Which is better between a TV box and a smart TV? Do I need to buy a TV box for a smart TV?
Who should I buy a smart TV or a TV box?
High integration of smart TVs
Today’s smart TVs are very highly integrated, and most domestic brands have built-in Android intelligent systems. Coupled with many customized functions for different brands and a user-friendly interface, it is easier to operate and use for ordinary home users. And for TVs of the same size, the gap between smart and non-smart TVs is gradually narrowing. Taking 42-inch domestic brands as an example, the price difference between smart and non-smart TVs is only about 300~400 yuan, and the gap between individual models is only 100~200 yuan. Yuan, this is just the price of a smart box. For consumers, smart TVs with more integration and more comprehensive functions are undoubtedly the first choice. Even for international brands, the gap between smart and non-smart TVs of the same size is not too high, about 500~600 yuan, and a high-quality smart TV box is about the same price, so the price/performance ratio of non-smart TVs is not necessarily high. high.
In addition, TV manufacturers have gone through a series of design, optimization, testing and other processes to integrate smart systems into TVs, which ensures the perfect integration with TV systems. A series of optimizations will be carried out to improve the user experience and allow users to implement more complex functions with the simplest operations.
Moreover, for smart TVs, some manufacturers will also provide follow-up upgrade services, so that your TV can keep up with the pace of the times, and the functions can also be “renewed” every year, with powerful manufacturers. As the backing of technical support, consumers will be more assured in purchase and use.
Smart TVs improve smart experience
The configuration of smart TVs is progressing very fast. For example, the early smart TVs used closed systems, which were slow and buggy. , complex operation, etc.; the current smart TV configuration is quite high, dual-core and triple-core are already mainstream configurations, and the strong CPU performance has super execution efficiency, which greatly improves the running speed of the TV. The addition of the GPU ensures the smoothness and fineness of the picture, perfectly solves the complex picture signal processing, and can be presented delicately regardless of high-definition blockbusters, 3D games, digital TV pictures, etc.
Thanks to the advantages of the architecture, today’s smart TVs not only have the characteristics of high speed and multiple functions, but also are more energy-efficient. Whether it is watching TV, playing games or browsing the web, it has a very smooth effect. .
Because the smart TV itself is based on the characteristics of deeply customized Android system, apart from the Internet, there is no need to carry out various external links at all, just turn on the TV to enjoy a rich functional experience. You can install software directly on the TV like a mobile phone or tablet, watch IPTV, browse the Internet, and play game masterpieces, and these software are basically optimized and can be well adapted to your TV screen. . In addition, on many smart TVs, we can also experience cool somatosensory, voice and other functions without any accessories. More user-friendly and more convenient applications are also not available in many TV boxes that also claim to be rich in functions. .
TV boxes are cheap
When it comes to smart TV boxes, they were launched before the full rise of smart TVs, and they were not called TV boxes at that time. , called a high-definition player. With the desire of consumers for program content, high-definition players are slowly evolving into smart TV boxes. Today’s smart TV boxes integrate functions such as high-definition players, IPTV, and Android systems.
Price is a big plus for smart TV boxes. If the family purchased a non-smart TV in the early stage, it only needs to spend a few hundred yuan to turn the waist of the non-smart TV into a smart TV. Judging from the current market, most TV boxes at the mainstream price are concentrated in the range of 300~500 yuan, and there are many brands and models to choose from. For consumers, they are cheap and sufficient.
In addition, smart TV box manufacturers will not only launch new firmware to upgrade the product in a timely manner, but users can enjoy more new functions by upgrading the firmware. Moreover, even if this batch of smart TV boxes can no longer meet the needs of use after 2~3 years, you can buy a new smart TV box to replace the original product. It’s also worth the investment to keep your TV’s capabilities up to date. On the contrary, the intelligent system integrated by smart TVs cannot be upgraded if the hardware conditions of certain models of smart TVs are no longer suitable for the requirements of the new system, so the backward embedded intelligent system can only be used all the time. Compared with this, the smart TV box is more affordable in terms of software and hardware upgrades.
Flexible combination of TV boxes
Compared with smart TVs, smart TV boxes have many features such as flexible mobility and convenient use. Most households now have 2 or more TVs, and they can use the smart TV box with different TVs at any time. This advantage is unmatched by smart TVs, and there are a lot of free online movies and TVs on the smart TV box. Resources, it can be said that buying a smart TV box can be enjoyed by the whole family.
In addition, the operation of the smart TV box is not particularly complicated, and it only needs to be connected to the TV through an HDMI cable or a VGA cable. Moreover, if you use a smart set-top box with a mouse and keyboard for Internet browsing, chatting on QQ, etc., the box will play the role of HTPC invisibly. The function is not only as simple as a TV box, but also more flexible in use.
Not only that, but a few smart TV boxes also support built-in hard disk expansion and have a larger storage capacity. You can download high-definition movies using a high-definition machine, almost without considering the limit of additional capacity. In addition, smart TV boxes are also a place for high-end players to show their individuality. High-end enthusiast players can download different firmware suitable for their own smart TV boxes on the forum, carry out “secondary development” of the box, and let some unique functions and personalized UI settle in the TV box. This degree of freedom The extremely high DIY application method is also an important reason why TV boxes are favored by many players.
