I am sick of Google TV. It is time for a Home windows streaming stick

[ad_1] <img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Google TV Streamer remote in hand controlling TV" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Google TV Streamer remote in hand controlling TV" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Google-TV-Streamer-remote-in-hand-controlling-TV.jpg"/> C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

At this level, I’ve tried and examined nearly each main streaming platform. I’ve used Google TV on Xiaomi’s TV Field S, I personal an Apple TV 4K (which I largely maintain in my mother and pop’s room), and I’ve hung out with Roku and Samsung’s Tizen-based One UI for good TVs.

That mentioned, at residence I take advantage of a Sony TV and a Samsung good TV with a Xiaomi TV Field S plugged in, so most of my utilization nonetheless revolves round Android TV and Google TV. It’s not like Google’s platforms are dangerous or lacking key options in comparison with one thing like Apple TV and even Amazon Hearth TV, however the total expertise simply hasn’t been nice for me.

And the extra I’ve used options, typically with out even that means to, the extra I’ve realized one thing fairly easy: Google TV simply isn’t for me, and the choice I’ve landed on is a bit unconventional — nevertheless it may truly be the higher alternative.

Would you employ a Home windows-powered streaming gadget? 0 votes

Sure, that appears like a fantastic concept!

NaN%

Possibly.

NaN%

No, I am advantageous with current streaming units.

NaN%

The Google TV drawback isn’t {hardware}, however the total expertise

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-1917w-1080h.jpg 1917w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-1534w-864h.jpg 1534w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Taco Bell ad on the Google TV Streamer." src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-taco-bell-ad-scaled-e1751522743363.jpg"/> Joe Maring / Android Authority

Look, I’m not towards Google TV or something. Actually, I believe it affords top-of-the-line app ecosystems amongst streaming platforms, with loads of perks, like smartphone management and entry to free dwell channels.

However I’m not the primary, and undoubtedly not the final, to say that the general expertise on Google TV feels jittery and never very optimized. As my colleague Joe Maring famous, the platform is overloaded with advertisements (the sponsored content material you see as quickly as you flip it on). On prime of that, points like lacking apps and audio glitches made him swap from a Google TV Streamer to an Apple TV 4K.

And it’s not nearly {hardware} both. Certain, efficiency will be higher on extra highly effective units, however a lot of the points folks run into with Google TV come right down to the software program expertise. And truthfully, it doesn’t really feel like Google is doing sufficient to enhance it. If something, platform updates have slowed considerably, with main updates arriving solely each couple of years.

Examine that to one thing like an Apple TV 4K, and the distinction is fairly apparent. Every thing feels smoother, extra constant, and extra targeted on getting you into apps shortly as an alternative of maintaining you caught on a cluttered residence display screen. And that’s precisely what makes Android TV really feel irritating to make use of at occasions.

I’ve already had a greater streaming expertise — simply not with a streaming gadget

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="Windows 11 Desktop homescreen" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="Windows 11 Desktop homescreen" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Windows-11-Desktop-homescreen.jpg"/> Robert Triggs / Android Authority

The simplest resolution, you may suppose, is to simply swap to an Apple TV, proper? Nevertheless it’s not that easy. One factor I actually recognize about Android TV is how open it's, and that’s one thing the Apple TV simply doesn’t provide. It’s additionally not very straightforward to manage with an Android cellphone until you’re counting on third-party apps, that are normally full of advertisements.

So I began occupied with options that would give me the identical openness and adaptability, however with a smoother, extra dependable expertise. Ideally, a alternative for Android TV ought to really feel acquainted sufficient that I don’t must relearn all the pieces, and it shouldn’t miss out on the key apps or providers I take advantage of frequently.

And that’s precisely what led me to one thing I had used often earlier than, however by no means actually thought of as a full-time streaming setup.

Over the previous few months, I've needed to join my Home windows laptop computer to my TV a number of occasions, and it made me notice it’s top-of-the-line streaming experiences I’ve had . And since then, I’ve been questioning why we don’t actually have a correct Home windows-based streaming gadget but.

Most streaming providers work extremely properly on Home windows, particularly via browsers like Chrome or Edge. And it’s not such as you’re lacking out on apps both. Platforms like Apple TV, Disney Plus, Netflix, and even Spotify are simply accessible on Home windows, both via apps or the browser.

