Google says it’s okay for Android TV devices to suck

Google has made a surprising move by lowering the RAM requirement for Android TV from 1.5GB to just 1GB. This change is aimed at encouraging more manufacturers to release Android TV and Google TV products by offering lower hardware requirements. While this may lead to more affordable devices like Walmart’s Onn streamer with Android TV, it raises concerns about the performance of these devices when running modern Android apps focused on smooth video playback.

The new RAM requirement allows virtualized builds for Android TV to have as little as 1GB of RAM, with 2GB needed for the full Google TV experience. This move could also benefit smart TV manufacturers looking to integrate Android TV into their products at a lower cost. However, the potential downside is that budget TV buyers who rely on integrated software for smart TV features may experience performance issues due to the lower RAM capacity.

With streaming apps becoming larger and more resource-intensive, some users may find that devices with only 1GB of RAM struggle to keep up. This raises questions about Google’s decision to lower hardware standards at a time when streaming app performance is becoming more demanding. Overall, the move to reduce the RAM requirement for Android TV may have implications for the user experience on budget-friendly smart TVs and streaming devices.