Engadget: A Streaming Device Can Still Be Worth Adding to a Smart TV

The overlap between the two product categories encourages a "one or the other" way of thinking, the outlet writes, but it lists several reasons why a streaming device can supplement rather than duplicate a smart TV.

The first is speed. Amazon, Google and Roku license their software to many different manufacturers, which produces wide gaps in performance from one set to the next. Some televisions technically get the job done but feel sluggish, depending on their internal processors and the software version they ship with. A newer streaming device typically runs a fresh operating system built for speed and efficiency. Older streamers will likely be slow as well, but Engadget notes that replacing one costs far less than replacing a whole television.

Reliability follows the same pattern. Modern smart TVs are essentially computers, and aging gadgets start to bug out, as when a set crashes each time Netflix boots up. A television's processors have to handle tasks beyond streaming, which can cause hiccups, especially when RAM is maxed out. A dedicated box or dongle does one thing only, which keeps the interface responsive and reduces the chance of performance problems.

Advertising is another difference. Samsung has been integrating marketing content into its televisions since 2016, and the vast majority of sets from brands such as Amazon, Roku and TCL show ads in numerous locations, including some high-end models. Streaming devices are not immune: Engadget notes that plenty of dongles and boxes from Roku and Google carry advertising. Still, there tend to be more ad-free streaming boxes than smart TVs. The Apple TV box includes no marketing space within its operating system, the outlet writes, and the same goes for a do-it-yourself Raspberry Pi device.

Software support also fades with time. Smart TVs receive updates for a period of years, after which support dries up, the operating system slows down and it eventually becomes unreliable. Buying a streaming box or dongle is a cost-effective way around the loss of regular updates compared with the price of a new television. Engadget adds that this will not be a problem for anyone with a new TV running a fast operating system, but advises keeping an eye on things when a company stops issuing software updates for a particular model.

Certain boxes offer features a television may lack. Some allow users to upload their own content for playback through a media player. Most plug-and-play streaming devices include integrated storage of some kind, and many can be connected to a standalone hard drive, which helps when setting up a Plex media server. Others include buttons to locate a lost remote control. Many modern devices can play live TV through web-based subscription services, and some, such as the NVIDIA Shield, are suited to gaming.

Finally, Engadget points to flexibility and portability. A streaming dongle is very light, and even dedicated boxes are not too cumbersome, making it easy to move a device from one TV to another. A dongle is also easy to pack for a vacation, which the outlet describes as a smart use of luggage space in case a traveler ends up stuck in a hotel room.