The Google TV-like refresh of the Android TV user interface is coming to Sony TVs from 2016 to 2020, the company has confirmed. Some owners have already received the new homescreen.
Android TV refresh, again
Android TV is getting another facelift to make it look a lot more like Google TV in the new Chromecast. Google announced the news in February and its biggest TV partner, Sony, has now provided more details on its plans.
Sony confirms that the refreshed Android TV homescreen is coming to Sony Android TVs launched between the second half of 2016 and 2020. It includes most of Sony's models except the first-generation Android TVs from 2015 and the first half of 2016. See the table at the bottom for exact models.
Old Android TV (left) and new Android TV (right)
Sony highlighted three features:
The new 'Discover' tab
Recommendations "based on what you’ve watched in the past and your interests from your Google account"
A homescreen "organized into topics and genres", making it easier to find content
Some owners in the US and Europe have already received the updated homescreen but others are still waiting. Google has previously said that it will take several weeks to roll out, starting with the US, Australia, Canada, Germany and France.
The new homescreen does not require an Android system update as Google is pushing it out via an update to its launcher app.
Also read: Review: Sony A90J with Google TV
Sony's 2021 models are running Google TV, which is built on the concept plus some additional features and tabs.
Sony Android TVs getting the new UI
US model names listed below. To get the EU model name move the last letter to second position, i.e. X90H = XH90.
2021: W800
2020: Z9H, Z8H, A9S, A8H, X95H, X92H, X91H, X90H, X85H, X81H, X80H, X75H
2019: Z9G, A9G, A8G, X95G, X90G, X87G, X85G, X83G, X81G, X80G, W80G
2018: A9F, Z9F, A8F, X90F, X87F, X85F, X83F, X80F, X78F, X75F, W80F
2017: A1, X95E, X94E, X93E, X90E, X85E, X82E, X80E, X75E
2016: Z9D, X83D, X80D, S80D, X75D, X70D
