Table of Contents

Android stands out as a highly popular open-source operating system with a history rooted in fostering innovation. Google's vision when creating Android was to provide an open platform accessible to developers and OEMs, enabling them to transform inventive ideas into reality. As a result, there exists a diverse ecosystem of Android versions, each tailored for specific purposes. To make an informed choice regarding the right Android variant for your needs, read on for a breakdown of the differences.

When referring to "standard" Android devices, we're alluding to Android-powered consumer devices you may already use daily. While these devices share a starting point in Google's source code for custom Android versions, they come from manufacturers like Samsung and feature Android skins, such as Samsung's "One" UI, which might be more familiar.

Android skins layer over the operating system to influence the device's aesthetics, affecting menu layout and app shortcuts on the screen. Commonly, consumer tablets are used for digital signage and fall into this category. These tablets, running a more standard Android version, are feature-rich and not as simplified as Android TV devices.

They support business features like remote device management, making them a versatile choice for digital signage. This variant caters to a broad range of use cases while offering a more familiar interface compared to Android TV.

Android TV is Google's Android version designed explicitly for television sets and media players. With a user-friendly interface geared toward home entertainment, it's akin to a Netflix-like experience enriched with apps. Commonly, you'll encounter this variant on devices such as Amazon Fire TV sticks and Xiaomi Mi Sticks.

Setting up an Android TV-powered device with Fugo is straightforward, particularly for beginners, thanks to the access to the Google Play Store. However, it has certain limitations, such as limited customization of launch screens and a lack of support for business-oriented features like remote device management. When utilizing Android TV for digital signage, it's advisable to keep devices within reach for maintenance and updates.

Android AOSP, short for the Android Open Source Project, represents the open-source foundation of the Android operating system.

Google made its source code accessible to the public, enabling customization to create distinct Android versions. Google oversees the core functionality and direction of the OS while periodically releasing bug fixes and security patches.

Various hardware manufacturers, including Samsung, Huawei, and Sony, leverage this base code to introduce their unique features and interfaces. This results in a wide array of devices, from smartphones and displays to media players, all running Android with subtle differences.

Opting for a media player powered by Android AOSP offers extensive customization, providing users with total control over their experience. Moreover, it supports remote device management, making it an excellent choice for businesses planning expansion or multi-location setups. This Android variant is highly recommended for those seeking an advanced system for their digital signage.

Supported and recommended for new purchases

Many manufacturers produce Android-powered smart TV models which should be compatible with Fugo. While we can not possibly test them all, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend looking for displays that are running Android 10 or later, and that have access to the Google Play store.

Android boxes come in all different configurations and hardware specifications, making them a flexible choice for a variety of tasks. Not all Android boxes are made equal though, so we have selected some makes and models that will work well with Fugo in your environment that we can recommend.

Supported and recommended for new purchases

Supported but not recommended for new purchases

Android tablets (much like the Amazon Fire tablets) have varying capabilities when it comes to digital signage. We recommend models that are at least

Supported and recommended for new purchases

Supported but not recommended for new purchases

Supported File Types

Supported Features

Features supported only on high performing devices (such as NVIDIA Shield PRO or Sony BRAVIA professional displays):

Devices running versions older than Android 10 will require you to enable extra permissions:

For instructions on how to set up Fugo on Android devices, see this guide.

For an extensive list such of the other operating systems we support and our recommended hardware directory, please see this article.