Google TV vs. Android TV: How are the two platforms different
If you’re no stranger to news, Google has faced anti-trust lawsuits throughout 2024. The tech giant owns the world’s most popular search engine and builds some of the most successful smartphones, smartwatches, andsmart home devices. Its proprietary operating system, Android, powers most non-Apple phones. Inside the entertainment space, Google owns Google TV and Android TV. Despite sharing Google’s ownership, these services are different. This guide walks you through the differences between Google TV and Android TV.
Google TV versus Android TV
Your Android TV is much more capable than you think
Google TV is an up-to-date version of Android TV.Google TV offers more features, greater compatibility, and a better user experience. Android TV provides a cheaper alternative (due to its aging software). Depending on what you’re in the market for, both have pros and cons. We examine the main differences between Google TV and Android TV to help you make better buying decisions.
What is Android TV?
Android TV was released in June 2014 and was a game changer for home entertainment tech, competing with Apple TV, its iOS-powered counterpart.
Android TV is based on the Android mobile operating system. It offers access to the Google Play Store for apps and games on your TV. It also gives you handy features like Google Cast support and voice control via Google Assistant. Sharp and Sony adopted Android TV as smart TV middleware. Its release led to a range of smart TV boxes preloaded with the operating system.
The key to the Android TV experience is its home screen interface. It encourages content discovery by suggesting shows and movies from your apps and subscription services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube. This feature was improved by Google TV.
What is Google TV?
Google TV reached TV screens in 2020 when it launched alongside a new version of Google’s streaming dongle, theChromecast with Google TV. It’s the de facto smart TV interface for new Google-powered TVs and set-top boxes released by major manufacturers. Rather than being a new operating system, Google TV is a software layer that runs on top of Android TV. As such, they’re similar in many ways.
In August 2024, Google announced theGoogle TV Streamer, released in late September 2024. The Google TV Streamer can stream up to 4K, has a speedy processor, and has software features powered byGoogle Gemini. The idea behind Google TV Streamer is to eventually replace Chromecasts as a primary set-top streaming box with next-gen features.
In the same way thatlaunchers give a makeover and new functionality to Android phones, Google TV brings a new user interface with a different look and feel. Android TV provides the backbone for the experience. As a result, Android TV is still functional and gets updates from time to time. However, it is reported that TV manufacturers (relying on Android TV OS) will only see amajor upgrade every two years.
In addition to a slightly refined design, the newer Google TV interface offers a greater focus on personalized content using AI. It also offers a dedicated tab for live broadcasts. You get additional smart home functionality, a mobile remote through the Google TV app, and other benefits that improve the user experience, like theenhanced overview feature.
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What are the main similarities between Android TV and Google TV?
Android TV and Google TV are TV operating systems from Android that allow you to watch and interact with content. Both platforms offer the same selection of smart TV apps, streaming services, channels, and games. They also feature support for voice commands with Google Assistant, smart home controls, casting with Chromecast, and media streaming.
What are the main differences between Android TV and Google TV? While Google TV and Android TV have many similarities, there are more differences when you get down to the details. Here are the key differences between the two television operating systems.
Google TV and Android TV differ in how each platform presents content discovery on the homepage.
Android TV’s recommendations are based on streaming apps rather than your taste. Meanwhile, Google TV takes advantage of machine learning, Google Assistant, and Google’s Knowledge Graph information base to learn your viewing habits and adjust the home screen accordingly.
Google TV collates this information to populate the For You tab, showing relevant promotions and content specific to your region.
Google TV has a live TV tab that displays previews of active broadcasts from Sling TV and YouTube TV. If something piques your interest, tap the thumbnail to watch the broadcast. You don’t need to open multiple apps to find something to watch. You can also access various of ad-supported free channels inGoogle TV Freeplay, which don’t require sign-in or subscriptions to use.
Smart home devices
If you have a Google Home device as part of your smart home ecosystem, set up Google TV. It allows more smart home device compatibility. You can use voice commands to turn on your TV, crank up the volume, and turn on your favorite scary movie from Netflix.
Google TV has more than voice commands. It can access live feeds from security cameras or control smart lights in your home. You can turn on the lights and check that the front door is locked before watching a terrifying movie or show.
Parental controls
Another difference comes with user profiles and parental controls. Unlike Android TV, Google TV supports multiple user profiles for kids under a single adult’s Google account, with personal recommendations for each.
