What is LibreELEC ?

Welcome to the LibreELEC Wiki! [LibreELEC.wiki]

Lets start with the quality AML boxes, with known working out of the box - WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI CEC, IR or Wireless remotes and some with SPDIF (Optical), from well known brands like WeTek, ODROID and MINIX.

Not all AMLogic devices are created equal - the Brands above usually have higher quality, faster Samsung eMMC flash storage and RAM. There is also no easter egg hunt needed when searching for the correct device tree (hardware interface file). They just "work"

EDIT: I've also recently been informed by kszaq, that with ultra dirt cheap S905X boxes DDR RAM speed can be so slow they struggle with high bitrate 4K video playback.

Some devices are even LibreELEC developer reference hardware, that get LibreELEC Autoupdates.

AMLogic S905(x) - LibreELEC / OSMC - Kodi Krypton - 4K Options:

AMLogic seller Brand names to look for include:

ODROID C2, MINIX U1 / U9, WeTek Play2, WeTek Hub, Vero, Khadas Vim, Videostong(MECOOL), Beelink + the whole Zombie Army of other AMLogic S905 / S905X / S912 clones sold under different Brand names and configs. Further help:

List of S905/S905X Boxes that work with kszaq's build

Even 1GB RAM LibreELEC devices are fine to playback high bitrate 4K video with no loss in performance.

LE Audio Setup HELP with example configs by blakey click HERE

Have you got a slow LE Kodi setup ?

NOT all microSDHC card are created equal.

Do not base your purchase decision on sequential speeds, Its Random 4K Read / Write performance that is the most important for Kodi and LibreELEC speed. Bang for the buck - Samsung EVO(+), Samsung EVO Select and Sandisk Class 10 U1 microSDHC's work well with AML Hardware.

The Best microSD Cards (click)

Best WiFi = MINIX U1 / U9 packing MIMO (Dual Antennas) AC WiFi.

Best engineered thermal (heat) control = MINIX U1 / U9 - click for U1 / U9 heatsink Pic vs regular S905(x) / S912 heatsink

Best for CPU software decoding of 1080p Hi10P / Anime = S912 - however beware you will quickly heat up the chipset and a quality heatsink them becomes important.

Best Plug n Play - Wireless Air Mouse Keyboard remote = MINIX A2 lite (can be added to any media player with its USB receiver dongle)

Best Simple Mini bluetooth remote = the superb top quality $11 Xiaomi Mi Box Bluetooth remote - now supported in LE.

Best HDMI-CEC control = ODROID C2

Best for Overclocking = ODROID C2

Fastest AML S9xx LE device (no HDR) = ODROID C2 with high quality Samsung 5.1 eMMC flash storage.

Fastest AML S9xx LE device with HDR support = MINIX U9 with LE / Kodi data stored in Internal eMMC Flash (see simple mod below)

Best for real easy Dual boot = WeTek Hub / Play2

Best unofficial Android TV ROM's is on the WeTek Play2, next best is the S912 MECOOL M8S Pro L, and the S912 MINIX U9 has a decent Android TV ROM. When running Android - S912's are faster than any other AMLogic box.

** WARNING ** - flashing AML LibreELEC to internal eMMC storage is fraught with danger - you WILL come unstuck with a bricked box sooner rather than later if you start experimenting with all sorts of LE community releases. If you want to experiment with different releases do it by using a microSDHC card first. Nothing worse than a non booting box.

The following method is much much safer. DO NOT use the AML Android USB Burning tool after doing this:

Best simple Mod for a faster LibreELEC on a Dual boot box - [HOW TO] Boot from SD card, use internal eMMC for data (click)

Next if you need WiFi, make sure the box has Linux WiFi drivers available for the specific chipset used as they will be needed by LibreELEC:

Unknown WLAN Chip

WiFi chips that will usually be supported by LE out of the box:

AP6xxx - Ampak

Realtek RTL8xxx - such as the Edimax USB dongles

QCA9377 / Aigale AW-CM273SM

SSV6051

S9082x

Avoid 2.4GHz only WiFi where possible.

Dual Band 2.4/5GHz AC WiFi recommended.

However ! - Do not count on any form of WiFi to be able to deliver reliable high bitrate 4K video streaming.

A dirt cheap v4.0 CSR Bluetooth USB dongle can be added to any AML LE box to add BT capabilities.

Finally look at the following chart to check AML Chipsets capabilities (click on it)

Important NOTE: Some S905, S905D and S912 devices have an extra Gigabit Ethernet chip added = GMAC

Triple check a box's tech Specs if GigaE (1000M) is important to you.

Boxes with GigaE will be better for high bitrate 4K HDR REMUX streaming and when Kodi skipping thru 4K HDR video.