Google is bringing Data Saver to Android TV, starting in India

Data-saving functionality is one of the most important features on smartphones, especially in markets where mobile data is prohibitively expensive. 

Devices such as smart TVs and media boxes also consume a ton of data, but keeping tabs on this usage can be a challenge. Thankfully, Google has announced that it will bring a Data Saver utility to its Android TV platform.

Enable the Data Saver option on your Android TV device and your device’s video streaming quality will be adjusted in order to save megabytes (and gigabytes in the long run). 

The data-saving measures don’t end there, as Google is also allowing users to receive alerts when they hit 100MB, 500MB, or 1GB of data used. This means you don’t have to guess how much data you have left after streaming via a mobile connection. 

Google says it’ll also deliver a Hotspot Guide, specifically made to help you set up your Android TV device with a mobile hotspot.

Finally, the company says users can also choose to cast downloaded media from their phone to their TV via the Files app. This won’t consume data, making it a pretty convenient way to watch content on your Android TV. 

These features will land in India first, starting with devices from Xiaomi, TCL, and MarQ by Flipkart. Google says a global rollout will follow shortly thereafter. Fortunately, Google notes that the ability to cast via the Files app is already live in the beta version of the file manager. You can check out the beta release via the button below.