You need to decide on a platform as well as a specific model. The 4K streaming media device market is dominated by just a few software platforms: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku. And if your smart TV is a few years old, you might find that the apps for streaming services you use are outdated or missing altogether. These add-on devices might outperform your smart TV’s built-in system, or they might offer features or services you can’t get from that TV.

In my own home, four of our five smart TVs are connected to either an Amazon Fire TV, an Apple TV, or a Roku streaming player. In addition, plenty of us who have smart TVs decide to add a streaming device. However, that still leaves a lot of people who need a streaming device to access online streaming services, from Amazon Prime to YouTube TV. In larger screen sizes, it’s getting harder to find a set that isn’t a smart TV model. homes with internet access now own a smart TV, according to research firm Parks Associates. Take a look around your house-if any rooms have a relatively new TV, there’s a good chance it’s a smart TV, with the ability to stream TV shows and movies.

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