Android TV vs Chromecast - these are the differences

Android TV and Chromecast are great smart TV solutions. This practical tip will tell you what the two systems have in common and where the differences lie.

Android TV vs Chromecast - the most important information

Android TV and Chromecast are both responsible for allowing you to watch content from the Internet or from your smartphone on a TV. Smart TV systems are also relatively similar in other respects - but there are significant differences.

• Android TV is a separate operating system and therefore runs on a variety of devices. It can do its job on a smart TV as well as on streaming devices like the Nvidia Shield. Chromecasts, on the other hand, are all produced and sold by Google - there is no other provider of this hardware.
• Because Android TV is a standalone operating system, you can also install apps on it. At the same time, you can transfer content from your smartphone via Google Cast, which most popular apps now support. And if an application is not designed for the smart TV, you can mirror the entire screen of your smartphone. The Chromecast also has the capabilities of Google Cast. However, this has to do without the ability to install apps directly on it.
• It's no longer a secret that Android TV is a standalone system, while the Chromecast can be seen more as an extension of your smartphone. Due to the different mode of operation, different hardware is used by the manufacturers, which you can clearly see in the price. If you can do without 4k streaming, the Chromecast 2 is well advised to pay a little more than 30 euros. For a really good Android TV box, however, you have to put around 100 euros on the table.
• Of course there are also cheap Android TV solutions in the range of 40 euros. However, these generally offer quite poor performance.
• If you don't want to spend much on a streaming experience and don't mind having to use a smartphone to control it, a Chromecast is a good choice. But if an independent streaming system is more important to you, you are better off with a reasonable Android TV box.

In the next article you will find the seven best games for Android TV.