What Is a Smart TV, and How Does It Actually Work?
A Smart TV is really just a television with a small computer built in. Here's what that means in practice.
A Smart TV is a television with built-in software that connects to the internet and runs apps, the same way a smartphone runs apps — no separate box required for basic streaming.
The parts that make it "smart"
- An operating system that manages apps and settings
- Wi-Fi or Ethernet for an internet connection
- An app store for installing streaming apps
How streaming apps run on it
Once connected to the internet, a Smart TV downloads and installs apps directly from its built-in store, the same way our Smart TV app setup walkthrough describes for Apollo Group TV.
Smart TV or a separate streaming box?
If your current TV isn't "smart," a streaming stick or box adds the same capability. Our comparison of Smart TVs and streaming boxes walks through the tradeoffs.
Whichever route you take, check our Devices page to confirm Apollo Group TV's current platform support before you buy anything.
Ready to start streaming with Apollo Group TV?
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