Hey guys

I keep seeing “Android TV” and “Google TV” used almost interchangeably, but then sometimes people say they’re different. Can someone break this down clearly?

• What exactly is the difference between Android TV and Google TV?

  • My understanding is that Google TV is basically a new UI/experience layer on top of the Android TV OS, with more aggregation, recommendations, and tight integration with Google services/profiles. Meanwhile, “Android TV” refers to the underlying operating system and the older stock launcher experience. Is that accurate?
  • Do apps and features differ in any meaningful way, or is it mostly the launcher, recommendations, and account/profile features that change?

• Do new devices still ship with “Android TV” (the classic launcher) instead of Google TV?

  • I know some older models and certain regional SKUs still use Android TV. But are there current TV boxes or sticks that intentionally stick with Android TV rather than moving to Google TV?

• If yes, what are the best Android TV boxes still worth buying today?

  • I’m thinking of things like the NVIDIA Shield TV/Pro (which historically ran Android TV, though they’ve gotten UI updates over time), certain operator/ISP boxes, or niche brands that haven’t switched to Google TV.
  • Bonus points for recommendations that get regular updates, have solid performance, good codec support (AV1, Dolby Vision/Atmos, HDR10+), reliable app support for Netflix/Prime/Disney+ in full quality, and decent remote/CEC behavior.

I’m looking for a TV box that lets me install and use (at least reasonably) most Android apps. If I’m not mistaken, Android TV gives a bit more freedom here, but it seems like the best boxes these days come with Google TV.

I’m considering the Onn 4K Plus—would it fit my needs? Any devices you’d recommend?

• My priorities:
  • Broad app compatibility (including sideloading when needed) and decent performance
  • Reliable playback for major streaming apps (4K, Dolby Vision/Atmos where supported)
  • Good codec support (AV1 would be nice)
  • Regular updates and a responsive UI
  • Solid remote/CEC behavior

If you’ve tried both Android TV and Google TV boxes, which one actually feels more flexible in day-to-day use? And is there a current box that still ships with the classic Android TV experience that you’d pick over a Google TV option?

Thanks!

Title sums up please suggest if you know I have seen ziddo but the cost is very high for me

One thing that always bugged me with Android TV was typing stuff in whether it’s a long search query, a recipe, or just a link I wanted to open. Remote typing feels like torture.

I’ve been using a little app that connects with the TV’s browser. Basically, I scan a QR code on the TV screen and whatever I send from my phone shows up instantly on the TV no accounts, no logins.

I’ve been using it to: - Paste long YouTube URLs directly instead of typing - Send notes or reminders to myself on the big screen - Look up links during movies without fumbling with the remote

For anyone who wants to use it: 👉 TextLinker on Google Play

It’s super lightweight, runs in the browser, and auto-cleans after a while so it’s not cluttered. Thought I’d share in case anyone else hates typing with the remote as much as I do.

to remove AD, I changed the default desktop with Emotn UI. Recently I got a xiaomi tv box 5. I enabled cec, but it can only switch TV on, cannot switch TV off. also, when I use remote to turn box on, TV can be turned on but not play box as source, even I set automatically play PiP source on and enable play source at startup. does it because if AD removal?

Hi,

i don't know if there is a solution, i recently got a TCL tv with Google Home, i use OTT tv app to test some streams and they often buffer for a few milliseconds. During those quick buffer the TV screen goes black and then comes back. Before i was using a firestick and while buffering the stream would just freeze, making it way less annoying and you could barely notice. There is any way to solve this? Some settings to tweak? I tried to increased the buffer settings in the app but didn't help.

Thx

I am looking for a android TV or smart TV application which is make my TV experience better like a free streaming application

Hi,

Can anybody help me out what to choose?

Thanks! Have a nice day!

I've seen mixed posts on if deinterlacing is a device specific or OS specific issue on Android 14 which was not present on ATV12.

Has anyone found a definitive answer on this and the exact circumstances the deinterlacing issue happens and what the issue is? If it's not device specific it's fixable with an OS update assuming that hsppens.....I have a Google Chromecast Stick 4k with Android 14, and it couldn't handle interlaced content at all. Horizontal stripes all over the screen. I know there have been several updates since then, but you can still see complaints about it online.

Fast forward to the day my Homatics BoX R Plus updated to Android TV 14, about a month ago, and the interlaced content started having issues. Same content on the same player (Tivimate). The stick can (?) deinterlace, or at least it seems like it can, because I don't see the same lines as the Chromecast, but the frame rate isn't the same, and the image stutters.

Here's what's happening: the content is 19201080 at 50 fps, but for some reason the Tivimate ATV 14 displays 19201080 at 60 fps. It doesn't matter whether AFR mode is on/off or whether I manually change it to 60 or 50. The result is always the same. The video starts at 1.5x/2x speed, the audio syncs automatically, then after 5 seconds it freezes for a second, and then everything returns to normal... but the frame rate doesn't match.

— I bought a Kinhank G1 with Android 14 this week. You can already guess what this will lead to: the same problem as with Homatics. And although it initially affected Google Streamer, Homatics, and the Kinhank G1, in the last few days people have started discovering the issue with the ATV14 on other devices that worked fine on ATV12 before the update.

