GoKawiilC. Scott Brown / Android Authority
At this point, I’ve tried and tested almost every major streaming platform. I’ve used Google TV on Xiaomi’s TV Box S, I own an Apple TV 4K (which I mostly keep in my mom and dad’s room), and I’ve spent time with Roku and Samsung’s Tizen-based One UI for smart TVs.
That said, at home I use a Sony TV and a Samsung smart TV with a Xiaomi TV Box S plugged in, so most of my usage still revolves around Android TV and Google TV. It’s not like Google’s platforms are bad or missing key features compared to something like Apple TV or even Amazon Fire TV, but the overall experience just hasn’t been great for me.
And the more I’ve used alternatives, sometimes without even meaning to, the more I’ve realized something pretty simple: Google TV just isn’t for me, and the alternative I’ve landed on is a bit unconventional — but it might actually be the better replacement.
Would you use a Windows-powered streaming device? 57 votes Yes, that sounds like a great idea! 25 % Maybe. 25 % No, I'm fine with existing streaming devices. 51 %
The Google TV problem isn’t hardware, but the overall experience
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Look, I’m not against Google TV or anything. In fact, I think it offers one of the best app ecosystems among streaming platforms, with plenty of perks, like smartphone control and access to free live channels.
But I’m not the first, and definitely not the last, to say that the overall experience on Google TV feels jittery and not very optimized. As my colleague Joe Maring noted, the platform is overloaded with ads (the sponsored content you see as soon as you turn it on). On top of that, issues like missing apps and audio glitches made him switch from a Google TV Streamer to an Apple TV 4K.
And it’s not just about hardware either. Sure, performance can be better on more powerful devices, but most of the issues people run into with Google TV come down to the software experience. And honestly, it doesn’t feel like Google is doing enough to improve it. If anything, platform updates have slowed significantly, with major updates arriving only every couple of years.
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