Neither meet my current requirements thanks.
I'd get a Chromecast TV instead of a Firestick.
If I was to get a new TV then it would negate the need for a separate device anyway.
Currently I'm using a TV which needs replacing. The remote doesn't work anymore which was fine whilst I was with virgin but I've got rid of their service. I'll probably just get a Freeview box and a Chromecast TV during the interim till I buy new TVs.
BIB: actually, it might not.
All TVs have a Freeview tuner. All sets at 32" and above
should have a Freeview HD tuner which adds the HD channel access to the SD cannels. Which channels you get depends on the services available from your local transmitter.
There is a sub-set of lounge-suitable TVs that have an Android operating system. Searching on Amazon will allow you to filter the search results by TV size and by the "Supported Content Services" option. This lists Android TV alongside Netflix, Now TV and others. The search will provide you with a shortlist of TVs that meet your current requirements.
What the list won't do is tell you whether the Android TV implementation has been done well or poorly in a particular TV.
In general, cheaper sets don't have enough processing power for a slick consumer experience with the Android O/S. If you spend more then it may improve. You should check reviews though before taking the plunge with any specific model. It almost goes without saying that good performance with higher-end products does not imply that the same will be true of any specific brand's lower-priced sets. Caveat emptor is your friend.
Next, even if the Android O/S works smoothly, there's no guarantee that you'll have the same freedom to download and run apps that you might have with an Android phone. This comes back to TV manufacturer budgets and how they impact on the processing power and memory installed in a TV. The established TV manufacturers seem to have had a hard time getting their heads around smart tech. They wanted to create a reservation in which they could control which apps were available. The reason for this is simple: If the TV doesn't have the horsepower, then allowing customers to download apps the TV can't run will result in disappoint and anger. Ergo, the Apps markets that certain manufacturers insist upon. Once again, caveat emptor is your friend.
Finally, the longer game. "
Will my smart TV still be as smart in 3 years?"
History shows us very clearly that TV manufacturers have a poor track record when it comes to ongoing support for their Smart TV functionality. The problems here are multi-fold. In the main though it's starts with the limited hardware, and goes through the restricted software. The final nail in the coffin though is content provision.
Amazon, Netflix, Disney+, Sky/NowTV, BBC/ITV, Apple are all content creators as well as library holders. Contrast that with Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Hisense, Bush and pretty much every other mainstream TV manufacturer except for Sony who simply make TVs. They don't make TV programmes, or haven't yet gone mainstream with it. The TV manufacturers then have nothing as an add-on sale to create an ongoing revenue stream once the TV has been purchased.
The exception is Sony, but my guess is that the licensing deals done for the content owned and created by Sony Pictures Television Inc. didn't foresee the rise of IP TV, and therefore there's no point in setting up a dedicated Sony service where there's already a revenue stream from the channels to market via other platform providers.
What all these content providers have in common is that they have a subscription service to access their premium content. For those who manufacturer hardware, they're very motivated to make sure that the devices work well and keep on working. Those others such as Netflix, Disney+ and the catch-up TV service providers rely on hardware support from the likes of Amazon (Fire stick/Cube), Apple (ATV), Roku (Roku box/Now TV/Roku TV), nVidia (Shield) and Google (Chromecast) as well as smart enabled TVs, BD players, TV recorders and the like.
The stuff built in to TVs and receiver/recorder/player boxes will gradually lose functionality. Eventually the same will be true of the standalone boxes, but it will take much longer. Also, replacing a Fire Stick or Chromecast is a lot cheaper than replacing the lounge TV.
