Google TV is preparing support for remotes like LG's. Google may be planning a major change.

Google is preparing Google TV to support motion-controlled remotes similar to the solution known from LG's Magic Remote. The new changes emerged during the Google I/O 2026 conference and may suggest larger plans for the company's television sets and the Google TV interface.

Google TV is set to receive support for pointer remotes

Google has informed app developers that they should prepare their programmes for support of so-called pointer remotes, which control the cursor through hand movements. The company requires, among other things, support for hover effects, scrollable user interface elements, and cursor clicks. Google also wants apps on Google Play to inform users about compatibility with the new type of control. Currently, the most well-known example of such a solution is the LG Magic Remote used by LG TVs with the webOS system.

During Google I/O 2026, the company did not present a new major version of Android TV. Instead, the main focus was on the development of artificial intelligence Gemini and new ways to control TVs. Google is also developing the integration of Gemini with Google TV. The assistant is set to offer more advanced content recommendations, responses using text, images, and videos, as well as an improved Continue Watching feature. The company encourages streaming platforms to utilise the new Engage SDK, which is intended to replace the older API in the second half of 2027.

It is not yet known who will use the new remotes

For now, it is unclear which television manufacturer will decide to implement pointer remote on ChooseTV. Current partners of ChooseTV include Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Xiaomi, but none of these companies have yet shown similar remotes. There are also speculations that Google may be preparing a new generation of its own device, Google TV Streamer.

Google is preparing ChooseTV to support motion-controlled remotes similar to the LG Magic Remote. The company is also strongly focusing on the development of Gemini and new AI features for televisions.

source: flatpanelshd