If you’re shopping for a new TV, there’s a very good chance that whatever brand and model you settle on, it’s going to be a “smart” one. While some sets will only be capable of delivering a handful of apps and limited compatibility with other web-connected devices, there are several TV smart systems that take full advantage of the bevy of streaming media available today.
When it comes to streaming, app-casting, and overall interface, two names that receive a near-equal amount of fanfare are Google and Roku. For years, Google has provided the building blocks to smart TV brands from Sony to Hisense under its Android TV banner. Presently, the structural framework of the Android TV system is giving way for an all-new Google operating system known as Google TV. You’ll find Google’s latest OS running on Sony and, most recently, a new range of TCL TVs, as well as first-party Google devices like the Chromecast with Google TV.
On the flip side of the OS coin is our other friend in the streaming landscape, Roku. Over a decade ago, the Roku TV platform was contained to Roku’s lineup of streaming devices, allowing those without a smart TV to access hundreds of popular apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more by merely connecting a Roku player — no subscription required. These days, the Roku TV platform extends from the company’s stand-alone gear to a host of smart TVs built on Roku’s streaming platform, with plenty of…