A few weeks
ago, Kata was kind enough to give me a review unit of their new Kata
Box. So what is it? Well, it’s basically a media player based on Android. If
you’ve heard of Apple TV or Android TV then that will give you a good idea what
it is. I actually reviewed a couple of these devices a few years ago.
Back then they were quite new and a little quirky. Fast forward a few years
with better hardware and newer software, let’s see if Kata has something we
might actually want or need.
Specs:
- Amlogic S805 Quad- Core
Processor 1.5Ghz
- Mali 450 GPU
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB ROM
- WIFI, LAN
- Micro SD expansion
- HDMI
- Android 4.4
- Remote control
- Optional accessories (Game
Controller and Wireless Keyboard)
- Php 2,999.00 (Pre-Order price
which includes game controller)
Design and use
After seeing the
Kata Box for the first time, there is no denying that it looks very similar to
a device of a famous brand from Cupertino. That is definitely not a bad thing
as the design is very minimalistic and elegant. In front is just an indicator
light, a USB port on one side, while at the back you get an AV, USB, Micro SD,
Power, HDMI and LAN port. The included remote looks very similar to the Amazon
TV remote. Again, very simple with buttons which are clear and functional.
Kata Box VS CD-R King TV Box |
What does make this bundle interesting is that Kata included a VPN service with now allows you to watch and stream shows from the US using Netflix, Crackle, CBS, FOX, CW, PBS etc. The VPN is only good for 60 days after which you’ll have to pay up. However, their prices seem reasonable for what you get. Likewise, you’ll have to pay for whatever additional services like Netflix, etc. They also made it easy to access the VPN via a one-button press on the remote.
Performance
My last Android
TV box only had a single-core 1GHZ processor with 512MB or RAM. What a
difference a few years make as the Quad-core 1.5Ghz processor really makes
navigating the UI nice and smooth. Sure, it’s not the fastest out there but
it’s still very capable. The 8GB of internal storage might not be that much but
if you plan to use this as a media player then you’ll probably be using an
external hard drive plus you can always expand using a micro SD card. I’ll post
some benchmarks so you can see how it compares. I tried playing some simple games
like Crossy Road and it was actually very playable even with just the remote.
However, like I mentioned you’ll need an external keyboard or game
controller for more demanding games or apps. I had to use
my external wireless keyboard as there is no Bluetooth
support. Something I really wish it had. I’m still trying to get confirmation
from Kata if it's something that can be activated via a software
update.
Using it as
media streaming device is very enjoyable. YouTube was a delight to use. I was
not able to test it with Netflix as this requires a paid subscription. I
was excited to use iFlix but unfortunately it had some compatibility issues
displaying video on the Kata Box. I checked the Play Store and it seems that
iFlix also has problems with other devices from different brands so
I’m hoping they will push an update soon.
Verdict
The way I see
it, there are two main uses for the Kata Box. As a media player it
works very well. You can play any media file using MX Player or VLC and you can
be assured that you’ll be able to update the app to support any
future file formats. It also works well as a smart TV /media
streamer. If you plan to just use YouTube then you’ll be very happy with it.
For you to enjoy US-only streaming services then you’ll have to spend a
little more. It’s really unfortunate that iFlix has
some issues because that would make it an even easier buy. But If
you’re someone who watches a lot of movies and TV shows then it’s probably
worth paying extra for the VPN and streaming subscriptions.
Actually at the price they are selling it, the Kata Box makes a great
cable TV cutting device. I think at Php 2,999 with the included game
controller Kata has a hit on their hands, I just hope they have
enough stock to meet the demand.
Check out Kata’s facebook page for more details on the pre-order promo
The Good:
- Price
- Bundled game controller
- Firmware updates
The Bad
- No Bluetooth
- Wireless Keyboard is extra