One of the great things about digital signage and OptiSigns is how easy it is to set up and start displaying content in your digital signs. If you are looking for a low-cost option to start using digital signage on your business, Smart TVs powered with Android/Google TV can be a great option, due to their flexibility and inexpensive hardware.
What is Android TV?
Android TV is a custom version of Android that Google created specifically for Smart TVs, giving you quick and easy access to all of your favorite streaming apps. Like Roku or Amazon Fire TV, Android and Google TV can be used to cast your digital signages, as they have built-in access to the Play Store, which allows you to download OptiSigns APP directly on your Smart TV.
You can use the OptiSigns App directly on an Android TV powered Smart TV to display images, videos, and documents, create playlists, and schedule your content by days, weeks, or even hourly. You can also use our canvas tool or our 750+ free templates to create your content, or one of the App integrations available, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive apps, to display information or content you already own and share with your team.
To start using it just download the OptiSigns from Google Play Store. Then pair your screen and display images, videos, documents, custom playlists, and more. With OptiSigns you can manage and update your screen content from our web portal from any laptop.
What is Google TV?
Google TV first hit TV screens in 2020 when it was launched alongside a new version of Google's streaming dongle, the aptly named Chromecast with Google TV. It’s the new standard smart TV interface for new Google-powered TVs. Rather than being a brand-new operating system, Google TV is in fact a software layer running on top of Android TV. As well as sporting a slightly refined design, the newer interface offers a much greater focus on personalized content by making use of AI, while also offering a dedicated tab for live broadcasts.
We've reviewed the best Android and Google smart TVs so you can decide what's best for your business based on your needs and budget:
1. Hisense U6H Series Google TV
Available Screen Sizes: 50 to 75 inches starting at $399. The Hisense U6H is a budget-friendly 4k TV that continues the tradition of bringing affordable televisions with the latest technologies. It's the entry-level model in Hisense's ULED lineup, which is their flagship 4k lineup that uses quantum dot technology to display a wider range of colors compared to traditional TVs. The U6H series expands on picture quality and audio upgrades and makes the transition to the Google TV operating system. The U6H series adds HDR10+ Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ to its already long list of supported HDR formats. These technologies incorporate environmental lighting considerations into their HDR interpretations making HDR more accurate given how dark or bright the lighting is within the room. The U6H series continues to be the Hisense television that’s great for everyone and especially for digital signage. The TV can be purchased on Amazon, BestBuy, and other retailers.
Verdict
Great picture quality, and brightness. Suitable for larger spaces as it supports up to 75 inches. A good option for digital signage if you are looking for a TV with excellent specs without overpaying.
Price
$399 - $799
Size
50, 55, 65, and 75 inches
OS
Google TV
OptiSigns Compatibility
All OptiSigns apps & features
Brightness
Peak Brightness / Full Array Local Dimming Zones: The average TV is 250-350 nits. Anything over 500 nits is extremely good. This television is up to 600 nits peak brightness across up to 48 local dimming zones.
Contrast
High native contrast ratio for deep blacks
View Angle
Best viewing angle is center
Color Accuracy
Quantum Dot Wide Color Gamut produces purer, richer, more brilliant, and more accurate colors than a regular LED TV. Creating over a billion color combinations brings vibrant images to life.
Mounting
Easy to mount
Where to Buy
Amazon , BestBuy, and other retailers
2. Hisense U8G Android TV
Available Screen Sizes: 55 and 65 inches, with a price tag of around $700. The Hisense U8G Android TV is a favorite Hisense model, and one of the best Android TVs around. With a quantum dot color and integrated Chromecast and Google Assistant, it's a full-featured Smart TV that offers great quality for a reasonable price. It has built-in voice control with room-listening microphones, effectively letting you use the TV as a smart speaker, and offering the sort of smart home integration and control that would normally cost much more. The U8G's great brightness combined with vivid colors and the better-than-average HDR support for great performance that brings out highlights and shadows. The TV can be purchased on Amazon, BestBuy, and other retailers.
Verdict
High picture quality and brightness. Support large sizes up to 65 inches. Suitable for use cases with large TV and/or more color-accurate requirements. A great option for digital signage
Price
$700 and up
Size
55 and 65 inches
OS
Android TV
OptiSigns Compatibility
All OptiSigns apps & features
Max brightness
High peak brightness - up to 1,500 nits peak brightness
Contrast
Dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1
View Angle
Best viewing angle is center
Color Accuracy
Vivid colors
Mounting
Easy to mount
Where to buy
Amazon, BestBuy and other retailers
3. TLC Class 4-Series 4K Android TV
Available Screen Sizes: 55 inches, starting at $269. The TCL 4 Series Android Smart TV is an entry-level 4k TV that delivers stunning Ultra HD picture quality with four times the resolution of Full HD for enhanced clarity and detail. The Android TV interface is easy-to-use, and there's a huge selection of additional streaming apps available through the built-in Google Play Store. Its VA panel has an amazing contrast ratio and great black uniformity, resulting in deep, uniform blacks when viewed in the dark. Sadly, this also results in narrow viewing angles, best viewing angle is at the center. The TV can be purchased on Amazon, BestBuy, and other retailers.
Verdict
Good picture quality and brightness. With great color and contrast. Makes an excellent entry-level TV for digital signage. Good product overall without breaking the bank.
Price
$269+
Size
55 inches
OS
Android TV
OptiSigns Compatibility
All OptiSigns apps & features
Max Brightness
High peak brightness
Contrast
High color contrast
View Angle
Best viewing angle is center
Color Accudacy
HDR delivers bright and accurate colors for a lifelike viewing experience.
Mounting
Easy to mount
Where to buy
Amazon, BestBuy and other retailers
4. Sony X80K Series Google TV
Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, and 75 inches, starting at $630. The Sony X80K is an entry-level TV in Sony's 2022 lineup. Enjoy a smart Google TV experience equipped with the picture processing power to make everything you watch feel so real. Advanced image processing from the 4K HDR Processor X1 and TRILUMINOS PRO gives details and color a boost for picture that feels natural and immersive. It has a wide viewing angle and the image looks the same from the sides. It also has decent reflection handling and SDR peak brightness. The TV can be purchased on Amazon, BestBuy, and other retailers.
Verdict
Great 4K picture quality and brightness with wide viewing angle. Good for digital signage, specially the 75 inches TV for bigger spaces.
Price
$630+
Size
55 inches
OS
Google TV
OptiSigns Compatibility
All OptiSigns apps & features
Max Brightness
SDR peak brightness
Contrast
High color contrast
View Angle
Best viewing angle is center
Color Accuracy
HDR Processor X1 and TRILUMINOS PRO gives details and color a boost for picture that feels natural and immersive
Mounting
Easy to mount
Where to buy
Amazon, BestBuy and other retailers
All four options are easy to mount on your business walls and setting up your digital signages will be a piece of cake with OptiSigns.
Conclusion:
Smart TVs with Google or Android built-in are great options for Digital Signage, because they are readily available, low cost and it does not require any extra device/hardware to run OptiSigns, making setting up and running your signs super easy.
With any Android TV, you can install and run OptiSigns in 2 simple steps:
1. Download & Set up OptiSigns Digital Signage App on your Android TV.
2. Pair your screen with OptiSigns portal and start assigning content to it
You can click here for more detailed information on each point.
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