Android apps that also work on Android TV

Android has been a significant game-changer for TVs. The idiot box from back in the day has become intelligent, thanks to the addition of Android. This transition has also increased the demand for better hardware, including more powerful CPUs, higher memory, and internal storage. This improvement in hardware also opens up the world of Android apps that can run on smart TVs. You can play games, stream, or even browse the internet using nothing but your Android TV.

Smart TVs inbuilt with Android are great as they let you enjoy the wonders of Android out of the box. Even if your TV does not inherently run on Android — or is even smart, you can use an Android TV box to convert a regular dumb TV into a smart one.

Android TVs support a wide range of apps from almost every genre. A simple Netflix subscription can offer you more video content than you might consume in your entire life. Similarly, YouTube and Twitch allow you to see a wide range of video content, from songs to podcasts, live streams, movies, and much more. Besides entertainment, Android TVs can also be used for web browsing, gaming, and much more.

Here is a list of the best Android apps from each genre that works on Android TVs too:

Best Entertainment Apps for Android TV

TVs are core entertainment devices, and regular TV channels can be good enough. But wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies as you wish? Limiting yourself to a provider-based telecast TV can be restricting; you must tune in at the right time to enjoy the content; otherwise, you may miss it. The extended commercial breaks also ruin the flow of a movie or TV show, which you can enjoy much more if played without a break.

Entertainment apps on Android TVs overcome these issues and provide a more wholesome entertainment experience. Based on whether you are watching free or paying for a subscription, there could be minimal commercials in between, and you also get to choose how you want to stream any content of your choice. Following are some of the best entertainment apps from the genre:

YouTube

YouTube is one of the most popular video-streaming sites on Android TV. It is a place where you can watch videos from any channel, including your favorite TV shows and movies. You can watch videos for free or even subscribe to specific creators making and uploading original and exclusive shows to YouTube.

It is YouTube’s versatility that makes it such a hit amongst millions of users around the globe. Unlike other entertainment applications, YouTube’s content has almost no boundaries; you can find movies, trailers, and songs from the best production houses in the world, and at the same time, also find a local from your town producing comedy skits or entertaining people.

Other than this, YouTube is a great way to learn new information. The various video lectures from countless disciplines make it an excellent yet free tool for learning new skills. YouTube is a great way of entertainment due to its massive library consisting of the best shows and podcasts in every possible language.

Moreover, unlike other streaming platforms, YouTube is also a social media platform; you can add a private video of a family gathering, and your entire family can watch the video from anywhere around the globe.

Netflix

Netflix is a fantastic way to ensure entertainment for the whole family due to its vast selection of films and shows. The massive-yet-diverse library is an excellent source of entertainment, whether you are looking for something to watch on your own or with friends.

With its wide variety of titles, there is something for everyone on Netflix. Its easy-to-use interface makes it a cakewalk to search for titles that match your taste. Even when you are not in the mood to explore something new, you can always choose the Shuffle Play option, and the app starts playing something from titles resembling your watch history.

Whether you’re looking for old-school classics, new releases, or something in between, Netflix has something for everyone. You can also watch TV series and movies with original content like Stranger Things, The Crown, and much more.

With Netflix, you always know what you’ll get; there is no waiting around for long periods or watching trailers before deciding if you want to watch it.

Netflix offers everything from movie streaming to live sports coverage, which makes it perfect for viewers of all tastes. Whether you’re looking for something lighthearted or heavy on entertainment, Netflix always has you covered.

MX Player

If you’re an Android TV fan and want to enjoy your favourite streaming content, then you need to check out MX Player. MX Player is one of the most versatile apps on the market, and it offers tons of features that will make watching your favourite shows and movies a breeze.
From allowing you to control playback using voice commands to supporting 4K resolution, MX Player has everything you need to get started enjoying your media experiences on Android TV. The app is also known for its speed, quality, and simplicity.

MX Player also supports handy features like subtitles in different languages and various quality settings for your content.

MX Player supports Google Cast so that you can control your entertainment from anywhere in the room. Besides allowing you to enjoy your favourite streaming content on your Android TV, MX Player is a powerful and versatile media player that can also play offline files from any external storage device. With live and on-demand streaming support, MX Player makes it easy to watch your favourite shows without hassle.

