Android TV

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karlreay

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Good day,

I am looking at a buying a new TV. I use a Android TV box to watch TV and series. I was wondering if I could remove the box and just use an Android TV instead. There are some awesome TVs out there.

But i am concerned that if the Android version on the TV is updated like a normal Android device, and i wont be able to install my apps to watch tv and series.

Is the Android TV the way to go or is it easier to buy a non android tv and just keep the box? Easier to replace the box and not as costly as a TV to replace
 
Don't make a decision based on the need for an Android box. Get a TV with the best specs for your budget and continue using the box if needs be. My TV has all the bells and whistles but I still use my Android box...
 
How long do Android TV's typically last before the OS cannot be updated anymore? My LG's OS cannot be updated anymore and it is not even that old :(

Get a nice TV and an Android TV box. Then update the Android TV box later if need be.
 
dualmeister said:
How long do Android TV's typically last before the OS cannot be updated anymore? My LG's OS cannot be updated anymore and it is not even that old :(

Get a nice TV and an Android TV box. Then update the Android TV box later if need be.
Click to expand...
When have you heard Android TVs not getting an update? Plus you can have Android 8, most apps from the Play Store will work.

Seriously, comparing Google to LG?

OP get a Skyworth. Mine is on Android (10) TV. You'll get all your streaming apps. You can also side load apps.
 
NeonNinja said:
When have you heard Android TVs not getting an update? Plus you can have Android 8, most apps from the Play Store will work.

Seriously, comparing Google to LG?

OP get a Skyworth. Mine is on Android (10) TV. You'll get all your streaming apps. You can also side load apps.
Click to expand...
Until Google starts pushing updates that require certain hardware to be in place, like they did on mobile devices. If that ever happens, it'll be cheaper to replace a box than your TV...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Until Google starts pushing updates that require certain hardware to be in place, like they did on mobile devices. If that ever happens, it'll be cheaper to replace a box than your TV...
Click to expand...
Still, mainstream apps will be backward compatible for a while.

The first thing that happened when I got the TV was to install a 1.16GB update. That's a good start to me.
 
I used to use a box and now have an Android TV. No problem with any of the apps running, but I've kept my box around for "just in case", as others have suggested. It's marginally simpler to use just the TV and everything seems to be updated pretty regularly. My TV is about 18 months old.
 
NeonNinja said:
When have you heard Android TVs not getting an update? Plus you can have Android 8, most apps from the Play Store will work.

Seriously, comparing Google to LG?

OP get a Skyworth. Mine is on Android (10) TV. You'll get all your streaming apps. You can also side load apps.
Click to expand...
I was asking a question as I do not know the answer.

For example I had to buy my daughter a new tablet just because the Android version no longer supported the latest Netflix app.
So I could possibly see this happening with an Android TV as well.
 
Skyworth and TCL make good cheaper TVs

If you have the money then Sony Bravia is also a good choice but only HiFi corp sell them
 
NeonNinja said:
Still, mainstream apps will be backward compatible for a while.

The first thing that happened when I got the TV was to install a 1.16GB update. That's a good start to me.
Click to expand...
The other thing that doesn't seem to come up much is wear and tear on the remote. Whichever platform you use to consume media is going to take its toll on the remote after a while.

Remotes for the main boxes are cheap and easily available. TVs not so much...
 
NeonNinja said:
When have you heard Android TVs not getting an update? Plus you can have Android 8, most apps from the Play Store will work.

Seriously, comparing Google to LG?

OP get a Skyworth. Mine is on Android (10) TV. You'll get all your streaming apps. You can also side load apps.
Click to expand...
Funny enough my parents Skyworth had a security update yesterday
 
dualmeister said:
I was asking a question as I do not know the answer.

For example I had to buy my daughter a new tablet just because the Android version no longer supported the latest Netflix app.
So I could possibly see this happening with an Android TV as well.
Click to expand...
Netflix still supports Android 7 that came out in 2016 so it must've been an ancient tablet.
 
OK makes sense.

In terms of software versions, Android TV is nothing like Android on smartphones. Sure, its software names correspond with those of the mobile OS, but the way its updates roll out is starkly different. For instance, Google released the Android 12 update for its TV platform in November last year, but almost none of the Android TV devices out there have jumped onto the latest version or even Android 11. The new Chromecast with Google TV, for instance, is still on the rather outdated Android 10.

Source
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
The other thing that doesn't seem to come up much is wear and tear on the remote. Whichever platform you use to consume media is going to take its toll on the remote after a while.

Remotes for the main boxes are cheap and easily available. TVs not so much...
Click to expand...
BS. Go on Takealot and look at the Skyworth remote and look at the Firestick remote. And please don't waffle about a R100 difference.
 
dualmeister said:
How long do Android TV's typically last before the OS cannot be updated anymore? My LG's OS cannot be updated anymore and it is not even that old :(

Get a nice TV and an Android TV box. Then update the Android TV box later if need be.
Click to expand...
I bought mine a while back, back in 2018/19.
Still gets updates, but update releases are slow...
How old is yours?
 
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