LAKE I Home Cloud TV Box with HDMI Input Goes for $54 (Promo)

We’ve previously covered LAKE I Home Cloud as one of the cheapest TV boxes based on Realtek RTD1295 processor, and featuring HDMI input for video recording and/or streaming video from an external source up to 1080p60, as well as an SATA bay for 2.5″ drives.

A reader has just informed me the device was now available for an even cheaper price, as it is offered for just $53.99 + shipping on GearBest.

The specifications are pretty standard for an RTD1295 media center:

• SoC – Realtek RTD1295 quad core Cortex A53 processor with ARM Mali-T820 MP3 GPU
• System Memory – 2GB DDR4
• Storage – 16GB eMMC 5.1 flash + SD card slot up to 128 GB + SATA hard disk bay for 2.5″ drives with 9.5mm / 7.5mm thickness
• Video I/O – HDMI 2.0a output, and HDMI input (recording and streaming up to 1080p @ 60 Hz)
• Audio I/O – HDMI in and out, 1x S/PDIF output
• Video Playback – HDR, 10-bit HEVC/H.265 up to 4K @ 60fps, H.264 up to 4K @ 24 fps, VP9 up to 4K @ 30 fps, BDISO/MKV, etc… automatic frame rate switching
• Audio Features – 7.1 channel audio pass-through
• Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 with two external antennas
• USB – 1x USB 3.0, 3x USB 2.0 ports
• Misc – IR receiver, front panel display, RTC with battery
• Power Supply – 12V/1.5A
• Dimensions – 132 x 124 x 27 mm
• Weight – 210 grams

You won’t get a really recent operating systems, as the device still ships with the same Android 6.0 OS as when it was released last year. The device ships with a HDMI Cable, a power adapter, and an Infrared Remote control.

When we first covered the product last year it was pretty new, so no reviews were available, but since time has passed there are some interesting reviews such as the one embedded below.

I could not see any mention of OpenWrt in this review, which is often used in RTD1295 boxes along side Android, but the firmware does include Qodi – no typo, bu a fork of Kodi. He also checked out HDMI input, but with a direct connection to an Apple TV 4, so it failed to record due to HDCP. Inserting an HDMI splitter may help working around the restrictions.

Thanks to Lalith for the tip.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress