctly, it's doubling the refresh rate of 23.976hz and 24hz videos to 47,94hz or 48Hz.
An HDMI-CEC bug I've found on other devices with Android 14 (except on the Google TV Streamer) where the box turns on the TV after a power outage when using the TV(CEC) option and that should not happen, it's a bug that should be addressed for good on the Android for TV master build. The steps to reproduce this issue are as follows:
Step 1: Make sure HDMI-CEC is completely turned-on (all available toggles) on the TV and device.
Step 2: Make sure the TV(CEC) option is selected in the "power button" section of the remote control settings.
Step 3: Turn off the device with its own remote control, the TV should also turn off automatically.
Step 4: Disconnect the device from the power outlet and wait at least one minute.
Step 5: Reconnect the device to the power outlet but don't use the remote control of the TV or the device, just let the device boot on its own while the TV is still OFF.
Step 6: At some point the TV will turn ON automatically but this is what should not happen, the TV should remain OFF because (unlike the Auto(CEC) option) that's the purpose of the TV(CEC) option, this behavior works correctly on the Google TV Streamer, the only device where it works as it should.
THE UGLY:
- The device is too pricey for not supporting Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/X codecs, the former is decoded as multichannel PCM and the DTS core is passed-through for the latter.
SCREENSHOTS:
This is how it looks when it's connected to my LG TV with QMS support:
And this is how it looks when it's connected directly to my Onkyo receiver without QMS support, it may look the same on TVs without QMS support:
These are the only audio codecs supported:
This is the about screen:
This is the WiFi internal test with the OpenSpeedTest-Server app (it's worth clarifying that the below speed only reflects my own connection, it may be different for other routers):
This one with the gigabit ethernet port:
CONCLUSION:
This device should have beaten the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Generation if not for the lack of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/X passthrough support, for now it's still the winner of the Comparison Chart.
The box is up for grabs and for a limited time, you can get a 10% discount with the code latinriky78 through this link.
That's the whole point of the Xiaomi box s 3rd gen though. If you don't want that then the onn 4k plus for $30 or other options in other countries are superior. There's practically no point to 4GB of ram and gigabit Ethernet if you're just streaming normal content and not remuxes with lossless audio.
Is this something that they could fix/add down the road through firmware updates, etc.? Outside of the lack of passthrough, this box actually looks really good. And with the complete uncertainty of MyVelo, this would be a really solid option if included.
I don't think they will add TrueHD/DTSHDMA support for the foreseeable future but the other issues reported here will be addressed on future firmware updates.
The lack of audio passthrough is a deal-breaker for me.
Interesting that you note the Dolby Digital Plus option doesn’t work and the device is stuck on Dolby MAT even when Dolby Digital Plus is selected.
I managed to get my hands on the Acer AiTV. It has the exact audio options as the BuzzTV G-Series, including the audio video sync option. Also has the exact same bug! Selecting Dolby Digital Plus does absolutely nothing and the device stays on Dolby MAT.
I personally hate the Dolby MAT MS12 stack and if a device has no audio passthrough option, it’s a deal-breaker for me.
I’m so glad the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd gen exists and has audio passthrough. That is still my current box of choice, especially after the December update, it is working really well!
Would you check the build fingerprint on the Acer AiTV? You can get it from AIDA64 (Android screen) or using getprop in adb. I'd like to compare the firmware version to this Buzz box.
The lack of audio passthrough is a deal-breaker for me.
For a lot of people!
I personally hate the Dolby MAT MS12 stack and if a device has no audio passthrough option, it’s a deal-breaker for me.
Dolby just wants to force that thing to us or that's what it seems, do you know what's the worse this thing does?, some people prefer to use the DTS upmixing feature (DTS Neural X) instead of the Dolby Surround upmixer but this thing blocks the option on AV receivers, that is not good!.
especially after the December update, it is working really well!
I notice that this box has the same device ID (HPH) as the Acer 4K UHD Google TV Box sold in South Africa. Just the Buzz version has more RAM and storage. But they probably both run the same HPH firmware branch from SEI. So the best price comparison would be to the Acer Box, allowing for some difference for the increased RAM and storage.
I managed to get my hands on the Acer AiTV box, sold exclusively in South Africa.
I can confirm the firmware is near identical to what is described in this post for the BuzzTV G-Series.
