Verdict
A rock - solid Android pennant with solid Ab certificate , the lack of dynamic HDR data format and high monetary value means the Strong ca n’t make the leaping into the teem wall bracket Amazon , Google and Roku belong to .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
If you think the video banner market had been sown up by Amazon and Roku , the Strong Leap - S1 is here to remind you there are other option .
Strong ’s effort is an Android - toting streamer with a few more features than your average cyclosis stick . You get Google Assistant and Chromecast build - in , as well as a USB porthole for glom up a tough drive and a digital sound recording amplifier port wine for colligate the Leap - S1 to a sound system .
Is it enough to have Amazon and Roku looking over their shoulder ?
Design
The Strong Leap - S1 is similar to theMi Box Sin that it ’s flat , square in physique and lies flat on the surface next to your TV rather than being plugged straight into the HDMI port like theRoku Streaming Stick 4K.
Its shape and size signify it has more connections than most banner outside of theApple TV 4 K loge . On its side is a micro - Coyote State time slot along with USB 2.0 and 3.0 port , and on the derriere is theHDMIport for connection to a television set , Optical S / PDIF for link an audio gimmick , LAN for hardwired connector to a router , IR port and AV output for compatibility with erstwhile non - HDMI idiot box . It ’s well particularize on the connexion front .
The remote control is another alike looking effort to the zapper that fare with the Mi Box S , with a five hundred - pad for navigation , book ascendancy , Home and Google Assistant buttons and the common cutoff for Netflix and Prime Video . The feedback from push presses has that nice , clicky feel to them and there ’s no noticeable lag between presses and input on screen .
Like the Mi Box S the bulk control is not over the video ’s or any connected audio equipment , but the Leap - S1 ’s internal volume , which I ca n’t wrap my question around .
Interface and apps
The similarity to the Mi Box S continue with the interface and app library . The interface is Android tv set and notGoogle TV , which is usable on the Google ’s latest Chromecast waft . Android TV 10 is the version out of the box , which is n’t the latest one but is more up to date than the Xiaomi ’s Android 9 .
Operation of Android TV 10 is fine with prosperous pilotage across the ‘ tab with Home , Discover , Apps and preferences across the top row . Having used Google TV on theSony A80J , this old version of Android TV does lack the curation and useful info on depicted object tiles like review scores and price particular ( you have to delve into the rubric to see that ) , which makes it rather uninformative at first glance .
The ’ Discover ’ look to repeat the same titles , not offer much in the direction of variety or personalisation . It should get better the more you use it , but the option it presents are fairly generic .
The Discover lozenge hold over the ‘ Watchlist ’ characteristic that first debut with the Google TV interface , although the path it ’s present within the tab does n’t particularly highlight its importance . Even though it ’s the 2d row down , you could easily gloss over it . It would make more sense if it was admit on the home base Sir Frederick Handley Page , it seems antagonistic - intuitive to penetrate to another see if you want spry access to content you ’ve favourited . But that is Android ’s job and not something the Strong can do anything about .
More similarities to the Xiaomi box seat arrive in the library of apps . There is My5 and ITV Hub catch - up apps but the residuum of the UK collar - up apps are miss in activity ( iPlayer is said to be on the way ) . broadly speaking speak you get a nice selection : Netflix , Prime Video , Disney+,Apple TV+,Paramount+ , BT Sport , Spotify , Tidal , Stadia , Peloton , TikTok , StarzPlay , ESPN , Amazon Music , UFC , WWE , Mubi , Roxi andDeezer .
That ’s better than the Mi Box S but the relative deficiency of UK catch - up and on - demand apps is a miss . At least with Chromecast you could shed content from iPlayer and All4 app on a mobile gadget to the Leap - S1 . you could also sideload apps but this requires some knowledge to do .
Performance
The Leap - S1 ’s carrying out in terms of picture faithfulness is good – I might even say it ’s astrongperformer – but what holds it back is its HDR support . With only HDR10 and HLG to assist , the lack ofHDR10+andDolby Visiondynamic HDR format to refine its performance is a disappointment in light of the request Leontyne Price .
The Leap - S1 costs more than theChromecast with Google TV , more than theAmazon Fire TV Stick 4 K Maxand more than the Roku Streaming Stick – and all three have full HDR support .
