We previously wrote about some upcoming Realtek RTD1619 media players targeting the videophone and audiophile crowd, and expected them to launch very soon with models from Zidoo and Dune HD.
Zidoo has now launched two models with the awaited Zidoo Z9X and a new, higher-end Zidoo Z10 Pro which can be purchased on Aliexpress for respectively $229 and $349 with free shipping.
Zidoo Z9X Specifications
Key features and specifications:
- SoC – Realtek RTD1619DR hexa-core Cortex-A55 processor with Arm Mali-G51 MP3 GPU
- System Memory – 2GB DDR4
- Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, SATA 3.0 external port (on side)
- Video Output
- HDMI 2.0a up to 4Kp60 with HDR, 12Bit, YCbCr 4:4:4 color range, audio passthrough support
- 3.5mm AV jack with composite
- Video Input – HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60, 48khz PCM audio
- Video Decoding – HDR, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision, 10-bit HEVC/H.265 up to 4K @ 60fps, VP9 up to 4K @ 60fps, H.264 up to 4K @ 24fps
- Audio – Optical S/PDIF output up to 5.1 channel, digital audio via HDMI, analog stereo audio via AV port
- Connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet with WoL support
- Dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO WiFi 5 up to 867Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2 with two high-gain external antennas
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports
- Misc – LED front-panel display, IR receiver, 3.5mm RS-232 debug port, on/off switch
- Power Supply – 12V/2A
- Dimensions – 189 x 129 x 25.5 mm (aluminum alloy enclosure)
The media player ships with a backlit IR remote control, a power adapter, a SATA cable, and a user manual by default, with an optional Zidoo air mouse that looks very similar to MINIX NEO A3.
Zidoo Z10 Pro specifications
Key features and specifications:
- SoC – Realtek RTD1619DR hexa-core Cortex-A55 processor with Arm Mali-G51 MP3 GPU
- System Memory – 4GB DDR4
- Storage – 32GB eMMC flash, SATA 3.0 external port, 3.5″ HDD SATA bay
- Video Output
- HDMI 2.0a up to 4Kp60 with HDR, 12Bit, YCbCr 4:4:4 color range, audio passthrough support
- Composite RCA jack
- Video Input – HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60, 48khz PCM audio
- Video Decoding – HDR, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision, 10-bit HEVC/H.265 up to 4K @ 60fps, VP9 up to 4K @ 60fps, H.264 up to 4K @ 24fps
- Audio
- Optical S/PDIF output up to 5.1 audio
- Coaxial S/PDIF output up to 5.1 audio
- Analog stereo audio via L/R RCA ports
- Digital audio via HDMI
- Connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet with WoL support
- Dual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO WiFi 5 up to 867Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2 with two high-gain external antennas
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports
- Misc – LED front-panel display, IR receiver, 3.5mm RS-232 debug port, on/off switch
- Power Supply – 12V/2A
- Dimensions – 197 x 197 x 75 mm (aluminum alloy enclosure)
Zidoo Z10 Pro ships with an HDMI 2.0 cable, a 12V/2A DC power adapter, a
SATA 3.0 cable, a backlit IR remote control, and a user manual. Again a Zidoo branded air mouse is offered as an option.
Android 9.0 and Software
Both Zidoo Z9X and Z10 Pro 4K media players ship with the Android 9.0 operating system with ZIUI interface. The company also provides Zidoo controller mobile app to manage the players from your smartphone, as well as RS-232 and TCP/IP control for more advanced users.
ZIUI includes more than just a launcher with Zidoo having developed Home Theather 3.0 media player, Music Player 6.0, a configuration wizard, a subtitle system to automatically download, and external subtitles to your videos, an HDMI input app, and more. Zidoo is also known for providing regular OTA firmware updates, as well as support for USB firmware updates to recover in case of issues.
You’ll find more details on Zidoo’s products page.
Via AndroidPC.es
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.
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“HDMI input”: what is that good for, which real usecase, does it work like a capture card?
Zidoo has had the feature in their devices a few years. It can be used for picture-in-picture, video recording, video streaming (UDP/RTSP) from HDMI source.
See HDMI input review for the older Zidoo X9S @ https://www.cnx-software.com/2016/10/10/zidoo-x9s-android-tv-box-hdmi-input-testing-video-recording-pip-and-udp-broadcasting/
16Gb storage on a $229 box?
The Z9S looks like the it uses the same case as the X9S.
Zidoo support is often fix 1 break 2.
I reallylike the Realtek RTD SoCs. Please tell me:
Do you guys know any other 64bit ARM SoCs with USB3 and native SATA or PCIe/NVMe, Giga ethernet (Panfrost Mali is nice bonus).
This would make good NAS or mini home server, but their Linux support is
much worse compared to Allwinner; Rockchip; Mediatek; Amlogic;
Fingers crossed rumours abour AMD makingARM chip come true sooner than later.
Actually support for the Realtek RTD1195, RTD1395 and RTD1619 SOC’s were added to Linux 5.8. Some of the work was actually submitted from a @realtek.com email address.
And by Andreas Faerber @suse, check at the dts files, and no bootloader support,
If it even boots to shell that will be the only thing. Compare to:
http://linux-sunxi.org/Mainlining_Effort
Hope @realtek reach @rockchip @mediatek level of support for their OWN products.
I take it you’re aware that both QNAP and Synology makes NAS appliances based on the RTD129x series?
Thanks, I didn’t know. I meant DIY SBC solution with mainline linux.
Zidoo ships these new Realtek SoC boxes running Android with a 32-bit kernel that is running OS in 32-bit mode ( no 64-bit ABIs ). This new SoC is nice, but better suited for the next generation of ‘Operator’ class devices from your local Telecoms, running Android+RDK software implementations.
They are standard ARM 64-bit cores so…
No AV1 decode = No buy
still nowhere near ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ . No 8K no, 120hz/144hz. Nothing here says buy me instead of an androidtv / firetv box, nor any modern sbc. Shiney box, and thats it…
“Zidoo is also known for providing regular OTA firmware updates”
I would completely disagree with this. Zidoo is in fact infamous for abandoning its products. I’m a first hand casualty with their X6 Pro box (which I bought after reading the review on cnx-software!) which shipped with Lollipop and died with the same as well, with frivolous firmware updates some of which fixed spelling typos, instead of focussing on the real deal!
Also, their Support is useless and send you on a wild goose chase, not to mention promises they don’t keep.
Sell and scoot seems to be their undisclosed motto.
What is the compelling factor to purchase one of these vs much less expensive options?
Dear Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) !
Is there a media player from Zidoo with extra HDMI audio output?
I’m not aware of any Zidoo media player with dual HDMI output.
I hope that my replay won’t be deleted. There is Zidoo UHD2000 with extra HDMI audio output:
https://www.zidoo.tv/Product/index/model/UHD2000/target/%2BS1T99%5Bld%5DQ8MRKKmVViAFMcQ%3D%3D.html
UHD2000