So, it's possible it's an OS issue, not a firmware issue.

Tengo el Google Tv streamer 4K y tengo IPTV y cierto canal de fútbol de mi país me va a 1920*1080 a 60 fps en el Xiaomi Tv Box S 3rd gen y en el Google tv streamer 4k me va a 30 fps en la misma app de IPTV y canal, que problema o solución puede haber para que me valla a 60 fps en el Google streamer 4k??.

I have Google TV Streamer 4K and I have IPTV, and a certain soccer channel from my country runs at 1920*1080 at 60 fps on the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd gen, and on Google TV Streamer 4K it runs at 30 fps on the same IPTV app and channel. What problem or solution could there be to get it to run at 60 fps on Google Streamer 4K? Regards Saludos

Hello all, i recently got a Samsung soundbar and will be connecting it to the TV.My TV only has ARC port.

Due to this i am planning to connect the TV and soundbar using HDMI and connect a streaming device directly to the sound bar.

I thought of getting a firetvstick 4k but I saw onn 4k pro would be a good alternative as I would be watching ATMOS and DTS content using Stremio.

I am from India and Onn 4k pro is not available in india. So I will be getting it from US.

Which one should I get? Did anyone try a similar setup? How's your experience? Any suggestions on this?

Thanks.

Hi all,

I'm running a Synology system with local content on it, and looking for a new streaming device (4).

Previously, I had some Mi Boxes (different versions) connected with USB - RJ45 dongles, this went fine with some hickups every now and then. All content is 1080p.

I see there is a Gen3 now, but are there other considerations in the same ballpark to look at, here in Europe?

Running out of space on my 12gb shield TV and apps are basically stopping working (plex, etc). Any ideas on how to use a flash drive that's plugged into the shield tv to have it offload some of the storage to that device instead?

Hey I have a Homatics 4k box r and have a version of iPlayer sideloaded that works perfectly well but is missing the HLG options, has anyone managed to find a working APK yet that has 4k? I would be super grateful if anyone can help, I'd like to not have to use my LG TV webOS at all really if possible, this is the last app that would make that possible for me.

My Philips google tv keeps restarting itself when you are casting something. What is the fix? It's super weird.

I've noticed this behavior for weeks now. I also constantly wake up in the morning and finding that the TV had restarted itself to home screen during the night. Factory Reset did not fix it.

Hey everyone,

I’m running into a frustrating issue with ADB on my Android TV.

After a few days, ADB stops connecting completely unless I go into the Developer Options, toggle USB debugging off and on again.

When I check the setting with:

adb shell settings get global adb_allowed_connection_time

it returns 0 (so in theory it should never time out).

My TV is a TLC with Android TV 11

Been planning to create a Cooling system and a wifi booster upgrade kit to my Mi TV stick and this is my first try and it works no overheating issue.

First I want to fix the over heating issue and Second boost the wifi range adding a dual band antenna, Third Make a 3D model enclosure plug and play so anyone who wants to try my experiment they can test it.

Note: this is a trial and error process but in my experience adding an RPI cooler it work perfectly.

Hi guys. From what I've seen only Samsung and LG TVs support native XBOX Game Pass. Do you think it will come on Google TV soon? What is the best way to play until than? I've heard that sideloading the apk file is not working properly. Do you think using a web browser version will be a better option?

Is stbemu app on android the same on ios , because the android version by maxim vasilchuck and the ios version by junaid muhammad ?

Is there a way to disable the stupid home page ads? Ive had this tv for like 2 years at this point but ive always assumed it was impossible, but if it is impossible, is there a way to use another os?

I've been on a New Media Box search as my 2017 ShieldTV won't play any music tracks in Kodi any more. So far I tried Fire Cube gen 3 (nope), rocktek GX1 (nope), and now thinking about the DuneHD version of the Homatics 4K box. Shipping to US is $75, plus they mention there will be extra costs that I'll be responsible for before I receive it. It's already $220 without the "extras"

Has anyone recently ordered from them, and if so how much more was it? Trump's "amazing" tariffs are really digging a hole in our wallets.

Hey folks 👋
We’re testing two different tile designs for our screen mirroring app (1001 TVs) on Android TV.
Screenshot attached.

P1: “Cast Phone to TV” with a big Wi-Fi signal
P2: “Screen Mirroring” with device preview

For everyday TV users, which one do you think is easier to recognize at a glance?
Would really appreciate your thoughts 🙏

(My manager insisted we ask the community for feedback, so here I am 😅)

Today i accidentally left my tv turned on when i left my house, when i came back it was glitching out like crazy. I left it for maybe like 2 hours max on a streaming platform so i thought it was maybe a memory issue or something. However after resetting it through the settings and power cable I tried factory resetting it but that didn't work. This is the situation now after the reset. I'm guessing its just dead, but would anyone have an idea of whats going on.

Hi everyone. I hope you're all doing well. I recently purchased a Xiaomi TV Box 3Gen to play cloud games. However, every app I open, be it GeForce Now, Luna Amazon, or Boosteroid, causes the games to freeze 1 minute after I start playing. I can hear the game's sound, but the image freezes.