Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android vs Windows: Which Should You Choose?
Compare features, management, hardware, cost and room suitability before choosing the right Microsoft Teams Rooms platform for your organisation.
Microsoft Teams Rooms has become a standard choice for UK meeting spaces, but choosing Teams is only the first platform decision.
Every certified Teams Rooms device runs on either Android or Windows. The two platforms look similar to meeting participants, but differ in deployment, management, hardware choice and long-term flexibility.
This guide explains the practical differences that matter when specifying Teams Rooms hardware, so the platform is selected deliberately rather than by default.
What Microsoft Teams Rooms actually is
Microsoft Teams Rooms, often shortened to MTR, is Microsoft’s certified meeting room platform.
It combines a commercial display, camera, microphone, speaker and compute unit to turn a physical room into a dedicated, one-touch Teams meeting space. Rather than relying on a laptop, the room runs Teams natively and joins scheduled meetings from the room calendar.
Microsoft certifies hardware on both Android and Windows. Either platform can provide a reliable meeting experience, but the management model, hardware options and flexibility differ.
Two operating systems, one familiar Teams experience
Joining a meeting, viewing participants, sharing content and controlling the room feels very similar on both platforms.
The meaningful differences sit underneath: how the device is managed, what else it can run, how updates are delivered and how much flexibility the room may need in future.
Windows Teams Rooms systems use a managed Windows compute environment. Android Teams Rooms systems use a dedicated appliance-style platform designed specifically for meeting rooms.
Teams Rooms on Android
A focused, appliance-like platform designed for straightforward deployment, streamlined management and standard meeting workflows.
Teams Rooms on Windows
A managed Windows environment offering broader peripheral choice, deeper endpoint-management integration and extra flexibility.
Simple deployment with an appliance-style experience
Android-based Teams Rooms systems are generally straightforward to deploy and manage. Devices boot directly into the room interface, updates are streamlined and there is less general-purpose operating-system surface to maintain.
This makes Android a strong fit for organisations that want each room to do one job extremely well without unnecessary IT overhead.
Android hardware also often sits at a more accessible price point, which matters when equipping many small and medium meeting rooms.
Android suits organisations that want simple, low-maintenance meeting-room appliances across a large number of standard rooms.
More flexibility for larger and more complex rooms
Windows-based Teams Rooms systems use a managed Windows environment underneath the Teams Rooms application.
This can bring deeper integration with existing endpoint management, support for a wider range of peripherals and greater flexibility in modular room designs.
Windows is often a natural fit for larger boardrooms, flagship collaboration spaces and organisations that already manage a substantial Windows device estate.
Windows suits organisations with established Windows management infrastructure or rooms requiring flexibility beyond a simple meeting appliance.
Where Android and Windows now feel almost identical
The gap between the two platforms has narrowed considerably. Core meeting features such as gallery view, intelligent framing, content sharing, whiteboard collaboration and modern room layouts are available across current certified systems.
For most everyday meetings, someone walking into an Android room and a Windows room may notice very little difference in the meeting itself.
Do not choose a platform purely on meeting features. For most standard use cases, the in-room experience is comparable.
Choose the platform that fits your existing IT model
Both platforms receive security and feature updates through Microsoft-certified channels and are designed for central management.
Windows Teams Rooms can sit alongside an existing endpoint-management estate. Android devices can be managed through a more focused room-device workflow.
Some IT teams value one management environment across PCs and rooms. Others prefer keeping meeting-room devices separate and purpose-specific.
Map the platform choice against how your IT team already manages devices rather than creating a completely separate process.
Not every certified device is available on both platforms
Manufacturers often build separate Android and Windows ranges, so the platform choice can be made implicitly through hardware selection.
Compact all-in-one video bars and straightforward console systems are frequently Android, while larger modular systems with separate compute units and multiple peripherals are often Windows.
This is a general market pattern rather than a fixed rule. The room requirements should lead both decisions.
Working with an AV specialist for your meeting room fit-out helps ensure the room, platform and hardware are selected together.
Confirm the operating system of the exact hardware range before assuming the same device is offered on both platforms.
Where the budget differences usually appear
The Teams Rooms licence covers the room service rather than the operating system, so the largest cost difference is usually the hardware.
Android systems often sit at a lower price point for small and medium rooms. Windows systems, especially modular deployments, usually cost more because of the additional compute, peripheral flexibility and room complexity.
| Decision area | Android | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Typical hardware cost | Often more accessible for standard rooms and larger fleets. | Often higher for modular systems and flagship spaces. |
| Room type | Huddle rooms, standard rooms and straightforward deployments. | Boardrooms, divisible spaces and more complex AV environments. |
| IT overhead | Purpose-built, appliance-style management. | Deeper integration with wider Windows endpoint management. |
| Peripheral flexibility | Well suited to certified all-in-one systems. | Strong choice for modular designs and broader peripheral requirements. |
Many workplaces use Android for standard rooms and reserve Windows for larger rooms where the extra capability is genuinely needed.
Which platform should your organisation choose?
There is no universal answer. The best choice is the platform that fits each room, your existing IT environment and the scale of the rollout.
Choose room by room rather than forcing a single platform across every space by default.
How ScreenMoove helps you choose and install the right system
Getting the decision right means matching platform, hardware and room type together.
ScreenMoove’s Microsoft Teams Rooms solutions cover certified Android and Windows systems specified around your rooms, existing IT environment and budget.
The team can advise on wider video conferencing hardware and support the project through installation and commissioning.
Assess
Review room sizes, users, peripherals and IT management.
Specify
Match Android or Windows hardware to each room.
Install
Complete mounting, cabling, configuration and commissioning.
Handover
Train users and IT teams for confident daily use.
A good platform choice should remain easy after installation
A structured handover should cover joining, sharing, room controls, device management, support routes and what to do if a peripheral or display needs attention.
Choose around management, scale and room complexity
Android versus Windows is not a question of which platform has the better meeting experience.
For most everyday meetings, the two platforms now feel very similar. The important differences are device management, hardware choice, budget and how much flexibility each room genuinely requires.
Choosing room by room creates a Teams Rooms rollout that users find simple and IT teams can manage confidently.
Continue planning your Teams Rooms rollout
Microsoft Teams Rooms Android vs Windows FAQs
Is Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android or Windows better?
Neither platform is universally better. Android suits simple, low-maintenance rooms and larger fleets on a budget, while Windows suits organisations with existing Windows device management or rooms needing extra flexibility.
Does the meeting experience differ between Android and Windows Teams Rooms?
For most everyday meetings, very little. Core features such as gallery view, content sharing and intelligent framing are available on modern certified hardware across both platforms.
Can I run other apps on a Microsoft Teams Rooms device?
This is more commonly supported on Windows-based systems where approved applications may run alongside Teams. Android systems are generally designed as dedicated meeting-room appliances.
Do all Teams Rooms hardware manufacturers offer both platforms?
No. Manufacturers usually build specific hardware ranges for Android and Windows, so the operating system and hardware choice are often made together.
Can a business use both platforms across different rooms?
Yes. Android is often used in standard rooms and huddle spaces, with Windows reserved for larger boardrooms or more complex rooms.
Planning an Android, Windows or mixed-room rollout?
ScreenMoove can match certified Microsoft Teams Rooms hardware to each room, then supply, install, configure and hand over the complete system.