Content restrictions on Android TV are handled via its system-wide parental settings. Google TV lets you create child user profiles with a set of boundaries for the content, which can be managed via the Google Family Link service.
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Mobile remote
Nothing is worse than losing the remote. Google TV gives you a backup plan. To access the Google TV app, look for the mobile remote button in the lower-right corner. When you push that, you can control your Google TV interface from your phone without the remote, giving you all the time you need to track it down.
AI-enhanced features
Google has pushed its AI to be at the forefront, and that’s where Google TV is headed. Since Google TV Streamer’s September (2024) release, Gemini features have slowly crept into Google TV. One example is the enhanced overview feature. These overviews include full TV and movie summaries and a place to read audience reviews. Google TV also builds on personalized recommendations. While the software isn’t in use, Google TV hasAI screensaversyou can set.
Will Android TV devices be upgraded to Google TV?
Most new Google-powered devices, such as Sony Bravia and TCL TVs, are preloaded with Google TV. However, it doesn’t look like older Android TV devices will get an upgrade to the new platform.
It isn’t all bad news for owners of existing Android TV kits, as they aren’t left behind. Some Android TV devices such as the NVIDIA Shield, Xiaomi Mi set-top boxes, and Sony TVs received a revamped user interface that looks close to Google TV, with large circular app icons on the left side and some of Google TV’s new features being ported over.
Among those additions are the Discover tab, which features content recommendations grouped by genre, and the Watchlist feature. Located under the Library section tab, Watchlist lets you add movies and TV shows you want to check out later.
Google Play Movies & TV for Android TV
Google doesn’t haveGoogle Play Movies & TV show up on your Android TV. Devices running the newer Google TV upgrade have full access to content from the Library tab (on YouTube). Those using Android TV from a set-top box can view content using the YouTube app. Otherwise, it’s possible to view your purchases and rentals on the web via your linked Google account.
For Google TV owners, content can only be purchased and rented using the Google TV app or your Google TV rather than the Google Play Store.
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Is it still worth it to get an Android TV?
Google has shipped devices with the newer interface since 2020, making Android TVs much more scarce. We’ll alwaysrecommend a Google TV, as the feature set is more robust, offers more functionality, and the interface is more user-friendly. Plus, being Google’s primary product ensures these TVs receive software updates more regularly.
Android TVs (if you can find them) are typically more affordable. Obtaining one isn’t terrible if you’re hunting for one to save on costs. After all, even if the tech is a bit dated, the operating system can still hold its own. But securing one may prove to be a greater ordeal than it’s worth.
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I have had a Google TV for a few days now, replacing a sluggish Android TV that demised in an accident, and so far I find that I cannot agree with the thrust of this article.
My first impression is that the Google TV is completely overcrowded with with images of recommendations for TV shows and films, many of which are not actually available to me. Google is very obviously trying to sell me something. that is what it does. Far more than was the case on Android TV, where it was manageable and sometimes actually useful. Fortunately, you can get round that by switching to Apps Only mode.
My biggest gripe is that many of the apps that I frequently used on my late Android TV were simply not available. Some of them could be sideloaded, but by no means all. And then, they were not visible in the list of apps. The solutions are to search through the list of apps in Settings, or, to install an alternative launcher. I now use Flauncher. But this rather takes away the point of Google TV. And Google seems to discourage adding apps, as the fact that the Play Store is hidden from easy sight.
In short, I would rather have a good Android TV (not my underpowered, now smashed, Continental Edison) rather than a Google TV.
Hisense TV’s all use Android TV (release 11, which is from 2019). Possibly one of the reasons that Hisense is often the lowest priced TV around.
I’ve have a 3-year old ONN 4k Android TV streaming box, and today bought a similarly equal one called ONN 4k Google TV streaming box. It has a slightly upgraded processor, same RAM and storage.
I found the interface nearly identical (a bit more flexibility/features with the old Android TV device!) and overall operate the same. The only difference was a very slow set up the Google TV, and it has a problem (missing settings) for which I will return it and stick with awesome Android TV one.
While I didn’t compare versions, after updating the Android TV it is faster and seamless, better in most measures than either of my two Rokus (an older top of line box and a newer stick). Since I don’t use a lot of apps, I may have advantageous performance due to free RAM.
I suggest people with poor performing Android TV streamers to uninstall as many apps as you can, clear cache on apps with larger cache, and update it. I am blown away how mine is working better than when new. I got mine on sale for $15, normally it was maybe $20?
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