Content on MX Player is completely free to watch, and you can enjoy its entire content library without paying a dime as long as you are comfortable with in-app ads.

Best Game Apps for Android TV

Remember playing the primitive games built into CRT TVs from back in the day? That was TV gaming in the previous decade, but things have taken a massive turn, with Android games coming to the idiot box. Smart TVs are no longer limited to just pixelated Snake games or Super Mario, and TV games now come with graphics that are comparable to entry-level consoles. With so much going on in gaming, it can be hard to know which new games are worthwhile.

Here are some popular Android TV games to help you find hidden treasures in modern-day TV gaming.

Badland

Badland is a simple yet fun game from the casual gaming genre. Available on both iOS and Android, Badland has been an excellent pastime for millions of users around the globe. It is a unique and perfect game for you if you get bored jumping from one entertainment app to another, finding nothing to entertain yourself. This game is different from others on the market due to its challenging design and unique combination of gripping action, intuitive controls, and binding aesthetics.

Badland features a fast-paced and exhilarating gameplay in which players race through an obstacle course filled with challenging blockades and treacherous slopes.

Badland’s obstacles make it an incredibly challenging gameplay experience that keeps you hooked. Its two-dimensional mobility pushes your limits and keeps you on your toes.

Badland’s top-notch graphics make it look realistic and exciting. This intense game pitch may keep you engaged for hours without realising it.

If you want to experience something new and different in gaming, then Badland is worth checking out.

Crossy Road

Crossy Road is a fun game that aims to answer, “why did the chicken cross the road?” You control the protagonist — the chicken — and make it cross a road while avoiding traffic or other obstacles on each lane. The game also features other maps where you sometimes cross a bridge, field, or railway track, and the obstacles change accordingly.

It’s not just a game; it’s also a great way to spend time with friends and family. Crossy Road is a fast-paced and relaxing game, but it ensures to keep you hooked throughout. It is one of the few games that is easy to pick up and play but difficult to master.

There are a lot of features that make this game great, including its well-thought maps and challenging difficulty levels. You can win from bazillion different characters.

Crossy Road and its addictive nature make it a must-try for every Android TV user. So why not try it out today? You might be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself.

Slotogate

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Dead Trigger 2

There are times when going ballistic over your digital enemies is a great stress releaser. Dead Trigger 2 is a 3D first-person shooter that lets you do just that, where you can shoot zombies and explore an open world with different missions.

Dead Trigger 2 features some magnificent graphics, and the zombies will surely horrify you to an extent. The game has an extended gameplay mode that allows players to explore the game world in their leisure time. That’s another reason why many players prefer playing the same missions time and again to explore the open world thoroughly.

The sounds, voiceovers, and music in Dead Trigger 2 are all enchantingly done. Combined with the high-quality graphics, the sound effects make Dead Trigger 2 a highly entertaining game for Android TV.

Many of its features make this game stand out from other zombie-style games on the market today. The well-designed missions make it a meaningful game rather than a mindless shooter. The graphics look fantastic and ensure that this game is as realistic as possible while still being simple enough for a gamer to enjoy on any device.

Dead Trigger 2 is a must-have if you are looking for an action-packed video game that gives you the satisfaction of killing the havoc-creating zombies.

Best live TV Apps for Android TV

Although live TV viewership has fallen over the years, there is no doubt that it comes with its own perks. There are times when you serendipitously stumble upon a movie or a show and find it rather interesting. Chances are that you would never stream the same movie or play if you saw its thumbnail on an entertainment app. There are numerous apps to watch live TV on Android TVs, and here is a list of the best ones from the genre:

Disney+ Hotstar

If you are looking for a way to watch your favourite live shows from popular TV channels like Star Sports, Star World, Star Movies, and more while also having the liberty watching your favourite Disney movies, then Disney+ Hotstar is the way to go. The app contains both free and paid content, including movies, shows, reality TV, and more.

The Disney+ Hotstar Android app is one fun and entertaining way to view newer releases and exclusive content.

The Hotstar app lets you download your favourite shows and movies so that you can even enjoy them when offline. Moreover, Disney+ Hotstar includes exclusive content from Disney and its subsidiaries with the addition of live streaming for Hollywood blockbusters to provide the best content viewing experience.

