Android TV was launched in 2014 by Google with high hopes and expectations. However, the platform faced very difficult times in the initial stages before finally making some reasonable progress. It is quite difficult to understand but it looks like Google has different plans. This is because Android TV is gradually fading from the system while Google TV is taking over.
In the past decade or so, Android TV has been the main power behind brands such as Hisense, Sony, TCL, NVidia etc. By 2020, you could find Android TV on seven out of every ten smart TVs available globally. Since then, this number has been on the rise.
In the same year of 2020, Google introduced another TV player into the game. The Google TV debuted on Google Chromecast through the Google TV Streaming Dongle. The Google TV however is based on the same platform as the Android TV OS which causes some confusions. This is because Google TV focuses more on recommendations for consumers. Meanwhile the Android TV that has been around for some years now does not seem to have any future.
As at now, it is very difficult to tell the main difference between the two platforms. This is because Google sells both together without clarifying their main differences.
Google TV Transition was Supposed to Take Two Years
Initially. Google said that the transition from Android TV to Google TV was only going to take two years. This means Google TV was supposed to start expanding to TV makers from 2021. Meanwhile, Google kept selling it as sole consumer experience as of 2022.
The main goal here is to have Google TV as the only option for consumers. But this does not seem to be happening as some manufactures still use the Android TV system. Nonetheless, there has been a noticeable change with the rest of the manufacturers who still use Android TV.
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Most Brands Are Shifting to Google TV
First of all, most of Google’s major smart TV partners are beginning to ditch Android TV and shift to Google TV. Sony was the first to take the step followed by TCL in 2021, then Hisense joined in 2022. The shift is more noticed in the US where most of the TV sets listed on Best Buy’s website are Google TV instead of Android TV. Also, most Android TV sets on Best Buy are old models.
This happens to be the same with other formfactors such as projectors. In recent years most projectors are equipped with Android TV. The shift to Google has already begun with Leica taking the lead. At the CES 2023, Leica launched the world’s first projector with Google TV system.
TV Boxes and Dongles are also shifting with the most recent of them being T-Mobile’s TVision Hub. Brands like Mecool has also joined the Google TV trend with models in the KD3 streaming stick and the KM7 Plus box. Brands like Realme and Skyworth are all on the shifting course.
Android TV is Still Alive Even Though Google TV is Taking Over
This does not solely mean that Android TV is completely dead. The interface will still be available on devices that are used by cable and TV satellites providers in some countries. Even this year 2023, we have come across a lot of Android Tv launches in some regions. Such regions include Africa, Taiwan and China. In such regions, the Google TV platform is still not yet available.
Android TV is still very much in operation, but we just wish that it is from a different company. It is quite unfortunate to admit that both come from the same company. Due to this, one must definitely give way for the other. Obviously enough, Android TV will eventually fade out and Google TV will fully take over.