Smart TVs and Belgian apps: which system for Auvio, VRT MAX, Play or Pickx?
The Smart TV system is your television's brain: menus, apps, updates. In Belgium, it also decides whether you can watch Auvio, VRT MAX or your operator's app without a box. Here's our comparison of the six 2026 systems, with a table of Belgian apps checked against the official help pages.
- Google TV (Sony, TCL): the most apps, operator apps included
- webOS (LG) and Tizen (Samsung): Auvio, VRT MAX and Play available
- Titan OS (Philips) and VIDAA (Hisense): no Auvio
- Pickx : no TV app, you need the box, an Apple TV or casting
What is a Smart TV system for?
A Smart TV is a television connected to the internet, running an operating system, just like a smartphone. It displays the home screen, gives access to apps (Netflix, Auvio, VRT MAX...), receives updates and manages screen sharing from your phone. Each major brand has made its own choice, and that choice matters just as much as the screen for your everyday comfort.
Good news: the major international platforms (Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV) are available on all the systems listed here. The differences mainly concern the Belgian apps, the operator apps, the screen sharing and the length of software updates.
The six 2026 systems compared
| Platform | Brands in store | Strengths | Limitations | Announced updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google TV | Sony, TCL, Thomson | The largest app choice, built-in Chromecast, voice search (Gemini in 2026) | Busier interface, slower on smaller processors | No figure given by Sony or TCL |
| webOS | LG | Simple and clear, pointer remote, Google Cast and AirPlay across the 2026 range | Adverts on the home screen | 5 years of new versions (webOS Re:New) |
| Tizen | Samsung (and the small Radiola RA24A2TV) | Very fast, SmartThings, Gaming Hub, AirPlay | Fewer apps than Google TV | 7 years of new versions |
| Titan OS | Philips (entire 2026 range) | Smooth, simple, well integrated with Ambilight, AirPlay on most models | No Google Cast, no Auvio, smaller catalogue | 8 years according to the German press (heise) |
| VIDAA | Hisense | Fast, very simple, AirPlay 2 | Smaller app catalogue, no Auvio | Up to 8 years on models since 2025 |
| TiVo OS | No models in store | Mixes TV channels and streaming | Ad-funded, Belgian apps not documented | Not disclosed |
Update periods are those announced by manufacturers or reported by the specialist press (HelloTV, heise) in October 2026. They concern the software, not the television's performance.
Google TV: the most complete
Google TV runs on all the Sonyall the TCL and the Thomson that we sell. Its major advantage in Belgium: it's the only system that also hosts operator apps Telenet, VOO and Orange. Chromecast is built in: you send a video from your phone to the TV with a single gesture. On the other hand, the home screen is rich, sometimes a little busy, and a Google account is recommended.
webOS (LG) and Tizen (Samsung): fast and well supported
These are the two most advanced in-house systems. Auvio, VRT MAX and Play have been available on them for several years. LG highlights its Magic remote, which works like a mouse, and adds Google Cast, AirPlay and Apple Home across its range in 2026. Samsung promises 7 years of updates, one of the longest commitments on the market. Neither offers the Telenet, VOO or Orange apps (except a few 2021 LG OLEDs for Orange).
Titan OS (Philips): the newcomer
In 2026, Philips drops Google TV for Titan OS across its entire range. The only exception is the OLED901 in 42 and 48 inches, a 2025 model that stayed on Google TV. Titan OS is light and pleasant, but it has no Google Cast. The official app list for Belgium (titanos.tv, accessed 15 October 2026) includes VRT MAX, Streamz, VTM GO, RTL play, Play, TV Vlaanderen, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV. RTBF Auvio, Proximus Pickx and Telenet are not on it. Spotify isn't either.
VIDAA (Hisense): simple, but check Belgian apps
VIDAA is fast and easy to get to grips with, with AirPlay 2. Hisense promises up to 8 years of updates. As for Belgian apps, no official list was available in October 2026: the RTBF does not list Auvio, VRT MAX is announced by its developer, and Play remains uncertain. If a customer needs a specific app, we check it on the demo television.
The Belgian apps table
This table draws on the official help pages of the RTBF, VRT, Play, Proximus, Telenet, VOO and Orange, and the official Titan OS list, all read on 15 October 2026. Where sources say nothing or contradict each other, we say so.
| App | Google TV (Sony, TCL, Thomson) | Tizen (Samsung) | webOS (LG) | Titan OS (Philips 2026) | VIDAA (Hisense) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTBF Auvio | Yes | Yes (2019 models and later) | Yes (2019 and later) | No | Not listed by RTBF |
| VRT MAX | Yes | Yes (2018 and later) | Yes (2018 and later) | Yes | Announced, to be checked |
| Play (formerly GoPlay) | Yes | Yes (2019 and later) | Yes (2019 or 2020 and later, depending on the page) | Listed, but a Play help page from May 2026 says otherwise: to be checked | Uncertain, to be checked |
| RTL Play | Likely, to be checked | Likely, to be checked | To be checked | Yes | To be checked |
| Streamz, VTM GO | Yes | Yes | To be checked | Yes | To be checked |
| Proximus Pickx | No | No | No | No | No |
| Telenet TV | Yes (Android TV 10 or later) | No | No | No | No |
| VOO TV+ | Yes (Android TV 8 or later) | No | No | No | No |
| Orange TV | Yes | No | Only on the OLED C1 and G1 (2021) | No | No |
Operators: what you need to know
- Proximus (Pickx) : no app on TVs, whatever the brand. You watch Pickx with the Proximus TV Box (V7 or V7c), an Apple TV or a Chromecast.
