Comparison: Roku TV vs Google TV – Which One Should You Choose?
When you are looking for a smart TV or a streaming device, the best names that come to mind are Roku TV and Google TV. Both are indeed a very tough choice to choose from as both offer exceptional services and channels to their customers.
To make a purchase, you first know the pros and cons of both devices to ensure getting the best product. We are here to help you with Roku TV vs Google TV by explaining the performance, features, price, etc.
Though many other companies offer powerful streaming devices like LG, Samsung, Apple, etc, this article is strictly restricted to the difference between Roku TV and Google TV.
What is Roku TV?
Roku TV is a comprehensive streaming platform with a large selection of free, live, and premium TV channels and services. Apart from TV content, in Roku streaming platform offers digital content from Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Dysney+, etc.
How much does Roku charge? The best thing is that you don’t have to purchase any subscription to run the various services. However, users have to pay for premium services like Hulu and Netflix. The distinctive thing about Roku TV is its operating system Roku OS that powers all Roku streaming devices.
Features of Roku TV –
- Roku smart TV is the number one streaming platform in America!
- Roku comes with a smart remote with a smart voice search. Just say, “Hey Roku, turn the TV on.
- It comes with its unique built-in Roku Operating System.
- Available 350+ streaming TV channels.
- Large number of free services with paid premium services.
- Use your mobile as a secondary Roku remote with voice search.
- Comes with free and automatic regular channel updates.
- Don’t know how to operate? Roku comes with a full guide.
What is Google TV?
Google TV is known for its robust products and stunning features while bringing more than 10,000 applications on a single platform. Whether you want to listen to your favorite music on Spotify, Amazon TV, or Gaana or you want to enjoy live sports with Fancode, ESPN, NBA, or NFL, you will get everything in one place.
It offers some stunning features like organized channels as per your preference, curated recommendations based on your interests, ask Google Assistant to play specific songs or TV episodes. Similar to Roku, Google TV doesn’t cost extra costs like subscription fees.
Features of Google TV –
- Access to every app that you know about from sports to fantasy, kids to adults.
- Offers more than 10,000 services and application access.
- Everything is organized on a single screen.
- Comes with robust and latest Android version with endless upgrades.
- Google Assistant comes as an in-built feature and you can ask everything or any channel.
- Wide variety of apps including movies & shows, Live TV, sports, Fitness, music, kids zone, etc.
- Personalize your Google TV and create a separate profile for who is going to use it.
- Update and customize using your mobile phone.
- One TV with multiple services: ambient mode, casting, smart home, virtual remote, and video call.
Also read: Microsoft Copilot Pro vs ChatGPT Plus
Roku TV vs Google TV: What is the Difference?
As you have seen, Google TV and Roku TV both have excellent features and a wide range of services, but which is the best? Let’s compare one-by-one their strong and weak points that help you make an easy selection.
| Features | Google TV | Roku TV |
| Display | 4K or 1080p HDR | HDR10+ or QLED Screen |
| Dimension and Weight | 2.04 x 2.04 x 0.54 in (51.9 x 51.9 x 13.8 mm), 4.5kg weight | 17.1 x 29 x 3.1 in, 4.4kg weight |
| Operating System | Android/ Google TV OS | Roku OS |
| User Interface | Intrusive with easy-to-navigation | Immersive with technical navigation |
| Voice Quality and Formats | Excellent, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus | Digital Stereo and DTS |
| Video Quality | Excellent with immersive user experience (Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos) | High-quality display (HDR10 or Dolby Vision) |
| Connectivity | Dual Band Wi-Fi, 2 HDMI, 2 USB, Bluetooth 5.0 | 802.11ac dual-band MIMO Wi-Fi, USB |
| Operating System | Latest Android OS | Roku OS |
| Number of Apps Connected | 10,000+ | 24,000+ |
| Subscription | Completely Free | Free with a few paid apps |
| TV Cost | Starts from $128.00 | Starts from $148.00 |
Access to Apps
Though neither platform not disclosed the exact number of apps they support, according to an estimation, the Roku app supports close to 24,000 apps while Google TV collaborates with all major apps available on the Play Store and Apple Store.
There is a notable difference between Roku TV and Google TV that Roku offers premium app access with purchase while Google services are completely free to use.
Quality over Quantity
Because Roku TV is a full streaming service, it provides access to a vast array of applications and a multitude of channels. While offering many apps is a good thing, it deters the quality to some extent. On the other hand, Google TV is more prefers quality services while streamlining the Google products with TV.
User Interface
Google TV is much more known for its evolution and cutting-edge technology with stunning interface. Also, Google TV comes with a personalized home screen with an intuitive layout that offers an immersive experience.
On the other hand, although Roku TV is renowned for having an easy-to-use interface, using it does require some technical knowledge, which means having limited navigation. Nonetheless, the majority of the content can be accessed directly from the homepage to get the desired content.
Roku TV Vs Google TV: Voice and Picture Quality
Both Google TV and Roku TV come with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to offer stunning picture quality but Google TV comes with more advanced features. Also, Google offers additional options with Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus with 4k/60Hz support.
Also read: Meta Quest vs Vision Pro! Which will Win in the Future of VR!
Voice Command
Google TV offers more advanced voice commands as it integrates Google Assistant with the smart TV and with the smart remote. The seamless integration of various Google services makes it easy to navigate with different apps.
Roku TV also comes with a voice command in which you can instruct the Roku TV remote to play your favorite program. Despite being easy to use even for beginners, Roku voice command lacks Google TV’s degree of integration and ease.
Which is More Personalized?
When it comes to personalization, Google TV is a clear winner that offers personalized channels and programs based on the user’s interest. The homepage of Google TV also provides curated content based on the preference of each user. We all know Google’s strong algorithm and working system to track user activity which also works well with Google TV.
Roku TV also offers personalized recommendations based on the user’s interest though its algorithm is not as sophisticated as Google’s does.
Conclusion
Roku TV and Google TV are the two prominent and leading players in the field of smart TV. In this article on Roku TV vs Google TV, we have learned that Google offers more sophisticated features like voice command and personalized homepage, while Roku TV is more known for its simplicity and beginner-friendly features. I hope this comparison helps you to understand which smart TV is best for you.
