Introduction to an Android TV app development on React Native

At Purrweb, we have decided to create a detailed guide and tell you everything you need to know to execute a robust Android TV app. Especially, if you are a startup owner and don’t speak the developers’ language. Dive into the world of Android TV app development to learn about its differences from mobile apps, design requirements, functionality, costs, and timeframes. Enjoy!

What is Android TV exactly?

Nowadays, technology has evolved to the point where you can not only watch news channels but also download apps to your TV, stream music, play games, and watch Netflix all in one. Smart TV technology connected TVs to the Internet and opened Pandora’s box: a new big niche for startups emerged in the app development market.

In 2014, Google launched Android TV, an operating system for TV sets, digital media players, set-top boxes, and soundbars. It is integrated into Smart TV hardware, like ones produced by SONY, Philips, or LG. The release has boosted the Android TV app development — to the point that there are now more than 7,000 apps available.

Millions of potential users

Today, Smart TVs are almost as common as personal computers. According to 2024 statistics, 79% of US households have a Smart TV. It is 19 percentage points more than in 2020 and 30 percentage points over 2018. Similar numbers appear in Europe: nearly 74% of UK households reported owning a Smart TV in 2023.

Android TV is a promising new market that has a great deal of room for creativity. A lot of software products that are common on mobile devices are suitable for TV as well:

• • video streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix;
  • music streaming apps like Spotify;
  • gaming apps — from storytelling games to action RPGs;
  • utility programs and tools like media players, weather forecasts, or meditation apps.

However, Android TV development and Android mobile app development are not as similar as they might look, so there are a few things you should address beforehand.

4 benefits of Android TV app development 

Android app development for smart TVs has a number of advantages that will help you stand out in the market. Let’s take a look at 4 of them.

Broader audience reach

According to StatCounter statistics, Android is one of the world’s leading operating systems, and its version for smart TV OS has more than 270 million active users. The numbers only continue to grow. 

The big advantage of the Android TV OS is the diversity of its distribution channels. The Android apps can be published not only in Google Play, but also in stores like Amazon Appstore, Samsung Apps, and many more. This gives you the opportunity to reach more users and increases the chances of the app’s success.

Compatibility with a range of devices and services

Android TV applications can run on TVs, media players, TV boxes, and even some gaming consoles. For example, the OS is compatible with brands such as Nvidia Shield TV, Xiaomi TV, Sony, and Hisense. 

The users get access to all the content they need within one platform — the OS supports integration with Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, and Spotify. Android TV also supports running some apps originally designed for mobile devices. 

This versatility eliminates the need for developers to create an app from scratch for each platform, simplifying the process of creating and distributing applications.

Extensive customization 

Unlike Apple TV, which restricts app development and design, Android TV is open and flexible. This allows businesses to customize applications to meet their business goals and audience needs. 

The open-source nature gives developers the freedom to experiment and implement new technologies. Meanwhile, the flexibility allows companies to customize the app interface to fit their needs and corporate identity. 

Lower development costs

The open-source nature of the OS gives another advantage — reduced development costs and time. For example, developers can use Android Studio, which has code templates, device emulation, and integration with a development kit.

The Android community is active and growing, so developers have access to ready-made tools, plugins, and libraries. The community also provides tips and recommendations on how to improve the application and troubleshoot problems.

Key features of Android TV apps

To provide a great level of user experience, the Android TV apps should offer a certain range of features. Here are a few functionality-related things to consider before planning your app.

Search functionality

Easy-to-use search is a must-have in Android TV apps based on streaming services. If this is something you are planning to do, we also advise including a voice search for the best user experience.

Content suggestions

Consider adding this feature to increase engagement. The more content people have to watch, the longer they stay in the app. Again, this is especially true for video and music streaming Android TV apps.

Thorough QA testing with a real device

Make sure you test the solution on the go alongside Android TV application development to find and close all potential bugs before its release.

Stress-free monetization

The most logical way to monetize a streaming service is to employ a subscription-based model. But for other types of Android TV apps, you might want to go with advertising. It’s crucial to not let it compromise user experience.

Video ads are an obvious choice for this platform. They shouldn’t link to a website but lead directly to Google Play since Android TV doesn’t have a pre-installed browser. They also should redirect to content that is compatible with Android TV.

What makes a good contractor for building an Android TV app

Choosing a development partner for your Android TV project is not something to take lightly. Here are a few steps to minimize potential risks and help you make a decision:

• • Give preference to a full-cycle professional agency. Android TV app development includes several concurrent steps – UI/UX design, APIs, and testing. It’s better to entrust everything to one team with established communication, rather than individual outsourcers.
  • Make a thorough background check. Smart TV is a relatively new technology that requires both a deep understanding of a user’s behavior and tech expertise. So, when you are looking for a developer to build an Android TV app, make sure to study their experience, portfolio, and reviews from previous customers.
  • Pay extra attention to their UI/UX design expertise. In order to create an Android TV app, one has to overcome a few design-related challenges. It is best if your development partner has an efficient design process and experienced specialists on board.

Step-by-step guide to Android TV app development

Developing any app requires a deep knowledge of the market, careful planning, and learning the ins and outs of your chosen platform. 

To give you an idea of what to expect when developing an Android TV app, we’ve outlined a step-by-step guide based on our experience.

Step 1. Researching the chosen market

Without market research, you run the risk of creating an application that may not resonate with users and, ultimately, fail. To avoid this, research your competitors, target audience, and the trends in your niche.

Based on the analysis, you can create a portrait of your target audience: age, gender, interests, and preferences for using smart TV apps. You’ll also determine which features and services will be the basis of your product.

To do a more in depth study of the market and test the idea, we advise our clients to start with a discovery phase. It consists of 2 parts: audience segmentation and product analysis. We study competitors and research your audience’s needs. Then, we move on to the product research and conduct additional interviews with your target audience.