The sports content is another major USP for Hotstar, as it currently holds the right to broadcast the world’s most famous cricketing league: the IPL. Hotstar also frequently streams sports like Hockey and Kabaddi for its viewers.

Disney+Hotstar is now available in 11 more languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, and Bengali.

JioTV

JioTV is exclusively a live TV streaming app launched in December 2016 with more than 1.5 million downloads. It offers exclusive benefits for its subscribers, like free access to numerous TV channels across different genres and a lot more.

The sheer number of live channels from across the globe makes it an excellent choice for those who want to watch their favourite shows without worrying about geographic restrictions.

Adding to the exciting feature set, Jio TV also offers many movies, TV shows, and music videos. It has everything from Indian classics to Hollywood blockbusters, and there is always something for you on Jio TV, irrespective of your taste.

The buffer-free experience make JioTV a fantastic addition to your list of apps on Android TV. Although the JioTV application is not officially available on the Google Play Store for Android TV, you can sideload its APK file and enjoy the content simply by logging in using your Jio number.

Best Browsers Apps for Android TV

If you’re an Android TV user, you’ve probably used a plethora of browser apps, but finding a good and usable one is nothing short of a hassle. First up, browsers for Android TVs do not usually have easy-to-use UIs. That’s because TVs are not as intuitive as smartphones or laptops, and typing without a touchscreen remains a challenge. However, some browsers are more user-friendly, faster, and easier to navigate than their competitors. Here are some of the few gems that actually help you browse stuff on your Android TV.

Puffin TV Browser

If you’re looking for a fun and user-friendly way to browse the internet, you should download and try Puffin TV Browser. It is easy to use, and its unique features make it a must-have for all Android TVs.

Puffin TV Browser is incredibly fast, which is great if you’re looking for a browser that won’t slow down your browsing experience. Additionally, Puffin TV Browser has the simplest UIs you would find on a browser, making it perfect for even the tech novice. For easy access, you can find numerous popular websites from different genres like news, gaming, entertainment, sports, and more, but you can also type in the web address if you don’t find the website you want to visit in the quick access section.

Puffin browser can track your internet usage and provide detailed reports on how you spend your time online. It also features plenty of customisation options to change the look and feel of the browser homepage.

TV Bro

Most TV browsers offer usable feature sets, but it almost feels unreasonable to expect something more than just the basics from these tools. In a time when most TV browsers fail at streaming the lightest videos, asking for an adblocker seems too farfetched. However, TV Bro doesn’t compromise on features despite the platform and add as many excellent features as possible.

The TV Bro app also features a wide variety of live and on-demand channels and browsing features. It has a great search engine that allows you to search for anything under the sky. Using the app’s quick settings, you can also browse through different categories, such as TV series, movies, and documentaries.

Best Casting Apps for Android TV

Many Android TVs have the option to stream different content natively, but that’s not always the case. In such a scenario, casting apps are a great way to cast your smartphone or laptop’s screen directly to your TV. Here are some of the best screencasting apps for Android TVs:

iMediaShare

The iMediaShare Android App is a fantastic media-sharing app that allows you to easily share photos, videos, and music directly to your Android TV. Other than just letting you cast your content, it allows you to share photos, videos, and music with others who have the app installed on their phones. Furthermore, you can share images and videos in almost every format without worrying about compatibility. iMediaShare is free to download with no hidden costs.

Cast to TV

The Cast to TV app allows you to cast your smartphone’s content to your TV while also offering incredible features, such as resizing videos on the fly or adjusting the volume and brightness of whichever video you’re watching.

This app is perfect for those who want to watch their videos on larger screens without worrying about the streaming lag. You can also use Cast to TV to share videos with others. The Cast to TV app lets you cast videos and photos from any device, including phones, tablets, and computers.

Another handy feature of Cast to TV is that you can set the orientation of your content. Most casting apps don’t allow this simple feature; the user has to either view their images/videos in an unpleasant orientation or rotate their smartphones to enter the perfect orientation.

Conclusion

The addition of Android to TVs has brought a great variety of apps that completely transform your viewing experience. The diversity of apps available for Android TVs improves with the addition of newer apps from different genres. The above article features the most recommendable apps from segments including gaming, entertainment, web browsing, and more These apps will supercharge your smart TV experience and let you enjoy much of the same content as your Android phone.