Android TV sticks go quad-core with Rockchip RK3188 SoCs

There is certainly no shortage of Android-powered TV sticks on the market today. Most of them boast very similar hardware, while the only real difference between them is the OS variants (Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich) and cost.

Recently, a couple of new Android-powered computers on a stick have turned up that are powered by a new and impressively fast processor.

Both the new PCs on a stick run the Rockchip RK3188 quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor – promising speeds of up to 1.8 GHz. The processor is paired with a Mali 400 quad-core GPU supporting both HD and 3-D video. Despite having a new and powerful quad core processor inside, both of these devices maintain the fat flash drive form factor this sort of hardware is known for.

One of the PCs on a stick is called the Tronsmart T428 and is available for $99. Hardware includes the previously mentioned quad-core processor and GPU, 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB or 16 GB of storage, and integrated Wi-Fi. It also features a memory card slot for storage expansion, a USB 2.0 port, and a micro USB port. One end of the little device also has an HDMI connector.

Currently, the device is listed as you see in the image above with no case so it’s unclear if it will come with a case eventually or if you’re just getting the bare hardware. The PC on a stick runs Android 4.1 for the operating system.

The second of the little minicomputers on a stick is the CloudnetGo CR9. It’s almost identical to the T428, and uses the same processor and GPU combo. It features 2 GB of RAM and up to 16 GB of storage. It’s unclear whether or not you can order the CR9 at this point as it is shown wearing a case whereas the T428 is bare.