Google TV will require more RAM for future upgrades – which might leave older TVs and streaming boxes behind

2 weeks ago

A man holding an Android telephone looking astatine nan Google TV app.

(Image credit: Google)

Google TV will request 2GB of RAM successful caller TVs and related hardware
Android TV is unchanged pinch a 1GB minimum spec
It won't impact your existent streamer successful nan short term

One of nan astir communal criticisms of Google TV is that it isn't ever very soft connected much modestly priced televisions. That's mostly because Google's strategy requirements aren't very demanding, truthful a TV tin meet nan minimum spec pinch immoderate beautiful unimpressive components. That's astir to change, though, which is bully news for caller buyers but a imaginable interest for existing owners.

As Android Authority reports, Google has submitted a alteration to nan Android open-source task regarding Google TV minimum requirements. The alteration says that nan minimum RAM must beryllium 2GB, which is much than nan RAM successful nan Chromecast pinch Google TV.

What does this alteration mean for your TV aliases streaming device?

Right now, it won't person immoderate effect astatine all. But going forward, it could beryllium an rumor because if there's 1 point we've learned successful nan decades we've been covering hardware, it's that erstwhile you up nan hardware spec, nan package becomes much demanding very soon afterward.

That's 1 logic why identical versions of iOS aliases Android tin tally truthful otherwise connected different models of nan aforesaid devices: nan newer ones person much horsepower, and nan operating system tends to beryllium optimized for nan newer spec alternatively than nan oldest devices.

For astir fund devices, Android TV whitethorn beryllium nan preferred OS since it only needs 1GB of RAM. Google's support process besides seems much generous, and Android Authority points retired that we're only conscionable seeing much projectors get approved for Google TV. Still, location are tons of Android TV ones available.

It's unclear whether nan alteration is already successful effect aliases if Google is phasing it successful astatine a later date, but we should spot TVs reflecting nan alteration very soon.

You mightiness besides like

Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: which container is best?
Read our Chromecast pinch Google TV review
The best Android boxes of 2024 for TV, gaming and more

Sign up to beryllium nan first to cognize astir unmissable Black Friday deals connected apical tech, positive get each your favourite TechRadar content.

Contributor

Writer, broadcaster, musician and room gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been penning astir tech since 1998, contributing sage proposal and overseas opinions to each kinds of magazines and websites arsenic good arsenic penning much than a twelve books. Her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, is connected waste now and her adjacent book, astir popular music, is retired successful 2025. She is nan vocalist successful Glaswegian stone set Unquiet Mind.

Source Technology