Android TV and Google TV
Last reviewed 2026-11-02.
They’re the same system with different home screens
Android TV is Google’s operating system for TVs. Google TV is a newer home screen and set of services that runs on top of Android TV: the underlying system, settings and developer tools are the same.
| Android TV | Google TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Home screen | Rows of apps and channels | Content-first: For you, Live, Apps tabs, profiles |
| Settings layout | Settings › Device Preferences › … | Settings › System › … |
| Developer options unlock | Device Preferences › About › Build | System › About › Android TV OS build |
| Choosing a screensaver | Built-in Screen saver menu that usually lists installed screensavers | Only Google’s Ambient mode; other screensavers are hidden |
For ArtFrameRemote the main practical difference is the last row: on Google TV, ArtFrameRemote has to switch the screensaver for you (see Screensavers and power).
Check which you have, and which version
- Open Settings (gear icon). On some Google TV home screens, choose All settings first.
- Google TV: System › About. Android TV: Device Preferences › About.
- Look for Android TV OS version (for example
12) and Android TV OS build.
Versions by year
Manufacturers update on their own schedules, so a 2021 TV may be on 10 or 12. Check your own TV as above.
| Android TV OS | Era | Typical devices |
|---|---|---|
| 5–8 | 2015–2018 | First Sony and Philips Android TVs |
| 9 | 2018–2020 | Most 2018–2020 TVs, Xiaomi Mi Box S, older TCL and Hisense Android TV |
| 10 | 2020–2021 | Chromecast with Google TV 4K at launch, Sony 2021 Google TV at launch |
| 11 | 2020–2022 | NVIDIA SHIELD (SHIELD Experience 9.x), some TCL and Xiaomi models |
| 12 | 2022–2025 | Chromecast with Google TV (from Oct 2022), Sony 2022–2025 Google TV including BRAVIA 7/8/9, onn. 4K Pro at launch |
| 13 | — | Developer release only; folded into 14 |
| 14 | 2024– | Google TV Streamer (launch), Chromecast with Google TV and onn. 4K (2025 updates), Sony entry models (from Aug 2025) |
| 16 | 2026– | Announced; Google skipped 15 for TV |
Rows for 5–12 combine manufacturer announcements and press coverage; dates vary by region. Sources: Android 14 for TV, 9to5Google: Chromecast Android 12, 9to5Google: Chromecast Android 14, Notebookcheck: Sony Android 14.
What changes with the version
| 9–11 | 12 | 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the Mac connects | Port 5555 | Port 5555 | Google’s devices: pairing code (Connecting) |
| Screensaver delay below 6 minutes | Works | Reportedly prevents the screensaver | Reportedly prevents the screensaver |
| Show It Now in ArtFrameRemote | Works | Works | May not work |