Is there a difference between a smart TV’s built-in YouTube or Netflix app versus their Android TV counterparts?

by unbearablylight

I recently got a smart TV, and have ordered the Google TV with chromecast. My smart TV at the moment doesn’t have Android TV but instead has built in YT, Prime and Netflix.

I was wondering if, once I set up Android TV and access YT etc from it as opposed to pressing the designated YT button on the remote, there will be a difference between the built in app versus the Android TV app.

Or will Android TV OS completely take over the smart TV OS and there won’t be an option to load the native YT app anymore? In this case, will pressing home on the remote take me to the Android TV home page as opposed to the built in home page of the TV’s natural OS?

Sorry if that’s unclear. Long time Apple user trying to make sense of my new toy!

CallMeMrGibbs

The chromecast version will keep getting updates until the service no longer exists or it requires a lot more resources to use (pretty much never as my old chromecasts work fine). With the TV version it's whenever the manufacturer stops pushing them.

As someone who has had smart tvs since the plasma days, they're disconnected from the internet and I use a streaming device. Often faster, less clunky and updated quickly.

Ricardocmc

The dongle will only be accessible through the HDMI input, it won't "take over" the TV's OS. You'll still have access to both but to use the Chromecast you'll have to select the appropriate HDMI input.

3WolfTShirt

I dont have Google TV or chrome cast so take that into consideration, but...

I have a Samsung smart TV with all the bells and whistles and nearly every app you can think of, including YouTube. I also have a Roku connected to it. The Roku has its own YouTube app. If I select YouTube from the Samsung TV menu it uses the Samsung app. In order to use the YouTube app on the Roku I have to select Roku first, then once in the Roku menu, select the YouTube app. They're completely separate and distinct.

Don't know if the same goes for Google hardware though.

BiggussDikkuss

There is a difference in that Smart TV's that have good Motion Handling will playback the highly variable Frame Rate YouTube video has - noticeably smoother vs the CCGTV dongle.

If you are a Nvidia Shield user, that device cannot do 4K HDR YouTube - but 4K HDR Smart TV's have no problem with that.

TIP: on Android TV devices the 3rd party SmartYoutube App will eliminate annoying Google Advertising. Sideload it by whatever mean necessary.

The Beta version of the SmartYT App is good as well.