Why a streaming device still makes sense even if you own a smart TV
Although smart TVs and devices like Roku or Fire TV Stick serve a similar purpose, standalone streaming devices offer several advantages over a TV's built-in system. They can improve speed, reliability and overall usability, especially on older sets.
Many assume a smart TV and a standalone streaming device are interchangeable, since both let users access platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu. However, a streaming device can be a worthwhile addition even to a home that already has a smart TV.
Speed and reliability
Smart TV performance varies widely because companies like Amazon, Google and Roku license their software to numerous manufacturers, resulting in different processor and software combinations. Some sets run sluggishly due to older internal hardware or outdated software versions. A newer streaming device is often faster and much cheaper to replace than an entire television. TV processors also have to manage many functions beyond streaming, which can cause slowdowns or crashes, while a dedicated streaming device focuses only on streaming and tends to run more smoothly.
Ads and software support
Advertising appears on both smart TVs and streaming devices, but there are more ad-free options among the latter — the Apple TV box, for instance, includes no ads within its operating system. Smart TVs also eventually stop receiving software updates from their manufacturers, which makes them slower and less reliable over time, whereas a new streaming device can restore functionality at a relatively low cost.
Extra features
Some streaming devices offer unique capabilities, such as playing user-uploaded content, supporting a Plex media server, helping locate a lost remote, or streaming live TV through web-based services. Certain devices, like the NVIDIA Shield, are also well suited for gaming. Additionally, streaming dongles and boxes are lightweight and portable, making them easy to move between TVs or pack for travel.
