These Android-addicted ex-Googlers just made a 4K set-top box that’s only $99

The Jide Tech team behind the Remix IO: (L-R) Jeremy Chau, David Ko, Ben Luk. Photo credit: Jide Tech.

With two successful Kickstarters under their belt and a growing legion of fans, this trio of ex-Googlers is back with a third gadget.

Like the Remix Ultratablet and the Remix Mini that came earlier, the brand-new Remix IO is based on the team’s own flavor of Android, which it calls Remix OS.

Photo credit: Jide Tech.

The IO, which costs US$99, is a “4K TV set-top box, gaming console, and PC in one,” says the crew. It’s based on Android Nougat, the very newest confection from Google. It’s up against the Apple TV, which costs more and does less – and isn’t primed for 4K displays. Set to ship in March, the Remix IO is now up on Kickstarter until November 19; the campaign has already breezed past the US$250,000 funding goal.

“We sold close to 30,000 Minis on Kickstarter and have shipped over 200,000 worldwide,” says David Ko, referring to the tiny Android-based computer that I tested earlier this year.

Photo credit: Jide Tech.

The new Remix IO can also be a little Android PC for you if you want, but the idea is that it now does a ton of extra things in order to make it more of an entertainment hub for all the family. It looks set to be another strong seller for David and his two co-founders at Beijing-based Jide Tech.

“We are back on Kickstarter because this is where Jide built our initial community,” he tells me. “We listen to our community’s feedback and work with them to push the limits of Android. So we can incorporate feedback from the community before going into mass production.”

And he vows the team will be back on Kickstarter again next year.

A remote controller is provided with the Remix IO box. Photo credit: Jide Tech.