Android TV has long been the lightweight, no-nonsense cousin to Google TV — a streamlined interface that, for years, let users focus on their content without too much fluff. But that era may be coming to an end. Recent user reports suggest Google is quietly pushing more of its content-first, ad-heavy design philosophy onto Android TV, and the results are already rubbing longtime users the wrong way (Source: Reddit via Android Authority).
More clutter you didn’t ask for
Don’t want more recommendations? Too bad
Reddit user aniruddhdodiya was among the first to notice the change. Their Android TV home screen, once minimalist and functional, now features three new tabs: Top Selling Movies, Popular Movies and Shows, and Trending on Google. If that feels familiar, it’s because these tabs mirror the kind of content-heavy sections found on Google TV — often filled with suggestions from services you don’t use or want to subscribe to.
Worse still, these new tabs seem redundant. Some Android TV devices already had rows advertising top-selling movies or trending titles. Now, users are stuck with duplicate content categories that feel less like helpful suggestions and more like thinly veiled advertisements.
Reports suggest that the new tabs are appearing on Android TV devices running version 10 or later, particularly those updated with the December 2024 security patch. The rollout appears to be happening server-side, likely through updates to the Android TV Home app or Android TV Core Services. In plain English: you can’t uninstall it, and you can’t opt out.
This marks a notable shift for Android TV, which until now had been a relative safe haven from the performance hits and cluttered interfaces plaguing lower-end Google TV hardware. While some may appreciate the added discovery features, many users are less than thrilled about the creeping commercialization of their home screens.
Of course, there are ways to fight back. If your Android TV experience is now filled with unwanted tabs and sluggish menus, consider switching to a third-party launcher. Not only can alternative software strip away the Google-fueled noise, but it might actually make your device feel faster and more responsive.
In the end, this move blurs the once-clear line between Android TV and Google TV, and might just push more users to seek alternatives. Because if everything looks like Google TV and feels like Google TV, what’s the point of sticking with Android TV at all?