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="youtube tv smart tv app logo 2" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="YouTube TV smart TV app logo." src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/youtube-tv-smart-tv-app-logo-2-scaled.jpg"/> Joe Maring / Android Authority

And for the providers that don’t have devoted apps, their web sites are normally properly optimized for desktop use, so you possibly can nonetheless entry all the pieces with none main compromises. Plus, you continue to retain that openness that you simply get with Android TV.

There are additionally smaller issues that make a surprisingly massive distinction. For instance, every time I’m streaming a dwell sports activities match on my cellphone in comparison with my desktop, the cellphone is nearly at all times a number of seconds behind. That’s largely as a result of these providers use totally different servers for cell apps and desktop platforms. Cell apps are sometimes optimized for heavy visitors, which might introduce a slight delay.

On the desktop, although, the stream feels a lot nearer to real-time, nearly like watching a dwell TV broadcast. And that’s one thing that might immediately make me swap to a correct Home windows-based streaming gadget, because you’re getting a very dwell feed reasonably than one thing a number of seconds behind.

All I would like is one thing quick, easy, and never making an attempt to promote me one thing each second.

After which there’s the added benefit of a full desktop expertise. If that you must take a gathering or run a presentation, you don’t must depend on casting or workarounds. You may simply do it immediately on the gadget linked to your TV. It’d primarily flip right into a multi-purpose field reasonably than only a streaming gadget, and that’s one thing most platforms nonetheless haven’t been capable of provide.

Microsoft’s Xbox Mode exhibits precisely what a Home windows streaming gadget might appear like

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="ASUS ROG Ally Hollow Knight" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="ASUS ROG Ally Hollow Knight" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASUS-ROG-Ally-Hollow-Knight.jpg"/> Nick Fernandez / Android Authority

The principle argument towards a Home windows-based streaming gadget is apparent. Home windows is infamous for requiring pretty highly effective {hardware} to run easily, so how would it not work in a small streaming field? I believe there are a few methods Microsoft might strategy this.

For starters, ARM-based processors have come a good distance. Snapdragon chips are actually adequate for light-weight, media-focused use instances. Certain, they might not totally match x64 methods but, however for a streaming gadget, they need to be greater than succesful, just like how one thing like an Apple TV 4K runs on an ARM chip. Plus, Home windows 11 on ARM is in a a lot better place now, each by way of efficiency and app compatibility. Even Chrome now runs natively on Home windows ARM, which is a giant deal for a streaming-focused setup.

Then there’s the UI aspect of issues, which is the place it will get actually fascinating. With the upcoming Home windows 11 replace, Microsoft is rolling out an Xbox Mode that brings a console-like interface to all Home windows units (not simply gaming handhelds).

This Xbox Mode affords a simplified, controller-friendly interface that focuses on simpler entry to apps, video games, and your library, with out the normal Home windows desktop. And that’s precisely the form of expertise a streaming gadget wants.

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="google tv streamer apps row" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-64w-36h.jpeg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-1000w-563h.jpeg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-1920w-1080h.jpeg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-1536w-864h.jpeg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-675w-380h.jpeg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-300w-170h.jpeg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-1280w-720h.jpeg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-840w-472h.jpeg 840w" alt="Apps row on the Google TV Streamer." src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/google-tv-streamer-apps-row-scaled.jpeg"/> Joe Maring / Android Authority

I’m not saying gaming must be the main target right here, however Microsoft might simply take that very same idea, tweak it for media consumption, and switch it into a correct streaming platform. Preserve issues easy, concentrate on apps and browsers, and keep away from pushing customers right into a full desktop expertise on a TV. Pair that with a remote-friendly interface, and it might repair a whole lot of the problems folks at the moment have with streaming units.

On paper, this appears like one thing I’d truly wish to use. However on the similar time, there are not any actual indicators that Microsoft is actively engaged on a Home windows-based streaming gadget proper now. The corporate clearly has the aptitude to construct one thing like this — and I actually hope it will definitely does — as a result of it might lastly be the choice that makes me transfer away from Google TV for good.

Don’t wish to miss the most effective from Android Authority?

<img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_Kg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Thanks for being a part of our neighborhood. Learn our Remark Coverage earlier than posting.