Buying a new Android TV, need recommendations

by Crackodile

I've been using a Samsung/AppleTV combo for five years, it's reliable, fast enough and a great UI. Now it's finally time to upgrade to 4K. Was almost gonna go with a new Samsung/ATV4K combo, but now I am very curious about Android TVs, as there seems to be a lot of TVs with Android built in. Looking at a 2021 model from one of the top six leading brands, don't need top of the line, but I can afford whatever I want.

My past encounters with Android TVs have always been a sluggish and awkward UI, with limited configuration options, which almost never gets updates, so I'm still very wary . Can anyone convince me to make the jump?

  • Which brands are best at updating their firmware regularly?

  • Which brands have a fast, or the best, UI?

  • Which brands have no ads, or ads that can be switched off?

  • Any major brands to avoid?

  • Can I install/sideload YouTube Vanced or SmartTubeNext on any Android smart TV? I want a completely ad-free experience on YouTube as it has too many ads these days (we can't get YT Premium in this country).

Mavi222

I'd buy the TV with the best picture quality and buy an Android TV Box (Shield Pro).

I bought a Sony Android 4K TV in 2016. The manufacturers cheap out on the CPU and RAM and the whole thing is so sluggish right now. It's really slow even for the basic tasks. I press the button for inputs, so I can change to my Android TV Box, and it takes a while for the TV to actually react to the remote input..

I am not sure about current Android TVs but it's probably better to have a TV box that you can switch later than having the Android directly in the TV and be stuck with the whatever version the manufacturer will support.

Elf-Lord

Buy the panel, with the best picture, and use an external player, such as a Shield Pro = best result

Icy-Half-4606

DON'T!!!! Smart tvs are a waste of money! Get a good tv and a streaming device!

Chris22044

Focus on choosing a TV with the best picture quality you can afford and then add a Chromecast with Google TV. The performance and frequency of updates will be much better.

jeremyrent

Buy the best TV you can get regardless of buying android tv or not and plug and android tv device to it.

TV manufacturers don't care about OS updates so I think it's a mistake to focus only on models with android tv

MrPoliSciGuy

Your best bet is to go with a Vizio - their software is barebones enough to get out of your way and (at least on the Shield remote), you can map the on-off and input buttons to the remote so you don't ever have to deal with it.

If you're privacy conscious though, I would set up with an ethernet cable then unplug it. Vizio TVs have a habit of scanning your Wifi for devices for what the CEO calls "post-purchase monetization" AKA selling ads. If that bothers you, don't give it your wifi password.

As for interface, honestly the best Android TV device is currently a tossup between the Shield and the new Chromecast. That said, if you're comfortable with Apple TV, I'd just get the new one, especially since the new remote won't give you a brain aneurysm trying to use it.

altsuperego

As others have said, you don't want to buy a tv only for the os. Picture quality, price and features are most important. Check rtings. The panel is likely to outlast the software, so eventually you will need a box. BUT Having said that, if you're thinking about a Sony, it could be a good bet. Since you said cost is not a concern. If you don't have a receiver or cable box you could have a pretty sweet one remote setup. A lot of people got burned in the early 4k days but I think they are a lot better now. Personally, I would only go with an LG OLED over a 9xx Sony if I was shopping high end and got a good deal. One caveat. Android now Google TV has decided we should have ads and they may get worse. But apple is the only one left that doesn't do that.

doinks4life

Hisense U8G or H9G and Shield Pro n call it a day. The Hisense's Android TV interface is the snappiest i have ever seen ona built in TV.

BasicAlgae5

why recommending external box

is the atv environment so bad