Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle: A Compact Powerhouse in Streaming Tech
I’m back with another exciting review. Today, I’m diving into the world of Android TV devices, and the spotlight is on the Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle. Though they call it a dongle, it certainly resembles a mini Android TV box. I’ve honestly tested some of the tiniest devices, and this is one of them. However, its small size shouldn’t fool you; in fact, this little guy packs features that might just make it your next go-to streaming companion.
What’s Inside the Box and Why the Setup Is So Neat
Right after unboxing, it becomes immediately apparent why this device is labeled a dongle. Inside the package, you’ll find the Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle itself, along with a sleek G10 Bluetooth voice remote that supports Google Assistant. Additionally, it includes a super short 6-inch HDMI cable, a USB-A to USB-C power cable, and a user manual. However, it doesn’t include a DC power adapter or a long HDMI cable. But here’s the thing — it doesn’t need them. It’s meant to sit neatly behind your TV or monitor and run off a 5V USB port. If you really want to, you can use a longer HDMI cable or a DC adapter, but most setups won’t need it.
Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle Design and Boot Experience
The dongle measures just 2.75 inches wide and is about half an inch thick. It’s made of plastic with a swirly textured finish and features the Realtek logo on top. There’s only one HDMI port and a USB-C port that handles both power and data. A small LED light on the front shows power status. No ventilation holes underneath keeps things minimal.
Booting it up is quick. First, you’ll see a Rocktek splash screen, then you pair the Bluetooth remote by pressing the home and back buttons together until the LED flashes. From there, just connect it to your Wi-Fi, log into your Google account, and you’re good to go. The interface launches straight into the official Google TV experience.
No Malware, No Worries: Security Comes First
Before installing any apps, I ran not one but two malware scans. I used Bitdefender Mobile Security, a trusted paid antivirus, and DefSquid, a free option on the Play Store. Both showed zero threats. This step is more important than ever thanks to a recent FBI bulletin warning about malware in cheap Android boxes. Honestly, you wouldn’t skip antivirus on a computer, so why risk it on a TV dongle?
Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle Offers Full Certification and Wide DRM Support
This device is fully certified by Google. It supports Widevine Level 1 and HDCP 2.2, which are essential for streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Max. Even better, the firmware is not rooted. So yes, it supports Netflix in 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You’re not getting shortchanged here.
Smart Home Integration Is a Nice Touch
Thanks to its voice-enabled remote, you can control smart home devices directly from your TV. Just press the mic button and give commands like turning off your lights or checking the weather. It doesn’t support far-field microphones, so you’ll have to press that button each time. Still, it’s super useful.
Display and Video Settings: Dolby Vision and HDR Done Right
The Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle supports 4K at 60Hz and up to 12-bit color. HDR options are a bit technical, but once you get the hang of them, you’ll love the control. The “Auto” setting keeps HDR or Dolby Vision always on, depending on your TV’s support. You can also force Dolby Vision or switch to SDR if you don’t want HDR at all. There’s even a unique “Future” setting that enables only HLG.
The system supports most other formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Surround just fine, though it doesn’t natively support Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X. It includes HDMI CEC options and auto frame rate switching, making it versatile for all types of content.
Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle: Audio Features That Don’t Disappoint
You get full surround sound support, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, and DTS. You can fine-tune the audio output depending on your setup. Whether you’re using HDMI or optical audio, you can switch between EDID or adaptive sync modes. In Kodi, just enable audio passthrough, and you’re golden. While the system doesn’t natively support Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X, it handles most other formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Surround without issue.
Under the Hood: Specs That Get the Job Done
The GB1 is powered by the Realtek RTD1315C processor — a quad-core Cortex-A55 chip clocked at 1.7 GHz. It includes 2 GB of DDR4 RAM and 10 GB of internal storage. The GPU is the Mali G57 with OpenGL ES 3.2 support. Wi-Fi 6 is onboard, offering fast, dual-band connections. Bluetooth 5.0 also ensures solid accessory support.
Android 12 runs the show here. No rooting, and developer options are available for those who want deeper customization. Unfortunately, Vulkan graphics and a temperature sensor are not present. Still, the important stuff — video and audio decoders — includes HEVC, AV1, VP9, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos EAC3.
Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle Handles 4K Streaming Like a Champ
For streaming YouTube, the dongle handles 4K HDR effortlessly. When it comes to high-bitrate, self-hosted content, it performs just as well — as long as you use the right setup. You’ll need a compatible USB-C hub to read external storage. Most basic hubs don’t work, so make sure to get one that’s tested for this purpose.
Kodi is the best media player for playback. It supports Dolby and DTS formats and handles HDR settings correctly. During my tests, it triggered HDR10, Dolby Vision, and even HLG modes accurately. Even if marked as Dolby Vision, some videos will fall back to HDR10, but overall performance remains excellent. (This keeps the “videos” as the subject, but in a more active role regarding the fallback.)
Audio Playback on Surround Systems Is Best With Kodi or VLC
For a true surround sound experience, stick to media players like Kodi or VLC. With audio passthrough enabled, you’ll get formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus working great. However, trying to play Dolby TrueHD or DTS:X will default to PCM. So while the dongle doesn’t cover every format, it gets most of the important ones right.
Yes, You Can Even Do a Little Gaming
Android gaming isn’t the main purpose of the Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle, but I gave it a shot anyway. Games like Shadowgun Legends ran surprisingly well, even on high settings. The Mali G57 GPU holds its own for casual gaming. You can also sideload games and apps using APKs via a USB-C hub.
Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle: Benchmarks
The RAM speed clocks in at 2930 MB/s. Internal storage has a read speed of 188 MB/s and a write speed of 47 MB/s. Not bad for a dongle. On my 300 Mbps connection, the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band averaged around 200 Mbps, while 2.4 GHz came in at 83 Mbps. Using a USB-C LAN hub with a gigabit port, I hit full network speeds with a wired connection. With these scores it ranked high on my TV Box rankings chart.
So, Is the Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle Worth It?
Without a doubt, this is one of the most impressive Android TV dongles available today. It has solid hardware, full Google certification, 4K streaming with Dolby Vision and Atmos, reliable security, and a user-friendly setup. Sure, it misses a couple of high-end audio formats and lacks Vulkan support, but these minor drawbacks don’t diminish its many strengths.
If you’re in the market for a discreet yet powerful streaming device, the Rocktek GB1 TV Dongle deserves a spot at the top of your list.