I tried the first Google TV with Gemini, and its the most important Google TV upgrade yet

Date:
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:08:53 +0000

Description:
I tried out Google TV with Gemini, a feature currently available only on the TCL QM9K mini-LED TV, and it makes all manner of content search more useful and fun.

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Im in the middle of reviewing the TCL QM9K, the first Google TV with Gemini
AI support. And while the QM9K is an impressive TV in its own right with a specified 6,500 nits peak brightness, its certainly the brightest TV Ive yet tested Gemini encourages a level of interaction that I rarely find myself pursuing with smart TVs.

I find myself actually wanting to talk to the TCL QM9K.

Before I get into the details of that, lets first discuss the rollout of Gemini support on Google TV. The feature is available on the TCL QM9K out of the box, and will be made available as an update to the companys QM7K , QM8K and X11K models later this year. Other TVs slated to get Gemini include the 2025 Hisense U8 , U7 and UX models, and the feature will also be added to the Google TV Streamer and Walmart onn. 4K Pro streaming box. Google, I have questions (Image credit: Future)

Gemini on Google TV responds to questions, the same way it does when using
the Gemini app on your phone. Since its on a TV, the questions have slightly changed to be more TV-related ones, such as "show me the highest-rated action films on HBO Max".

But Geminis usefulness doesnt stop there. In my initial testing of the feature, I found I could ask for a list of Mission Impossible movies
available on Netflix, and then immediately follow up by asking for a ranking of those movies by Rotten Tomatoes scores to see which one Id like to watch first. Hmmm will it be Rogue Nation or Ghost Protocol ? Check out TechRadar's very own Mission Impossible movie ranking to see where these sit. Image 1 of
2 1) I asked Gemini for a listing of Mission Impossible movies specifically available on Netflix, and then for a 2) ranking of those movies by Rotten Tomatoes score (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2 (Image credit: Future)

In my brief time testing it, I found having a sophisticated AI chatbot built into the TVs smart interface really did help to navigate whats available to stream, and the contextual, conversational nature of the interaction usefully let me narrow searches down to only the services I subscribe to.

There are, of course, other things you can ask Gemini other than what to watch. In advance of a trip to Toronto, Canada, I inquired about the city's art museums and followed up with a question about current exhibits and admission prices at a specific one I wanted to visit. I also inquired about archaeological sites near Cancn, Mexico, and was provided with an overview of both popular and lesser-known Mayan sites.

In both of those cases, a row of relevant YouTube videos was also provided not surprising given that Google owns YouTube. More Gemini tricks and treats Image 1 of 2 1) Gemini's listing of Toronto art museums, along with relevant YouTube videos, with a follow-up list of 2) current exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2 (Image credit: Future)

The TCL QM9K features a built-in presence sensor that can be set up to automatically turn on the TV when you enter a room. When this happens, Google TV goes into a low-power Ambient mode, displaying an image onscreen, with the option to show widgets with the time, weather, and top news headline of the day.

You can configure the TV to show images from various Google collections or to use your own Google Photos feed as the source, and you can set a slideshow timing for the rotation of images. Another option is to use Gemini to create original images, with voice or text-based prompts guiding the process. Gemini can generate wild-looking screensavers with just a few simple prompts, such
as a frozen lake with cracked ice and a comet streaking through the sky." (Image credit: Future)

I used the TVs built-in far-field mic to ask Gemini to create a frozen
cottage in the woods surrounded by swarms of Monarch butterflies, and it delivered a pretty good rendering of what I had in my head. Continuing with the wintry theme, I asked Gemini to generate a frozen lake with cracked ice and a comet streaking through the sky". I was more than happy with the resulting image, and opted to use it as the TVs main screensaver.

Gemini can also do things like generate a news brief, with headlines and news clips drawn from its library of Google Freeview channels, which contain many local and national news outlets. This is a good way to get a quick overview
of whats going on in the world, and can be a jumping-off point for finding
out more about a specific event or topic. Will your Google TV get Gemini? A Gemini-generated news brief with video links (Image credit: Future)

Gemini will be coming to more TVs and Google devices in the future, though
its unclear which older TVs with the Google TV smart platform beyond the ones already announced are eligible for the update. Gemini AI obviously requires a higher level of processing power than some existing Google TVs provide, and there is also a requirement for a built-in mic on the TV or remote control.

If youre a Google TV owner, keep your fingers crossed, because Gemini is a pretty cool and useful addition. You might also like The best 65-inch TVs
Best smart TV platform: Tizen, WebOS, Google TV, Fire TV and Roku compared, tested, and ranked This one Dolby Vision 2 feature will transform the way we watch TV heres how



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/i-tried-the-first-google-tv-with-gemini- and-its-the-most-important-google-tv-upgrade-yet


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