Best cheap media player for UK TVs: MYPIN box or X96 Mini?

Display

For pure picture output, both products claim 4K support, but they do it in different ways. The MYPIN is a dedicated media player with HDMI plus AV and coax output, which makes it more flexible if you are connecting to an older TV, sound system or secondary screen. The X96 Mini is an Android TV box with HDMI output only, so it is better suited to a modern 4K TV, but less versatile overall. Winner: Product A, because its wider output options make it more adaptable to different display setups, especially in UK homes with mixed-age equipment.

Performance

The X96 Mini has the advantage here in terms of smart functionality. It runs Android 10.0 on an Allwinner H313 quad-core chip with 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM, which is enough for basic streaming apps, IPTV-style use and casual media playback. The MYPIN does not advertise Android or app support; it is designed first and foremost as a local media player for files on USB, SD card, HDD or an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive. That means the X96 Mini is the better choice if you want a more app-based experience, but the MYPIN is likely to feel simpler and more reliable for straightforward file playback. Winner: Product B, because Android 10 gives it broader smart features and more everyday flexibility.

Build quality and design

The MYPIN looks like a purpose-built box for home cinema and file playback, with support for USB 3.0 drives, SD cards, external devices and internal SATA storage. That internal drive support is a big plus if you want a tidy, all-in-one media library without dangling drives. The X96 Mini is physically smaller and more typical of low-cost Android TV boxes, which is good for hiding behind a TV but not especially distinctive. In build and design terms, the MYPIN feels more like a specialist device, while the X96 Mini feels more generic. Winner: Product A, thanks to its more practical storage-centric design and broader physical connectivity.

Battery life

Neither product has a battery, so this category is not really relevant. Both need mains power and are intended to sit by your TV. If you were hoping for portable use, neither is the right device. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

This is where the X96 Mini shines. At £29.99, it is £10 cheaper than the MYPIN at £39.99, and it also has a higher review score at 4.0/5 from 524 reviews compared with 3.9/5 from 802 reviews. If your goal is simply to add Android TV functions on the cheap, the Zedo box is the better bargain. However, value is not just about price: the MYPIN’s extra connectivity, especially AV/coax and internal 2.5-inch SATA support, may easily justify the higher price for anyone with a large offline library or older kit. Winner: Product B for budget buyers; Product A for feature-per-pound if storage and compatibility matter more.

Game library/features

The X96 Mini wins comfortably here because it runs Android 10. That means access to Android apps, streaming services, casual games and sideloaded media apps, subject to the usual limitations of budget Android boxes. The MYPIN is not really a games device at all; it is a file player. If you want a box for YouTube, IPTV apps, streaming add-ons or lightweight gaming, the X96 Mini has far more potential. Winner: Product B.

Overall user experience

The MYPIN is the better choice for people who want a simple, dependable media player for personal content. It supports MP4, MP3, MKV, photos, USB drives, SD cards, HDDs and even an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive, so it is excellent for a living-room archive of films, music and family photos. The X96 Mini is better if you want a cheap Android TV box that can install apps and act more like a basic smart streamer. But budget Android boxes can be fiddly, and the specs here are modest: 2GB RAM and 16GB storage is enough for light use, not heavy multitasking.

Overall summary: if you want the most versatile local-media player with the best physical connectivity, buy the MYPIN. If you want the cheapest route into Android apps and streaming on a modern TV, buy the X96 Mini. For most UK buyers who mainly want to play files from USB or a hard drive, the MYPIN is the safer, more satisfying purchase. For app-hungry users on a tight budget, the X96 Mini is the better value.