Google TV has felt frozen since 2020, barely changing beyond some rounder icons last year. That is changing. Google has officially rolled out its long-awaited homescreen redesign, and it is landing on more devices than ever. This is not just a cosmetic refresh; it is part of a broader transformation that folds in Gemini AI and a new way to talk to your TV instead of just clicking through it.
What’s actually different in the new design?
The first thing you notice the moment the screen lights up is the new layout. All navigation buttons now live in the top left corner, and there are fewer tabs. The old “For You” tab is now simply “Home.” The “Library” tab is gone. In its place, your watchlist and library sit under the profile button, along with services and content preferences.
Here is the twist. This arrives through server-side changes, so you do not need to install anything. You might wake up to a completely different homescreen. Reports are popping up this week from TCL owners and Walmart Onn users who have the new design already.
The cleanup makes the interface feel less like a junk drawer. Options that used to be buried, like “Your services” and “Content preferences,” are now right in the profile menu. It is faster to tweak what you pay for and how recommendations behave.
PRO TIP: If the update has not hit yet, open your profile menu. If Watchlist and Library moved there from the main navigation, you have the new design.
Gemini AI is the real game-changer
The fresh coat of paint is nice. The bigger shift is Gemini arriving on Google TV. Gemini replaces Google Assistant without losing the basics of voice control, then adds generative AI that understands multi-part questions and gives richer, context-aware answers. Less command bark, more conversation.
Complex asks are where it shines. It can handle requests like “Tell me more about the previous Despicable Me movies so I’m prepared for the latest one,” then deliver plot summaries and character notes. Got a room split between action and rom-com? It will weigh the conflicting tastes and surface middle-ground picks.
Conversations feel, well, like conversations. Follow-up questions keep context, so you can refine without starting over. When it helps, Gemini can pull in YouTube videos to add color.
And it is not only about movies. Gemini can tackle general questions like homework prompts or vacation planning. Your TV becomes a living-room info desk that also happens to stream the next episode.
The rollout strategy reveals Google’s broader ambitions
Google is pacing this upgrade with intent. Gemini launched first on the TCL QM9K series, a showcase for next-gen tricks. Those TVs use proximity sensors to notice when you are in the room and adjust the screensaver, swapping in artwork, Google Photos, or AI-generated images.
The feature will expand later this year to Google’s TV Streamer, Walmart’s onn. 4K Pro, and select 2025 models from Hisense and TCL. The aim is clear, bring Gemini tools to as many users as possible, as long as there is a mic on the remote.
At the same time, Google has quietly made the homescreen redesign official in promos and on the Google TV site. TCL is also showing the new design on QM9K images, a strong nudge that this is the standard now.
The result, an easy path for early adopters who want everything on day one, plus broad compatibility for the rest. Premium sets get to flex, the ecosystem moves together.
Why this matters for the Google ecosystem
This update is not just catch-up. It positions the TV as a core smart home screen. The timing lines up with Google’s shift to a two-year update cycle for Android TV, skipping Android TV 15 to focus on Android TV 16 with deeper AI and performance upgrades.
Given how long people keep TVs, seven to ten years is common, a slower cadence fits real life. Skipping versions lets Google bundle bigger upgrades, which can mean fewer bugs and less fragmentation.
Android TV 16 is expected to include Jetpack Compose for TV, memory optimization tools, and deeper Gemini-powered experiences. In other words, what you are seeing now looks like the opening act.
Bottom line: Google TV is finally getting the attention it deserves
The homescreen gets simpler, Gemini makes the TV feel conversational. Not a revolution, a solid step, and overdue.
Execution will decide the story. Google has launched big ideas before and let them drift, but the coordinated push across manufacturers and the tie-in with its broader AI plans suggests more staying power this time. The fact that the rollout is accelerating is a good sign.
If the update has not shown up, give it a little time. If you are shopping, pick a TV or streamer that mentions Gemini to get the full experience on day one. After years of inching forward, Google TV finally feels like it is moving toward something genuinely exciting.
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