A Salora smart TV runs on VIDAA, Android TV or Google TV. All three bring apps and streaming to your set. Android TV and Google TV both come from Google and share the app store and the account; VIDAA is separate from them. 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 provides the home screen, the menus, the settings and the place where you get your apps. Picture quality, size and connections have nothing to do with it: they belong to the panel and the hardware, not to the system.
In practice, you notice the difference in three areas. First, the app store: Android TV and Google TV both use the Google Play Store, while VIDAA has its own app store. Second, the account: on Android TV and Google TV you sign in with a Google account, on VIDAA with a VIDAA account that you create yourself. Third, the home screen, which is also the only real difference between Android TV and Google TV.
How to tell which system you have
The model number on the sticker on the back of the TV is the most reliable way. You will usually find the same number on the box and on your invoice.
- If the model number starts with FOD, the TV runs on VIDAA. This applies to the FOD24HV, FOD32HV, FOD40TV, FOD43FV, FOD43UV, FOD50UV and FOD55UV. The QLED55UV also works with VIDAA.
- If the model number contains SMART, it is Android TV. This applies to the SMART24TV, SMART32TV, SMART40TV, SMART43TV, SMART50TV, SMART55TV and SMART65TV. The 43QLEDTV, 50QLEDTV and 55QLEDTV run on it too.
- If it says 32GOOGLETV, it is Google TV.
If you no longer know the model number, look at the home screen. Rows of your apps stacked one below the other mean Android TV. A screen that opens with a wide row of recommended films and series, drawn from across your services, is Google TV. A menu bar along the bottom edge with your apps and your inputs is VIDAA.
Besides the smart TVs, our range also includes sets without smart features. They have no app store and do not need an internet connection; you connect a set-top box, a DVD player or a streaming box to them. All smart models are grouped together in the smart TVs category.
What Android TV gives you
Android TV comes from Google and is the same system that runs on many other screens. You sign in with a Google account and the Google Play Store is then open to you. That is where you get the streaming apps you use, plus radio apps, games and individual programs.
Chromecast is built in. You play something on your phone or tablet, tap the cast icon and the picture goes to the TV. Handy for holiday photos, a video someone sends you or a service that has no TV app.
Google Assistant is built into the system. You hold down the microphone button on the remote control and ask for a film, a channel or the weather forecast, without having to work your way through a search field with the arrow keys.
The practical advantage: if you already use an Android phone and Google services at home, the TV links up with them straight away. Your passwords, your subscriptions and casting all work with the account you already had.
What Google TV adds
Google TV is Google's newer interface on the same Android foundation. The Google Play Store, the Google account and Google Assistant are identical, so everything in the previous section applies here too.
The difference is in the home screen. Android TV lines up your apps and lets you choose where to start. Google TV puts the content first: an overview of films and series from all the services you are signed in to, with a watchlist where you save titles for later. If you switch between streaming services a lot, that saves you searching. If you always open the same two apps, you will hardly notice it.
You can send the picture from your phone to the TV with screen mirroring. Software updates continue for up to 48 months after launch.
What VIDAA gives you
VIDAA has its own app store with the streaming services that are common in the Netherlands. You create a VIDAA account once and can then install apps and arrange your home screen the way you want.
Voice control is built in. Using the button on the remote control, you search for something or change a setting without typing.
The practical advantage lies in the design. VIDAA is built more compactly: fewer menus, fewer layers and fewer sign-in steps before you start watching. The home screen shows your sources and your apps, and that is it. If you mainly use the TV for watching television and a handful of regular apps, it is pleasant to use.
When it does not matter
If you already have a streaming box, a media player or a games console connected to the TV, you probably hardly use the TV's own apps. You switch the set on, choose the right HDMI input and everything else comes from that other device. In that case, the operating system is not a deciding factor and you are better off looking at size, resolution and the number of connections. For an overview of everything available, take a look at televisions.
Setting up takes just a few steps
All three systems take you through an installation wizard the first time you switch on: language, Wi-Fi, channel search and signing in with your account. After that, it is ready to go. The steps for each system are described in detail in the article on setting up your Salora smart TV.
Every television comes with a 24-month manufacturer's warranty. You have a 30-day cooling-off period, so you can take your time at home to see whether you like the system.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which system my Salora has?
Look at the model number on the sticker on the back of the TV. If it starts with FOD, it is VIDAA. If it contains SMART, or if it is the 43QLEDTV, 50QLEDTV or 55QLEDTV, it is Android TV. If it says 32GOOGLETV, it is Google TV.
What is the difference between Android TV and Google TV?
They share the Google Play Store, the Google account and Google Assistant. The difference is in the home screen: Android TV puts your apps first, Google TV puts films and series from all your services first, with a watchlist.
Do I need an account to install apps?
Yes. On Android TV and Google TV you sign in with a Google account, on VIDAA with a VIDAA account. You can create either in a few steps, and you only need to do it once.
Can I send the picture from my phone to the TV?
The Android TV models have Chromecast built in: tap the cast icon in the app on your phone and choose the TV. On the Google TV model, you do this with screen mirroring.
Does voice control work on all three?
Yes. Android TV and Google TV use Google Assistant, while VIDAA has its own built-in voice control. In all cases, you operate it with the button on the remote control.
Does the system matter if I already have a streaming box?
Then it hardly plays a role. You watch via the HDMI input and the TV's apps go unused. In that case, choose based on size and connections.
What warranty does a smart TV come with?
Every television comes with a 24-month manufacturer's warranty. You also have a 30-day cooling-off period from the moment you receive the TV.
