Android TV: Musthave Apps For 2023 [Video]

Android TV is one of Google's best-kept secrets in many ways. It's the powerhouse behind countless smart TVs, projectors and home theaters around the world, and Google doesn't talk about it enough. With just a few apps, Android TV can get even better.

We're going beyond Netflix, YouTube, and standard Android TV apps. They all have different streaming services available in their area, so it would be unfair to offer different platforms if not everyone can get them. Instead, we focus on apps that most people can use and improve their viewing experience without paying extra or paying for features.

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tv brother

There aren't many browsers that work well with Android TV when using a remote or phone. Because of this, TV Bro is actually our #1 choice and doesn't require a mouse, keyboard or other peripherals to work properly on your TV.

Certainly not the most attractive. It is purely functional and the user interface is basic at best. Complaints aside, this is the best way to surf the web on a big-screen device with a remote. Built-in cursor support is more useful than place clicks when trying to get interfaces to work properly on a large screen. Quick links are a great feature and you can easily jump to regular pages or create a home screen for faster navigation.

Send files to TV

Besides a good file manager app, you should definitely check out Cast Files to TV. This app is a great helper when you want to send and receive files between your Android TV devices and your smartphone. It's usually a tedious process that requires cables and even USB drives or SD cards to transfer the file from your phone to the TV.

Cast Files to TV uses your local network to connect your TV directly to your phone, eliminating the frustration and confusion of a cable. You can share a large number of file types, making it useful for everyone. If you want to download apps, it can work for this easily accessible system by getting the APK file and downloading it. The interface is also very easy to understand, with only two options to choose from, Send and Receive.

Stremio

With so many competing services offering different plans and subscriptions, cutting the cord is becoming more and more difficult. Knowing where to look for something is sometimes like navigating a maze. This is where Stremio becomes a useful choice as your primary media hub, helping you find, manage and stream content from a variety of services.

Previews and trailers are linked to an episode synopsis to help you choose what to watch. The add-on tool gives you the opportunity to use an expanded range of services and introduces new functions.

air gauge

You can't natively mirror your iPhone screen to Android TV. Not everyone has an Android phone, and with AirScreen, that's okay. With this app, you can cast iOS device screens and screen mirror to Android TV. AirScreen works by opening AirPlay functionality for iOS and macOS devices on your Android TV devices. This means you can mirror the screen almost natively without the need for an Apple TV set-top box.

This solution means all you need to do is install AirScreen on your Android TV device. We know that iPhone users don't want to download apps to add useful features, so it's good that you don't need to install or open any other apps on your iOS devices. 4K UHD video is supported, which is another bonus as you can enjoy content that you can't see in normal resolution on your iPhone or iPad.

jug

Ads can ruin your native Android TV experience. It's not a big deal for regular smartphones, but Google TV in particular sometimes has annoying banners that show content from services you never wanted to subscribe to. FLauncher is an alternative open source launcher for Android TV that lets you breathe on some devices.

It's clean, simple, and uses the familiar tiled layout for all installed apps. You can change the wallpaper to look like your phone and even create main categories to sort your home screen. This is a simple program that is perfect for most people.

Pluto TV:

While we don't want to recommend any streaming platform, we do make an exception for Pluto TV. This is one of the biggest and best free movie and TV streaming services that you should definitely check out if it's available in your area. The app works on Android and Android TV, hundreds of live streaming channels with classic content from CSI to Mad Men.

Every channel is live, but like a DVR, you can go back to the beginning and watch at your own pace. It's like the ultimate mix of TV and streaming, plus it's completely free and 100% legal. For families with young children, kids channels are also perfect for playing in the background.

mx reader

We usually recommend VLC as a media player in our toolkit, but this is not the case with MX Player. It's a great alternative and will play any file format you can throw at it. When playing video, the interface is more attractive and the performance is comparable to VLC. Both options are great, but MX Player is a great alternative for all kinds of media.

button mapper

If you want to change your remote to work the way you want, Button Mapper is a must-have app for Android TV. This is a great option because it allows you to customize what each button on your physical remote can do, and you can even disable certain buttons if needed.

The addition of double-click and long-press functionality allows you to do more than even basic or limited remotes can do out of the box. The one-time fee opens up more customization options and control, but if you're unhappy with your Android TV remote like I am, it's worth every penny.

GeForce NOW!

Since Stadia bit the dust, one of the only ways to play triple-A titles on your big screen is through services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW. With this paid service, you can stream high-end games in 4K resolution in the cloud with RTX series graphics cards. You can download many existing games from Steam, Epic Games and

There is a free account in the cloud that allows you to access the "main platform" and play for up to 1 hour per session. It's a very simple way to turn your TV into a gaming experience, but with over 1000 PC games you can play right in your living room.

retrograde

If you don't have the connection speed to stream games from the cloud, what about classic console and arcade games? RetroArch gives you the tools to play some of your favorite games from years past. It includes popular emulators in an easily accessible free package. You can even run PS2 titles as long as your Android TV box or smart TV has the processing power to run titles from the early 2000s.

Since it can emulate hundreds of platforms, you only need the ROM files to get started. For quick rewind, this is a must-have Android TV app for any system. Also, it works perfectly with all kinds of Bluetooth controllers and wired game consoles for an "original" experience.

What are your favorite Android TV apps?

Android TV offers a variety of apps and services that you can download and install to enhance the performance of your home entertainment system. This makes it difficult to cover almost anything. Are there apps you can't live without? Let us know in the comments section.

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