I fixed my sluggish Android TV by plugging in a device from 2015

I have a 5-year-old Philips Android TV in my living room. It fits my TV stand perfectly and outputs 4K HDR.

I haven't felt the need to upgrade. Smart TV innovation hasn't improved enough in the last half-decade to justify the extra spend. Also, Netflix doesn't offer 8K streaming yet, and YouTube is still in the experimental stage for higher resolutions.

My only frustration with my Android TV is its sluggish interface. It stopped receiving software updates a couple of years ago. Even after a recent reset of its operating system and uninstalling unnecessary apps, it doesn't have the pep in its step it once had.

I became so fed up with the software lag that I dusted off an old Chromecast I found in a drawer and plugged it into my Android TV. It's a second-generation model that was released in 2015.

To my delight, casting from my phone to the Chromecast worked flawlessly. I managed to cast through my YouTube, Netflix, and VLC apps without a hitch. I somehow made my aging smart TV better with an even older device.

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Posts 7
By  Sanuj Bhatia

My Android TV became a chore to navigate on

I wanted to give up at times

The problems started when my Android TV's Netflix app would randomly crash or get stuck on a loading screen.

I understand this is mostly Netflix's fault, but my Android TV didn't make troubleshooting any easier. Navigating menus, force-stopping the app, and clearing the cache was a chore.

YouTube was another issue. Google constantly updates its app with additional functionality and visual improvements. These updates come with a cost for older TVs.

My Android TV can't keep up with the heavier YouTube interface. It sometimes takes several minutes to get from the login screen to my subscriptions page.

It's especially frustrating when I can open either app on my phone and start watching within seconds.

I decided to give my retired Chromecast another go. If my phone can start a stream faster than my TV could, then maybe it could act as my smart remote.

I wasn't expecting a second-generation Chromecast to do any better. It's 11 years old and doesn't get software upgrades.

However, it still receives critical security updates from Google. It's the oldest Chromecast to do so; the first-generation Chromecast is the only model to lose all of Google's support.

My Android TV natively supports casting, but it forces me to rely on its torpid interface. My Chromecast bypasses the TV's Android OS and replaces it with a simple cast-only page.

A 2015 Chromecast sped up my viewing experience

I traded a higher resolution for a smoother interface

Setting up my old Chromecast was as easy as connecting it to the TV's HDMI port and waiting for it to connect to my home Wi-Fi.

Since I'm plugging into a separate electrical outlet, the Chromecast can start up before my TV gets to its home page.

This means I can begin casting from my phone before turning on my TV. It's a major quality-of-life improvement when I'm coming from a different room. The stream is ready the moment the TV lights up all of its pixels.

This always-on setup works wonders when I have a show or movie ready for casting from my phone. I no longer have to press buttons on my TV's remote and wonder whether I pressed the button correctly or if the interface is loading at a snail's pace.

There's a caveat to using a second-generation Chromecast. It's limited to 1080p resolution, so I can't make use of my TV or streaming apps' 4K resolution. It's a bummer, but not a deal-breaker.

If you have a newer Chromecast model, this shouldn't be an issue. Your Chromecast will output 4K if your TV and streaming services support that resolution.

The Chromecast Ultra was the first model to support 4K resolution in 2016. Google continued releasing budget-friendly models that capped at 1080p until the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) launched in 2020.

Another big plus to using an old Chromecast is that it lets you cast from Netflix's mobile app. Last year, Netflix removed support for casting to smart TVs. Using a Chromecast bypasses this limitation.

Netflix requires an eligible ad-free plan to cast from its mobile app. If you see ads during your Netflix sessions, this Chromecast setup won't work. This isn't an issue for YouTube, VLC, and other video apps.

I'm in no rush to upgrade anymore

Upgrading an old device with an even older gadget is holding me off from a costly upgrade in the near future. The hardware I already own has made my existing TV more pleasant to use for now.

I'll eventually upgrade my smart TV to a newer and bigger unit. I'll wait until its hardware totally gives up or until enough innovation in smart TV technology justifies the upgrade, whichever comes first.

There are a few compromises, such as lower viewing resolution and Netflix's potential restrictions. In my opinion, these are acceptable. I now spend more time watching than waiting for menus to load.