The Ugoos SK1 stands out as a great Android box, boasting top-notch build quality and a premium design, complemented by a plethora of highly useful features implemented by Ugoos. Let’s take a closer look at its pros and cons:
- Great Build Quality.
- Good thermal design (No overheating)
- Great Performance.
- Special root access mode.
- Dolby Vision/Atmos Support.
- Wi-Fi 6 (Supports up to 1200Mbps).
- Video decoding up to 8Kx4K supported.
- HDMI-CEC
- Excellent Kodi experience.
- Currently, incompatible running 64-bit APKs.
- Only two USB ports are available and only one of them is USB 3.0.
- No Micro SD Card slot.
- SD (540P) playback quality on Netflix.
- Maybe you missed it? Ugoos AM8 Review.
- Ugoos SK1 Review: Exploring the Hardware, Performance, Software features, Kodi Experience, and Price.
Part I: Ugoos SK1 Product Introduction
Ugoos SK1 8K Android TV box is based on the Amlogic S928X-K Penta-Core Cortex-A76/A55 SoC with 8 GB LPDDR4, a 128 GB eMMC flash, and support for Dolby Vision HDR.
The SK1 model is the latest iteration in the Ugoos lineup, building upon the success of the previously acclaimed AM8 model. With its cutting-edge Amlogic S928X-J processor, substantial 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and ample 32 GB eMMC flash storage, the SK1 goes above and beyond in delivering a seamless user experience. However, Ugoos isn’t content with just satisfying the demand for 8K video playback.
Ugoos have equipped the new SK1 with the mighty S928X-K SoC and a plethora of additional resources, ensuring that it becomes a powerhouse capable of much more than mere entertainment. From immersive gaming experiences to smoothly running various applications, this device effortlessly handles it all. The SK1 is poised to redefine the boundaries of what a multimedia device can achieve, providing you with the ultimate level of versatility and performance.
Design
This time, Ugoos has opted for a simpler and more cost-effective approach. Their new design features a slim rectangle shaped glossy plastic case. According to the company photo shown below, the PCB assembled inside the case comes with a rather large passive heat sink which covers most of the board components.
Main Highlights
- SoC: Amlogic S928X-K SoC.
- Powered by a Penta-core processor (1x big core ARM Cortex-A76 + 4x ARM Cortex-A55 CPU).
- Storage & Memory: 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM + 128 GB (eMMC v5.0), MicroSD Card up to 32 GB.
- Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- OS: Android 11.0
- Superuser privileges access.
- Advanced power saving settings.
- HDMI CEC Extended Control Support (Controlling all HDMI-connected devices with just one remote).
- Support SAMBA server to facilitate file sharing.
- Button manager: Personalize the functionality of your buttons and ensure their responsiveness.
- Supports Dolby Vision and Atmos + DTS-HD licenses.
- HDMI 2.1 Supports 4K@60fps, 8K@60fps, HDR+
- Audio Out: Built-in serial digital audio SPDIF/IEC958 output and PCM input/output.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 2.4G + 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, 1x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet.
- Advanced video decoding capabilities including 8Kp60 H.265, AV1, VP9, AVS3/AVS2 10-bit decoding.
- Supports Widevine L1 DRM
A Quick Product Unboxing
Ugoos SK1 Specfications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| SoC | Amlogic S928X-K |
| CPU | Penta-core processor with 1x Cortex-A76 core @ up to 2.0 GHz, 4x Cortex-A55 cores. |
| GPU | Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.2, and OpenCL 2.0. |
| VPU | – 8Kp60 H.265, AV1, VP9, AVS3/AVS2 10-bit video decoder – 4Kp60 H.264 decoder, 1080p60 MPEG-4, WMV/VC-1, AVS, MPEG-2, MPEG-1 decoder. -Low-latency 4Kp60 H.265/H.264 encoder. |
| AI Accelerator | Up to 3.2 TOPS Neural Network Accelerator (NNA) with Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) architecture, supports TensorFlow and Caffe |
| Licensing | -Dolby Vision and Atmos -DTS-HD licenses (indicated by “-K” suffix) |
| Manufacturing Process | 12 nm |
| System Memory | 8 GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | – 128 GB eMMC flash -MicroSD card slot |
| Video Output | HDMI 2.1a up to 8Kp60 with HDMI CEC, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG support |
| Audio | ✔ Optical S/PDIF ✔ 3.5 mm audio jack ✔ Digital audio output via HDMI |
| Connectivity | ✔ Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port ✔ Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi 6. ✔ Bluetooth 5.3 (LE) via Ampak AP6276P module |
| USB Ports | – 1x USB 3.0 port – 1x USB 2.0 port |
| DRM Support | Widevine L1 support |
| Other Features | IR receiver |
| Power Supply | 12V DC/2A via power DC jack |
| Dimensions | 115 x 115 x 24 mm |
| Humidity | 5% to 90% non-condensing |
| Certifications | Certified with CE and FCC standards for quality and safety assurance |
| Package Contents | 1 x Ugoos SK1 Box 1 x Remote Control 1 x HD Cable 1 x Power Adapter 1 x English User Manual |
Part II: Ugoos SK1 Review
The Package
Unboxing All Items
Package Contents
- 1x Ugoos SK1.
- 1x Ugoos BT Remote Control UR02.
- 1x Power Adapter (12V-2.0A).
- 1x HDMI Cable.
- 1x User Manual.
- 1x Guide for using remote control.
Design And Build Quality
The case design seamlessly combines function and visual appeal, resulting in a product that looks premium in style. However, it does add weight to the overall product.
Ugoos has added a stylish design element to their predominantly plastic case by including a Russian Violet colored glass plate on the top. This not only enhances its aesthetics but also serves as an insulator, preventing the upper case surface from overheating. Although we’re unsure if the glass is scratch resistant, it is essential to handle the device with care to avoid any potential damage to the glass. Furthermore, the case design boasts a series of venting slots at the bottom which effectively dissipate excess heat, ensuring optimal performance.
Operation LED status indicators
Ugoos has enhanced the device with a new LED status light that turns green during normal operation and blue in hibernation mode when the device enters low power mode. This small addition truly elevates the design and offers users a convenient visual indication of its status at a quick glance. It’s a great design addition that significantly enhances the user experience, and we find it very appealing.
Ugoos SK1 (LED operation status light).
