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You have probably come across two popular names in today’s era of smart TVs, i.e., Android TV and webOS. Both of these operating systems have a lot in common and at the same time multiple differences from each other. This comparative study is all about getting a clear idea of WebOS and Android TV, in terms of their key specifications, market overview, and how they differ from each other in different aspects.
First of all, let’s take a brief look at both Android TV and WebOS-
Table of Contents
What is Android TV?
Android TV is developed by Google and is available on many devices, such as smart TVs, streaming sticks, set-top boxes, and more. It lets the user get access to various apps and content they get on their Android smartphones. From popular streaming apps like Amazon Prime, and Netflix to single-player, multiplayer, online, and offline gaming, users can enjoy a much-enhanced experience on the big screen through Android TVs.
According to MarketInsightsReports Group, the Android TV market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% during 2022-2029.
Currently, Android TV dominates the market as it offers numerous features, such as voice search and content aggregation from multiple media apps and services. With direct access to Google Play service, users can download and install all the mainstream apps and some games with ease.
What is WebOS?
WebOS is a Linux-based operating system owned by LG, allowing control and access to LG Smart TV’s more advanced features and connected devices through a graphical user interface (GUI). Besides apps and content, webOS can easily keep up with competitors based on the viewing experience. This is because it can easily project 4K Ultra HD videos as long as the hardware is compatible. Moreover, it supports HDR content which can upgrade your viewing experience.
Data from technology research specialist Omdia indicate that LG sold 27.332 million smart TVs in 2021, accounting for 18.5 percent in terms of revenue and 12.8 percent in terms of sales volume.
Moreover, compared with one-time sales revenue from TV products, the LG WebOS software is expected to generate a steady stream of income from the sale and subscription of TV content and video streaming, as well as advertising on the platform.
Comparison Between Android TV and WebOS
As discussed, both of these operating systems come with their own set of pre-installed applications and offer a variety of features to enhance the smart TV experience.
Now, without any further ado, let’s focus on the primary distinctions between Google’s Android TV platform, and LG’s WebOS.
User Interface
While both AndroidTV and webOS are widely-preferred platforms for Smart TVs, WebOS offers the best user experience with support for major content streaming platforms as long as you are not willing for tons of apps and games. WebOS has a minimalist approach in terms of UI, while Android TV features rows of content that take over the entire home screen.
The list of contents appears with a customizable bar at the bottom of the screen containing detailed descriptions of applications, TV settings, highlights, and more. WebOS launched the version 6.0 of the software in 2021 which has removed the bottom launch bar entirely. Instead, the new webOS UI has an entire home screen with rows of banners, app lists, content recommendations, and a home dashboard.
Remote Controls
In Android TV, you will get the feature of remote control which has buttons for power, volume, and channel control, as well as a number pad for easy access to specific channels. It also has an easy-to-use cursor pad and dedicated buttons for accessing apps, adjusting settings, and more. Furthermore, the remote control feature has a built-in microphone for easily interacting with Google Assistant, which is AndroidTV’s voice assistant.
The LG’s remote control, on the other hand, offers a point-and-click functionality which allows easy navigation on the app. This plan makes exploring WebOS a lot simpler. The pointer moves as you move the remote, just like you would use a mouse on a PC. This makes it much easier to type text on an LG TV compared to Android TVs. The number buttons on the LG remote can also be programmed as shortcuts for different apps. You can’t do this with the remotes that come with Android TVs.
Apps Availability
For smart TVs, app availability is crucial as it is one of the important elements of user interactivity. The Android TV offers more apps in comparison to WebOS. You can also sideload apps on Android TV, which is something LG’s smart TV platform does not offer. If you like choices for streaming, games, music, and more, Android TV allows users to download apps from Google Play while WebOS does not.
webOS TVs come along with pre-installed with several popular streaming apps such as Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Google Play Movies and TV, and more. You can download some additional apps and games from the LG Content Store. Undoubtedly, Android TV is an interesting choice for app developers because of its large user base and active developer community.
Screencasting
As you know, screencasting allows you to mirror the content playing on your smart devices to watch it on a bigger screen. While all smart TVs already have this feature, the technology ranges for different operating systems. For instance, the ‘SmartShare’ feature of WebOS lets you watch all the multimedia content on TV.
However, Android TV’s built-in Chromecast technology facilitates you to share content from the apps supporting Chromecast such as Disney+, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video etc.
Which One is Better?
In conclusion, both Android TV and Web OS have their own functionalities and advantages, and choosing between these OS depends on your primary requirements and preferences. For example, some individuals may find WebOS to be more intuitive and easier to use, while others may prefer the customization capabilities and vast choice of apps available on Android TV.
However, user preferences differ not only on the operating system(OS) but also consider design, hardware, varying prices, etc. Therefore, you need to think over these prime aspects while WebOS or Android TV app development. If you have an idea about launching a smart TV application but don’t know how to get started, Enveu is right here to assist you! Share your requirements and leave the rest to us.
