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Android Hardware Directory

This article lays out the minimum requirements for hardware running Android OS, as well as lists supported & unsupported devices.

Sarah avatar
Written by Sarah
Updated over a week ago

Table of Contents


Understanding the different versions of Android

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.

'Standard' Android

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

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 (Android Open Source Project)

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.


☝️ TL:DR

To keep it simple, just remember there are 2 main types of Android devices for digital signage - devices running standard Android or Android Open Source (AOSP) and Android TV devices.

However, theoretically, many Android & Android AOSP devices can work with Fugo if they meet the minimum requirements. If your desired device isn't on our recommended list, it's advisable to test it to ensure smooth compatibility with Fugo.

Conversely, when it comes to TVs running Android TV, the user experience is largely consistent due to Google's "certified Android TV" program. Therefore, we generally recommend most Android TV-equipped TVs, provided they meet our minimum requirements.


Minimum requirements

  • Android 7.1.2 or higher is supported. Android 10 or higher is recommended.

  • Dual-core processor or higher (preferably quad-core processor or higher)

  • 2 GB of RAM or higher (preferably 4 GB of RAM or higher)

  • 5 GB of storage or higher (preferably 16 or 32 GB of eMMC storage or higher)


Recommended, supported & unsupported devices

Android TVs & Android powered professional displays

Supported and recommended for new purchases

  • Android TVs from Sony, Phillips, Hisense, and more (Check out Google's full list of global Android TV partners here)

  • Sony BZ Series (BZ30J) Displays - buy here

  • Sony BZ Series (BZ40H and BZ40J) Displays - buy here

  • Sony BRAVIA X77L Series TVs - buy here

  • Sony BRAVIA X85K Series TVs - buy here

  • Hisense U8K Series TVs - buy here

  • Hisense UH8 Series TVs - buy here

  • Xiaomi TV P1E - buy here

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

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

  • MECOOL KM2 Android TV Box - buy here

  • MECOOL KM2 Plus Android TV Box - buy here

  • MECOOL KM7 Plus Android TV Box - buy here

  • Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019) (Android TV) - buy here

  • Nvidia Shield TV (2019) (Android TV) - buy here

  • Ugoos AM6B Plus devices (Android AOSP) - buy here

  • Ugoos X4 devices (Android AOSP) - buy here

  • Google Chromecast with Google TV (Android TV) - buy here

  • Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (Android TV) - buy here

  • Xiaomi Mi TV Box S 2 Gen 4K - buy here

Supported but not recommended for new purchases

  • Xiaomi Mi Box S (2018) (Android TV)

  • Ugoos AM6 devices (Android AOSP)

  • Geniatech APC395X (Android AOSP)

  • Ugoos X3 devices (Android AOSP)

  • Xiaomi Mi TV Stick (2020) (Android TV)

  • Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2017) (Android TV)

  • Nvidia Shield TV (2017) (Android TV)

  • Xiaomi Mi Box 3 (Android TV)

Android consumer & commercial tablets

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

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2022)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (2021)

Supported but not recommended for new purchases

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 11.0 (2020)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4 (2020)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e 10.5 (2019)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite 8.7 (2021)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4 (2020)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2020)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2019)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 (2016)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6 (2015)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab E 8.0 (2016)

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7.0 (2016)

  • Philips Multi-Touch Smart Displays - limited support but not recommended

  • Mimo Monitors Adapt-IQV 10.1 - Available, with limited support but not recommended


Performance Notes

Supported File Types

  • Image: JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, WebP, SVG, GIF

  • Video Container: MP4,MPG, MPEG, MOV, AVI

  • Audio: MP3

  • Documents: PDF

Supported Features

  • Landscape & portrait support

  • Multi-zone support

  • Apps from our App Store

  • Webpages

  • Website scripting

  • Offline playback of media

  • Remote screenshot monitoring

  • Remote Fugo application updates

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

  • Multi-zone media playback (ability to play 2 concurrent videos or streams)

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

  • Allow paint over other apps

  • Energy saving: off


Setup guide

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


Other hardware

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

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