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Before you buy

How to choose a device for streaming

Compare TV apps, streaming boxes, phones, tablets and computers for Emby and Jellyfin.

3 min read Updated By

Choose for the app before the hardware

Start by confirming which app your service uses. Emby Lite and Premium Emby use Emby clients, and Jellyfin Lite uses Jellyfin-compatible clients. A powerful device is not useful if it cannot run the client you prefer.

Check that an approved app exists for the exact television or platform version: Moonfin covers most TVs, boxes, phones and computers, including LG and Samsung by sideloading and Roku for Jellyfin. For Emby, never use the store Emby app. App availability can differ between a television operating system, a separate streaming box and a mobile device even when they share a brand name.

Use a TV app for simplicity

An approved app running on the television itself is the simplest setup because it uses one remote and no extra input. It is a good starting point for HD playback and ordinary subtitles when the app is available and the television still receives software updates.

  • Confirm the app exists on the television before subscribing
  • Check whether the television has Ethernet or reliable dual-band Wi-Fi
  • Test remote-control navigation and subtitle controls
  • Expect older televisions to receive app updates less often

Choose a streaming box for flexibility

A separate streaming box can provide a broader app selection, newer codec support and longer software support than an older television. It also makes replacement easier because the display and playback device are separate.

Look for enough storage for app updates, stable network support and the audio or video formats used by your display. Avoid buying based only on headline resolution because client availability and codec support have more effect on daily playback.

Use phones, tablets and computers for testing

Mobile devices and computers are useful for confirming credentials and comparing networks. They can show whether a problem is tied to the main television, but they are not always representative of remote-control navigation or television audio formats.

  • Test the same title on the same network
  • Compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet where the hardware allows it
  • Keep automatic playback quality enabled for the first comparison
  • Use a trusted app store or official download source

Match the device to high-bitrate playback

High-bitrate 4K content places more demands on the network, decoder and audio chain than ordinary HD. For that use, prioritize current codec support, stable Ethernet or strong Wi-Fi, and direct-play compatibility. A faster internet package cannot compensate for an unsupported decoder or unstable local wireless link.

Use the free 24-hour trial on Streaming Lite or Premium Emby to test the actual device, app, display and home network together. That end-to-end test lets you choose without paying for hardware or a long billing period based on guesses.

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