After testing this software for six months on a Sony A80J OLED and a Fire TV Stick 4K, the answer is a resounding yes. The phrase "smart youtube tv 617 391 better" isn't hype—it's an accurate user verdict.
Version 391 transforms YouTube from a distracting, ad-ridden wasteland into a peaceful, subscription-focused media server. You will watch more long-form content (documentaries, lectures, old concerts) because the friction is gone. You will never see another Raid: Shadow Legends ad. And your grandparents will stop asking why "the YouTube keeps pausing for commercials."
Before we dive into the version numbers, let’s clarify the software. Smart YouTube TV (often abbreviated as SmartYTV) is not an official Google product. Instead, it is a third-party, open-source application designed specifically for Android-based TV devices (like NVIDIA Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box, Fire TV Stick, and even built-in Google TV systems).
Why does it exist? Because the official YouTube app for TV has become bloated. It pushes YouTube Shorts, aggressive ads, and sponsored recommendations while hiding the content you actually want to see. Smart YouTube TV strips away the noise, offering a lean-back experience that mirrors the old, beloved YouTube interface but with modern backend power. smart youtube tv 617 391 better
Most Android TVs still run on 2GB of RAM. Versions after 620 introduced a background pre-caching feature for "Up Next" videos. While noble, this feature destroys background processes. In 617.391, the app uses a passive fetch system. You lose the "instant" next video load, but you gain stability. The app never crashes when returning from sleep mode.
| Feature | Official YouTube TV App | Smart YTV (617) | Smart YTV 391 (Better) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Video Ads | Heavy (Pre/mid/post) | None | None | | SponsorBlock | No | No | Yes (Auto-skip) | | 4K HDR | Limited (DRM issues) | No | Yes | | Shorts Section | Forced | Removable | Completely disabled | | Background Play | Requires Premium | Yes | Yes | | Casting Options | Google Cast only | DLNA + Cast | DLNA + Cast + UPnP | | RAM Usage | ~120MB | ~25MB | ~15MB |
To understand 617.391, you have to understand the developer's nightmare. SmartTube (the open-source alternative to the official YouTube app) is a game of cat-and-mouse with Google’s API changes. After testing this software for six months on
Around late 2023 (builds 618+), Google began aggressively pushing a new UI framework for TVs: the Mosaic Renderer. This new framework prioritizes "shoppable content" and Shorts integration. Technically, it’s a resource hog.
617.391 sits in a perfect temporal pocket. It was released just after Google patched the major playback exploit that broke most third-party apps, but just before they forced the heavy Mosaic UI down the pipeline.
The result? Version 617.391 uses the legacy API calls. It renders the interface in milliseconds rather than seconds. On a low-end Chromecast with Google TV or a 2019 Sony Bravia, the difference is visceral. The remote doesn't lag. The keyboard pops up instantly. Smart YouTube TV (often abbreviated as SmartYTV) is
This is where 391 leaps ahead of 617. Version 391 natively integrates SponsorBlock—a crowdsourced database that automatically skips in-video sponsor segments, intros, outros, and "like and subscribe" nag screens. Imagine watching a 20-minute tech review that actually lasts 14 minutes because all the fluff is auto-skipped. That is the "better" experience.
Ironically, the "smart" in Smart YouTube TV 391 comes from its minimalism. The APK is under 15MB, compared to the official app’s 80MB+. It runs flawlessly on 1GB RAM TVs that chug with the official software.
When users say "better," they aren't being subjective. They are referencing specific, measurable behaviors that degraded in later versions.