“My smart TV already has applications like Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, and so on, so why would I need a streaming device like Roku or any other product?”
Even if your “smart” TV does come with a few applications that allow you to stream music and video, they pale in comparison to those offered by Roku.
If I have a smart TV, do I need Roku?
You don’t need Roku, but it offers more content possibilities, a better remote, quicker and smoother load times, and more regular upgrades than ordinary smart TVs!
So, even if you currently own a smart TV, you still should think about getting a Roku streaming device for your home entertainment needs.
What is Roku, and why should I care?
For free and paid TV programs and movies, Roku provides a single interface for accessing both free and paid content.
All of your entertainment demands may be met here.
It’s a lot like an iPhone, in that respect. All the TV and movie applications are available to you, and you may choose and pick which ones you wish to use.
It’s also quite simple to set up and operate.
Although several smart TV manufacturers have attempted to copy Roku’s success, Roku continues to surpass them in practically every aspect…
| Easy to use with a simple setup | Easy way to 4K & HDR streaming | High-performance portability | Best streaming experience |
| Great for a gift | Great for 4K & HDR TVs | Great for 4K & HDR TVs | Great for cutting cable |
| Includes High Speed HDMI® Cable | Includes Premium High Speed HDMI® Cable | Up to 4x the wireless range | Fast channel launch & lost remote finder |
The king is in the content
As recently as a few years ago, cable was your only choice for watching television.
HBO, Showtime, and Starz were then introduced. This “premium” entertainment was, in many ways, superior than cable television, even if you had to pay for it.
In the early 2000s, firms like Netflix were leading the charge with their premium, streamable content strategy.
In the wake of Netflix’s popularity, Hulus, Amazon Primes, and Disney Pluses of the globe sprang up, and the consumer’s access to quality material grew enormously.
Streaming applications have transformed the TV-watching landscape from one based on cable to one based on streaming services.
That’s when “smart” televisions began to appear.
In response to consumer demand, television manufacturers began cooperating with streaming service providers to integrate their applications directly into their TVs.
There were advantages and disadvantages to this arrangement, which was both good and bad in different ways.
Even worse, some of these partnerships are made “exclusive” by the TV companies themselves, which is just plain ridiculous.
Your smart TV doesn’t have access to all of the streaming applications available.
Here, Roku comes in.
As a result of Roku’s enormous user base, streaming applications like Netflix, Hulu, and others want to be on the Roku platform since that’s where consumers are spending their money.
As a consequence, there are more streaming applications available for Roku than any other device.
There is a good probability that you will be able to use your membership to a streaming service with Roku.
For your stand-alone smart TV, this is not the case.
Having a good user experience is important
To begin, TV makers were in the business of making and selling televisions (hardware). And it’s evident.
Companies like LG, Vizio, and Sony rushed to put together teams of engineers, developers, and designers to create the app interface you use to discover and start Netflix, for example.
“Smart” features were seen as “add-ons” to the TV, and as a consequence, the interfaces these businesses came up with are unintuitive or user-friendly.
Trying to locate a streaming app on some of these TVs may be a real chore.
However, Roku was created in tandem with these streaming applications. The fascinating thing is that Netflix used to own Roku.
As a result, Roku created its software with the end-user from the beginning.
The design is basic and easy to use, and you may arrange and rearrange the apps/menu in any way you see suitable.
With an iPhone, you can utilize Roku.
The use of remote controllers is still commonplace.
The Roku control, which comes with the device, is another an overlooked feature.
The “smart” TV remote you receive when you purchase a TV is generally large and has more than 50 buttons on it, according to my experience.
It’s difficult to understand.
This is the third time I’ve said that Roku’s remotes are a joy to use. In most cases, there are no more than 20 buttons on a remote control, and they all have a specific function.
Netflix and Hulu’s “quick-launch” buttons are included in the remote’s basic functions, as well as audio controls and channel selection.
Simply pressing a button will bring up those programs.
It’s a good start.
As well as organizing your home page of applications, you can use the remote to bring your most-loved apps to the top.
Roku has also developed a “Roku remote app” that can be downloaded to your smartphone in addition to the physical remote.
Because I often misplace remote controls but never my iPhone, this is a lifesaver for me.
Speed makes a difference
Smart TVs fall short in two major areas when it comes to speed.
The hardware is the first.
The CPUs in most smart TVs aren’t adequate to the task of running popular streaming services like Netflix.
There is a lot of lag time while using streaming applications via the smart TV interface for me personally.
The second speed restriction is on the software side of things.
When designing and constructing a streaming app, developers concentrate on making it compatible with the platforms that are most often used by their target audience. Roku, Apple, Amazon, and Google are the four primary companies at the moment.
It’s quite likely that the app for your product was not designed with the same amount of care as well as attention to detail as the apps for those four firms.
That’s why it’s sluggish, buggy, and sometimes freezes.
There are always upgrades required for software.
When it comes to software upgrades, the same issue that led to big streaming applications devoting so little effort on their app for anybody outside the Big Four has an influence.
There is no such thing as a “finished” piece of software. It’s always evolving and, hopefully, becoming better.
Updates are issued and made accessible to the current software version whenever new features, fixes, and changes are applied.
Roku gets these updates and repairs more often than any other smart TV platform.
Another thing to keep in mind: Roku is the most popular platform among customers. It’s only natural that Roku would put all of their efforts there.
Get rid of the garbage.
Smart TV interfaces have a major inconvenience in that you can’t get rid of the trash they add.
When a TV maker agrees to integrate an obscure streaming app in its interface, you’re forced to look at it every day and never use it.
With Roku, this doesn’t happen since you have complete control over the app menu.
Is there an app that you don’t use on this list? Delete it, that’s OK.
Can’t find an app that you’ve paid for?
Search for it and then download it, then rearrange your menu so that it appears at the top of the list. You’ll be fine.
Once again, Roku has mastered basic fundamentals that smart TVs have failed to do so with.
Exceptions
Some scenarios don’t need the purchase of a streaming service like Roku or another.
There are a number of reasons why you may not be utilizing your smart TV’s “smart” features.
I wouldn’t recommend buying Roku if you only watch cable and don’t subscribe to any streaming applications.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can still use a smart TV.
Aside from that, game consoles like the XBox One and Playstation 4 provide streaming capabilities that perform admirably.
Before purchasing Roku, I recommend trying them out to see whether you like them.
As a last option, you may get a smart TV with built-in Roku and prevent the need for an extra device!
Television makers such as TCL and Sharp have taken this way.
Conclusion
So, if you have a smart TV, do you need Roku? Consider purchasing a Roku streaming device regardless of whether or not your television is currently smart. This is due to the following reasons:
- more information
- a more user-friendly user interface
- for an easier to use remote control
- loading times are reduced
- updated more often
- There are less “trash” applications
You don’t really need a Roku if you exclusively use your smart TV to watch cable, or if your Xbox One or Playstation 4 has a built-in streamer.