Early this year, I bought a Google TV Streamer, and since, I barely used my Apple TV anymore, so I reset and unplugged it.
OK, let me clarify some things. By "Apple TV" I mean its original definition, being the device you can plug to a TV using an HDMI cable. This is different than the subscription service (used to be called "Apple TV+") and its application (used to be part of iTunes).
The Google TV Streamer (what a weird name) is the long-term replacement of Google's Chromecast line of devices. It is based on Google TV (used to be called "Android TV"), which is an "app platform" that is often licensed to be used on TV, similar to Android's licensing model for cellphones.
I kept plugged in my Apple TV because of its subscription service and because of my TV shows and movies collection I bought into it, both of which used to be exclusive to Apple devices (and a few very AirPlay compatible TVs). Some TV shows I purchased remain exclusive (in digital form) to Apple's store, for example in Canada the show "Better Call Saul" which is available only on the Apple TV store or on Blu-ray.
In recent years, Apple made its Apple TV subscription service more widely available on non-Apple devices, and for some of those apps, they now even allow you to access your TV and movies collection. Also, since the days of iTunes, the Windows version of the Apple TV app remains the only version that allows you to purchase or rent movies and TV shows on a non-Apple device. That means, practically, you can buy a movie on the Apple TV store (on Windows) and watch it on your TV (using Google TV Streamer) without having to use any Apple device.
So, after 15 years, I'm not using an Apple TV (device) anymore, even though I subscribe to its streaming service and buy TV shows on it. I'm happy to not use its terrible 1st-gen Siri remote that's touch-based and is recharged with a Lightning charging cable, or its crappy HDMI CEC implementation that creates havoc with my TV and Xbox.
Published on December 28, 2025 at 14:15 EST
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