If you own a smart TV you’re probably wondering if you still need a Roku device connected to it. After all, maybe your smart TV already has some apps built-in like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Pandora.
Some people will probably say that you don’t need a Roku if you have a smart TV, but the truth is somewhere in the middle and it depends on some things like the type of content you want to watch.
With fewer people having a satellite or cable TV in current times you will want to pick streaming services that offer a wide array of content, both paid and unpaid if possible.
While your smart TV comes with some apps installed, if you want to have access to more traditional live tv channels it’s probably best to get a Roku device.
Do smart TVs need Roku?
While you technically don’t need a Roku if you have a smart TV and access to streaming apps adding a Roku will only improve your setup because it will offer you access to more content, a more accessible interface, and a better navigation experience between the apps, and it comes with an easy-to-use remote which is an upgrade from a regular TV remote.
On top of that, a Roku device can have faster loading times, be less bloated with unwanted apps that the smart TV manufacturers are trying to push on you, and have more frequent software updates.
So you should compare your smart TV with the Roku streaming devices and see in what areas these can make your life easier.
What is a Roku?
Roku is a streaming video player which connects to the internet to stream video content to your home in real-time. You only need an internet connection and a streaming stick, or Roku streaming device to be able to access their content.
Roku was established around 2008 and is one of the field’s leading players, with about a third of streaming media devices on the market being Roku devices.
Roku lets you watch thousands of different programs, free and paid movies, and tv shows, all from a single device.
While most of the streaming services like Netflix, Amazon prime video, Disney+, and Hulu are competing against each other and trying to increase their market share Roku is playing nice with everyone and trying to integrate all of these services on their platform.
Roku Streaming devices
- Roku Ultra – Roku Ultra is the highest-end Roku device available. It is the fastest, most powerful Roku player ever. It has the fastest Wi-Fi, streams in 4k, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, and has the Roku Voice Remote Pro and hands-free voice controls. If you want a high-end Roku device then the Roku Ultra device is what you’re looking for. Roku Ultra has functions like finding your lost remote where you just ask the device about your remote or press a button on the streaming device and the remote will play a sound. You just need to connect it to an HDMI port. Roku Ultra can be found on Amazon at a price of around $79,99.
- Roku Streaming stick 4k – Roku Streaming stick 4k is the most portable device in the lineup, being the size of a flash drive and using a single HDMI connection with your TV. Similar to Roku Ultra it streams in 4k, Dolby Vision, and has voice search and control. You just need to connect it to an HDMI port. Roku streaming stick 4k costs around $29.99 on Amazon.
- Roku Premiere – Roku Premiere is similar to a streaming stick in the sense that it’s connected to the TV using an HDMI cable and it offers an easy set up for viewing your favorite content in HD, 4k and HDR. The high-quality and high-speed HDMI cable is included.
- Roku Express – Roku Express is the cheapest available option, but the downside is that it can only stream in HD quality at 1080p and it doesn’t have 4k capabilities. Roku Express comes with simple remote control and it’s mostly recommended for people new to using streaming services or people who want don’t want to invest a lot of money in a backup device.
- Roku Express 4k – Roku Express 4k is similar to the basic Roku Express but offers 4K and HDR capabilities. It is the most affordable way to stream in 4K and it offers good performance for its price. Roku Express has a price of around $34.99 on Amazon.
- Roku Streambar – Roku Streambar is a powerful streaming and cinematic speaker with a built-in Roku player which will enhance your television audio output. It supports Dolby Audio and Bluetooth to connect with your existing sound systems and works with popular voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google.
- Roku TV – If you don’t want to buy a separate Roku device or you’re looking to update your TV as well then you can buy a Roku TV which comes with a built-in Roku player. This provides you with a full smart TV experience without having to use 2 remotes. Roku TV comes in hundreds of models from manufacturers like Hisense, TCL, Sharp, and Sanyo.
Why do most smart TVs have Roku?
Roku is focused on streaming entertainment and putting everything together in a single place.
While your smart TV has functionality for cable TV and might focus its functionality more around the classic TV experience, Roku is dedicated to streaming and offers you more than 50,000 movies that can be streamed at 4k quality.
On a Roku streaming device, you can access content from Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Sling tv, Amazon Prime Video, the Roku channel, etc.
A possible issue with your smart TV is that manufacturers are competing against each other and trying to sign exclusive contracts with some of the major streaming apps on the market.
Thi,s in turn, can exclude some of the competition from the app marketplace and block your access to some of the streaming apps.
You’ve probably seen the remotes for some of these manufacturers and saw that they have dedicated buttons for some of the streaming apps out there as Netflix, Prime Video, or Rakuten so it’s clear that they are trying to offer favoritism to these instead of others.
