Software
The AM9 is equipped with a customized android AOSP OS version 14.0, so there is no “official” Android TV OS option available here. On the more positive side, it’s packed with a variety of tweaks and features you won’t typically find in widely recognized Android TV boxes. One of its standout features is the root access switch, which allows users to gain complete control over their android operating system.
What apps come pre-insatlled with the device firmware?
Just like always, Ugoos kept the operating system nice and clean, without any unnecessary junk apps. They included only the essentials, like Chrome, Total Commander for file management, and a handful of their own apps like UPlayer, Miracast, AirScreen, and Android TV Remote Service.
Android OS 14.0 (Upside Down Cake)
Internal Storage Speed
Our testing indicates that the eMMC read/write speeds fall within an average range, with a write speed hovering around 150MBps and a read speed of 177.69MBps. Although we did not expect outstanding performance in this regard, it is important to highlight that the addition of a micro-SD card slot, in conjunction with the internal storage option, presents a considerable benefit from a user perspective.
Conducting an addition test using the CPDT (Cross-Platform Disk Test) application to evaluate the I/O speed of the device’s internal storage.
Available free internal storage Space
The AM9 comes with a solid 64GB of eMMC storage. This includes used space for the operating system and about 597MB of apps that are already installed. So, you’re looking at roughly 56-58GB of free space that you can actually use.
Is the device OS compatible with the 64-bit instruction set??
Yep, that’s right! This device can handle both 32-bit and 64-bit instructions. We gave it a try, and it ran the Kodi 64-bit app without a hitch.
The kodi experience
Overall, Kodi demonstrated excellent and smooth performance. We took the time to look into it and found no frame drops while watching our 4K video sample collection. There were no noticeable minor interruptions or lagging during playback. On the whole, the video playback experience was very smooth.
Choosing the ideal Chipset/GPU for optimal Kodi performance
For dedicated Android TV boxes, the Mali-G310 V5 is one of the best choices for Kodi in 2025—balancing performance, efficiency, and media codec support. If you’re using Kodi primarily for streaming and playback, this GPU delivers everything you need without the bulk or cost of a desktop-class graphics card.
For those seeking to invest in a device that guarantees outstanding media performance for years ahead, the S905X5 and S928X-K SoCs stand out as the most reliable options for 2025, featuring a built-in NPU for enhanced AI picture quality.
Running Kodi v21.2 (Omega)
Kodi Playback
Connecting our external NVMe SSD with the video test samples we gathered.
| No. | Status results: |
| 1 | ✅ Smooth |
| 2 | ⚠️ Minor Stuttering |
| 3 | ❌ Not Supported |
| Sample No.. | Video title | Format | Duration | Size | Resolution | Codec | Bitrate | FPS | HDR | Playback Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing China in Drone | MP4 | 1m:29s | 1GB | 4K | AV1 | 13.4 Mbps | 60FPS | ❌ | 1 |
| 2 | FLYING OVER CHINA | MP4 | 1m:11s | 5.34 Gib | 4K | AV1 | 10.5Mbps | 30FPS | ❌ | 1 |
| 3 | LG 4K DEMO HDR 2018 ELBA | MP4 | 1:41s | 294Mb | 4K | AV1 | 24Mbps | 60FPS | ❌ | 1 |
| 4 | SUPREME COLOR | MP4 | 11m:54s | 17.8GB | FHD | AV1 | 3.44Mbps | 120FPS | ❌ | 1 |
| 5 | Vibrant OLED Demo | MP4 | 10m:11s | 1.77GB | 4K | AV1 | 3Mbps | 60FPS | ❌ | 1 |
| 6 | LG New York | ST | 1:13 min | 448MB | 4K | HEVC | 51.45Mbps | 25FPS | HDR10 | 1 |
| 7 | Life Untouched | TS | 3m:17s | 449MB | 4K | HEVC | 19Mbps | 60FPS | HDR10 | 1 |
| 8 | Samsung: Wonderland Two | TS | 2m:10s | 802MB | 4K | HEVC | 51.44Mbps | 24FPS | HDR | 1 |
| 9 | The Most Beautiful Earth Scenes | MP4 | 55s | 2 GB | FHD | AVC | 5.12Mbps | 60FPS | HDR | 1 |
| 10 | Sony: Whale in Tonga | MP4 | 1m:31s | 815MB | 4K | HEVC | 74.5Mbps | 60FPS | HDR | 1 |
| 11 | LG: Cymatic Jazz | MP4 | 2m:38s | 1.10GB | 4K | HEVC | 60Mbps | 60FPS | HDR10 | 1 |
CoreELEC Support
For users seeking a Kodi-based Linux distribution that excels in video playback compatibility, there’s exciting news: CoreELEC is currently under development. With the Amlogic S905 X5 SoC being a recent addition, it may take some time before a functional image is released.
Excellent article. Probably the best review for this player out there.
Thanks for your kind feedback.
Very informative and helpful review, I have been considering the AM9 for a few weeks now, my only concern is that it’s running Android 14.
I have read a few times that kodi isn’t good on A14, however your review states kodi runs fine.
I am not a tec person so rely on reviews like yours, if there are problems I assume newer versions of kodi will resolve this.
At present I am using firestick 4k max, it most certainly struggles with 4k movies so want a newer better upgrade.
Thanks for your comment! I can’t promise it will support every video format out there, but it handles my large video file samples just fine. If you’re less constrained by budget and interested in more powerful hardware specifications, consider checking out the Ugoos SK1.Both devices are compatible with Kodi.
Thank so much for your advice, it’s much appreciated, have a great day…soph
You’re welcome. Thanks.
I am not sure how you claim that the box supports Dolby Vision, as it does not. It is simply a matter of license not purchased. DV files will play, but with negative colors (as it does on HDR sets without proper support). Please stay accurate.
Thanks, but I didn’t claim that. I double-checked and confirmed that I did mention the hardware’s capability in my hardware comparison tables.
To clarify things, I also added a note that it’s not supported.
Another thing is, in my testing, I found that the AM9 shows instability in Kodi, and rebooted randomally several times. I have reported to Ugoos with relevant logs.
Hi.
I didn’t have such issues. These things happen a lot with unstable and also stable Kodi builds.
For greater stability, you can consider Linux-based distros like LibreELEC, that will be likely available in the future.