Google TV’s Risky Move: Is Less RAM About to Ruin Your Streaming Experience?

There is some interesting news from the world of smart TVs, but it might not be for the better. Google has confirmed a significant change that could impact the performance of future affordable Google TV devices and televisions: they’re lowering the RAM requirements. This move clearly aims to make Google TV more accessible and cheaper. However, it raises some serious questions about how well these devices will actually perform.

Google reduces RAM requirements for affordable Google TV devices

Let’s break it down. Google TV is essentially a custom skin or overlay that sits on top of Android TV. It offers a more personalized and content-focused experience. Back in November, Google had already trimmed the minimum RAM requirement for Android TV devices down to 1GB. However, for Google TV itself, they maintained a stricter 2GB RAM minimum, presumably to ensure a smoother experience with its added features.

But now, Google confirmed that they will allow the launch of “low RAM Google TVs.” This indicates that even these devices, with their richer interface, might soon run on less memory. This is where the concerns begin. If you’ve ever used an affordable Android TV or Google TV device, you might have noticed that they can already be a bit sluggish or prone to lag. Streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video, while working, can sometimes struggle on devices with limited resources. You can notice this even on the—now discontinued—Chromecast with Google TV dongles.

Potential consequences

The worry is that with even less RAM, these future devices could perform significantly worse. Imagine trying to navigate menus, switch between apps, or simply stream content on a device that’s constantly fighting for memory. The goal to make smart TVs more affordable and widely available is laudable. But sacrificing performance too much could lead to a frustrating user experience for many.

So, while cheaper Google TVs might sound appealing on the surface, it’s worth being mindful of the potential trade-offs. The convenience of a smart TV could be overshadowed by a less-than-responsive interface if these new, lower-RAM devices struggle to keep up. Hopefully the change is due to the company optimizing Google TV to run much better.