Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
I purchased the 50-inch Sony Bravia W950D Android TV 5 years in the past. To say it was a wonderful TV for its time is an understatement. Sony’s Triluminos LCD show was among the best out there again then. The set even included an hooked up soundbar, and being an Android TV, it naturally introduced with it the facility of the Google Play Retailer and its complete library of TV apps, together with Plex, Kodi, YouTube, Netflix, and the works. On the time, the TV was priced round $1,400 right here in India, and since I managed to get a good low cost on it, I used to be fairly pleased with the entire deal. It was my first actual sensible TV expertise after upgrading from a 27-inch BenQ monitor that I used with a Hearth TV Stick for streaming and Klipsch Professional Media audio system for Audio.
I believed I used to be all in on Android TVs for all times.
When the Sony TV got here into my life, I believed I used to be all in on Android TVs for all times. 5 years later, the TV went bust, and I’m satisfied I don’t need an Android TV once more. A minimum of within the close to future, given the state of issues.
Do you personal an Android TV machine?
402 votes
Sure, I’ve a tv set that runs Android TV.
43%
Sure, I’ve a streaming stick or field that runs Android TV.
25%
Sure, I’ve a number of (TV units and streaming sticks/containers)
12%
No. I haven’t got an Android TV machine.
20%
What occurred to my TV
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Within the time I spent with Sony’s as soon as top-of-the-line LCD, it confronted a number of {hardware} points. Inside two years, the motherboard went bust. Changing it value me an arm and a leg, however I used to be so dedicated to the Android TV expertise that I went forward and acquired the factor mounted with out creating an enormous stink about the entire ordeal.
The lifespan of a sensible TV is just not what you assume it’s.
Quick ahead to a couple months in the past, and the panel gave up for good. Since Sony doesn’t manufacture the set anymore, the TV is now redundant and hanging lifeless on my wall, reminding me of the few good years I spent with it, however the many, many irritating years that adopted.
It’s essential to know that the lifespan of a sensible TV sitting in your front room is just not what you assume. It’s not like grandma’s previous field set that acquired her by means of most of her lifetime and a few of yours. An LCD TV can present 50,000 hours of viewing, i.e. its lifespan goes between 4 and 5 years (if it’s turned on the entire time), whereas an LED panel can go as much as six years. OLEDs are believed to have an extended lifespan due to newer tech and higher {hardware}, however my downside with my previous Sony TV, or any present Android TV out there, is just not the longevity of the show tech. It’s one thing else totally; it’s the horrible software program replace expertise.
The Android TV replace conundrum
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Once I purchased the Sony TV, it got here with Android Marshmallow out of the field. Inside a yr, it was up to date to Nougat, and I used to be fairly kicked that Sony was maintaining with Google’s yearly Android TV releases. The subsequent replace didn’t come for some time, and by that, I imply I solely acquired Android 8 on my Sony TV in 2020, the yr Google launched Android 11 for TVs.
In that point span, I noticed the gradual decline of the Sony TV as its UI grew to become unbearably sluggish, app crashes grew to become frequent, and different random software program bugs remained unaddressed. This was actually not what I used to be anticipating from an costly sensible TV. Little doubt the image high quality remained intact proper up till the TV’s final breath, however the software program expertise was sub-par, to say the least.
I solely acquired the Android 8 replace on the TV in 2020!
Even right now, in 2022, Android TV makers don’t decide to long-term software program updates on their most coveted televisions. Be it Sony on the high of the pyramid or different manufacturers like Xiaomi, TCL, or Hisense, it’s virtually inconceivable to seek out details about what number of updates these sensible TVs will get if you purchase them. The reason being that just about no Android TV maker guarantees a set variety of software program updates. I solely ever bear in mind OnePlus committing to a few years of updates for its Android TVs again in 2019. However the flagship manufacturers, in addition to different funds Android TV producers, have largely remained silent on the updates entrance.
Associated: One of the best sensible TVs to purchase in 2022
As if an absolute lack of dedication isn’t unhealthy sufficient, these manufacturers don’t supply enough and well timed updates within the first place. My dear Sony TV solely acquired two updates in its five-year lifetime. Some newer units would possibly get three updates, for those who’re fortunate, at no matter snail tempo the model making them decides to roll them out. That’s absolutely not sufficient.
A TV is a long-term tech funding.
Not like a smartphone, a TV is a long-term tech funding. It’s a giant gadget nobody goes round shopping for yearly or two. In actual fact, I’m fairly positive individuals don’t purchase a brand new sensible TV except and till their present one stops working. Should you’re investing upwards of a thousand {dollars} on a tv, the least you may count on is an replace dedication of 4 to 5 years to match the panel’s life. With out that, these TVs grow to be an absolute ache to make use of.
Get a streaming field as an alternative
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
When my Android TV’s UI began crawling on its knees, the one factor that saved me was a Hearth TV Stick. This cheap streaming dongle gave my thousands-dollars-plus TV a brand new lease on life. I spent the final couple of years with a streaming stick plugged at the back of my Sony TV, offering me a easy interface, all the mandatory streaming apps, voice enter talents, and an improve promise I knew wouldn’t pinch my pocket.
There are a number of causes for recommending Android streaming containers over Android TVs. For one, they aren’t as costly and, due to this fact, simpler to exchange when their life runs out. Secondly, the gadgets I discussed above get far more Android updates than precise Android TV units. The 4K Chromecast with Google TV, for example, is operating Android 12 with an October-level safety patch proper now. The Nvidia Protect TV is the epitome of longevity. Heck, the 2015 Protect TV can also be operating Android 11 proper now. That’s an instance proper there of a strong Android TV set-top field that’s older than my Android TV, however nonetheless feels newer.
I even have a 55-inch LG B9 OLED, which I’ve been utilizing for the previous three years. It will get fixed software program updates, in all probability as a result of LG makes its personal webOS, and the UI hasn’t slowed down one bit since I’ve had it. I genuinely admire that LG even supplies a useful on-line useful resource to trace software program updates and changelogs for all of its main TV fashions. Whereas the TV, its show, magic distant, and all the pieces else about it’s nice, it doesn’t have an enormous library of apps or the power to sideload stuff.
Till Android TV OEMs repair the replace downside, I am staying away.
Nonetheless, if and once I need the facility of the total Google Play Retailer on my LG TV, I’m simply going to choose up an Android TV stick or field reasonably than a full-blown TV set operating Android TV. I’d hate not having Sony’s attractive show in my lady cave, however till Android TV OEMs repair the replace downside, I’m staying away.
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