Comparison between ATV and Vizio SmartCast

by Solar111

Hi all -- Have any of you compared Android TV to Vizio's SmartCast OS ? I'm curious to know your impressions.

SmartCast is evidently based on Linux (no surprise there), and the TVs have Chromecast built-in, so you might say it has some of the same lineage as Android TV.

I'm looking at Android TV on the Sony X950G vs. a Vizio P-Series with SmartCast. I decided to cross TCL off my list, even though Roku is pretty good from what I hear. The TCLs have severe vertical banding issues in some percentage of the TVs, and their picture isn't as good as the Sony Android TV. Anyway, I'm curious for any impressions you have on Android TV vs. SmartCast. I assume that Android TV gets more apps, and they're update more...

pawdog

They are not worth comparing. Smartcast is like a bolted on version of some sad smart TV interface hardly worth talking about other than it's also a Chromecast Ultra equivalent. You get whatever apps Vizio can get on it but there is no store. Do not buy your TV based on the smart part of it. None of them are going to be as good as adding an Nvidia Shield. I would seriously budget for a Shield if I were getting a new TV and didn't already have one.

adamappdev

Vizio's smart OS is like a flip phone os while Android TV is like a smartphone os.

Seriously

dogsdawgs

I own a Vizio smartcast TV. In my opinion it's a solid TV. They updated it to natively run Amazon prime video, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, YouTube TV... And more. I use those features daily. That being said. I have a shield TV hooked up to it for games, plex, and a few other things.

If you just want the major streaming services, the Vizio TV will get the job done, however, if you want gaming and a better selection of apps, get something with Android TV built in.