Is NEO U22-XJ much of an upgrade coming from the U1?

aindriu80

Member
Hi,

Is the NEO U22-XJ much of an upgrade coming from Minix U1? I think it has double the RAM and a faster processor but is it a worth while upgrade? My U1 is going well but there is a fair few times that I can't play certain files, like a .mkv (Matroska Video file) just today. I don't know if the U22-XJ could do any better.
 
Well, the U1 is a great device, but Amlogic never updated the SDK, so it's stuck on Lollipop.
Personally, I have both a U1 and U22 and use both. The nipper uses the U1 in the guest room, and the U22 is the main box in the lounge.
About your mkv, I'm not an expert, but if you get some info (e.g. using MediaInfo), maybe someone here can point out what particular property (e.g. bitrate, resolution, etc) is a bit much for the U1.
As you say, the U22 is vastly more powerful and can handle 4k (pretty sure the U1 is supposed to support it too though!), so it could help, but again, you're better off waiting for someone more tech savvy than me to confirm!
Have you tried a different video player, like MX player?
 
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Yeah, the U1 does well after 5 years, I use Nova launcher so I don't really mind the interface.

I tried Kodi on my PC last night and it played the .mkv video format no problem but it wasn't possible on Kodi on the U1, I'm not sure if the U22 would either though. I've tried MX Player but the video is stored on a NAS device and I couldn't connect to it with MX Player but could with VLC and it played 2 seconds of it and stalled, definitely a hardware limitation.

It's only a few videos that have different formats, the U1 can play 4k video perfectly well, it's just some of the lesser know encodings that cause trouble.
 
Yeah, the U1 does well after 5 years, I use Nova launcher so I don't really mind the interface.

I tried Kodi on my PC last night and it played the .mkv video format no problem but it wasn't possible on Kodi on the U1, I'm not sure if the U22 would either though. I've tried MX Player but the video is stored on a NAS device and I couldn't connect to it with MX Player but could with VLC and it played 2 seconds of it and stalled, definitely a hardware limitation.

It's only a few videos that have different formats, the U1 can play 4k video perfectly well, it's just some of the lesser know encodings that cause trouble.

Generally speaking the U1 is perfectly capable of playing the vast majority of encoded media, including mkv files. ( mkv being one of the most poplular containers). My U1 will play 4K UHD h265 10 bit mkv encoded files without issue from a NAS with Kodi .

Occasionally you will come across one or two media files that have either been poorly or stangely encoded and may not play on the U1 and probably the U22 also.

If you want to provide a link to the file you are having issue with please do so and i will test on both U1 and U22.


the video is stored on a NAS device and I couldn't connect to it with MX Player
you may find if you navigate to that file using a file explorer and select it you may have the option to choose which video player (ie MX player) to play it with.
 
I was viewing this,
a digital foundry on watch dogs, I downloaded the video via 4kdownloader and selected 4k any format and it saved it as a. Mkv file. I'm pretty sure that it's a U1 limitation but I wonder if U22 could play it
 
I was viewing this,
a digital foundry on watch dogs, I downloaded the video via 4kdownloader and selected 4k any format and it saved it as a. Mkv file. I'm pretty sure that it's a U1 limitation but I wonder if U22 could play it

It would be helpful to tell us which media player(s) you've tried before disparaging the legendary U1.?
 
I found the U9-H to be a big step up over the U1. The U22-XJ is another big step up from the U9-H. With each step up I have found fewer playback problems and a better overall compatibility with media files. That does not mean that you might not find some files that are not compatibile, but you will find fewer and fewer as you move up the models.

Oh, I should point out that I do not run Android on any of my Minix boxes. I use CoreElec. I find CoreElec has far fewer media related issues than Android.
 
The U1 is great, no arguments there and to be fair in the early days it also had teething problems which were eventually sorted out. But 5 years on and the U22 shows how much better and faster technology has brought us. The U22 is the new U1 and i'm sure will shine for many years to come especially when the glitches are ironed out.....
 
Well my U22 has basically been sitting collecting dust for the past 5 months. I don't use it. I still use my UH9 because it works without any problems. The U22 is glitchy at times, takes over my TV, can't use the remotes, reboots it's self and just doesn't work the way it should. Why does this unit work terrible but the UH9 perfect? So curious why some praise it and others bash it. Also, I did a firmware update but had to go back to factory settings. Something I'm doing wrong or ? What was supposed to be the big improvement or features it had over the UH(? Just wondering. Thanks
 
Why does this unit work terrible but the UH9 perfect?
Don't forget it took 8 firmware updates based on user feedback for the U9 to become perfect, the same will happen with the U22 although the updates are coming out slower, this is basically because Amlogic have Minix by the balls.
 
Well my U22 has basically been sitting collecting dust for the past 5 months. I don't use it. I still use my UH9 because it works without any problems. The U22 is glitchy at times, takes over my TV, can't use the remotes, reboots it's self and just doesn't work the way it should. Why does this unit work terrible but the UH9 perfect? So curious why some praise it and others bash it. Also, I did a firmware update but had to go back to factory settings. Something I'm doing wrong or ? What was supposed to be the big improvement or features it had over the UH(? Just wondering. Thanks

Sounds more like you've got a faulty unit with all those problems you describe.
 
Well my U22 has basically been sitting collecting dust for the past 5 months. I don't use it. I still use my UH9 because it works without any problems. The U22 is glitchy at times, takes over my TV, can't use the remotes, reboots it's self and just doesn't work the way it should. Why does this unit work terrible but the UH9 perfect? So curious why some praise it and others bash it. Also, I did a firmware update but had to go back to factory settings. Something I'm doing wrong or ? What was supposed to be the big improvement or features it had over the UH(? Just wondering. Thanks
Hi.
That is not a normal behaviour (particular with the device rebooting itself with no user commands).
If you already factory reset the device it should work fine with pre-installed apps.
You should consider and contact the seller.

Note:
-Disable CEC on the device settings.
 
Well my U22 has basically been sitting collecting dust for the past 5 months.
Also, I did a firmware update but had to go back to factory settings.
FYI Going back to factory settings does not change the updated firmware.
 
I'm a very patient person and I know that these issues will be addressed. I know firmware updates are the answer and eventually we'll have a ery stable unit. Right now my UH9 works great and and eventually the U22 will work. I'm not sure if it's a faulty unit as much as the updates not working that well. Time will tell. Thanks
 
Hi,

Is the NEO U22-XJ much of an upgrade coming from Minix U1? I think it has double the RAM and a faster processor but is it a worth while upgrade? My U1 is going well but there is a fair few times that I can't play certain files, like a .mkv (Matroska Video file) just today. I don't know if the U22-XJ could do any better.
It's *much* faster. Very noticeable. Likely the CPU, but also double the RAM. You can feel this in Kodi for sure, and other apps as well. As to pure video playback, not much difference.
 
I was viewing this,
a digital foundry on watch dogs, I downloaded the video via 4kdownloader and selected 4k any format and it saved it as a. Mkv file. I'm pretty sure that it's a U1 limitation but I wonder if U22 could play it
I use NewPipe to download youtube content. Are you willing to try this app? It's no cost and open source.

https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/releases/tag/v0.20.6

Click on assets near the bottom of the page and download the apk
 
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