From planning your life around broadcast listings to accessing your favorite shows round the clock… TV has evolved a great deal over the years. These days, your Android TV box will even stream the content directly from the internet, cutting the need for archaic cable/satellite connections. And if yours isn’t a smart set, you can get a streaming set top box to enjoy a similar experience.

Or should you? Common sense suggests that you’re better off buying a smart TV — it gets the job done with less gadgetry. There are, however, a few compelling reasons to get an Android TV box. Even if you already have a smart TV, a streamer will still prove a worthwhile investment.

Superior Technology

Jack of all trades, master or none… Sounds familiar? A platform that packs so much functionality will inevitably fall short in some areas. For the so-called smart TVs, it’s usually the smart processes that fail to deliver. Sluggish hardware combined with poorly-refined interfaces means everything takes forever to load, and you’re always frustrated by the time you get it.

Streamers tend to be more polished by comparison. There are no unnecessary apps or extra settings to slow down the device, and you get a remote that’s tailored for easy navigation.

Get More of What You Want

It’s one of those things that dealers never disclose: Smart TVs have limited content options. That’s because manufacturers have to negotiate partnerships with content providers, often on an exclusive basis. In other words, the huge swanky set you’ve been fancying could very well lock you out from your favorite shows.

With streaming boxes, there are no contractual obligations locking content to one particular platform. That means you get a lot more options, which makes for a better experience.

Future-Proof Your TV

Or rather, extend the life of your television set. Both streaming boxes and smart TVs need software updates to stay at par with the present. While the first generation of streamers are still receiving updates several years down the line, TV manufacturers haven’t been as generous. Updates are hardly ever extended beyond one generation — that is, one year after the launch date.

Therefore, a streaming box seems like your best bet from a long-term perspective. And if you have a smart TV that you’re happy to keep watching, but which is starting to look dated, a good streamer will give it a new lease of life.