If you’re considering buying a new Smart TV, the first criteria you’re likely going to look at is the size. However, soon you will have to narrow down your search using other factors, one of which is the operating system that powers a TV.
While you can go for a Samsung TV with TizenOS, or an LG TV with WebOS, if what you’re looking for is the Android operating system, you will have two options – Android TV and Google TV. This can be quite confusing for those new to the platforms.
This is why, today we will be looking at Android TV and Google TV, their similarities and their differences.
What are the similarities between Android TV and Google TV?
Let’s begin by understanding that both Android TV and Google TV are skins (like One UI, or OxygenOS) based on Android. In other words, both Android TV and Google TV are based on the same operating system, which is also called Android.
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As a result, a TV powered by Android TV and a TV powered by Google TV, will both support the same apps via the Google Play Store. They will also support the same accessories and Google logins. Basically, most of the software front of the TVs will remain the same.
What is a Google TV?
Google TV typically uses a user interface (UI) for streaming movies or TV shows. The purpose of this UI is to launch apps, such as YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video. Google TV is based on an Android TV, and makes it easier for a user to find the content they’re looking for. Ideally, this is built-in to enhance and optimise the overall Android TV experience and makes it intuitive to use. Simply put, Google TV gives you optimised compatibility alongside more features.
What is an Android TV?
An Android TV, on the other hand, brings a smartphone experience to your television. Like any other Android device, you have access to a repository of apps compatible with your TV. Apart from Google and Android TVs, several other known brands today also offer other operating systems, including Tizen and WebOS.
What are the differences between Android TV and Google TV?
Visually, Android TV and Google TV may look significantly different, despite being powered by the same operating systems. This is because Google TV has its own software skin which changes many elements of the Android interface.
Elements like the home screen, the settings panel, as well as the look-and-feel of the Google Play Store will look different on both Android TV and Google TV. The Google TV home screen also aggregates your recommendations from across apps so you get listings of movies and shows you may like from Netflix, Hotstar, etc all in one place.
Other differences
1. Android TV recommendations are based on your subscribed apps rather than your taste. Google TV uses AI and machine learning combined with Google Assistant and other methods for tailored suggestions based on your liking and taste.
2. With Google TV, you will find a dedicated Live TV tab which displays a preview.
3. Google TV also lets you create multiple kids’ profiles under a single adult account with personal recommendations for each, where Android TV doesn’t.
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4. Speaking of content restrictions, Google TV is far more flexible and functional. It lets you create child profiles and their own set of restrictions for content. In an Android TV, content restrictions are handled via its system-wide parental settings.
5. Apart from this, there are apparent differences based on the visual interface. However, the highlight of both these platforms is their home screen which differs in layout, looks, and feel.
We hope this guide helped you understand the difference between Google TV and Android TV and has made choosing a new Smart TV easier for you. Remember to also consider buying an extended warranty plan like the Croma ZipCare Protect plans will ensure long-term peace of mind against any manufacturing defects or other issues.
हिंदी में पढ़ें: Google TV और Android TV में क्या अंतर है?
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Atreya Raghavan
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