When choosing your next television, the operating system is not that important. Simply because Google TV and Android TV are kings. And since you can buy an external player, it doesn't matter if you opt for a Samsung Smart TV with Tizen, or an LG with webOS, since you can always add Google TV or Android TV.
But of course, now comes the million-dollar question: which operating system is better? To answer this question, we bring you a complete comparison so that you know what the differences between Google TV and Android TV.
With the increasing demand for streaming platforms and smart TVs, Both Google TV and Android TV have gained ground as leading operating systems for Smart TVs. To the point that it is the OS that dominates the market, thanks to the fact that companies like Philips, TCL or Sony are betting on this operating system.
Y If you are looking for your next television, you will want to know if one with Android TV or Google TV is better. Let's see their main differences.
Android TV arrived first, but Google TV will dominate the Smart TV landscape
Android TV was launched in 2014 as an evolution of the original Google TV operating system (2010), and quickly established itself as one of the favorites for Smart TVs and streaming devices. Android based, this system surprised by offering an experience similar to that of a mobile device, but optimized for larger screens. I personally was amazed by my Xiaomi TV Box when it can try Android TV for the first time.
And what about Google TV? Well, he is his successor. Of course, we must take into account an important detail: Google TV, launched in 2020, It's not a new operating system per se, but rather an improved interface on top of Android TV. Its main goal is to improve the user experience through more intuitive navigation, personalized recommendations based on artificial intelligence, and deeper integration with Google services.
In this way, keep in mind that Google TV inherits the foundation of Android TV, but refines it to offer a more content-focused approach, helping users discover new series and movies more easily.
Why don't Android TV TVs update to Google TV?
So here we see that Android TV is really an operating system, while Google TV is more of an advanced interface that offers an improved version of Android TV. So, Why don't all TVs update to Google TV and that's the end of it? Here, the damn fragmentation comes in.
Fragmentation is a well-known problem in the world of technology, especially on platforms that depend on multiple manufacturers and hardware configurations, as is the case with Android TV.
Unlike more closed operating systems, such as Apple's, Android TV has to deal with a huge variety of devices ranging from high-end televisions to more modest devices. This means that each TV manufacturer can implement Android TV slightly differently, tailoring it to the specific capabilities of their hardware, optimizing its performance, and adding or removing features as they see fit.
In addition to hardware, manufacturers also customize the software according to their business needs and strategies. Some brands add layers of customization on top of Android TV to integrate their own applications, content stores, or even voice assistants. For example, Xiaomi has its own interface.
The problem is that this customization makes it difficult to implement an update to Google TV, as brands would have to redo some of that work to ensure their custom features continue to work correctly with the new interface.
Therefore, Although Google TV is compatible with Android TV, it is not simply a patch that can be installed on any device. It requires each manufacturer to make specific adjustments to ensure the user experience is smooth and consistent. And this takes years and years. So What they are doing is launching Android TV updates so that it has a design as similar as possible to Google TV. But many models will be left without all the features.
Key differences between Google TV and Android TV
Now that you know the difference between Google TV and Android TV, and the reason why a global update to the most modern system is not made, let's look at their main differences.
To begin with, The Android TV interface follows a more traditional approach, with rows of applications organized horizontally. Although functional, its design may seem less intuitive to some users, especially those who prefer a more advanced recommendation system
In contrast, Google TV presents a renewed interface, where content is the center of attention. Instead of focusing on apps, Google TV organizes movies, TV shows, and recommendations based on the user's viewing habits.
Furthermore, one of the Google TV strengths is its ability to offer personalized recommendations. Using advanced algorithms and the user's viewing history, Google TV suggests content from various streaming platforms.
And because it wasn't enough, Google TV takes your subscriptions into account to make more accurate recommendations. Android TV also offers recommendations, but these are more limited and based mainly on individual apps, without such complete integration between services.
Another difference between Google TV and Android TV is seen in the integration with Google Assistant. On Android TV, voice control is functional but basic, allowing searches and control of smart home devices. Google TV offers a better experience with more options, such as recommendations and profile management. And here we enter a very important point, since Google TV allows you to create multiple user profiles, perfect for households with more than one member.
As you have seen, there are many advantages that Google TV offers over Android TV. Hence If you are thinking of renewing your old television, or are going to buy a multimedia player, it is better if it is a model with Google TV.