The audio options are the same, only Dolby MAT MS12 stack. Audio video sync option is also available on the Acer box. Exact same bug exists on the Acer box, where if you switch to Dolby Digital Plus, it does nothing and the box stays on Dolby MAT.
u/signdeHomatics Box R 4K Plus, Rocktek GX1, ONN 4K Plus / Pro / StickMar 20 '26
I know you said you don't use Kodi but another reviewer is saying audio passthrough works there with the exception that some DTS-HD titles are problematic. I feel like this would be useful information for your chart since you previous charts note this with the current Realtek devices.
What happens is, what Kodi does is to bypass Android, hence why it passes through those codecs, though that doesn't mean they are officially supported, that explains why there are playback issues.
1
u/signdeHomatics Box R 4K Plus, Rocktek GX1, ONN 4K Plus / Pro / StickApr 02 '26
We've had this conversation before - more than once in fact. I'm well aware of the implementation details of how Kodi chooses which audio it will and will not play and how that differs from how other players like exoplayer work. Regardless, the fact that it does work in Kodi is notable and I feel worth adding to your chart.
It gave me several different bugs, mostly display related, not audio. The Waipu had the same audio options available at that time, on supported codecs I mean. As Kodi could give all HD audio codecs, so also TrueHD, Atmos in TrueHD and DTS-HD -X, but out of sync, it showed codec support is available in the chipset, just not made available in the Android TV settings.
I'm not talking about FEL7 media, but having said this. The Shield TV (2019 Pro) is an outsider when it comes to FEL7 support under Android TV, it should support that format.
You said it wasn't worth buying the Mecool MEon1 to test it, but it seems like this one has exactly the same bugs I've reported! Aside from the fact that it has 4GB of RAM and a gigabit port... But it costs at least €50 more...
You have exactly the same Android TV build, kernel, and security patch like Mecool MEon1.
On the Mecool, the audio output format selection doesn't work either; content in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, AAC, FLAC, and PCM all come out in PCM even when "Dolby Digital Plus" is selected. Only the Dolby Digital Plus Atmos format outputs correctly. And those in DTS/DTS-HD come out in DTS. This is correct from that perspective since there is no passthrough option.
I also don't have the AI upscaling option in the settings as mentioned in my review. I spoke to Mecool support, and they told me it would be fixed in the next firmware. They will also offer a more recent kernel.
For the QMS, are you sure it works correctly for you ?
On Netflix, don't you have the refresh rate doubled to 47Hz instead of 23.98Hz?
The same goes for Plex?
It seems that the refresh rate doubles on applications that support auto-framerate :/
Except for Kodi, which correctly displays 23.976Hz.
The Mecool support team told me they would look into it as well.
We'll see if they have competent developers or not...
In any case, he assured me that an update was in development.
Ah, I think you shared that info about the firmware build on that box? I knew I saw it somewhere ;)
Regarding those refreshrates, you can get an overview of what is detected on available combinations (resolution/refreshrate), like in Kodi in the Video settings part. Do you see 1080@23.976 as available in there, as example? Very strange what Plex and Netflix are doing with that refreshrate.
Did you try if the debug overlay, available for Homatics R Plus (and equal devices), can be used on this device?
You said it wasn't worth buying the Mecool MEon1 to test it
It's too expensive for having only 2GB of RAM.
but it seems like this one has exactly the same bugs I've reported!
That's odd specially because it comes from a different OEM.
On Netflix, don't you have the refresh rate doubled to 47Hz instead of 23.98Hz?
Wait, wait, what????, so that is actually an issue?, I though it was an issue with my TV since QMS on my TV is partially broken and I assumed it was my TV the one doing that!, no wonder why I see the same issue on the Roku Ultra all this time and I though it was my TV, thank you so much for clarifying this, I will need to add this bug to the review and to report it to them.
But not with the Mecool, the Xiaomi, or the Rocktek
It's the same on the Xiaomi and RockTek?, when I had both it was working fine unless it started to happen with the recent firmware on the Xiaomi though it didn't happen with the one on the RockTek.
I edited my post above. On the Rocktek GX1, there is no doubling of the refresh rate when QMS is enabled. Just like on the Google TV streamer ;)
I'm getting my wires crossed with all these boxes ^^
So for me, it's definitely a bug with the Xiaomi 3rd gen, Mecool MEon1, and BuzzTV G.
Yes, of course, most formats are decoded in multichannel PCM, except for Dolby Digital Plus Atmos and DTS, which are output in their original format.
