Power consumption of smart TVs has been an issue since the technology was introduced, but with Google’s Android TV 13 OS on the way, we’re expecting big things in terms of improvements and this might just be one of them.
According to information that comes straight from Qualcomm, which has provided us with plenty of details about its new Snapdragon 820 and 652 chipsets, the next iteration of Google’s smart TV software could reduce power consumption by up to 40 percent compared to previous versions.
A new report suggests that a future version of Android TV might have something special up its sleeve. According to Artem Russakovskii, Android TV 13 could reduce power consumption on smart TVs by about 30%.
If true, it would mean there’s finally an official fix for what has been causing some headaches for users of Google’s entertainment hub. For those unfamiliar with Android TV issues, Google support pages indicate that several 2016 and 2017 smart TVs suffer from poor Wi-Fi connectivity when waking from sleep mode.
Some owners reported that simply disconnecting and reconnecting their devices to their home Wi-Fi networks fixes these problems, but Google has not provided any clear solutions yet.
In addition to addressing these connectivity issues, Android TV 13 is also expected to bring more 4K HDR content as well as better voice search features. It will also likely include features found in Android Pie, such as App Slices and Adaptive Battery.
While we still don’t know exactly when Android TV 13 will be released, it’s possible that we could see it during Google I/O 2019, which kicks off May 7th in Mountain View.
How much electricity does a smart tv use on standby?
That’s a lot of energy over time, especially if you happen to leave your television on standby for much of that time. For example, most LED-backlit LCD televisions use between 100 and 200 watts on standby – which equates to between $10 and $20 each year, on average.
When you add up all that wasted power over years of usage, it amounts to a considerable amount of cash. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves here, there are ways to reduce power consumption from all smart TVs when they’re in standby mode.
You can make changes via settings or physical switches (if your TV has them), or by employing an app or device that works with AndroidTV to help automate things. Here are some options:
1) Adjusting Your Smart TV Settings
Most smart TVs come with a few different ways to reduce their power consumption while in standby mode. First, you can usually find an option for Energy Saving Mode within your television’s main settings menu. This will cause your set to turn off certain features automatically when not being used – such as reducing brightness and turning off any extra HDMI ports not being used at that moment – thus reducing overall electricity costs while still keeping things convenient.
2) Using Android TV Remote Control Apps
If you don’t want to go through your television’s menus every time you want to adjust its power consumption settings, there are apps available for Android smartphones and tablets that allow users to do so remotely.
One such app is called AndroidTV Remote Control; it allows users to control their smart TVs using a single remote control app installed on one of their mobile devices. It also allows users to set timers for how long they want their televisions left on after viewing ends, and it lets them keep track of how much money they have saved since installing it.
3) Using Android TV Toggle Switches
A similar approach is possible using actual hardware instead of software solutions like those mentioned above.
4) Android TV Wireless Switch
The AndroidTV Wireless Switch is a wireless switch designed specifically for controlling Android-powered smart TVs. The switch itself plugs into any standard outlet and comes with two USB cables that can be plugged into any USB port on your television.
From there, you simply download an Android app onto your smartphone or tablet and connect it to the switch via Bluetooth. Once everything is set up properly, you’ll be able to toggle power consumption modes directly from your mobile device without having to navigate through complicated menus manually.
5) Removing Standby Modes
There are other ways besides adjusting settings and downloading applications to save electricity when using a smart TV – namely, unplugging it completely when not in use.
What Will Android TV 13 Add?
Google’s Android TV 13 might be more like Android Auto than Android 13 because it will add several features to existing smart TVs. There won’t be an update from 12 to 13, and instead, you can expect to get a small incremental upgrade that will focus on simplifying how you interact with your TV.
Although not confirmed, Android TV 13 may add Google Assistant as well as support for Home Hub. If so, users can control their TVs with voice commands or by using a Google Home device.
And perhaps even better is that developers are likely to offer streaming apps for sports and other content directly on your television set. This new feature would make Android TV one of the best platforms available today.
The integration of services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video makes Android TV a viable alternative to cable and satellite providers.
Not All Devices Receive The Update
You may have heard about Android 13 and that some of your devices might receive an update. However, not all devices will be getting it. Although it’s always a good idea to be on top of security updates, if you have an older phone or device, you might not be able to get them.
Since these updates are meant to make all devices safer and more secure, you could put yourself at risk if you don’t take advantage of them. Older phones could even stop working as newer ones take over their network.
If you own one of these older devices, keep in mind that they might never receive any more updates. This means they’ll remain vulnerable to hacks and attacks by cybercriminals who know how to exploit vulnerabilities in old software versions.
If you use an Android-based smartphone or tablet, then be sure to stay up-to-date with software patches so that your device remains safe from malicious cyber activity.
What Changes Are Expected?
The changes expected in Android TV 13 might not have many specific details available as of yet, but we do know there will be a focus on reducing power consumption. One method that’s going to help achieve that goal is by stopping background apps from updating content too frequently, which uses more power than necessary.
If you have an Android TV device and are looking for more information about what to expect from Android 13, keep an eye out for any news coming from Google I/O 2019 next month. New functionality and improved performance should be coming soon!
Android TVs that have Android 13 installed could see their battery life improve dramatically. We don’t have any specifics just yet, but it seems like Google wants to reduce power consumption by limiting how often apps can update themselves in the background.
This change could mean less frequent updates for your streaming services or games, but it would also result in better battery life when you aren’t using your Android TV.
There aren’t many other changes being discussed right now, so if you want to learn more about Android TV 13 before it launches, make sure to check back with us at a later date when we get new information!
Should I Install The Update?
If you’re wondering whether or not you should install Android TV version 13 on your smart TVs, it’s important to understand why such a big update has hit in 2018. According to Digital Trends, the best explanation for an update of Android 13 is that Google is reducing power consumption.
Why? Well, we don’t know for sure – and that’s just one of many reasons why it may be wise to wait for now. With Android 13 on the way, we’re expecting many important new features to arrive on all devices that are part of the ecosystem, not just smartphones, and tablets.
Cars and TVs that use Google’s OS are likely to receive their fair share of updates as well. That said, these updates will probably come over time instead of at once (as with Android TV).
As always, when considering installing any new software update for your devices—smartphone or otherwise—it pays to read up on what other users have experienced before deciding whether or not you want to join them.
Also, make sure you check if there have been any reported issues before upgrading! You might find yourself stuck with some annoying bugs after all!
