In all honesty, it took a debate between myself and a friend to really figure out where streaming media boxes fit in in today’s world. It was during this debate that I was politely reminded of the time my old Hisense TV just stopped receiving updates, and all its streaming services slowly started to crash. Even worse, it never properly supported some of those services. Which meant tiresome workarounds were sometimes needed. If this sounds like a situation you’re facing, or if you have a TV without any smart services, then this is exactly where streaming media boxes fit in.
The latest product from Mediabox to hit the market is the Rocket, a 4K Dolby Atmos media player with a few extra tricks up its sleeve.
The Mediabox Rocket comes standard with Android TV 12. Now, it’s not Google TV, which provides a sleeker interface and a more personalised experience, but it’s still a Google-powered OS that delivers exactly what you need- an easy-to-use streaming platform.
The Rocket runs pretty smoothly, and I didn’t find any delay when rifling through the on-screen keyboard to log into all my accounts or when searching for something to watch. All the standard streaming apps, from Netflix to Disney+, Showmax, and DSTV, are available to download.
To get the apps, you’ll use the Google App Store, which allows you to download most other apps you can find on your smartphone too. Games, YouTube, other streaming services and even X are available for, you know, large-screen time-wasting.
The Mediabox Rocket also supports Google’s Chromecast protocol, which means you can easily cast your phone’s screen to it. If you’re an Android user, the Mediabox Rocket should automatically pop up in your settings widgets as a castable device. Apple users will need to have Google TV or a similar casting app, like DoCast, installed on their phone to utilise this feature.
The Rocket also supports 4K viewing, which is fantastic for watching series and movies. The Dolby Atmos support means you get great sound, too. If you aren’t using HDMI, there are Optical and 3.5mm audio ports at the back for connecting different sound systems to the device.
Speaking of ports, the Mediabox Rocket comes with a MicroSD slot, a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, an ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a USB-C port, along with two audio jacks. The USB-C port doesn’t provide power, so you will need to connect a separate 12V power supply.
The MicroSD slot and USB ports allow you to add any downloaded content you might have, like family videos or–no, just family videos, via an external USB drive. The internal 32GB storage might be enough to keep a few movies on the device, but I’d opt for keeping this space for any downloaded apps and their updates. If you do have a lot of, uh, family videos to watch, I’d suggest you add a large capacity MicroSD Card to store all your media and audio files.
As to be expected, connectivity is pretty comprehensive on this device; it features WiFi and an RJ45 port for networking, and there’s also a Bluetooth connection for adding a separate wireless controller should you choose to play games on the box. GeForce Now is a great option for this, but mobile games can also be downloaded.
A nifty little trick that the Mediabox Rocket can do is turn itself into a Wireless Hotspot. Whether connected to your home network via WiFi or hardwired, you can extend this network using the Mediabox Rocket. This is cool if you want to add WiFi to your bedroom, kids’ room, or a cottage on your property. Because nothing sells a room like “All Streaming Services and WiFi included.” This is also a great feature for families that are travelling; simply connect the Mediabox Rocket to the hotel TV, and you have free entertainment with or without an internet connection.
Besides providing an extra Wifi hotspot, the Mediabox Rocket also has a unique IR remote. Not only does it control the Mediabox itself but it can also be programmed to control other IR devices, like TV’s and soundbars. This handy quality-of-life feature means you only ever need to remember where one remote is in the house.
Overall, the Mediabox Rocket is a great little device for adding smart services to a dumb screen. While the Android TV OS works and functions well, it lacks the extra fluff of Google TV. The Hotspot feature is an awesome little addition to bundle into a device like this. While it may seem a little more expensive than other media devices on the market, it makes up for it with its newer, niche features.