The commitment to an intuitive and stable operating system means that we are seeing more and more TVs with Android TV, while we also find Chromecast with Google TV to provide a smart system for TVs that are not smart or are simply not appreciated due to their operating system. And that’s how it is two devices with two alleged operating systems face each other.
In essence, it must be said that There are many similarities between themsince in the end Android TV and Google TV are (and are based on) the same operating system. However, despite this, the systems offer some differences that, added to those of the hardware, leave two very different options when choosing one or the other.
Price is already a differential factor, logically.
The Chromecast with Google TV is a “simple” accessory, so it will always be cheaper than a TV
It goes without saying that a complete television, whether high-end or low-end, will eventually more expensive than a Chromecasteven if the latter has an operating system like Google TV. Ultimately, the TV not only has a system like Android TV, but also the rest of the hardware related to the screen and sound.
It is therefore important to clarify that These are complementary devices, but in no way the same.. With a TV equipped with Android TV, you can navigate a complete operating system through its screen. With a Chromecast with Google TV, no, since you will need to connect it to a TV.
Different version of Android they are based on
We have already talked about the similarities and differences between Android TV and Google TV several times. At the beginning of this article, we have already dropped something important and that is this both are android operating systemsGoogle TV actually being something like an Android TV launcher.
The fact is that Google is the one that develops Android and also the owners of the Chromecast, so Typically, a Chromecast is updated more often than a TV with Android TV.. In the latter case, it will also depend on the manufacturer of the device, as is the case with smartphones.
Unfortunately, the update policy for TVs is not as good as on most mobile phones, and there is also not as much transparency when it comes to how many years a TV will be updated. For this reason We’ve even seen recent high-end TVs with already old versions of Android TV or that, even if they are current when they come out, they don’t get updated much more.
Even though there are no major annual changes in a system as consumer-oriented as Android TV, it ultimately remains a differentiator and relevant element compared to others. And that’s it Chromecasts tend to get software updates every few years and are also the first to receive them. when they go out.
Pre-installed apps: bloatware? from the manufacturer
By default, some basic system apps appear on Android TV and Google TV. However, on Google TV, they are limited to those, while TVs with Android TV They come with the manufacturer’s own apps and maybe even more due to commercial agreements you have entered into with third parties.
For example, if the TV is compatible with an advanced sound standard, it is often common to see applications in which to test and/or configure it. Likewise, also third party applications of all kinds and that in some way we could consider bloatware similar to that of cell phones.
Fortunately, and again like on smartphones, most of the pre-installed Android TV apps can be removed. In some cases no, but They can always be disabled to prevent them from taking up more spacesince, as we will see later, this can also pose a problem.
Image and sound resolution
The image resolution, HD, Full HD, 4K and 8K can be found on many TVs equipped with Android TV. The standard is already 4K, although in the end it will depend on the model in question. In the Chromecast with Google TV, there are HD and 4K models. Basically, we start on an equal footing, since you can buy the device that supports the resolution you want to enjoy.
However, there are some doubts that, although they have simple answers, may not be so obvious to some. If you have an HD TV, it does not matter if you buy a Chromecast with 4K, since it will continue to display an HD image. On the other hand, if the Chromecast is HD, this will be the maximum resolution you will get even if the TV supports up to 4K.
As if that were not enough, there is also another obvious difference derived from the hardware in terms of sound. A TV with Android TV will have sound limited to that of the TV itself, while a Chromecast does not offer a sound system. The latter offers broad compatibility with advanced audio systems, but by itself it is not useful for audio playback.
What is possible in any case is to connect soundbars and other audio systems to the TV to improve the experience. If you are connected to a Chromecast that has Google TV connected to it, it will recognize it the same way as a TV with native Android TV. And here we are also referring to using bluetooth headphones
The interface may be different in both cases
Android TV interface
There are already more and more TVs equipped with Android TV whose interface is the same as that of Google TV. In fact, there are ways to install the interface with the design of Google TV. However, there are still some TVs that They retain the Android TV design and are therefore different from what you see in a Chromecast with Google TV.
It’s not that there are big differences in terms of features. As we said before, it’s ultimately Android in both cases. However, the appearance is slightly different, since Google TV features a recommendation system that the Android TV series lacks, making it look different even in its “apps only” mode.
Another example of changes between the two is The App Store is somewhat hidden in Chromecasts. Obviously, it exists, but access to Google Play on Google TV is not done via its icon, but with other formulas such as using voice command to ask for it to open or directly searching for an application to download it.
Voice commands are essential on Google TV
Yes, you can perfectly use a Chromecast with Google TV without having to use a single voice command. However, It’s a system that encourages us to use our voice for almost everything.. From asking you to download apps as we explained in the previous case, to asking you to open apps or read certain content.
On the other hand, On Android TV you can use these commands, but not always. Not so much because they are not effective for the same thing, but because some of the televisions that integrate it do not even have a microphone to listen to us.
Different styles of remote control
In a television with Android TV you will find a remote control very similar to that of an “old-fashioned” television. Almost all of them integrate the classic digital buttons for viewing DTT, volume buttons and some more oriented towards scrolling and other functions.
Example of control on Android TV (left) and on Chromecast with Google TV (right)
On the other hand, Controlling Chromecast with Google TV just got easieralthough that’s not necessarily bad news. It’s minimalist to a fault, offering only navigation buttons, volume rockers, Google Assistant launch buttons and nothing else, just enough to use the system.
NOW, The fact that the remote control is large like on TVs with Android TV also has advantages. The main one that comes to mind is being able to remap the Android TV buttons by adding shortcuts outside of the already pre-established ones. This on the Chromecast controller too, but in the end it is much more limited due to the small number of buttons.
What they both share, although in this case without shortcuts or anything similar, is that can be controlled with a smartphone. Here, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Android or an iPhone, since management is done from the ‘Google Home’ application.
Internal memory is usually problematic in both cases, although worse in TVs
And Chromecast with Google TV typically has around 8GB of storage. Although this may be sufficient in many cases, the truth is that it seems insufficient for many users.
If we move on to the other point, TVs usually have even less space. There is no clear standard, but it is not difficult to find mid-range TVs that start with only 4 GB of storage. In these cases, the problem becomes even more acute, since it is almost constantly necessary to resort to techniques to save space on Android TV. This can also be done with quality applications.
Fortunately, You can still connect external memoryeither in USB stick format or in external hard drive format. Although the Chromecast should support it via a dongle, it must be said that in the case of TVs with Android TV it is usually easier because they do not have as many connected accessories, offering greater ease through their ports.
The bottom line is that depending on your needs, one or the other is better for you. In most cases, you will have the same experience
So, if you have doubts about whether it is better for you to buy a TV with Android TV or a TV that does not have it and buy a Chromecast separately, you will see that the differences can be more than notable. Now, The user experience in most cases is generally similarSo we are not talking about two completely different worlds.
Another solution could be to Choose a TV with Android TV and add a Chromecast with Google TV. You won’t be able to merge the two systems into one and it’s also more tedious to manage both, but in a way it could be a solution to have the best of both worlds.
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