That does n’t mean that the Leap - S1 is immediately discount from the fighting , but withcheaper TVsthat ca n’t always produce the same HDR cleverness and color fidelity as agio sets , dynamic HDR formats can help with tone mapping , colours , dividing line and bootleg degree , that ’s something to take into write up if you ’re thinking about partnering this pennant with a more affordable set .
Watching season three of Mr Robot ( HD ) on the Leap - S1 and it displayed a solid good sense of colour in showcasing the steely blues of ECorp situation , and the serial ’ damp colour pallette in worldwide . There ’s not much to distinguish between the Strong and the Fire TV Stick ’s functioning .
The Leap - S1 does sustain dealing with darker scene in the same show , with contraction artefact in the background of a panorama where the FBI is interrogating a suspected f.society penis . It waver more than either the Fire TV Stick and Roku , and I noticed a similar issue in some scene of The Witch ( HD ) on Netflix , with some imbalance and flickering . On the whole the Leap - S1 handle darker view well enough .
The lack of Dolby Vision learn Dickinson on Apple TV+ did conduct to HDR highlight ( the brightest part of the pictorial matter ) not being quite as smart in some scenes on aSony A8 OLED , with coloring material having a richer , shining aspect on the Fire TV Stick , as well as a stronger emphasis on contrast aided by the Dolby Vision stream being a little darker .
Again , the Strong deals with colour in a sympathetic manner in Moon Knight on Disney+ . The reds of the eating house that Steven was ( supposed to be ) having a appointment are handle with in a strong and punchy fashion . The sparkle of the restaurant pop , and the detail levels are gamey . It ’s a alright - looking image .
Navigating the Strong ’s Android carte scheme is quick enough , with no lag flicking through the section . Some programmes claim slightly longer to load but that could just be down to the internet connection . With Bluetooth 4.2 you could add verbaliser , earphone or a keyboard , which give it flexibility in adding accessory , the keyboard would amount in ready to hand withGoogle Stadia , for illustration .
Google Assistant is helpful for fetching message and opening apps rather than having to delve through menus , and she understood requests get off her direction . If anything , like other voice assistants , the consequence where she tripped up was when I was n’t clear enough about what I wanted .
The Leap - S1 ’s audio performance is about on par with Fire TV Stick 4 K Max – they ’re very like to the point where it ’s hard to tell the difference between two doing A / B tests . Bass stratum are do by with similar depth and power , but where the Amazon stick edge forth is in the not bad contingent it affords film and music .
Dolby audio is uncommitted in Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus ( Dolby Atmos ) form , and you could get Atmos from Prime Video , Netflix , Apple TV+ and Tidal apps , but at the metre of review Disney+ only supported 5.1 . The Leap - S1 does n’t fend for Tidal Masters like the Roku Streaming Stick but at least with Atmos included as part of the specification , it ’s a good option than the Mi Box S , which does n’t have it .
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Should you buy it?
With the optical audio output you could get in touch an external sound system direct to the Strong , though that would mean miss out on Atmos
The Strong tries to do thing a little different , but in the end it is missing apps other streamers have , and the deficiency of dynamic HDR data formatting means it wo n’t reap the secure optical fidelity from your apps
Final Thoughts
The Leap - S1 is a square streamer , but a compounding of price , want of dynamic HDR formats and miss catch - up apps means it does n’t have as much value as the like of Amazon , Google and Roku .
Its rain cats and dogs carrying into action is undecomposed , and you could add the missing apps though side - loading on Android but that takes away from the simplicity of plug and play cyclosis . The Leap - S1 is a rock - unanimous waft , but like the Mi Box S , it does n’t provide as much economic value for its price .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every video streamer we review thoroughly over an extended period of time . We employ industry - received tests to compare feature article in good order . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to refresh a product .
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FAQs
Dolby Vision is n’t supported on the Leap - S1 streamer , with HDR supporting only including HDR10 and HLG broadcast HDR . There ’s no HDR10 + support on the equipment either .
Full Specs
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We currently have n’t received answers to the questions on this Cartesian product , but will update this Sir Frederick Handley Page the moment we do . you may see a elaborated breakdown of the head we ask and why in oursustainability information pageboy .
