Android TV is an operating system for televisions launched in 2014. It benefits from an interface similar to that found on our smartphones. But most importantly Android has access to Google Play, so developers with a mobile app can easily apply a few changes to make it an Android TV app.
In addition, the OS supports many Android features such as Google Cast which allows you to broadcast your PC or smartphone screen on the TV. In summary, Android TV is an Android optimized for the big screen. It's easy to use, can be controlled by voice using Google Assistant, and has multiple apps. Here's everything you need to know about it, including how it works, when you can use it, and which devices offer it.
Summary
Introduction to Android TV
Google hasn't made it easy to track its offers of TV. First there was a first version called Google TV in 2010, initially designed to work on televisions. But the project was stopped in 2014 and replaced by Android TV.
Google then reintroduced the Google TV name in 2020 with the launch of Chromecast with Google TV. This new Google TV is an interface built largely on Android TV. Some manufacturers are already offering the new Google TV on their televisions. More recently, Google changed the name of Google Play Movies & TV (the Android application) also in Google TV, in order to harmonize the offers on the different platforms.
In fact, Google TV aims to provide a unified interface with content from different platforms, streaming or classic TV. This allows the OS to offer content on all services. Android TV is the platform on which Google TV is installed. For this reason, many Android TVs are migrated to Google TV, but it depends on the manufacturer and how old the TVs are.
What is Android TV?
Put simply, Android TV is the port of Android to your TV. You will thus find a similar operation, with access to the same functions and to a catalog of substantial applications. It's about making your TV smart and doing it with a familiar, easy-to-use interface.
One of the strengths of Android TV is certainly the integration of the Google Assistant voice assistant. This allows you to control your television by voice. Some apps like Netflix respond very well to voice commands. This allows you to launch a film or series by voice. But you can also control your TV from other devices, like your Android phone or a smartwatch. The interface presents tiles that represent the different applications or services.
Many entertainment apps are available. Android app developers have the ability to adapt apps for the big screen experience. These can be information services, such as the weather, or games. Android TV lets you quickly customize your TV content to your liking.
For a TV manufacturer, this has an undeniable advantage: why design its own smart TV platform when Google has already done so? Why develop your own apps when the community will develop for Android TV? Why have your own app store when Android TV offers Google Play? For Google, this solution also has an undeniable advantage: it places Android on the big screen of your home and offers another way to offer content or services.
How does Android TV work?
Android TV is easy to learn and use. When you turn on your television or your decoder, you see the home screen which offers the main services. It offers both vertical and horizontal navigation. The top row is the content discovery bar, which highlights suggested content from the popular apps you use. These content recommendations actually come from the Google TV engine.
Voice search
Android TV supports voice commands using Google Assistant, most often a mic is present on the remote and/or TV.
Supported voice commands include simply saying a video game title, a Netflix series, or more complex searches like “All Movies Starring Will Smith”. When you say a search, Android TV not only shows all matching results in Google Play, but also those from Netflix and other streaming services. When browsing the results, you can access additional information. Such as movie actors, director or other similar titles, but also YouTube videos with the actor you are looking for.
Applications and content
The second vertical row is a list of featured applications, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, OCS, Disney Plus, myCANAL, Spotify, Twitch, YouTube or other services streaming. On some TVs and devices, you may also see manufacturer apps.
Another vertical row is for selecting TV input, such as HDMI 1 and HDMI 2. Another vertical row below shows apps that you have downloaded or are available on your device, such as Google Play Store, Music, Album, Movies and TV Google Play, etc.
You can check out the full list of Android TV apps with this link.
Video games
Android TV offers a large catalog of single-player, multiplayer, online and offline games. You can use up to four gamepads, Android phones or tablets at the same time to compete against your friends. Start your game on your phone then continue on your TV with Google Play Games saving your progress.
With Stadia for Android TV, you turn your TV into a real game console. The games catalog has very good titles, which can be found on PC or PS5 / Xbox Series X|S console.
But it's not limited to Stadia, you also find Geforce Now and other video game streaming services. It is also possible to stream your games from your PC, to play on a very large 4K screen.
It is also an opportunity to launch board games to get together with family or friends around the TV. At least no one will have to tidy up at the end of the game!
Settings
A last row presents icons to access settings, timers and guides. If you enter the settings, you will find the classic options of connected televisions such as channel configuration, external inputs, display, sound, as well as Network and Accessories menus for Google Cast, Bluetooth (to add a device ), System Preferences and more.
Chromecast
One of the most interesting functions of Android TV is the possibility of using it to broadcast / cast a PC, smartphone, Chromebook or tablet screen. Android TV comes with Chromecast built-in.
If you don't have a TV with Android TV, but want to stream content from your computer or mobile device to your TV, you need to purchase a Chromecast dongle and plug it into your TV. On the other hand, with a television or a decoder running Android TV, the Chromecast is integrated. With such a device, you can send all your movies, music, and even browsing tabs to your TV.
What are the alternatives to Android TV?
Television manufacturers offer their own operating system. LG turned to WebOS in 2014 for the interface of its high-end televisions, and the interface is successful. Samsung, for its part, offers Tizen. But today Android TV is more and more present, it saves manufacturers from developing and maintaining their OS. Sony, TCL, Philips, HiSense and other manufacturers now mostly offer Android TV.
Apple, Roku and Amazon TV boxes are the main competitors of Android TV. While Roku devices try to be neutral and offer access to content stores from Google and Amazon, Apple TV mainly offers Apple products and Amazon Fire TV devices also give pride of place to Amazon Prime Video, Alexa and Amazon services.