Upgrading your simple TV to a Smart TV on a budget
By: Blake Stock
Tags: Fire Stick, Chromecast

One of the disappointing things about having an older TV is that as you upgrade to newer phones, the screen that is not even 1/20th the size is much more versatile in every way. With an older TV you’re typically limited to cable TV channels and manually turning on movies from a DVD player. On the other hand, smart TVs enable users to stream just about all of their favorite content. Many homes are making the switch from the traditional cable bill due to much cheaper streaming alternatives from Netflix to Amazon Prime Video.

If you are in the market to potentially make this switch, or you are just looking to make a quick improvement to the technology around you, I would recommend two devices: the Amazon Firestick and the Google Chromecast. Each device has their own advantages and drawbacks. Lets take a look at the Firestick first.

Amazon Firestick

$39.99

The Amazon Firestick was made with one primary stylistic design choice, another remote. By choosing to have a physical remote to interact with, the design is intuitive to just about any user who has used a TV remote before (meaning everyone). The top choices for streaming apps include

Prime Video

Hulu

HBO

ESPN

Netflix

Youtube

NBC

CBS

Not only is the remote simple to use, but the newer generations come with the built in virtual assistant Alexa. Alexa allows you to use fairly normal language to request shows to be started without the use of navigating with the remote. The Firestick also allows for capabilities of browsing websites as well as including simple games The Firestick is ideal for anyone who wants to make a simple transition from a simple TV to a Smart TV.

Google Chromecast

$35

The Google Chromecast, on the other hand, was designed to be an extension of the devices you already use daily. Instead of providing the user with a remote, Google provides applications to download on smartphones tablets or laptops to control the Chromecast. The general idea is that just about any video stream you could watch, you can simply push a button and send it directly to your TV. The top streaming apps for Chromecast include

Netflix

Hulu

Vevo

Youtube

Amazon Prime

Spotify

Pandora traditional

Google Play Music

DirectTV

While Chromecast does not directly provide a virtual assistant, it does show promise in another sector. Google is in the process of unveiling its new gaming platform Stadia. Stadia is designed to allow users to connect remotely over cloud computing to their platform. Ideally, Stadia allows users to pay a subscription to play high quality games across several devices without downloads and updates.

Final Thoughts

Your choice of streaming device comes down to a couple simple factors. While both devices generally overlap on their streaming apps, it is important to double check that all the apps you use regularly are provide. Beyond that the divide comes down to whether you want a remote or your SmartPhone to control your TV. Personally I found that remotes are often lost or break down over time while my phone seems to always be in my pocket ready to go. Others even make the choice to dedicate older devices to solely act as a remote wherever the Chromecast is setup. The Firestick does have the advantage of an onboard virtual assistant, however there are many bundle deals that are provided by both devices that create a smart home environment. The jury is still out on whether Stadia will be a success or a huge flop. Both devices will definitively improve your household for under $50 and I encourage anyone wanting to upgrade their TV to consider purchasing a Chromecast or a FireStick.