Android or Smart? Which TV is best for you and why?

If you are planning to buy a TV then you might get confused between android and smart TV. In this post, I'll be covering the difference between these 2 types of TV and which one is best for you. Moreover, if you don't want to buy a TV then I'll teach you how you can upgrade your existing TV. 

Now, the question is what is a smart TV?

A smart TV is called smart TV because of its accessibility to the internet (Android TVs can do that too). Smart TVs are more user-friendly than Android TVs. Most of the features are built-in features. This means you can't install any other apps on a smart TV. Most of the smart TV comes with pre-installed YouTube, amazon prime, Hulu, HBO, radio (or maybe a browser that nobody might uses). Just remember you can't uninstall them or install another new type of apps on a smart TV. Although sometimes you can download apps if there is a platform for apps but keep in mind that there will be limited apps to download. Again, sometimes the manufacturer may release new updates for the smart TV software. 

Why should I buy a Smart TV?

The only reason you might like to buy a smart TV is because of its user-friendly interface and fewer options. You don't need to do any kind of setup for a smart TV since it doesn't have any kind of app store.

What is the disadvantage of a Smart TV?

Well, smart TV is just simple. Now, imagine your smart TV comes with Netflix, amazon prime but it doesn't have Hulu or HBO then you can't get these apps in your smart TV because you can't install any kind of apps in this type of TV.

Now, what is an Android TV?

An Android TV comes with an integrated android / Chromecast system and because of that, you have access to Play Store. You can install and uninstall anything you like. Also, Android TV comes with google assistance and voice control which makes it more advanced than Smart TVs. Although, nowadays some manufacturers are also adding voice control to their smart TVs. 

Why should I buy an Android TV?

If you want more versatility in your TV then you should always go for an Android TV. Imagine you live in the US but you want to see a Japanese show on Netflix. You can download a VPN on your Android TV and use it to unlock Japanese shows on Netflix. 

What is the disadvantage of an Android TV?

Well, if you are unfamiliar with android OS then you might face a few difficulties. An Android TV interface can be complicated for a normal user. It is not as simple as a Smart TV.

Which one to buy?

Well, the buying decision depends on your demands. If you want a simple and minimalistic interface then you can go for a Smart TV. On the other hand, if you want more versatility in your TV then you can go for an Android TV. 

Can Android TV and Smart TV connect to the internet?

Yes. Both of these TV can connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. If your TV can't connect to the internet then that's just a normal TV.

Can I cast Youtube videos on Smart TVs?

Yes, you can do that on both TV but you do need to pair your Smart TV with your mobile device.

I don't want to buy another TV, so how do I upgrade my current TV?

If you have a normal tv and if it has an HDMI port then you can easily upgrade your current tv into an android TV using a TV box, Fire TV Stick, or Chromecast.

I have a smart TV but I want more versatility. Is it possible for me to do that?

Yes. It is possible to use a streaming device like Fire HD or Chromecast on TV.

Can I turn my 1080p full HD display into a 4k display using a 4k streaming device?

NO! If your TV only supports full HD then that is the highest quality resolution for you. You can not improve full HD to 4k quality by using a 4k streaming device. 

Which streaming device is best for you?

Well, there are lots of streaming devices in the market. If you want an android experience then you can go for Google Chromecast or NVIDIA SHIELD. These two devices will give you access to the play store as well as Google Assistance. Again, you can go for Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Box. You can get Alexa voice control from these 2 devices. But remember these two will give you access to the Amazon app store not the google app store. Both are good and both contain a wide variety of apps in the store.

Read about Amazon Fire TV here.