- Telenet : app on Android TV and Google TV (version 10 or later), Apple TV, Chromecast and AirPlay. It no longer works with an old Digicorder or Digibox.
- VOO : app on Android TV 8 or later and on Apple TV. The CI+ card has not been sold since 1 January 2026 (existing cards remain active).
- Orange : app on Google TV and Android TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. Orange also offers a new Android TV-based TV Box since summer 2026, with Auvio, VRT MAX, VTM GO, Streamz and RTL Play pre-installed.
The set-top box is still useful for recording, watching in time-shifted or catching up on full replays. For simple live viewing, the operator's app is enough, where one exists.
If you are a Proximus, Telenet, VOO or Orange customer and want to do without a set-top box, the simplest option is a TV running Google TV, so Sony or TCL. If you keep your box, all brands are suitable: then choose based on picture, sound and ease of use.
One TV per system, in store
OLED TV LG OLED55C64LA€1,438.00
TV QLED SAMSUNG TQ55QN80H€775.00
TV LED SONY K55XR35M2PB€822.00
OLED TV PHILIPS 55OLED851/12€1,544.00
QLED TV TCL 65C89L€1,799.00
Mini LED TV HISENSE 55U7SE€700.00
TV LED THOMSON 55MG7C15€619.00
TV QNED LG 50QNED85B6B€582.00Missing an app? The options
- Casting : from your smartphone, with Chromecast (Google TV, and Google Cast on LG 2026) or AirPlay (LG, Samsung, most Philips 2026 models, Hisense). It depends on the app and the system: Philips does not guarantee casting from Android.
- An Apple TV : it is the most universal solution, supported by all Belgian operators (Pickx, Telenet, VOO, Orange) and by Auvio and Play.
- A Google TV dongle (Google TV Streamer or Chromecast): it adds all Google TV apps to a TV running Titan OS or VIDAA.
- The operator's set-top box : it often comes with Auvio, VRT MAX and Play built in (Proximus V7, Telenet and Orange boxes).
The TV's internet browser is not supported by any of these apps: don't count on it for watching Auvio or Pickx.
Our brand-by-brand summary
Sony and TCL (Google TV)
All mainstream Belgian apps and the Telenet, VOO and Orange apps. Built-in Chromecast.
Pickx: via the box, an Apple TV or casting
LG (webOS) and Samsung (Tizen)
Auvio, VRT MAX, Play, Netflix and co. No operator app: keep the set-top box or add an Apple TV.
5 years (LG) and 7 years (Samsung) of updates
Philips (Titan OS)
VRT MAX, Streamz, VTM GO and RTL Play are there. No Auvio or Google Cast: a point to weigh for a French-speaking customer without a set-top box.
8 years of updates according to heise
Hisense (VIDAA)
Fast, clear interface. Belgian apps to be checked on the model on display; Auvio not listed by RTBF.
Up to 8 years of updates
For details on each brand, see our guide Which TV brand should you choose?, and to get started, our page Installing and setting up your TV.
Privacy: a setting worth knowing about
Most Smart TVs analyse what you watch to suggest content and adverts (this is called ACR, automatic content recognition). This tracking can be turned off in the privacy settings, during first installation or later. It makes no difference to picture quality or apps.
Frequently asked questions
Which Smart TV system has the most Belgian apps?
Google TV, found on Sony, TCL and Thomson. It is the only one that also hosts the Telenet, VOO and Orange operator apps. Only Pickx, from Proximus, is not available on any TV.
Can I watch Auvio on a Philips 2026 TV?
Not directly: Auvio is not on the official Titan OS app list (October 2026). You can use your operator's set-top box, an Apple TV, a Google TV dongle or casting from your phone.
Do you still need a set-top box with a Smart TV?
To record, watch on catch-up or use Pickx, yes. For live TV and replay, the operator's app is enough when it is available on your system, which is mostly the case with Google TV.
How many years of updates can I expect for my TV?
Samsung announces 7 years for Tizen, LG 5 years of new webOS versions, Hisense up to 8 years for VIDAA on models from 2025 onwards, and Philips 8 years for Titan OS according to the press. Sony and TCL do not publish a duration.
Does casting work with all apps?
It depends on each app and on the system. Google TV has Chromecast built in; LG webOS 26 supports Google Cast and AirPlay; Titan OS does not support Google Cast. For Pickx, Telenet, VOO or Orange, the Apple TV remains the most universal solution.
Come and compare the screens in person
At our Temploux shop, we switch on TVs side by side with your content. Or ask our expert salesperson online, right now.
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