Unlike Sony and TCL, Philips has not yet moved from Android TV to Google TV. The company tells FlatpanelsHD that it sees it as a gradual transition that will most probably start in 2023.

Google TV transition
2021 Philips TVs launched on Android 10 and 2022 models will launch later this year on Android 11. However, Philips will continue to use the more classic Android TV experience in 2022.

So when should we expect Philips to move to Google TV?

- "Google TV and Android TV have many similarities and we see this as a gradual transition, to happen once we have thoroughly tested the new format. We will most probably move to Google TV for our 2023 models but in the meantime we will continue to upgrade our Android TV offering and have recently introduced an updated user interface using tab based navigation," Philips (TP Vision) wrote in a statement to FlatpanelsHD.

In the last sentence Philips refers to Android TV's refreshed user interface, which came first to North America and is now rolling out country by country – widely in Europe since December 2021.


Android TV vs. Google TV
So what are the differences between the new Android TV user interface and Google TV exactly?


 New Android TV (left) and Google TV (right)


Google TV offers 'For You' and 'Live' tabs at the top, personalized content recommendations on the homescreen, and soon support for adult and child user profiles with personal watchlists. Google is also exploring new fitness and smart home features for Google TV.

Philips has reasons to be wary as Google TV has not exactly been smooth sailing. TCL Google TVs were in December 2021 pulled from shelves in the US due to software issues. Google TV is still not officially available in most regions either which is why Sony Google TVs in many countries lack features including the 'For You' tab.

Philips 2022 OLED TVs – specifications
 FlatpanelsHD