Projectors
What is Android TV and how is it different from Google TV?
Android TV is Google's operating system for televisions, projectors and streaming boxes: it has an app store to install Netflix, YouTube or Disney+ and is controlled with a remote. Google TV is its newer version, with a home screen that gathers recommendations from all your apps in one place.
Android TV versus Google TV
Under the hood they are the same system: Google TV is Android TV with a different home screen. Instead of organizing by apps, it organizes by movies and shows and suggests what to watch based on what you like.
The apps are the same on both. The difference is in how you browse, not in what you can install.
Android TV is not the same as "runs Android"
Many portable projectors say "Android 11" or "Android 14": they use a tablet version of Android adapted to the big screen. It lets you install apps, but it is not the Android TV certified by Google.
The difference shows with some streaming apps, which require certified devices to play in high definition or to work with the remote. That is why it is worth checking whether the app you use most appears in the device's store, or keeping an alternative such as a streaming stick plugged into HDMI.
What to check before you buy
- Ask which apps come installed or can be downloaded, especially the one you use most.
- Check RAM and storage: with little memory, the system slows down when you have several apps.
- An HDMI input lets you connect a streaming stick or a console if an app is not available.
Products with Android TV and Google TV in our store
This is how it appears on their spec sheet. Open each one to see all its specifications.
Guides to help you choose
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the device. On Google-certified ones it works normally; on others it may not be available or may play at a lower resolution. A streaming stick on HDMI solves it on any projector.