Why a media player always outperforms a smart TV
Media players outperform smart TVs due to their efficient use of RAM and larger storage capacities, offering a superior viewing experience at a fraction of the cost. Picture: Xiaomi
Image: Xiaomi
Picture this: You’ve just spent over R30,000 on a swanky new smart TV that delivers an incredible crystal-clear picture, and you’re enjoying your first action-packed Hollywood blockbuster starring Jason Statham, and that’s when your world comes crashing down.
Or to put it another way, the streaming app you’re watching crashes or freezes.
We’ve all been there, frantically mashing buttons on your remote, and yet it has no effect.
The line from the IT Crowd then flashes through your head: Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Why Your New Smart TV May Underperform: The Overlooked Role of RAM and Storage
That does the trick, and you’re left wondering why your expensive new LG, Samsung, or whichever brand you chose, already failed you so soon.
The crux of the matter is that the majority of smart TVs on the market often sport breakthrough new display technology, but the software is often overlooked.
That’s why only the most smart TVs ship with between 3GB and 4GB of RAM, while most have just 2GB of RAM. This is the biggest reason why an app you’re using might freeze or seem to buffer a lot when it’s not actually your internet connection causing the issue.
Also, only the most expensive smart TVs have plenty of storage between 16GB and 32GB. Mid-range models have between 8GB and 16GB, while entry-level smart TV sport as little as between 4GB and 8GB.
When you fill up your TV with recorded shows or apps, it will also drastically affect the performance of the TV.
Why Media Players Outperform Expensive Smart TVs
It’s for all these reasons above that even a media player that will cost just over R1,000 will outperform even the most expensive of smart TVs.
For example, the Xiaomi TV Box S 3rd Gen has 32GB of storage, and since it’s a dedicated streaming device, it can use less RAM like its 2GB far more efficiently.
If you want to try the Apple offering— the Apple TV 3rd gen— it will cost you just under R3,000 new. It’s an old device now though, having come out in 2022. However, a new model is reportedly on the way soon and should be far more powerful— but at the usual Apple price probably.
Therefore, it’s easy to see that for minimal outlay compared to the cost of a high-end TV, you can also have a high-end viewing experience at a fraction of the price.