A Salora smart TV runs on VIDAA, Android TV or Google TV. All three give you apps and streaming on the set itself. Android TV and Google TV both come from Google and share the Google Play Store; VIDAA has its own app store. You can tell which system your TV has from the model number.
Where the difference lies
An operating system is the layer between you and the screen. It handles the home screen, the menus, the settings and the place where you get your apps. Picture, size and connections are separate from that: they belong to the panel and the hardware.
In practice you notice the difference in three areas: the app store, the account and the home screen. On Android TV and Google TV you use the Google Play Store and sign in with a Google account. VIDAA has its own app store. Between Android TV and Google TV, the difference is mainly in the home screen.
How to see which system you have
You will find the model number on your invoice, in the product name. For the televisions we currently sell, the split looks like this:
- VIDAA: the FOD40TV, the FOD55UV and the QLED55UV.
- Android TV: the SMART55TV, the SMART50TV and the SMART65TV run on Android TV 11. The 43QLEDTV, 50QLEDTV and 55QLEDTV run on Android TV 9.
- Google TV: the 32GOOGLETV and the 40GOOGLETV.
If you do not have the model number to hand, look at the home screen. A row with your apps at the front belongs to Android TV. A home screen that opens with recommended films and series from your various services is Google TV. VIDAA shows your sources and your apps in a menu of its own.
What Android TV gives you
Android TV comes from Google. You sign in with a Google account and then the Google Play Store is open to you. That is where you get the apps that are not yet on the TV. On the SMART models and the QLEDTV models, the common streaming apps are already installed as standard.
The SMART50TV, SMART55TV and SMART65TV have Chromecast built in and work with Google Assistant. You then send video from an app on your phone straight to the TV, and you search with your voice instead of the arrow keys.
If you already use an Android phone and other Google services at home, the TV connects to them straight away. You use the same account you already had.
What Google TV adds
Google TV is built on Android TV. The Google Play Store and the Google account work the same way. The difference is in the home screen. Android TV puts your apps in a row and lets you choose where to start. Google TV puts the content first: films and series from the services you are signed in to, with a watchlist where you save titles for later. If you often switch between streaming services, that saves searching.
On the 32GOOGLETV and the 40GOOGLETV you put the picture from your phone or tablet on the screen with screen mirroring. The 32GOOGLETV runs on Google TV 14 and works with Google Assistant.
What VIDAA gives you
VIDAA is a separate smart TV system with its own app store. On the FOD40TV, the FOD55UV and the QLED55UV, the common streaming apps are already installed, and on the FOD models there are direct buttons for them on the remote control. You get other apps from the VIDAA app store.
The system starts up quickly and you can use the TV without creating an account first. For anyone who mainly watches television and also opens a handful of regular apps, that is pleasant to work with. The QLED55UV also supports wireless sharing of picture and sound from your phone or tablet.
When the system matters less
If you already have a media player or a games console connected to the TV, you open the TV's own apps less often. You select the right HDMI input and the rest comes from that device. In that case, look mainly at size, resolution and the number of HDMI ports. The SMART models, the QLEDTV models, the FOD models and the QLED55UV have three, the 32GOOGLETV and the 40GOOGLETV have two. The full range is under televisions.
An update period of 24 months has been stated for all the televisions we currently sell. On every system, setting up is done via an installation wizard that starts as soon as you switch the TV on for the first time. You can read the steps in the article on setting up your Salora smart TV. Every television comes with a 24-month manufacturer's warranty and you have a 30-day cooling-off period, so you can calmly try out at home whether the system suits you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which system my Salora has?
Look at the model number. Of the current models, the FOD models and the QLED55UV run on VIDAA, the SMART models and the QLEDTV models on Android TV and the GOOGLETV models on Google TV.
What is the difference between Android TV and Google TV?
They share the Google Play Store and the Google account. Android TV puts your apps at the front of the home screen, Google TV puts films and series from your services first, with a watchlist.
On which models can I send the picture from my phone to the TV?
On the SMART50TV, SMART55TV and SMART65TV via the built-in Chromecast, on the 32GOOGLETV and 40GOOGLETV with screen mirroring and on the QLED55UV with the sharing function for phone and tablet.
Do I need a Google account on Android TV or Google TV?
Yes. On Android TV and Google TV you sign in once with a Google account to install apps from the Google Play Store. On a TV with VIDAA you do not need a Google account.
Does the system matter if I already have a media player?
No. You then watch via the HDMI input and use the apps of that player. In that case, choose mainly on size and connections.
How long will my TV receive software updates?
For the models we currently sell, the stated update period is 24 months. On top of that you have a 24-month manufacturer's warranty on the set.