⭐ Purrweb’s case   Our client wanted to create a dating app with AI features. Artificial intelligence would help users fill out profiles and give communication recommendations. According to the client, the feature could increase the number of likes and matches.  The client thought the idea would be popular, but that was only based on his hypotheses. To avoid making a mistake and investing all the money in development, he ordered a Discovery Phase service from us. In our research, we found that dating app users do experience communication difficulties, but don’t pay much attention to them The results of the interviews showed that users liked the existing services and weren’t interested in a dating service with AI. To keep the client from abandoning the idea of building his own app, we offered him 3 options: build an MVP, conduct additional interviews, and change the concept.

Step 2. Studying the Android TV guidelines

Before the development team can dive into the design process, they study Google’s Android TV guidelines — detailed instructions on design, functionality, and navigation.

This is important to:

• • Meet the standards. Apps that don’t follow the guidelines can be rejected by Google Play.
  • Create a user-friendly app. By complying with the guidelines, developers will create an Android TV app that is intuitive and comfortable to use.
  • Save time. Knowing the guidelines in advance will help you avoid problems when you publish and test your app. 

Step 3. Creating the UI/UX design

This is where your idea begins to take shape. At Purrweb, we create mind maps and wireframes to make sure the design fits clients’ expectations and then turn them into clickable prototypes. 

TVs are controlled by remote interaction and have limited control. This brings its own challenges to the UI/UX design process.

The design principles that we follow are:

• • Large and clear elements. Use large fonts, icons, and buttons that are easily distinguishable from a distance of 3-3.5 meters. This is important for a comfortable user experience.
  • No distracting details. Get rid of excessive visual content and focus on the main content to keep the user interface concise.
  • Intuitive navigation. Design a clear interface that allows users to access desired sections or features with a minimum number of actions.
  • Adaptability. Make sure that the design displays correctly on Android TV devices with different screen sizes and resolutions, including those with non-standard sizes.

You can learn more about the TV app design nuances in our article on smart TV app design. 

Step 4. Implementing the features

Here, the development team develops the features and elements laid out in the designs into the app. We don’t recommend implementing all the features at once — it’ll be harder to make fix bugs, and it’ll significantly increase the costs. Add core features and expand the feature set as your application evolves.

To enhance your product’s functionality and appeal, consider integrating third-party APIs and adding support for services like YouTube, Netflix, or Spotify.

Step 5. Testing the Android TV app

At this stage, QA engineers fix bugs, improve performance, and make sure the app meets the requirements. Otherwise, there’s a risk of releasing an unoptimized app that will be unusable.

There’s 2 ways to test smart TV apps:

Testing on real devices. Engineers test how the app works on TVs, TV boxes, and media players from different manufacturers. This way, they make sure the app is compatible and works correctly.

Cloud-based testing. If developers don’t have Android TV devices, they can access remote testing services via the cloud. However, this should be considered as a backup solution, as it’s not always secure and can be unstable.

Step 6. Releasing your app to the stores

Now it is time to publish the application to the store. This stage requires careful preparation to ensure that the app successfully passes moderation and attracts the users’ attention.

Create a compelling description that highlights the benefits and usefulness of the app. Also, make sure you use high-quality visuals to attract attention. If you plan to publish your app in other stores, the team will study their guidelines in advance in the second step.

Step 7. Supporting the app after its launch

After the release, you need to keep the app relevant and bug-free. An app that works incorrectly will only drive users away.

Start collecting feedback with the development team right after the release. Analyze it to understand users’ expectations and identify the app’s weaknesses. The development team will also fix bugs if there are any. 

Update the app regularly — add new features or improve the existing ones. High-quality support will help you retain users, increase the app’s rating, and boost revenue.

Android TV app development costs

We know that budgeting at an early stage is important, so we’ve got you covered. Here, we are sharing how much it costs to build an Android TV app on average and how long the process takes.

At Purrweb, we usually start with creating an MVP that stands for a minimum viable product. It is the first fully functioning version of your solution that you can use for testing the idea, collecting feedback, and raising funds. 

Below, you’ll see our approximate pricing for each development stage.

Stage	Estimation in weeks	Approximate costs
System analysis	1 week	$2,400
UI/UX design	6 weeks	$6,300
App development	13 weeks	$36,000
QA testing	in parallel with development	$9,000
Project management	throughout the project	$6,000

You will need about $60,000 to create an Android Smart TV app with basic functionality. And the application development process will take approximately 3-6 months.

Click here to get the estimation of your future app for Android TV!

Let’s wrap it up!

Nowadays, Android TV app development is a relatively new and dynamic market for startups. There are 119 million people that you could potentially reach with your app only in the US, not to mention other countries like the UK, Germany, or Spain.

However, Android TV app development is different from that of mobile devices. First of all, it has a horizontal orientation instead of the vertical one that we are so used to on our phones. At the end of the day, after watching Instagram Stories and TikToks, our brain and focus might find it difficult to switch to a TV landscape layout. Secondly, the distance between the user and the screen is greater. Overall, the way people interact with Android TV apps is different from the regular mobile app. This fact prompts studying and accommodating the user’s experience to build a reliable, friendly solution.

Here are 5 key considerations when you are about to create an Android TV app:

➡️  At Purrweb, we offer Android TV app development focusing on UI/UX design and QA testing to build a robust cutting-edge solution. We have a blog where we openly share our experience and a portfolio with previous works where you can check our style. Plus, we work with cost and time-efficient React Native, which helps us develop Android TV apps in 3 months.

For Android TV app MVPs, we offer a $40,000 cost limit and 3 months time-to-market.

Read more about the services we provide and schedule a free consultation to chat about your idea and see how we can help.

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