Android TV vs Smart TV: What Is The Difference?

Are you planning to buy a new TV? If so, you may have come across many brand and model options for TVs. All the TVs come under two categories: Smart TV and Android TV. Both Android and Smart TVs are familiar and have similar features. Android TV comes with Android TV OS, and Smart TVs come with different tvOS such as webOS, Tizen, Roku, FireOS, and more. If you are confused about buying the best TV, you must know the key differences between Android TV vs Smart TV.

What is an Android TV?

Android TV is just like a smart TV that runs on Android TV OS, which is developed by Google. It is available for television sets, digital media players, set-top boxes, streaming devices, and soundbars. It supports a wide range of apps, and you can download the apps from Google Play Store. Android TV has a user-friendly interface and integrates with Google technologies such as Google Assistant and Chromecast.

Android TV Models

• Sony Android TV
• TCL Android TV
• Panasonic Android TV
• Sharp Android TV
• Philips Android TV
• JVC Android TV
• Skyworth Android TV
• Hisense Android TV

What is a Smart TV?

A smart TV is always referred to as an internet TV, and it is available in different TV OSs. You can access additional programming via the internet on smart TVs. It gives you a lot of advanced features and comes with many in-built applications like Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Kayo, Amazon Prime, and more. Apart from that, you can install various apps from the dedicated store based on the TV OS you have. Most Smart TVs have the support for AirPlay and Chromecast.

Smart TV Models

• Samsung Smart TV
• LG Smart TV
• Vizio Smart TV
• Hisense Smart TV
• TCL Smart TV

Android TV vs Smart TV: Key Differences

Applications

Both Android TV and Smart TV support plenty of apps and games. If you have an Android TV, you can install more than 7000 apps from Google Play Store as you do on your Android smartphone. Further, you can also install apps on Android TV in different categories. In case you don’t find the app on the Play Store, you can sideload the app with its apk file.

Applications on smart TVs are limited. On a smart TV, you can install only the supported apps by respective tvOS. Except for the supported apps, you cannot install any apps on the TV. Unlike Android TV, you cannot sideload any apps on a smart TV. However, you will get popular apps to watch, and Smart TVs are best for gaming.

Automatic Update

The developers regularly release new updates for Android TV OS, and it includes updates for all the applications & the media content. If you have connected your Android TV to a WiFi network, it will update automatically whenever there is a new update. But smart TVs don’t get regular updates. If you buy a smart TV, it remains with the same features for a long time. You don’t get updates for smart TVs frequently. Whereas on Android TV, you will get updated with new features.

Voice Assistant

Android TV and Smart TV both come with a remote control to control the TV. On the Android TV remote, you get an in-built Google Assistant, which makes you navigate the TV with your voice. But, smart TVs don’t come with voice control, so you have to type with the on-screen keyboard while searching for some apps and media content. The Google Assistant button makes the Android TV look better.

Chromecast and Screen Mirroring

The next most useful feature that you find on Android and smart TVs is Chromecast support. With this support, you can watch any media content from your smartphone on your TV. There are a lot of streaming apps available with in-built Chromecast support. If you don’t find an app in the respective stores, you can cast it from your smartphone. If the app is not compatible with Chromecast, you can screen mirror your Android smartphone to the TV. However, you can screen mirror only your Android smartphone. In addition to Chromecast, smart TVs support AirPlay too. If you have an iOS smartphone, you can AirPlay content to a smart TV.

Android TV vs Smart TV: The Verdict

Both TVs bring useful features to enhance our streaming experience. However, smart TVs perform faster than Android TVs. Android TVs are available at affordable prices, whereas Smart TVs prices are higher. If you are planning to buy a TV for gaming purposes, you can go for smart TVs. Otherwise, the best option is Android TV because it is often updated with new features, and it supports thousands of streaming applications.

Frequently Asked Questions