Rikomagic MK902 – Android Mini PC
I love my MK902, by Rikomagic. This small form factor pc is an amazing piece of technology. I thought the MK902 was a great little unit when I originally reviewed it. After using it for several months, I wonder how I ever got along without it.
CHECK OUT THE MK902 HERE
Like the MK802iv, the MK902 connects to the HDMI port of your High Definition television and converts it to a media pc. It is similar in size to the Raspberry Pi, but features so much more for the money. This RKM MK902 comes loaded with either Android 4.2 or a Linux port called PicUntu.
The quad core Rockchip RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 processor is lightning fast. In fact, this fanless pc is pretty much like the Rikomagic MK802iv (2GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and Mali 400 graphics) but with a number extra of bells and whistles.
Some of these are:
- 4 USB Ports
- 5MP Camera and Microphone
- An Ethernet Jack
- Wireless Networking with a great external antenna (works better than the MK802iv)
- HDMI Port
- AV Output
- And a Micro SD card slot for expansion of memory
Is The Rikomagic MK902 Reliable?
Initially, when the earlier revisions of the MK902 came out, there were a few bugs that caused the device to reboot from time to time. Rikomagic has since then worked out those bugs and if you have one of those earlier units, I would recommend updating the firmware on the device with the latest ROM. This is easy to do and it is free, too! Hey, even Microsoft comes out with Windows Updates all the time, so computer bugs are a fact of life for all companies. Even mega giants, like Microsoft and Apple. The new units are being shipped with the new firmware, so they are already working great out of the box. For me, this firmware is rock solid and I have not had a single problem with it.
What can I do with the Rikomagic MK902?
Virtually anything you can do with your Android phone, except making a call on a cell network, like Verizon or AT&T, etc. You can run just about any Android app, including SKYPE. That is where the built in camera and microphone make the MK902 shine. Want a media center? Install the SIRIUS Radio app, use the pre-installed Beyond XBMC app and you will have an amazing multimedia entertainment center.
How does the Rikomagic MK902 compare to the Raspberry Pi?
The price of the Rikomagic MK902 is about $105 dollars. While that may sound like it costs much more than a Raspberry Pi, it is really a whole lot more economical. Allow me to explain.
A Raspberry Pi Model B costs around $35 dollars, but that is just the board. Then, you will need a power supply and case. You will also want a wireless networking, so that will cost you, too! You can get a Raspberry Pi Starter Kit that bundles most of what you will want together, and you will be around $75 dollars. Add a camera to that and you will be at around $100.
Now, let’s compare that Raspberry Pi with all of those options to the Rikomagic MK902. The MK902 is much faster, as the quad core CPU really blows the socks off of the Raspberry Pi. In addition, there are more USB ports on the Rikomagic providing extra expandability. The camera is super clear, too.
But here is the real benefit of the MK902 over the Raspberry Pi. In addition to the performance difference, which is night and day, you have the Android OS or Picuntu. Yes, the Raspberry Pi has Linux ports, but they are extremely stripped down and limited as to what you can load on them. With the lack of performance of the Raspberry Pi, those apps run really slow… Comparable apps on the Rikomagic MK902 run much faster.
While the Raspberry Pi can run an XBMC port called Raspbmc, the Rikomagic MK902 comes PRE-INSTALLED with an XBMC app called Beyond XBMC. The response of the Beyond XBMC interface is really snappy! This makes the Rikomagic MK902 into an amazing media center PC that will outperform the Raspberry pi by far.
If you want to browse the web in the Raspbmc, you need to click on an icon that reboots you to a standalone web browser that is really stripped down. The web browser pre-installed in the MK902 is the same as on an Android phone. In addition, you don’t need to reboot to get into the web browser!
All of your Android apps work on the Rikomagic MK902. The learning curve is much less, since it works in the same way as your Android cell phone. There are loads of free apps that work great on the RKM MK902 as well!
So, you can easily see how an Apples to Apples comparison between the Rikomagic MK902 and the Raspberry Pi favor this Rikomagic Fanless PC by far. The only benefit that I can see with the Raspberry Pi over the MK902 is for those wishing to build a robot. The Raspberry PI lends itself to robotics much nicer than the RKM device.
After using both devices for some time now, I hardly every use the Raspbery Pi much anymore when I have the MK902 sitting right next to it. I am not saying the the Raspberry Pi is not cool, but what I am saying that for standard usage, the Rikomagic Micro PC is much better. If I were building a robot or standalone retro gaming console, I would use the Raspberry Pi.
CHECK OUT THE MK902 HERE
Do I need any additional peripherals to use the Rikomagic MK902?
One thing that you may want to consider when buying a Rikomagic MK902 is a mouse/keyboard option. I have tried many options with the MK902 and I absolutely love the RKM MK702 Wireless Mini Keyboard and Fly Air Mouse. This Remote Control sized air mouse features a mini QWERTY keyboard and Lithium Ion Battery. It is the perfect companion for the RKM MK902.
Another thing I would recommend is to get a microSD card. I recommend a 32GB card, which is the maximum that the MK902 will accept.
I hope you find this review of the Rikomagic MK902 and the MK702 Fly Mouse helpful and that you love these devices as much as I do.