Google TV is arguably the most versatile smart TV platform around. You’ll find it in some of the latest TVs from Sony and TCL. There’s a simplified version for Android phones and you can get it for any TV by buying a Chromecast with Google TV dongle.
Plug the dongle into an HDMI port on your TV (or just turn on your TV if it has Google TV built in) and it opens you up to a world of streamed content, from Google’s own massive library to Amazon Prime, Netflix, Now TV, Disney+, Crunchyroll and more.
They are all delivered through a slick and intuitive interface you navigate using a remote. Or you can fling content directly from your phone with apps that support Chromecast.
There’s more to Google TV than just the services you can stream from when using it, though. The many sides of Google TV make it a true home entertainment hub. Here are some of the extras you may not have seen yet.
1. Watchlist
This is one of our favorite Google TV features: Watchlist. It is the antidote to spending hours browsing through streaming libraries to find something to watch.
Whenever you have a dig into Google TV, you can simply hit a button on a TV show or movie listing to add it to your Watchlist. This acts as a list of content you plan on watching when you have the time. But there’s more to it.
Your Watchlist will also be used to inform the suggestions Google TV displays on the home screen, and this will of course include items actually on the list.
It won’t just feature items from Google’s own library either. Content from Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ features, and more services will be added in the future.
Google TV brings all streaming services into one place.
2. It’s a game console
Google TV may primarily be a video platform, but it’s also great for gaming. There’s more than one dimension to this side of Google TV too.
You can play loads of casual classics like Crossy Road and Asphalt 8 directly on Google TV. Connect a Bluetooth gamepad to Google TV and it feels much like a games console.
Not satisfied with big-screen versions of titles you might play on your phone? No problem. You can play Google Stadia instead.
This is Google’s game streaming service, and it lets you play titles like Far Cry 6, Cyberpunk 2077, Control and Red Dead Redemption 2 without a gaming PC or console.
You can either buy them from the Stadia store, or sign up go Stadia Pro for all-you-can-eat access to a huge library of games.
Stadia is not your only option either. Google TV lets you use competing services like Nvidia GeForce Now and Steam Link instead.