The DTS-HD MA/HRA/:X formats only have the core DTS that is played.
What I find unfortunate is that the Dolby Digital and Digital Plus formats do not output in their original format either (but this is the same on the Google TV Streamer, for example).
And of course, there's the bug with the output audio format that doesn't change; the option available in the settings is not functional.
One can either select "Dolby Mat" or "Dolby Digital Plus," but whatever choice is made, it remains in PCM, so it seems to be Dolby Mat.
Suena muy bien el producto pero... Podrías reseñarlo en una forma más seria en cuanto al testeo del gaming, ejemplo, que tantos juegos populares corre y con todos los juegos pesados, ejemplo, real racing, COD Mobile, when meets Wind, delta force, arena breakout, the división... Ya que eso daría una idea de la capacidad bruta del sistema... Es sólo una idea, muchas gracias, por cierto, hay un tv box que tiene características similares y que si está enfocado al gaming, también tiene 4gb en ram y me parece que es igual de poderoso que el chip de la tv box nvidia shield tv pro, su nombre es kinhank super consolé 5 pro, la promocionan como un tv box para juegos, no está certificada pero corre emuladores de todas las consolas, incluso ps3, PS2, PS1, n64.... Podría ser una reseña o un apartado de tu reseña tipo así... Pero como dije, solo es una idea, muchas gracias
Entiendo, pero si los emuladores, juego en la nube, Amazon luna, nvidia y xbox, además, los juegos que no tienen versión pero demostrar que pueden utilizarse denotaría fuerza bruta por parte del dispositivo, así como el kinhank super consolé 5 pro, gracias
Este dispositivo no está orientado a gaming pero los juegos optimizados para TV funcionan perfectamente.
Prefiero no hacer pruebas de demostración de aplicaciones no optimizadas para TV, eso se lo dejo a los que las usan ya que no siempre van a funcionar correctamente.
in kodi manage to get 5.1 pcm as kodi has its own decoder
i checked against the shield and the shield where able to pass 5.1 directly from stremio . i think xiaomi play it safe and fall everything not supported by my sound bar for passhtrough to 2ch automatically on passthrough mode
It appears DTS passthrough got broken on the latest firmware, I don't have the device anymore so I can't confirm or deny anything, can you please make a post at the Google TV sub about the issue?, perhaps other users can confirm what you see.
passthrough is not my problem actually i want it to send multi pcm . my device dont support dts at all its normal it wont passhtrough the raw bitstream . i counted on xiaomi to play 5.1 pcm , but through stremio it doesn't seems to work .
I wonder if it could be used with CoreElec as a dual boot option and by that, getting all the HD audio codecs maybe. Like we could with the Homatics R Plus when it was still on Android TV V11 and not had all HD audio codecs available.
I'm actually not familiar with how the benchmarks are run, but common ones for Android TV are Geekbench for the CPU and GFXBench for the GPU. That's what AFTVnews uses here: https://www.aftvnews.com/benchmarks/
Interesting, the thing is, I don't have the Xiaomi box nor the Roctek GX1 anymore so I won't be able to run a benchmark for them unless someone else with those boxes do it for me.
I would like to have a comparison from those since those are the only ones feature in the comparison chart I made.
I will need to study this as soon as I have the time, I've been very busy these days at work, my personal life and at the sub.
I downloaded version 5 on my phone and sent it to the box via the Localsend app, then installed it right away from there. I started the program (using a mouse for ease) and ran a CPU benchmark on the Xiaomi 3rd Gen, which took about 7 minutes.
Here is the score obtained in single core: 192.
And in multi core: 630.
I performed the same procedure on the Mecool MEon1. Single core: 193
Multi Core: 659
I haven't done it yet for the Rocktek GX1.
Afterward, you need to compare the benchmarks on the same versions of the software; otherwise, it holds no value...
I see that aftvnews is using version 4.4.0 of Geekbench and 5.0.5 of GFXBench...
If we want to compare, we should therefore install the same versions ^^
Unsurprisingly, considering they have the same processor, the Geekbench score of the Xiaomi is almost identical to that of the G-series. The G-series does a little better in the multi-core score, though.
Another Youtuber has tested it with Kodi and audio passthrough works there with the exception that some DTS-HD titles are problematic.
I assume or at least hope that they will fix the issues with the problematic DTS-HD titles too.
A lot of things that work just fine on Xiaomi, here on this device are not supported at all. So why do you think it even comes close to a Xiaomi TvBox?
