What is A Smart TV & An Android TV, the difference

Planing on getting a new TV this season or upgrading your TV to the smarter version?, then you might need to read this post to understand the difference between a smart TV and an Android(smart) TV.

Everything is now getting smart, from smartphones, to smart watches, smart homes and now smart TVs, here is what you need to know about smart TVs, their interesting features, what you can actually do with them, and most importantly the difference between a Smart TV and an android TV.

Before now TVs are only used for watching Compact disc videos, watching cable and terrestrial TVs, playing seca or PS games and nothing more, but that has changed since the invention of smart TVs and its boxes, now you do a whole lot of interesting stuffs with your TV.

What is A Smart TV

According to Wikipedia A smart TV, also known as a connected TV, is a traditional television set with integrated Internet and interactive Web features, which allows users to stream music and videos, browse the internet, and view photos. Smart TVs are a technological convergence of computers, televisions, and digital media players.

So literally a Smart TV is a TV with a Smart operating system like most smartphones, with a smart TV you can stream videos online on Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney, Showmax, browse the internet, cast your phone to it.

Smart TVs come with in-built apps like Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and more that lets you play games, watch videos, and stream movies. However, the operating system used in a Smart TV cannot be upgraded, which means you cannot access the latest apps.

What is an Android TV

An Android (Smart) TV is a type of Smart TV that has similar features like in-built apps and internet connectivity. But this is where the similarity ends. Android TV runs on the Android operating system powered by Google.

Android TV is definitely a step up from the conventional Smart TVs as it comes with access to the Google Play store, and you can download and update the latest app versions. As an added bonus, many Android TVs offer you access to Chromecast and built-in Google Assistant for a better TV experience. This is a significant difference between Smart TV and Android TV.

So basically an android tv is a Smart TV with android operating system, has playstore and can run android app or game effortlessly, unlike other smart TVs that run on other operating systems like the Samsung Smart TV with TIZEN OS, LG smart tv with the WEBOS , the Apple Smart TV with the TVOS, Hisense Smart TV with the VIDAA OS, etc.

You can even install any android app or game on your android tv (even those not officially available for android tvs) by following the guide here(link coming soon)

What is the difference between Smart TV and Android TV?

The basic difference between this two are the operating system, narrowing this differences down, we will compare on terms :

App support
Automatic updates
Voice assistant
Screen casting
Navigation

1 ~ App support

If we were to decide Smart TV vs Android TV, which is better in terms of app availability, Android TV would be the clear winner. Although they both support numerous in-built apps, thanks to Play Store support in an Android TV, you have millions of apps at your fingertips. From Netflix and Amazon Prime Video to YouTube, Chrome, and Instagram – you can download apps just like on your Smartphone.

Conversely, Smart TVs lack this advantage as they offer access to only a handful of popular in-built apps. Not to mention, app updates on Smart TVs are hard to come by, giving it a significant disadvantage.

You can even install any android app or game on your android tv (even those not officially available for android tvs) by following the guide here(link coming soon)

2 ~ Automatic updates

Not only does an Android TV offer you a bigger app library, but it also wins the battle of Android vs Smart TV in firmware and app updates. Typically, Android TVs enjoy active tech development, and developers keep coming up with the latest updates. Besides, when connected to the internet, you can also enjoy automatic updates.

Whereas in the case of Smart TVs, you might not get frequent updates, and the TV OS becomes outdated after a few years. It is a major difference between Android and Smart TV, making Android TV a better choice.

3 ~ Voice assistant

Another noticeable difference between Android and Smart TVis the voice assistant feature. Android TV’s built-in Google voice assistant makes it stand out from its competitor. With this feature, you don’t have to use an input device as you can switch between channels and search for your favourite content online with voice control.

Moreover, many Smart TVs also support voice control, but you will need to spend some extra bucks on a device like Alexa and pair it with your TV.

4. Screen casting

When it comes to Android vs Smart TV, both offer you the option to mirror your Smartphone to your TV. However, Screen casting in Android TVs is easier to use since it comes with the Chromecast feature. And you get crystal clear images and video streaming in high definition. In contrast, even with the built-in screen mirroring feature in a Smart TV, pairing and connecting the devices is a hassle.

5. Navigation

To choose between Android vs Smart TV in terms of ease of experience, Smart TV takes the cake. With a simple and user-friendly interface, it is easier to switch between apps as they appear on the home screen. Additionally, since it is an all-in-one TV, you don’t need to spend much time to set up.

On the other hand, an Android TV might be difficult to navigate, especially for those unfamiliar with the Android ecosystem.

Now that you know the difference between Smart TV and Android TV, it’s now left for your to make your choice.

Do you have a normal TV and would like to upgrade to an android smart TV without purchasing a new smart TV?, you can do so with the aid of an android TV box, see full details(link coming soon)