How is Google TV different from Android TV? Which operating system is better to choose a TV with?

Frankly, I didn’t notice how TVs turned into large tablets without a touch screen, but which became practically useless without an Internet connection. From CRT screens with antennas to today’s smart devices, the TV industry has made great strides in sound.

But today we will not indulge in nostalgia and remember how things were better before. Instead, we’ll look at two operating systems on the market: Android TV and Google TV.

Although these names may seem the same, in fact there are many images between them. Let’s figure out what they are and which system is best for different users.

Android TV – a large smartphone in the living room

Almost rare TV from 206 with the first brand of Android TV

Android TV was originally intended to be a full-fledged port of the Android OS, safe for use with TVs. The Android TV interface is organized into a list of app values ​​and recommendations from Google Play. In addition, the system has a built-in voice assistant, Google Assistant, which allows you to control sound using voice commands.

The grid of applications in Android TV can be easily customized, leaving only the most necessary things in front of your eyes and, most importantly, excluding content based on what you have already watched from annoying recommendations. The system practically does not monitor what you do in it. And there is something to do there.

For example, international applications. Quite consistent with Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and others, modified (who has it easier, pirates) applications. There are also a number of games and emulators that support this OS, and you can also connect a gamepad via Bluetooth.

You can play different games from simple “3 in a row” to large RPGs, for example Star Wars KOTOR or Final Fantasy 4. But here it is important to understand that such games will work best not on a TV on a TV box with Android-TV pre-installed.

You cannot install such an application on Google TV. There is no need to pay for content here, by the way.

It is precisely by the way that such set-top boxes have the majority of OS and prevalence, which is very convenient, because there are still TVs on the market without smart functions. To summarize this segment, the flagship feature of Android TV is this is freedom.

You can customize the OS to your liking, install almost any application and not limit yourself to the officialdom of a modern operating system. But what if you don’t need all this and want everything to be beautiful out of the box?

Google TV is intuitive, simple, and does a lot for you

And here’s a little twist – Google TV is initially the same platform as Android TV, but with a different name. And the accents in the lamps are installed on some other objects. At the forefront here is content personalization.

Google TV brings a variety of streaming services into one portable interface, providing personalized recommendations based on your preferences and making it easier to find the shows and movies you love. In other words, the system strives for maximum user interaction with the phone. Literally – turn it on and watch.

The OS has a much more organized structure with an emphasis on recommendations and a simple but limited interface interface. Google TV constantly aggregates content from different sources and puts it in one place, but on Android TV you constantly have to switch between apps.

And, by and large, this is the most important difference between Google TV and Android TV. With the latest TV, you can practically turn it into a PC in a special form of Linux, just plug in the keyboard and load the mouse with the right software.

With Google TV, your TV becomes a personalized entertainment center, but nothing more. Your user experience is somewhat limited, but if you just need the TV to be a source for watching content, then this operating system will do its part just fine.

What and to whom to take

At the end, a legitimate question arises – so what to take in the end? Does it make sense to search for TV on Android or take something relevant on Google TV. It all depends on how you use modern methods in a global sense.

If you need a TV that you want to fine-tune to your liking, you have the energy and time to understand the interface and install a large number of applications, both official and not so, for your choice of Android TV.

Finding a modern TV with this OS on a tablet is already difficult, but there are a huge number of TV set-top boxes on the market with this operating system for every taste and budget.

Well, if you’re looking for a personalized experience, content recommendations based on your tastes, and the inclusion of a clear interface, Google TV is an ideal choice, especially now that manufacturers are releasing fewer Android TV-based devices. I voice this thought to you. Have a good day!