Summary
Although both smart TVs and TV boxes can provide us with a wealth of smart functions, which one to buy depends on your specific needs. If it is a new consumer who is more concerned about integrity, and wants a one-step experience including more complete intelligent functions such as online video, voice, and somatosensory, then directly buying a smart TV seems to be worry-free and labor-saving. And if you are not interested in those fancy functions, and usually just watch TV and online videos, then it is more cost-effective to buy an ordinary TV with a large screen and a TV box of several hundred yuan. Of course, if you already have a non-smart flat-screen TV at home, you can turn the TV into a smart TV with a smart TV box. What’s more, the price of the smart TV box is really not expensive. It can be bought at the mainstream price of more than 300 yuan, and the configuration and functions are also very powerful. IPTV, high-definition video playback, online downloading movies, chatting QQ, browsing the web are all a matter of course, and the cost is not high. Many, the effect is remarkable.
From the moment the TV is connected to the Internet, the prototype of the smart TV has begun to appear. As the last screen of the “five screens in one”, although it comes the latest, it makes people feel the deepest. In the past, there were radio and television policy regulation, and then there was the content copyright issue of live broadcast software. The TV box seemed to exist in embarrassment, but the attention did not fall behind smart TVs. There is only one reason for this. Smart TVs are still functional and interactive. Failing to meet the needs of users, TV boxes are urgently needed to make up for their shortcomings in content resources. So, do ordinary families need to spend extra money to buy a TV box after purchasing a smart TV? If necessary, what kind of TV box should we match? Below I will solve these two problems for you:
Question 1. Do I need to buy a TV box after buying a smart TV?
We need to decide this question according to personal life needs, if you It is a user who is not particularly concerned about the image quality of TV and movies. He simply watches the video without playing large games and watching high-quality image resources. Of course, he does not need to buy a TV box. A mid-range smart TV plus a third-party live broadcast software can meet your daily needs.
But if you are a mid-to-advanced player in the smart TV circle, especially a user with elderly and children at home, then you will have higher requirements for the content and functions of your smart TV. Obviously, a smart TV at this time cannot meet your requirements at all. There are three main reasons:
First, limited memory space
Currently, the memory of smart TVs on the market is around 4G, except for the internal memory of smart TVs The space occupied by the operating system is only about 1G. Netizens who have used smartphones may know what 1G of memory means. Install two live broadcast software, download a movie and estimate that the smart TV memory will be red.
Secondly, the decoding ability is not enough
It is undoubtedly a very risky way to let the smart TV directly decode the video of 1080P and above resolution. Not to mention trying to decode 4K video natively. If the clarity of the video cannot be achieved, the experience of the smart TV will be greatly reduced, and the original expectation of the smart TV to enjoy massive resources will be lost.
Third, the playability is too poor
Due to the problem of the smart TV memory I mentioned above, the download amount of the smart TV software and the Actual viewing experience. Not to mention playing large-scale 3D and somatosensory games directly on the smart TV, which is why many gamers buy a smart TV and then buy an additional Sony PS4 and Microsoft XBOX, making the smart TV at home completely reduced to a high-definition display. Screen.
Question 2. What kind of TV box should a smart TV match??
In this regard, we must first analyze What function do we need most when buying a TV box? It is mainly divided into the following three categories by age group:
The first category: there are parents and children at home, We need to choose simple operation , a TV box with reduced functions. At present, there are two types of Taijie WEBOX box and Huawei box with good reputation on the market. Among them, Taijie Taijie WEBOX box focuses on the “stable, smooth, and non-stuttering” of online and live video. Fluency has always been an important guarantee for TV box viewing experience. In addition, Taijie’s video resources are supplemented and mainstream 8 cores The hardware support of the 64-bit decoding chip is remarkable in terms of box quality and user experience. The Huawei Box focuses on local playback, so it goes without saying that in terms of hardware research and development, with the self-produced HiSilicon decoding chip, the local hard-decoding ultra-clear video is powerful. In short, watch the online video and choose the Taijie WEBOX box, and watch the local video and choose the Huawei box.
The second category: There are many young people at home, and The performance of the game should naturally be our first consideration. Although the TV box cannot play large-scale games like a professional somatosensory game console, it is more than enough to satisfy the basic gaming experience. At present, the Xiaomi Mi Box series, which is well-optimized in terms of games, is famous for its professional game engine optimization and peripheral products such as gamepads, making its adaptability and compatibility even better. The only thing that is not perfect is that the hot problem of the Xiaomi box has not been practically solved. If you don’t mind this, Mi Box is undoubtedly a good choice.
Category 3: If you’re a born shopaholic and have the urge to take what you see in front of you, then buy a shopping-focused TV A box may be your best bet. Alibaba’s huge e-commerce shopping circle has extended its tentacles to TVs. Netizens who have used Tmall’s Magic Box must know that the system UI design of Tmall’s Magic Box shows the atmosphere of e-commerce everywhere. Life shopping functions such as rush shopping on the hour and online payment are integrated into it. Should you buy it or buy it if you like shopping? You will know after using the Tmall Magic Box.
