4 reasons I refuse to use my TV’s default OS

Not too long ago, it used to be that you absolutely needed an add-on media streamer if you were serious about owning a smart TV. While smart TVs have been around for a long time at this point — I personally had one back in 2011 — the earliest models all had proprietary interfaces, and the results weren’t pretty. You were stuck with whatever apps your TV maker happened to negotiate, and they probably didn’t run that well. You certainly couldn’t count on long-term support. Before the decade was out, my 2011 TV couldn’t even access Netflix.

Modern smart TVs are a lot better. Their processors are universally faster, and the few TV makers that still insist on proprietary software (LG, Samsung, and Vizio) seem committed to supporting it. Everyone else has switched over to Roku OS or Google TV, which means that as long as your hardware is decent, you can enjoy a standardized platform with plenty of apps and updates.

Nevertheless, I still prefer to use an add-on streamer when I can, my weapon of choice being an Apple TV 4K. There are a few reasons why.

Portable apps and settings

No muss, no fuss

My family and I have moved a lot in the past decade, and something that’s made the experience a little smoother is keeping one of our Apple TVs in our luggage. You couldn’t really set one up in a hotel easily until last year, but it’s nice to hit the ground running in a new house or apartment regardless of what TV you have access to. No re-adding user profiles, no re-downloading apps. You don’t even have to tweak settings, except perhaps for things that relate to a TV’s specs. Chances are the TV in a pre-furnished apartment isn’t going to be great at handling Dolby Vision.

This convenience can apply if you’ve been living in the same place for ages, naturally. You can move the add-on streamer from room to room as needed, and on the rare occasion that you replace a TV, you can be back to normal viewing in a matter of minutes. Conversely, when we bought the one TV in our house that still doesn’t have an add-on streamer, I had to spend a substantial amount of time tweaking it to make it feel usable and comfortable.

Better performance (and other specs)

If you pick the right device, that is

While TVs have adopted better internal hardware, the reality is that the better add-on devices will still smoke them in terms of speed. It’s one of the main draws of an Apple TV — tvOS and its apps run as smooth as butter, whereas a lot of native TV interfaces are merely acceptable. It makes sense, unfortunately. While Apple is able to turn to the same chips it uses for iPhones, TV makers often have to pull from off-the-shelf parts, and their profit margins encourage cutting corners wherever possible.

At times, add-on devices will beat your TV at other specs as well. It’s still tough to find a TV that can act as a Matter controller for your smart home, for example, much less one that can act as a border router for Thread accessories. And while wireless speaker support is improving, it’s still missing on many TVs. Heck, some people may want an Apple TV for the ability to switch to AirPods audio at the drop of a hat.

The freedom to upgrade at will

Keeping up with apps and AI

This is the main attraction in the long run. No matter how good a company’s software support may be, a TV’s internal hardware can’t be upgraded, and will inevitably show its age long before its screen becomes useless. That 2011 TV I mentioned was still nice to look at going into the 2020s. Sure, it was a 40-inch 1080p model without any HDR or Dolby Atmos compatibility, but it’s not like Aliens or The Fellowship of the Ring were shot with those things in mind. Paired with a Chromecast or Apple TV, it often felt as modern as anything out there.

Using add-on streamers, a TV can stay relevant for as long as it still functions. In some cases, add-ons can enable features a TV maker would’ve never imagined, such as generative AI voice commands, or full-fledged 3D gaming. Most models now integrate with (compatible) security cameras, letting you check your door or driveway without ever getting off the couch. I wouldn’t be surprised if built-in video calling gained traction at some point — it’s something Meta tried to popularize with the Portal TV, but not many people were onboard with having Meta in their living room.

You may still want to upgrade your TV occasionally to take advantage of new sizes and media formats, like Dolby Vision 2, but at least that feels more voluntary than getting annoyed at how long it takes to open YouTube or HBO Max.

A better software ecosystem

Score one for Apple, mainly

Credit: Apple

The era of miserable built-in interfaces is largely behind us, but let’s face it — no one really wants to use LG, Samsung, or Vizio’s software, and even Roku OS and Google TV have their malcontents. The biggest issue tends to be advertising. Some platforms are aggressive with ads, and many sets have ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) enabled by default, meaning that data is being collected on everything you do — including devices linked to your HDMI ports.

While you’ll still have to disable ACR on your TV, an Apple TV can otherwise be a breath of fresh air. Its interface is mercifully free of sponsored content except for some top-level carousels and anything shown inside apps. Apple doesn’t need to bother — it’s making enough money from hardware and subscription sales. It also seems to take its privacy policies seriously, some older issues with Siri recordings notwithstanding.

You may just prefer one interface to another, or want to match your TV’s ecosystem to the one in the rest of your home. If a house is full of Android and Google Nest devices, for example, it’s an obvious move to buy a Google TV Streamer (if necessary) to include your TV in automations and voice controls. I’d probably choose an Apple TV anyway for the sake of performance and removing ads, but that’s just me.