Since Roku has such a massive portion of the streaming services market all these streaming apps are trying to be on the Roku platform because these in turn give them access to such a big pool of clients.
As a result, Roku has the most streaming apps on the market and you will have access to a specific app if you already have a subscription to its service.
User experience focus and better TV navigation
Another great thing about Roku is the enhanced menu and the easy usability.
While smart TVs are focused on the hardware part of things and cater to the classic cable TV experience Roku was created specifically for streaming apps.
The smart part of a smart TV is something that has emerged recently and was slapped on top of a TV to try and provide the basic internet connection user requirements and access to streaming apps.
But the interface was never a priority for these big smart TV manufacturers and it shows.
On the other hand, Roku has a big focus on user experience and provides an easy-to-use interface that can be easily configured to cater to your specific needs and preferences.
This gives you the possibility to organize and rearrange your apps and menus as you see git.
Speed and device limitations
One of the biggest smart TV issues is a low speed which makes streaming a frustrating experience.
This issue stems from a hardware problem, simply put smart TVs have weak processor speed which will have a hard time keeping up with the latest versions of the streaming apps.
If you have a smart TV you most definitely experienced lag when trying to switch between apps or when switching from live TV to a streaming app.
The smart TV can also have a slow internet connection which will cause problems with streaming apps as content is streamed in 4K these days and requires fast internet connectivity.
On the other hand, Roku offers long-range Wi-Fi which has a 2x faster connection speed.
Another issue with the smart TVs is on the software side. Each of the major manufacturers used a specific software framework like Tizen, Android TV, or Fire TV.
Each device will have a specific life cycle in which it will receive updates to these software versions.
After a while you might end up with an old software version that is not compatible with the latest streaming apps versions, blocking you completely from being able to install the app.
Comparing remote controls
Traditional TV remotes have a lot of buttons and it’s almost a certainty that some of them will be useless to you and you will never use them or understand what are they doing in the first place.
When it comes to remote controls Roku focuses on simplicity and each button on the remote has a verify specific function.
And depending on the model you have you can end up with one that has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Sling TV, or Hulu.
Roku device remote can be used to configure your home screen and move around the apps or put your favorite ones at the top.
Software is king
When it comes to software updates Roku is putting a lot of focus on frequently pushing updates, new features, or fixes to any discovered issues.
The streaming device will also allow you to remove apps you don’t want to use.
Manufacturers are focused more on hardware and trying to push new devices to the market so they will push software updates less often.
Remove the unnecessary junk
When it comes to smart TVs you will most definitely have pre-installed apps that are just junk and you will never use them.
These end up on your TV because the manufacturer is trying to push its apps on you, or has signed a contract with the app developer to have it put on your device.
Most of the time these will bloat your menu and will make it harder for you to have quick access to the apps you want to use.
On a Roku streaming device, you are in total control of what apps you install and what you remove.
You don’t want to keep an app installed anymore? Just uninstall it.
Do you want to install something that is not already installed? Just search for it in the app store and install it without any issues.
Should I buy a Roku TV or a smart TV?
If you’re wondering what is the difference between a smart TV and a Roku TV then you’re in the right place.
Roku TVs are TVs that use streaming media player technology from Roku, so it’s a TV with a built-in Roku player.
This means that you will not need to buy a separate Roku streaming device and connect it to a smart TV.
This way you will end up with a TV that has better functionality and more features, but sometimes it’s even cheaper than a regular smart TV.
This doesn’t mean that you should get rid of your smart TVs if you have them. If you already have a TV and you do not need to change it you can always just get a Roku streaming stick or another Roku streaming device and you will have the same experience as a user with a Roku TV.
Do smart TVs have Roku built-in?
No, the only TVs that have Roku built-in are the ones produced in partnership with the Roku organization.
You can find them on the Roku products page here.
Roku TV has a lot of partners like Onn, Hisense, TCL, and Sharp which manufacture hundreds of models so you can see them all on that product page.
Do I need a streaming device if I have a smart TV?
The answer to this question depends on the way you use your device and your content preferences.
If you only watch cable TV and don’t use any of the smart features, or don’t have any subscriptions to any streaming apps then you don’t need a Roku.
Also if you have any other entertainment devices in your home like a Playstation or Xbox then you can use the streaming capabilities of these devices instead of a Roku.
You can also access the Roku content directly from a mobile device using the Roku mobile app.
Conclusion
Do you need a Roku if you have a smart TV?
This depends on you but given the affordability of Roku devices you can’t go wrong with them because you will have:
- access to more content
- a better user interface
- a simpler Roku remote
- better performance
- more frequent updates
- fewer junk apps
At the end of the day if you just don’t use your TV that much, just watch regular cable TV, or have other devices like an Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV stick then you will probably not need a Roku.