Smart TVs have become a ubiquitous feature in modern households, offering a platform for streaming online videos, movies, and TV shows. However, the capabilities of these smart Google TVs extend far beyond mere entertainment. With Google TV, users can now access the internet directly on their large screens, all from the comfort of their couch. Yet, with an array of options available, selecting the best browsers for your Google TV can be a daunting task.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the top browsers for Google TV, each offering distinctive features. Whether you prioritize speed, customization, or user-friendly interfaces, we have you covered. With these Android TV browsers, you can effortlessly browse the web, engage with social media, stay updated on the latest news, and much more. Let’s get started.
01. Browser – Effective Ad-Blocking and Privacy Protection
The Browser app for Google TV emerges as a dependable companion for your television, providing a straightforward yet robust browsing experience. Designed specifically for TV screens, its intuitive interface guarantees effortless navigation, catering to users new to smart TV browsing.
What distinguishes it is its lightweight design, which consumes minimal system resources, thereby ensuring optimal performance. With quick access to popular websites and bookmarks, it’s user-friendly, while the built-in ad blocker guarantees an uninterrupted browsing experience.
Regarding security features, the browser includes built-in pop-up and redirect blockers, emphasizing privacy protection.
Additionally, there’s an incognito mode and support for private bookmarks that you can secure with a PIN code. While it may lack extensive customization options, its simplicity is advantageous, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize a straightforward and efficient browsing experience.
Price: Free; Installation: Play Store
02. Google Chrome – The Most Popular Browser
On smartphones and desktop computers, Google Chrome is a household name. That’s why it’s surprising that Google TV doesn’t come with the Chrome browser pre-installed. In fact, it’s not available on the Play Store for Google TV.
The reason is simple – there’s no official Chrome browser specifically designed for TV. However, you can still sideload the Android APK file onto your Google TV and use Google Chrome without any issues. This brings the familiar Chrome interface to your TV, ensuring consistency across your devices.
What sets it apart is its seamless synchronization with your Google account, allowing access to bookmarks, history, and settings from any device.
Furthermore, unlike desktop installations, Google Chrome on Google TV delivers reliable performance without consuming excessive resources. However, the only caveat is the necessity for sideloading, which might pose a challenge for some users.
Moreover, depending on the Chrome build you install, you might encounter bugs related to locating the cursor, as you are installing an Android app on your Google TV.
Price: Free; Installation: Sideloading
03. Silk Browser – Accelerated Browsing
If you’ve ever used an Amazon Fire TV or its Fire Stick, you’re likely familiar with the Silk Browser. A straightforward web browser, Silk boasts faster page loading and a smoother browsing experience. Crafted with integration in mind, this browser seamlessly connects with Amazon services like Prime Video, providing a comprehensive entertainment experience.
One standout feature is the integration of voice search capabilities, enabling users to navigate the web hands-free. Additionally, the browser can predict user behavior to pre-load web pages. Notably, Silk Browser operates by routing requests through Amazon’s proxy servers. As most processing occurs on Amazon’s cloud servers, users experience faster browsing with reduced data consumption.
However, this benefit comes with a trade-off. For those concerned about privacy, having confidential data pass through Amazon’s proxy servers might be a concern.
Furthermore, similar to Google Chrome, the Silk Browser app isn’t available on the Play Store for Google TV. Therefore, users must sideload its APK file. Nevertheless, if you prioritize straightforward browsing, its accelerated page loading makes it one of the best Google TV browsers.
Price: Free; Installation: Sideload
04. TV Bro – Highly Recommended Browser for Android TV
TV Bro stands out as one of the most highly recommended browser apps for Google TV within the Android TV community, and for good reason. Its user-friendly interface guarantees an intuitive browsing experience specifically tailored for television navigation.
Similar to most custom Android TV skins, the TV Bro browser offers quick access to popular websites and bookmarks, simplifying content discovery. Additionally, it supports HTML5 video playback, enhancing the multimedia experience.
Furthermore, users can change the user agent within the app to access websites in either mobile or desktop view. TV Bro also includes a built-in download manager to facilitate easy file downloads. Moreover, the app is open source, alleviating concerns about privacy.
One aspect that users often mention is that by default, the app scales web pages to a higher size. Although you can scale upwards, there’s no option for scaling below 100%, which might be a drawback for some users.
Nevertheless, TV Bro places a high priority on simplicity and ease of use. This makes it ideal for less tech-savvy users or those who appreciate a comfortable, clutter-free browsing experience.
Price: Free; Installation: Play Store
05. Puffin TV Browser – Premier Paid TV Browser
Puffin TV Browser distinguishes itself as a premium, paid browser for Google TV, providing a high-speed browsing experience through cloud-based technology. If you’re willing to invest in a premium web browsing experience, this is undoubtedly the top choice for your Google TV.
Puffin’s secret weapon lies in its cloud-based technology. Your browsing tasks are processed remotely on its powerful servers, resulting in blazing-fast loading times even on less powerful devices.
For movie enthusiasts and binge-watchers, the Puffin TV browser offers features tailored to enhance your video experience. Virtual gamepad controls enable easy navigation through streaming platforms, while adjustable playback speeds allow you to fast-forward through recaps or slow down crucial scenes.
Puffin even provides virtual trackpad and zoom capabilities, granting you precise control over your viewing experience. Moreover, you can install the Puffin TV Remote app on your Android smartphone to seamlessly control the Puffin TV Browser on your Google TV.
The only drawback to this browser is its subscription-based model. While this might deter some users, its premium features and unmatched speed justify the cost for heavy web users in search of a top-tier browsing experience.
Price: $0.05/day, $0.25/week, $1/month; Installation: Play Store
Surf the Web Efficiently
Well, that concludes our list of some of the best browsers for your Google TV. Ultimately, choosing the right browser boils down to personal preference. Whether you prioritize simplicity, familiarity, privacy, or seamless video integration, there’s a browser ready to meet your needs. However, we recommend trying out each browser to compare performance before settling on one.
