Why you should get a 4K streaming box even if you don’t have a 4K TV

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Just as we collectively transitioned from standard definition to high definition earlier this century, the TV industry is making it pretty hard to avoid upgrading to 4K. The ultra high-def display format is present in pretty much all TVs bigger than 40 inches or so, and they’ve become so affordable that you might as well get one even if you don’t care about the jump in resolution.

But we recognize that there are plenty of people who are perfectly happy with their 1080p sets. Not everyone likes jumping on tech bandwagons. After all, money can be ephemeral, and the overall effect on your daily happiness might be negligible. Tons of folks don’t upgrade until it’s necessary for these reasons and more.

However, there is one area where I’d advise people to upgrade even if it doesn’t make immediate sense to do so. Streaming sticks and set-top boxes have gotten much more reliable when it comes to 4K support recently, a trend that is likely to continue going forward. 

A nice side effect is that 4K-ready streaming devices are pleasantly affordable now. Even if you don’t have a 4K TV and aren’t racing to get one, there are good reasons to get a 4K streaming box right now.

Plan for the future

As I said earlier, you might not be in a rush to upgrade to a 4K TV anytime soon. You’re perfectly content with what you have, and that’s fine. The jump from 1080p to 4K isn’t quite as jaw-dropping as the aforementioned jump from SD to HD, so chances are most things still look beautiful on your current display.

Of course, you will get a 4K TV someday because, eventually, you won’t have much of a choice. That’s why it’s smart to get a 4K device right now. Think of it as future-proofing. It’ll still work great on your existing set, but when you do need to get a new TV, you’ll have access to tons of 4K entertainment without needing to get additional hardware at that time.

4K-ready streaming devices from big-name brands are getting so affordable that it’s hard to justify buying a 1080p box, anyway. The Apple TV 4K is still a bit much at $180, but the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and Google Chromecast Ultra can all be had for $70 or less. 

Even something like Roku’s top-end Ultra streaming box is (relatively) inexpensive at $100. The higher-end streaming boxes are a bit more expensive, but they also come with more features, faster processors, and other bonuses that you can enjoy even without taking advantage of their 4K support.

Separate your streaming from your TV

Another reason to invest in a 4K streamer even if you don’t have a TV that’s up to the task of bringing out its full potential is that you should have a separate streaming device anyway. I’ve already laid out why you should do that elsewhere, but it’s worth repeating.

The streaming apps that come built-in on lots of TVs now might seem convenient, but they generally aren’t going to be as good as what you’ll find on a decent streaming box. Slow TV processors can produce sluggish menus and you’ll only have access to what works on your TV.

With a 4K streaming device, you’ll more than likely have access to everything you need (and more), but on better hardware and with more features. Most importantly, whenever you do decide to get a new TV, you won’t have to change your streaming habits. Just plug the streamer you’ve been using into your new TV and keep going.

In the end, you should do what’s right for you

It should be noted that, for all the good reasons to get a 4K streamer right now, there’s no shortage of reasons not to do it. After all, you might be perfectly happy with the setup you have and you don’t want to spend money on something without getting all of its benefits until you buy a new TV.

Another important point is that the extra $20-40 that separates 1080p streamers from some of their 4K counterparts isn’t a drop in the bucket for plenty of people. That’s money that could probably go to something more important. If your personal situation doesn’t accommodate the upgrade to a 4K box, whatever you already use is probably fine.

But if you can make it work, upgrading your streaming device is at least worth considering. Think of it as a gift to your future self.