If you already have a Smart TV, you might wonder whether a Firestick is actually necessary. The short answer: it depends on your TV's performance and app availability. Here's a clear comparison.
What Is a Smart TV?
A Smart TV is a television with built-in internet connectivity and a pre-installed operating system that supports streaming apps. Manufacturers include their own smart TV platforms — Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Sony Google TV, and so on.
What Is a Firestick?
A Firestick is an external streaming device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and runs Amazon's Fire TV operating system. It works on any TV with HDMI — smart or standard. Our complete Firestick guide covers this in detail.
Firestick vs Smart TV — Key Differences
| Feature | Smart TV | Firestick |
|---|---|---|
| App selection | Varies by brand — some have limited stores | Excellent — wide app store selection |
| Performance | Varies — older smart TVs can become slow | Consistently fast (especially 4K Max) |
| Updates | May stop receiving OS updates after a few years | Regularly updated by Amazon |
| IPTV support | Depends on TV brand and model | Strong IPTV support via compatible apps |
| Portability | Fixed to one TV | Easily moved between TVs |
| Voice control | Sometimes available | Built-in via Alexa remote |
| 4K HDR support | Many modern TVs support it | 4K models support Dolby Vision, HDR10+ |
| Price | Already included in TV cost | From £99.99 as part of a FirestickHub package |
Why Use a Firestick Instead of a Smart TV?
- Your smart TV's built-in apps are slow or limited
- Your smart TV doesn't receive regular updates
- You want better IPTV app support
- You want consistent performance across multiple TVs
- You want Alexa voice control and Amazon integration
When a Smart TV Is Enough
- Your TV is modern (2021 or newer) with a well-maintained smart platform
- The apps you want are available natively on your TV
- Performance is acceptable for your usage
Adding IPTV to Your Setup
Whether you use a smart TV or a Firestick, you can access IPTV through a compatible app. However, the Firestick tends to offer more consistent IPTV performance and broader app compatibility. All FirestickHub Firestick packages include a 1-Year IPTV subscription and are specifically optimised for this use case. See our IPTV on Firestick guide.
Get a Firestick Package with IPTV
Our packages include the Fire TV Stick and a 1-Year IPTV subscription — no separate app or subscription needed.
Shop Firestick PackagesFrequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily — but a Firestick often offers better performance, more app choice, and more consistent IPTV support than many built-in smart TV platforms.
Yes. Plug a Firestick into any HDMI port and your TV gains full streaming capability regardless of its age or model.
The newer 4K Firestick models are often faster than many built-in smart TV platforms, especially on older televisions.