Orbsmart S89L

No. Please note this before buying to avoid disappointment.

The Orbsmart S89L is a powerful Mini PC with an open Android system, but it is not a certified streaming player. The apps from major providers (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, WOW etc.) lack the necessary licenses (Widevine L1) for high resolutions on open devices. These services often only run in SD quality or sometimes not stably at all.

Our honest recommendation: Are you primarily looking for a device for these streaming services? Then please choose one of our certified Google TV players:
👉 Go to GX1 (Premium Streaming Box)
👉 Go to GD2 (Compact Google TV Player)

Most do, but not 100%. The Play Store offers millions of apps, but they were developed primarily for smartphones (touchscreen, portrait format, GPS, SIM card). The S89L lacks this specific mobile hardware, which is why some apps are not displayed, do not start, or appear distorted. Additionally, some security-critical apps (e.g., banking apps) block the service due to the existing root access.

"Android TV" (now often Google TV) is a heavily restricted interface optimized only for remote controls and licensed streaming. The "open Android 14" on the S89L is more like a tablet. This means for you: Maximum freedom in system settings and app sources (incl. sideloading), but operation is not always 100% designed for pure arrow key control.

Many Android apps mandatorily expect a touchscreen. Since a TV doesn't have one, operation using only D-pads is often cumbersome. Therefore, the use of the included airmouse function is essential. It allows you to control a mouse cursor by moving your hand through the air. For intensive use (office, browser), we strongly recommend a physical mouse & keyboard (via USB or Bluetooth).

Yes, they are present by default, but they can be hidden.

Since the S89L uses an "open Android" (similar to a tablet), there is a navigation bar at the bottom edge (for Back, Home, Recent Apps) and a status/notification bar at the top. This is helpful when operating with the airmouse.

For an undisturbed full-screen mode (e.g., video playback or digital signage), however, the S89L offers the option in settings to permanently hide both bars.

Yes, absolutely. This is the S89L's specialty. Here it plays to its strengths compared to simple streaming sticks. It plays local files from USB hard drives or network storage (NAS) in the highest quality. It supports 4K HDR, state-of-the-art codecs like AV1, and offers Auto-Framerate-Switching (AFRd) for absolutely smooth playback in apps like Kodi or VLC.

This is a feature for advanced users, developers, and tinkerers. It grants full administrator rights over the Android system for deep adjustments or special apps. For the normal user, this is usually not relevant and can, as mentioned, impair the function of some security apps.

Yes, that is a big advantage of the open system. You can install apps manually as so-called APK files (sideloading) if they are not available in the TV Play Store. You are not tied to the Store.

For your media (photos, videos, music), you can easily use USB sticks, external hard drives, or microSD cards (up to 128GB). Expanding internal storage *for app installations* is often technically restricted under modern Android versions and is primarily recommended for data storage.

Yes. Thanks to the high-quality, fanless metal housing, the S89L is robust and silent, ideal for commercial 24/7 use. It offers special business features such as "autostart on power-on," "app autostart," or the ability to rotate the screen to portrait mode.

We won't leave you alone after the purchase. If you have questions about setup or something doesn't work as expected, please contact our support. You can also find many answers and instructions in our help center.

👉 Go to Orbsmart Support & Contact Form