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A smart TV offers an out-of-the-box solution for accessing your choice of installed apps via its native UI. However, using an external streaming device has many benefits. So, which is the best option for viewing digital television?
Smart TV Apps vs. Streaming Devices: What’s the Difference?
Smart TVs are essentially audiovisual computers with built-in streaming capabilities. You can download streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to your television and play using the TV’s operating system as an all-in-one streaming solution that works seamlessly straight out of the box.
Alternatively, you can opt for a separate streaming device, like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Google’s Chromecast, or Apple’s Apple TV. Streaming devicesturn a regular television into a smart TVby acting as a receiver for streamed content, connecting via a standard HDMI port. They typically come with a handset or are controlled via a mobile device and, in some instances, offer extra benefits like storage for downloads, high-resolution video, and immersive audio.
Reasons to Prefer Smart TV Apps
Here are some reasons why smart TV apps are often the best choice for viewing digital television compared to their plug-in counterparts:
Smart TV Apps Are Easy to Use
There’s much to be said for the apps that work via a smart TV’s built-in operating system. Not only can they be controlled using the TV’s remote (that’s one less handset to clutter your living space!), but as part of your television’s native user interface (UI), they are usually intuitively configured, optimized, and easy to operate.
Setting up your smart TV apps couldn’t be easier. Simplydownload your choice of appsfrom your TV’s app store, enter your account details, or create new ones, and you’re good to go. While there may be different features and limitations, depending on your smart TV, most will accommodate the apps for the most popular free and paid channels, such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
Smart TV Apps Don’t Require Extra Hardware
While an external streaming device is a practical solution for upgrading or converting your TV, it is also an additional expense. Depending on the model, the cost can range from less than fifty dollars to over a hundred dollars, and it may not be worth the money if you are perfectly happy with your existing smart TV apps and the native UI.
As with all smart gadgets, a streaming device must be replaced after a few years as technology inevitably overtakes it. Smart TV apps, on the other hand, require no additional purchase outside their subscription costs and require little maintenance, especially if you set them to auto-update.
Reasons Streaming Devices Are Better
Streaming devices make practical and valuable additions to a digital TV setup. Here’s where they outshine built-in smart TV apps:
Streaming Devices Provide an Easy Upgrade for Your TV
Smart TV hardware cannot be upgraded on the device, so it may require replacement sooner than a non-smart counterpart. As audio and video codecs become more advanced and apps and UIs are updated, more processing power is needed to meet the demand. Eventually, loading times will become notably slower, and navigation between shows will become increasingly sluggish until the lag is too much to bear.
A streaming device provides a plug-and-play solution to smart TV obsolescence. It can be regularly switched to the latest version with updated, faster chips, optimized software, and a native UI. Wireless technology is the beating heart of your smart TV, so it makes sense to consider an external device for streaming, bypassing your built-in smart TV apps altogether. When shopping for a new television, an external streaming device lets you prioritize audiovisual features and connectivity without worrying about its processing power and UI.
Streaming Devices Are Portable and Flexible
A significant benefit to streaming devices is their portability. Unlike a smart TV’s built-in apps, which are confined to your television, a streaming device means you can stream TV on the go. If you’re traveling for work, visiting friends or relatives, orbooking an Airbnb vacation, you can take your device with you and watch your favorite shows at your leisure.
Streaming devices also offer flexibility in how you watch TV. you’re able to watch downloaded content directly from some streaming devices, such as Apple TV, or download content to your mobile device and cast it to any HDMI-enabled TV screen. You can often customize your streaming device to suit your preferences for wallpaper themes, channel organization, parental controls, and shortcuts.
There Are Plenty of Options Available for Streaming Devices
If you are shopping for a streaming device, you are spoiled for choice. There is a solution to suit almost every requirement and budget, each with its own features and benefits, although they all perform the same fundamental task. Some streaming service providers, including Apple, Amazon, and Roku, have native devices, but these still work flawlessly with other providers' apps. You do not have to compromise viewing quality when connected to high-spec TVs, as even some affordable streaming devices provide 4K high-definition video.
Popular streaming devices includeApple TV 4K, which is a good solution for users of Apple products, albeit comparatively expensive, starting at $129. Benefits include FaceTime video calling, multi-device connectivity, and the Siri Remote, with its slick operation and advanced features.
If you don’t feel like paying a premium price for an Apple product, most other streaming devices are markedly cheaper and relatively comparable in terms of features. For example,Google’s entry-level Chromecastis HD-ready and hosts all your favorite apps for around $30, while the4K Chromecasttypically costs around $45-50
Alternatively, Amazon’s flagshipFire TV Stick 4K Maxoffers Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and Dolby Vision for $45. For $40, you could opt for theRoku Express 4K Plus, with AirPlay compatibility to link all your Apple devices and a next-generation 4K HDR streaming resolution. These are just a few examples of the wide selection of currently available streaming devices.
Streaming Devices vs. Smart TV Apps: Which Is Better?
If you already own a relatively new smart TV that functions as expected, it’s likely not worth adding an external streaming device and extra controls to clutter your living space. However, at some point, obsolescence will creep up on your television. When this inevitably happens, a streaming device provides an affordable and simple solution for upgrading your TV without replacing it.
On the other hand, if you are shopping for a new smart TV, don’t let its operating system and user interface sway your decision. You can choose from many quality streaming devices with up-to-date software that will optimize a smart TV’s appearance and functionality for a relatively low additional cost.
Streaming devices provide additional benefits such as improved connectivity with other devices, high-definition audio and video, video conferencing, and some even host business presentations. They often outperform TV operating systems in terms of speed, stability, updates, and app performance. Furthermore, they are portable and transferable, making them a practical alternative to casting from a mobile device and a necessity for streaming to televisions without built-in smart functionality.