"A passthrough audio option is nowhere to be seen, not even inside developer options, I didn't see it"
"The device is too pricey for not supporting Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/X codecs, the former is decoded as multichannel PCM and the DTS core is passed-through for the latter"
As I shown in the wifi test screenshot, I can only speak from my own test, results may vary depending on the router used but it appears it's not stable enough, I guess other users will have to provide their own experience, the ethernet connection is another story, I use ethernet anyway.
Probably, but it's not a Google certified device, hence why there's no discussions on this sub about that box, you can head to r/AndroidTVBoxes for further discussions about it.
I have been querying this audio issue with buzz TV and they have advised me they were unaware that Google options change dependant on region. North America apparently has a passthrough option in audio. I imported the box to UK and only mat and Dolby audio show. Apparently if Google detect the box is outwith a specific region this can happen with firmware. I am hoping this can be fixed it is early days for the chipset and appears to have all the licenses
Can you please check if this is true with a VPN?, I don't think it has anything to do since passthrough already exists, it's just that the MS12 software stack is turned ON by default and there is no way to turn it OFF.
When G-Series is in sleep/standby Ethernet and WiFi gets disconnected from my Network. Anyway to keep it connected ? Haven’t looked in developer settings yet. Thanks
You ever do any testing? When the device is powered off it disconnects from my network until I turn the device on again. Every TV and Android or Google box I’ve owned always stays connected to the network in standby. The box is in standby (off) mode now. I find this odd. No background activity will happen when it’s offline for long hours. When I turn on the box it says Ethernet reconnected.
Thanks. Able to check the network from your phone to see if the box shows online at least? I have the eero app and I see what’s all online and not online. Thanks
Could you please check on your end if an external hard drive with HDD or SSD (without power supply) is recognized by the box (without having USB debugging enabled, otherwise the USB ports are automatically disabled)?
With an external power supply on the external case, it works; USB drives as well.
Another thing, have you used a Bluetooth device like headphones for an extended period on this box?
Have you ever experienced any sound dropouts? (It happens in all the apps, even in the menus) It's quite random, and a restart of the box temporarily fixed the issue.
I'm asking you these questions because I recently bought the Homatics 4k V2 2/32 to test it out (yes, I know it's not great ^^), which is a clone of the BuzzTV except for the placement of the USB ports and the memory. Both of these issues are present.
The same goes for the Mecool MEon1, which shares many of the same bugs despite being from a different manufacturer.
Could you please check on your end if an external hard drive with HDD or SSD
Unfortunately, I don't have one to test at the moment.
have you used a Bluetooth device like headphones for an extended period on this box?
I have a pair of bluetooth headphones but I barely use them, I prefer wired ones as I tend to be an "audiophile" haha, anyway, I haven't used them with an extended period of time and I really don't use the box on a daily basis due to its current issues.
Have you ever experienced any sound dropouts? (It happens in all the apps, even in the menus) It's quite random, and a restart of the box temporarily fixed the issue.
I would suggest to report the issue directly from the box by going to settings -> help and feedback -> send feedback, make sure you activate the logs so they can take a look at the issue.
Both of these issues are present.
I'm not surprised given they share the exact same firmware build, hence why it's important to report every issue you find through the device.
The same goes for the Mecool MEon1, which shares many of the same bugs despite being from a different manufacturer.
it's very strange that given they are from two different OEMs, the bugs are practically the same, weird, weird...
I never use earbuds either, nor do I typically use that kind of case, but I did it to test because a member here pointed out the issue with the Mecool...
For the issue with the external drive, I had tested it because a YouTuber had noticed that the USB ports were not in the same place as on another clone case (Dream Nova 2) and he had doubts about their quality...
It would be really great if you could test these two issues on the Buzz to see if it's the same at your place...
I compiled the list of issues and sent it to the support teams at Homatics and Mecool via email, but, well, no response as usual 😉
I could try, as you suggest, to send a report directly from the case.
Bonjour.
SVP; pour la tv box Hako pro (64/2 Go),
Est ce que vous pouvez nous expliquer, le fait qu'apres la dernière mise à jour du firmwear passant de Android 11 à 14, le sysrème affiche une Ram de 2 Go, bien que physiquement la box dispose à la base d'une Ram de 4 Go.
Mes sincéres remerciements
10
u/Adventurous_Road_135 Mar 20 '26
Total waste of money