Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LibreELEC VS Android TV

Compare LibreELEC VS Android TV and see what are their differences

LibreELEC logo LibreELEC

LibreELEC is ‘Just enough OS’ for Kodi, a Linux distribution built to run Kodi on current and...

Android TV logo Android TV

Android TV is a version of Android made for TV's
  • LibreELEC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-06
  • Android TV Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-10

LibreELEC features and specs

  • Lightweight
    LibreELEC is a minimalistic, lightweight Linux-based operating system specifically built for running the Kodi media center, which means it is optimized for performance and consumes fewer system resources.
  • Easy Installation
    The installation process is straightforward and user-friendly, designed to get you up and running with minimal hassle.
  • Optimized for Kodi
    Since LibreELEC is designed expressly for Kodi, it offers better performance and stability for this media center compared to more general-purpose operating systems.
  • Wide Hardware Support
    LibreELEC supports a broad range of hardware platforms, including the Raspberry Pi, x86 PCs, and various ARM devices, providing flexibility in terms of device compatibility.
  • Automatic Updates
    The system includes automatic updates, ensuring that users always have the latest features and security patches without manual intervention.
  • Community Support
    LibreELEC has a vibrant community that provides support, plugins, and additional features, making it easier for users to customize their setup and solve any issues they might encounter.

Possible disadvantages of LibreELEC

  • Limited Functionality
    Being a specialized OS for Kodi, LibreELEC lacks the versatility of more general-purpose operating systems, meaning it is not suitable for tasks outside of media consumption.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Beginners
    Although installation is easy, new users might find it challenging to navigate and customize the system to their needs if they're unfamiliar with media center setups.
  • Limited Application Availability
    Because LibreELEC is specifically tailored for Kodi, there is a limited range of additional applications that can be installed compared to more general operating systems.
  • Dependency on Kodi
    The entire user experience is tied to Kodi. If Kodi encounters any bugs or issues, it can severely impact the usability of the whole system.
  • Less Frequent General Updates
    While LibreELEC includes automatic updates, major changes and new features in the underlying OS might not be as frequent as with more active, general-purpose Linux distributions.

Android TV features and specs

  • Extensive App Library
    Android TV supports a wide range of applications from the Google Play Store, providing access to a vast array of streaming services, games, and utilities.
  • Google Assistant Integration
    Android TV comes with built-in Google Assistant, allowing users to control their TV, search for content, and manage smart home devices using voice commands.
  • Chromecast Built-in
    Android TV includes Chromecast functionality, enabling users to cast content from their Android devices or Chrome browser directly to their TV.
  • Customization
    Android TV allows users to customize the interface, including the home screen layout and app settings, to better suit their preferences and needs.
  • Regular Updates
    Being part of the Android ecosystem, Android TV receives regular updates and security patches, keeping the system secure and up-to-date with the latest features.

Possible disadvantages of Android TV

  • Device Fragmentation
    The Android TV platform is available on various devices from different manufacturers, which can lead to inconsistencies in performance and user experience.
  • Hardware Limitations
    Some lower-end Android TV devices may have limited processing power and storage, affecting the performance and capability of running more demanding applications and games.
  • Learning Curve
    Compared to more simplified TV operating systems, Android TV can be more complex to navigate and set up, potentially posing a challenge for less tech-savvy users.
  • App Compatibility
    Not all apps available on the mobile Google Play Store are optimized for Android TV, which can limit the availability of certain apps and features.
  • Ad-Supported Content
    Some Android TV interfaces include recommendations and advertisements, which can detract from the user experience for those who prefer an ad-free environment.

LibreELEC videos

LibreELEC Raspberry Pi 1 2 3 Or Zero Quick Look Kodi For Raspberry pi

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi 4B on LibreELEC 9.2 with Kodi 18.3
  • Review - Kodi Compendium [Part 3]: Raspberry Pi OS Selection, Comparison, Performance Test LibreELEC vs OSMC

Android TV videos

Android TV - Is it better than Smart TVs in 2020 ? 4k TV Apps Reviews, TV Comparison and TV Guide

More videos:

  • Review - Hisense H8F Quick Look - Best 4K Android TV for the price!
  • Review - Review: 2019 Hisense H8F Android TV 4K HDR With Dolby Vision & HDR 10

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LibreELEC and Android TV)
Video
69 69%
31% 31
Media Player
70 70%
30% 30
Watch Movies Online
74 74%
26% 26
Media Players And Streaming Platforms

User comments

Share your experience with using LibreELEC and Android TV. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LibreELEC and Android TV

LibreELEC Reviews

Top 10 Best Linux Media Server Software
LibreELEC also has special builds for single board computers like Raspberry Pi. You can install this special operating system on your Raspberry Pi and get a media center device ready in minutes.
Source: itsfoss.com

Android TV Reviews

We have no reviews of Android TV yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LibreELEC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 66 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LibreELEC mentions (66)

  • Raspberry Pi 5
    - Two LibreELEC (https://libreelec.tv/) mediaplayers in house (yes, one is not enough in my big family). - One for hosting low usage applications at home network (Unifi controller and some more). - Octoprint (https://octoprint.org) connected to the 3d-printer. - One on my desk for hardware hacking – mostly as just a PC with GPIO. - Some Raspberry Pi Zeros as security cameras. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Plex to block all servers hosted at Hetzner
    You might be interested in the https://libreelec.tv/ project. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Looking for a distro to replace Roku Stick
    I'm aware of solutions such as LibreELEC but that (if I understand it) is just a Kodi thing. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Watch Jellyfin content on non-smart TV
    Kodi is a media client as it provides a UI for you to browse, search for and view media. I have it running on my Raspberry Pi as LibreELEC. It connects to the same media sources that Jellyfin uses via SFTP. They support the same scrappers and folder structures so they can share the same media sources. If you're not adamant about using Jellyfin on the Raspberry Pi, this could be an option. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Does anyone know why Kodi will not continuously run on a windows 11 machine?
    Thats not a Kodi issue... It is a Windows and hardware issue... If the only job of the pc is Kodi then use LibreELEC's Kodi... 1000 times better! https://libreelec.tv/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Android TV mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Android TV yet. Tracking of Android TV recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LibreELEC and Android TV, you can also consider the following products

Kodi - Kodi is an award winning free and open source media player that got its start on the Xbox console.

OSMC - OSMC is a free and open source media center built for the people, by the people.

OpenELEC - OpenELEC, which stands for Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center, is a Linux operating system that makes the host computer a Kodi media center. The software was the winner of the Swiss Opensource Award in 2014.

Emby - media server for personal streaming movies tv music photos in mobile app or browser for all devices android iOS windows phone appletv androidtv smarttv and dlna.

Jellyfin - Jellyfin is a personal media server.

Stremio - Watch videos, movies, TV series and TV channels instantly.