Smart TV vs Streaming Devices

As technology progresses, there are more concerns when looking for the best TVs than ever before. One specific situation is understanding the difference between smart TVs vs streaming devices. Both functionally achieve the same thing, but there are some variances that are worth understanding. If you are specifically looking into Roku, you can check out this resource that compares Smart TV vs Roku TV.

Differences Between Smart TVs Vs Streaming Devices

Smart TVs come with a built-in operating system that allows the TV to function similarly to a mobile device. It connects to Wi-Fi and offers a range of streaming platforms and popular apps that can be downloaded and accessed through the TV. Once that is done, you can start streaming movies and TV shows directly from the internet. So how does streaming TV work? It works by transmitting audio and video data over the internet to your TV.

Certain models come with different internet options, and it’s good to understand the details about owning a smart TV with an ethernet port vs Wi-Fi.

Streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, and Roku TV are set-top boxes that connect to Wi-Fi. They allow users to access streaming apps through their specific operating systems. If you have an Apple TV and are looking to upgrade your TV, be sure to check out our guide on the best TV for Apple TV to ensure you get the best viewing experience. Additionally, you can check out our comparison of a smart TV vs Android TV or what separates a regular TV vs a smart TV.

So which one is right for you and your streaming content? Depending on what kind of content you want to get TV to stream – movies, shows, or sports – there are different plans available. Below we’ll outline a few key differences to help illuminate the characteristics of each and help you come to the right decision.

User Interfaces

It isn’t easy to make a one-to-one comparison because each smart TV comes with a different operating system and range of apps available to the user. Similarly, every streaming device has its unique characteristics. So for these reasons, we’ll keep it general.

Smart TVs are nice because there’s little work to be done once set up and fewer wires which minimize clutter. However, users say that Smart TV interfaces are harder to operate and run slower than many set-top box options. If you’re on a budget, it might be a better idea to go with a streaming stick over a Smart TV because budget TVs are known to have lousier systems. Streaming devices typically have a faster processor, a more simple interface, and fewer software updates.

Data Privacy

Another one of our modern concerns lies in data privacy. As the conventional wisdom goes, for streaming services, Apple TV tends to be the safest when it comes to data sharing. Meanwhile, Google TV and Google Chromecast rank lower regarding the amount of tracking they perform. Roku streaming devices also rank near the bottom with data monitoring.

Smart TVs are also known to track quite vigorously and tend to have features that are harder to control. For example, it is easier to research and understand privacy controls with a streaming box. However, with smart TVs, this isn’t so much the case.

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