Smart TVs with built-in features and apps may seem convenient, but they’re still not good enough. After dealing with clunky interfaces and sluggish performance, I finally decided to ditch smart TV apps completely and switch over to using my Apple TV 4K full-time—and I’m not looking back.

6

Streaming Sticks Offer Much Faster Performance

While high-end smart TVs have decent hardware, most budget and mid-range models are underpowered. Apps take too long to launch, interfaces lag, and basic actions just feel slow.

Devices like the Apple TV 4K or Google TV Streamer are simply better. They’re optimized for speed, boot up faster, and switching between apps feels effortless. For someone who hates laggy, buggy interfaces, the difference is night and day. I’d much rather plug in a compact device that just works than deal with clunky smart TV software that feels outdated in a year.

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5

You Get More Frequent Software Updates

Smart TVs have improved with updates, but you’re still at the mercy of the manufacturer’s update cycle—which can be painfully slow or inconsistent. With streaming devices, that’s not a problem.

Streaming devices like Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick receive regular updates simultaneously across all models, adding new features and performance improvements. Moreover, all Apple TVs receive the update at the same time. Google and Amazon follow a similar approach with their streaming sticks. In contrast, I’ve had smart TVs that haven’t seen a meaningful update in over a year.

4

It’s Way Easier to Upgrade Over Time

Unlike smartphones, which we upgrade every year or two, smart TVs tend to stay on our walls and in our cabinets for years. Over time, smart TVs can become slow, even if the display, sound, and other hardware still work perfectly. In these cases, you’re often forced to upgrade the whole TV—even when everything else is fine.

Using a streaming device eliminates that problem. When your streaming stick starts to feel sluggish, you can simply replace it with a newer model and instantly restore fast performance. And all that at a fraction of the cost of buying a new smart TV.

3

You Can Carry It Anywhere With You

Another benefit of using a streaming device over built-in smart TV software is portability. Unlike TVs, you can take your streaming stick anywhere. Whether you’re at a hotel or visiting a friend’s home, just plug the device into an HDMI port and instantly bring your apps, preferences, and streaming services with you. You don’t need to re-enter your credentials or deal with someone else’s setup.

2

Streaming Devices Support More Apps and Services

While smart TVs typically come with a few popular apps preinstalled, they often lack support for many niche or newer streaming services. Some apps are either missing entirely or don’t run well.

Streaming devices like the Chromecast, Roku, and Fire TV Stick provide access to a much wider range of apps. And they usually offer better performance, too. In fact, these devices often get access to new apps before smart TVs do.

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1

It’s a Much More Cost-Effective Setup

Getting both great performance and high-quality visuals in a smart TV can be expensive. Higher-end models with fast software cost significantly more. But if you’re happy with your current TV’s display and sound, adding a streaming device is a much more cost-effective option.

For under $50, devices like the Chromecast with Google TV or Fire TV Stick 4K deliver faster performance, more reliable updates, and better app support than most built-in smart TV platforms. You’re not paying extra for software that might become laggy within a year. And when it’s time to upgrade, replacing the stick is far cheaper than replacing the whole TV.

If your TV still performs well in terms of display and sound, and only the software feels outdated, upgrading to a streaming device makes a lot more sense. I was in the same situation—considering an upgrade from my Xiaomi TV to a Sony Bravia—but instead, I bought an Apple TV, and it completely changed my experience.

Until manufacturers start treating software as seriously as display and sound quality, I’m sticking with my Apple TV 4K. I don’t see myself replacing my smart TV anytime soon—at least not because of laggy software.