I’ve been using a Roku TV in one room and a Roku Streaming Stick+ in another, and I feel like the performance isn’t exactly the same. The player seems a bit smoother with certain apps, while the TV feels slower on startup. Has anyone else noticed differences between Roku TVs and Roku players when it comes to speed, updates, or app compatibility? Curious if it’s just me or a common thing.
It definitely depends on the type of CPU/GPU used, as well as the amount of RAM, the speed of the internet connection, and how much of a load there is on the system. For example, I evaluated several low-end 4K Google and Roku TVs from TCL and Hisense, and noticed that some of the TVs had a very large lag in the UI response while streaming a 4K video on YouTube. However, with 1080p content, things were not so bad.
I did an AI query on the subject, and it indicated that stand-alone streamers and smart TVs are both equipped with a single System on a Chip (SoC) that integrates the CPU and GPU. It listed the following additional functions used to manage the TV set:
Picture and motion processing
* Picture upscaling
* Motion handling
* Image enhancement
Hardware management
* Internal tuners
* Multiple inputs
* Audio processing
Probably has a lot to do with the size of the TV. The smaller TVs have lower powered CPUs and other systems, while the larger TVs have more powerful (and expensive) CPUs. A 4K TV is going to have a more powerful system than a small 720p screen.
The CPU and GPU on a TV also manages the operation of the TV (e.g., picture processing like noise reduction), so it is doing more work.
Same OS, but same CPU and same RAM and storage? Products integrated into other products are often stripped to the bone to keep the price down. I've been in discussions to integrate functionality that we sold separately for $80 and the vendor was shocked that we expected them to pay a dollar for the component for their product.
Hi! sarahjacob2k24
It seems that you notice some differences between Roku TVs and Roku Streaming Players, particularly in terms of speed, updates, and app compatibility.
All Roku devices run the same Roku operating system, so the interface and apps look the same. Issues may occur, depending on your internet speed and the device’s Wi-Fi strength.
Let us know when you can!
Roku Community Team
