Personally, I love my Apple TV. It’s the best media-streaming device I’ve ever used. It’s faster and more stable than anything else I’ve owned or tried.
That being said, I’d always get a “dumb” TV and get a separate media device. A number of reasons for this:
A “dumb” TV is, on average, going to be cheaper than a smart TV. Sometimes a little harder to find, but in my opinion, worth it.
Media devices (like the Apple TV or Roku) will turn over or refresh about every two years or less. Your TV is a much more long-term investment that you’ll probably have for about 10 years, give or take. Not many smart TVs offer updating of their smart functions, and even then, it will be with “older” hardware.
If something happens to the “smart” functions on your TV, you’re looking at a much bigger repair bill than you would with a streaming device.
CHOICE! You buy a smart TV, you’re locked into that platform. Sure, you can buy an extra device to expand your options, but nice to have the flexibility.
I was a very happy Roku user before I got my Apple TV, and I’d agree it’s a better solution/experience if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem. Behind that, I’d say the Roku is a close second. |
