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The OnePlus TV hype train has been full steam ahead over the last few weeks. Now, the latest teaser provides a look at the OnePlus TV interface.
Over the last few weeks, OnePlus has focused heavily on the design, although that’s not something that’s so obvious in this teaser. Yes, the bezels are thin, but that’s about it.
The teaser does, however, confirm the TV is mountable on the wall and does provide somewhat of a closer look at the experience. Although neither are massively interesting.
A closer look at the experience
Along with the design, OnePlus has made a big play for the experience. For example, you can control the TV with your smartphone. In fact, that’s exactly what is depicted in this image with one of the two viewers holding their smartphones and using it as if it was a remote control.
Interestingly, that appears to contradict the suggestion that you don’t need to use it as a remote control with the previous suggestion being the smartphone will do all the heavy interface lifting.
This might also explain why the actual remote control is so underwhelming.
A closer look at the OnePlus TV interface
OnePlus TV runs on Android TV. However, Android TV, as it is, was not good enough for OnePlus whom instead improved it. Improved it so much that Google is drinking up those improvements and baking them into Android TV for everyone – according to OnePlus.
In this latest teaser we get to see a glimpse of that interface. If you look closely enough you’ll notice there’s no apps in view. Well, “channels” in Android TV language, which means one of two things.
The first is that there might not be any reference to third-party apps/channels and instead the user just searches based on the content type. For example, movies, shows, music, etc. The second, and more likely scenario is what’s on show here is an interface within the Main Android TV interface. For example, this is likely to be more of a OnePlus hub that can be accessed. This, in turn provides access to whatever content OnePlus has agreed to include.
LeEco did a similar thing with its Android TV and the ‘Le’ app. Although due to how short-lived LeEco Android TV was, the app never really amounted to anything of substance.
It’s assumed OnePlus TV will live on a little longer and therefore, might be a little more useful.
How useful beyond the generic Android TV experience is another question entirely.