What are the Main Differences Between Android TV and Google TV?

Android TV and Google TV are both streaming platforms developed by Google, but there are some key differences between the two.

1. User Interface:

The user interface has rows of apps and streaming platforms available on the Android TV platform placed in sequence. It also has a ‘Discover’ tab for personalised content recommendations. While, 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.

2. Remote Access:

Losing the remote can be a hassle, right? Well, with Android TV, if you misplace the remote, you’re not completely out of luck. But here’s the thing: accessing the on-screen keyboard on these TVs usually requires that physical remote. However, there’s a nifty workaround! You can turn your Android smartphone into a remote control for your Google TV. That way, you can access all the devices and apps connected to Google TV without hunting for that elusive remote. Pretty handy, huh?

3. Live TV:

When it comes to live content, Android TV has you covered with options like YouTube, Sony TV, Hotstar, and more. There’s even a special Live TV tab just for this! Open it up, and you’ll find a comprehensive channel guide showing what’s airing on various live sources. So, whether you’re into news, sports, or your favorite shows, you can easily find what’s playing in real-time.

4. Smart Home Devices:

If you’ve got a Google Home device as part of your smart home setup, you’ll definitely want to get Google TV up and running. Why? Because it opens up a whole new world of compatibility with your smart home gadgets. Picture this: you can simply use your voice to switch on the TV, pump up the volume, and start streaming that spine-chilling flick on Netflix. But wait, there’s more! Google TV goes beyond just voice commands. It can tap into live feeds from your security cameras and even control the smart lights around your home. So, before diving into that scary movie, you can make sure all is safe and sound by turning on the lights and double-checking that front door lock – all without leaving the couch!

5. Parental Controls:

Here’s another cool feature: with Google TV, you get more flexibility with user profiles and parental controls compared to Android TV. Google TV allows multiple user profiles, including ones specifically for kids under a single adult’s Google account. Each profile gets personalized recommendations tailored to their tastes. When it comes to content restrictions, Android TV relies on system-wide parental settings, while Google TV offers more granular control. You can create child user profiles with specific content boundaries, and here’s the best part – you can tweak these settings effortlessly using your smartphone, no need to fiddle with remote controls. Easy peasy!

6. Price:

While Android TV is available in all price ranges. On the other hand Google TV is only available in selected Sony and TCL models of the higher price range.