Gemini finally replaces Google Assistant on Google TV — but it'll cost you

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Only available on the new TCL QM9K lineup, for now

Google TV OS on TV on stand in living room
(Image credit: Google)

We first saw Gemini on Google TV way back in January during CES 2025 and have been patiently awaiting its public arrival ever since. The AI assistant is finally here, but Google's very slow rollout of the feature won't be widespread yet.

Google Assistant is going away, but not quite everywhere. Starting today (September 22), Gemini is live for Google TV but only on the expensive new TCL QM9K series of TVs, which promise a remoteless future.

Hands-Free TV?! Gemini AI on Google TV - YouTube Hands-Free TV?! Gemini AI on Google TV - YouTube
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Gemini takes on all the features of Google Assistant, like searching for content, controlling playback, and looking up information. However, with Gemini, you get to use more natural language prompts via its AI capabilities.

As an example, you can ask Gemini to look up your calendar or the weather. You can also use it to search for information like explaining the solar system to your kid.

TCL QM9K

TCL QM9K

(Image credit: TCL)

The new TCL TVs are great, and we walked away impressed from a brief hands-on with the QM9K. "The QM9K is a powerhouse, offering some incredible highlights and some of the best color depth I've seen in a TV yet," Tom's Guide TV writer Ryan Epps wrote.

These Mini LED sets feature a built-in mmWave sensor, which enables presence detection based on your proximity. As you can see in our video above, moving into range causes the TV to automatically turn on where it will display an informational screen.

With Gemini, TCL says that the QM9K can understand "conversational queries and follow-up questions based on the context."

However, these TVs aren't cheap. The 65-inch model starts at $2,999 at Best Buy with prices going up from there up to 98 inches.

When is Gemini coming to other Google TV devices

Google TV Streamer

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

It's surprising that Google's own set-top box isn't getting Gemini first, but the Google TV Streamer will be getting Gemini this year. But we know that more devices, including the TV Streamer, are meant to get Gemini this year.

According to Android Authority those include:

  • Google TV Streamer
  • 2025 Hisense U7, U8, and UX
  • 2025 TCL QM7K, QM8K, and X11K
  • Walmart Onn 4K Pro

Google confirmed during Google I/O that Gemini would arrive on Google TV "this fall." The company has yet to provide a specific timeline for that arrival, but the AI assistant should show up between now and the end of the year.

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Scott Younker
Scott Younker
West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

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