Dynalink GT36 Android TV Box Review: The Ultimate Streaming Device
If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality, Google-certified Android TV box, I’ve got some great news. Today, I’ll be diving into the Dynalink GT36 Android TV box. It’s a game-changer, especially considering the Amazon Prime offer of just $43. Yes, you heard that right. For this price, you get to enjoy all your favorite streaming services in 4K with Dolby audio. So, let’s jump right in.
Unboxing the Dynalink GT36
First things first, let’s see what’s inside the box. Here’s what you get:
- The GT36 Android box
- A Google-certified Bluetooth remote with Google Assistant
- A pair of AAA batteries
- One HDMI cable
- A 5V 1A DC power adapter
- A Dynalink QuickStart guide
The design is sleek and compact, resembling a USB dongle. It features only one HDMI output port and a micro-USB power delivery port. The box is entirely made of plastic and measures just 3.2 inches in length. It also has a power button and a power LED indicator.
Setting Up the Dynalink GT36
Setting up the Dynalink GT36 is a breeze. Once you power it up, you’re greeted with the newest Google TV operating system. The setup process involves pairing the Bluetooth remote, connecting to Wi-Fi, signing into your Google account, and optionally pairing the remote to your TV for power and volume control
.
Fully Certified Firmware
The GT36 boasts fully certified firmware. It has the digital rights management (DRM) necessary to stream any subscription service in HD or 4K. Under its DRM information, you’ll find Google Widevine level 1, and its HDMI signal is encrypted with HDCP 2.3. This is the highest form of encryption, ensuring protection against piracy.
No USB Ports? No Problem!
You might wonder how to use peripherals like a mouse without USB ports. It’s simple. I use a micro-USB hub with HDMI ports to plug in external storage or USB controllers. You can find a link to this hub in the description below.
Dynalink GT36 Firmware Features
The operating system is Android 12, and the box has an official Netflix ESN license. Here are some key firmware features:
- 4K 2160p up to 59.94 Hz
- HDR and SDR options
- Adaptive HDR feature
- HDMI CEC options
- Auto framerate switching
- Surround sound audio options
- Advanced display settings for HDR10 and HLG
Streaming Performance
The Dynalink GT36’s primary selling point is its ability to stream paid movie services in HD and 4K. From my testing, it runs Netflix and Prime Video flawlessly. However, there’s a small caveat. While you get 4K HDR display, the audio is limited to 5.1 Surround sound. Connecting the box to an AV receiver yields Dolby Surround and Dolby Digital Plus, but not 7.1 Dolby Atmos.
YouTube and Google Assistant
For YouTube, you can enjoy videos up to 4K 2160p at 60 Hz with HDR. The Google-certified remote includes Google Assistant for voice search and commands. Plus, with built-in Google Chromecast, you get mobile screen mirroring and official Chromecasting from YouTube and other streaming apps.
External Storage Limitations
The box isn’t designed to read content from external storage due to the lack of SD card or USB ports. However, using a USB hub helps. I tested up to 128 GB of external storage converted to shared internal storage. Formatting issues may arise with larger storage devices, and FAT 32 format is required.
Video Playback Testing
Here’s a summary of my 4K HDR video playback tests:
- 4K AV1 HDR: Triggers HDR 10
- Dolby Vision without Surround sound: Triggers HLG
- Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos: No audio
- HDR10 Plus: No audio
- HLG: Triggers HLG
Surround Sound Audio Testing
For subscription services:
- Netflix: Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital Plus, no Dolby Atmos
- Prime Video: 4K UHD with HDR, no Dolby Atmos
For self-hosted videos:
- Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Surround: Supported
- DTS audio formats: Not supported
Dynalink GT36 System and Hardware Info
The Dynalink GT36 is powered by the Amlogic S905Y4 chipset with 2 GB of DDR4 RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, and runs on Android 12 without root access. The GPU is the Mali G31 with OpenGL ES 3.2 support.
Dynalink GT36 Benchmarks
I’m quite impressed with the benchmarks of this small device:
- RAM transfer speed: 4025 MB/s
- Internal storage: 150 MB/s read, 107 MB/s write
- 5 GHz Wi-Fi speed: 322 Mbps
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi speed: 126 Mbps
- Geekbench 5: 116 single-core, 398 multicore
- GPU slingshot test: Score of 576
- Antutu benchmark version 10: Score of 127,035
Ranking and Conclusion
The GT36 ranks at position 13 on my chart with a four out of five-star rating for its Google certification and high hardware performance. Despite its small size, it delivers remarkable performance.
Final Thoughts
The Dynalink GT36 has everything you need for streaming paid movie subscription services in HD and 4K. Its I/O port limitations and lack of certain audio decoders are minor issues that don’t affect its performance. Running Google TV on Android 12, this box is secure and offers premium features at an unbeatable price.
