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You told us: Streaming device or smart TV app? There’s no correct answer.
August 25, 2025
There are several options available if you’d like to stream content in the living room, with smart TVs and standalone streaming gadgets being among the most popular options.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using these two options, but which one do readers actually use? We asked this question a few days ago, and here’s how you answered.
Do you use a streaming device or smart TV apps?
We posted the poll in our recentsmart TV versus streaming devicefeature, with over 1,600 votes counted until now. And it must be said that this was a relatively close affair. However, the winner was the streaming device camp, garnering almost 41% of the vote.
We can understand why this choice proved to be so popular, as streaming devices are far more likely to see meaningful software support in terms of updates and specific apps. These gadgets are also very affordably priced compared to buying a smart TV.
Meanwhile, those who prefer using a smart TV alone accounted for almost 35% of the vote. This makes sense on paper too, especially if you’re due for a TV upgrade anyway and have some cash to spare. One reader comment also points to the convenience of integrated apps on a smart TV, adding that they can always add a streaming device to their smart TV if their needs change.
Speaking of a smart TV and streaming device combo, 24% of respondents say they use both devices. As our own Roger Fingas noted in the feature, this is handy if you want to enjoy more than one app and content ecosystem. For example, you could have a Google-powered smart TV along with anApple TVstreaming device.
Thanks for voting in our poll! Will your next TV be a smart one or are you happy to get a non-smart TV and hook it up to a streaming device? Let us know in the comments.
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