Google TV and Android TV, both products of Google, are platforms for smart TVs and set-top boxes. While they share a common origin, there are key differences between the two that impact user experience.
At its core, Google TV is essentially Android TV with a fresh look and new features. It’s similar to how Samsung’s One UI is an overlay on Android, providing a different user interface while still running on the Android operating system. So, every Google TV device is essentially Android TV at its core, but Android TV devices are not Google TV.
The most noticeable difference between Google TV and Android TV is the home screen. Google TV has completely revamped the home screen experience to be based on recommendations. Movies and TV shows from your subscribed streaming services, along with recommendations for other content, are displayed on the home screen. This setup process for a new device happens through the Google Home app, where Google asks you to choose your streaming services to customize the home screen recommendations.
Another key component of the Google TV home screen is the “Watchlist”. You can add movies and TV shows to your Watchlist from Google Search on your phone, tablet, or computer. They will then be easily accessible from the Google TV home screen on the “Library” tab. The content is also available in the Google TV app, which was renamed from the Google Play Movies & TV app. It’s still the place to rent and purchase movies and TV shows in Google’s ecosystem, but now it also includes your streaming services and Watchlist.
While Android TV devices like NVIDIA Shield TV will receive a home screen update, Google TV is still fundamentally Android TV. Most recent Google Play-powered TVs and streaming devices now come with Google TV. However, there are some great Android TV devices still out there. Despite the name change and new features, Google TV is still fundamentally Android TV, offering a broad selection of apps available through the Google Play Store.
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