TV Smart Features Still Useful with Roku or Other Devices
“why in the hell would anyone use the smart features on a tv that you have a roku/Xbox/PlayStation/appleTV”
Summary
Many users still use smart TV features because they provide built‑in convenience, voice control, integrated smart‑home hubs, and quick access to apps without extra hardware. While external devices like Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, or Apple TV can offer faster performance or more apps, smart TV platforms remain valuable for their native functionality and ease of use.
Sources 59 searched
- The 3 Best Media Streaming Devices of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter
It excels at several key tasks when compared with devices from Amazon, Apple, and Roku: It’s easier to organize your homepage, find what you want to watch, and jump back into recently watched TV shows and movies. And for those who need it, the TV Streamer (4K) brings a similar ease of use to managing your smart-home devices via Google Home or Matter.
- Apple TV vs Roku: Which Streaming Device Wins (2026)?
The Apple TV 4K can run popular titles from the iOS App Store, including Apple Arcade games. With the power of the A12 chip, performance rivals consoles. You can connect Xbox/PlayStation controllers for a true console experience.
- Is a Roku Still Worth It If You Have a Smart TV?
Your TV might stream, but Roku could still offer faster performance, more apps, or fewer headaches ... Brad Stephenson is a tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency.
- The best streaming devices for 2026 - Engadget
With the dominance of smart TVs, ... — but if your smart set is slow or has a frustrating user interface, a streaming device will let you bypass your TV's built-in OS and use Google TV, Fire TV, Apple TV or something else instead...
- Best smart TV platform: Tizen, WebOS, Google TV, Fire TV and Roku compared, tested, and ranked | TechRadar
Which Smart TV platform is the best? We used them all to find out
- Smart TV Statistics and Facts (2026)
Smart TV ownership is set to exceed 1.1 billion households worldwide, representing 51% of all households, by the year 2026. By the end of 2020, approximately 665 million households, or 34% of global households, had already adopted smart TVs.
- The Complete Guide to Smart TV Platforms: Which One Is Right for You? | PCMag
Roku TV's biggest advantage is that it offers one of the most intuitive smart TV interfaces to use, even for those who aren't very tech-savvy. Roku offers an impressive selection of apps and streaming services, including almost all major ones ...
- The Best Media Streaming Devices We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag
Apple TV is expensive compared with Amazon Fire TV and Roku, but it still offers some benefits for dedicated Apple users: It functions as an Apple HomeKit hub and includes a remote that lets you talk to Siri.
- Best Streaming Device for 2026: Top Picks Reviewed - CNET
Whether you need lightning-fast navigation, cinematic sound with Dolby Atmos compatibility or smart home integration, there’s a device for you –- especially if your older smart TV isn’t keeping up with the latest streaming platforms. ... CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test · The Roku Streaming Stick 4K features the same simple interface, large app selection and impressive search function found on all Roku devices, but also offers Dolby Vision support.