Help Needed: TVs with built in Apple TV App v. Airplay/Airplay 2?

[JulesK]

I need to get a relative a relatively small flatscreen TV (40”, max 43”), and the simpler the better. I’d like them to be able to access Apple TV+ programming on it without an Apple TV box (so a built-in Apple TV app?), and mirror content from their iPads (so Airplay 2?). Rather than having them learn how to use an app on the TV, it would be easier if they could just stream/mirror the content on their ipad to the TV. Because of the size of the TV, HD is fine; they don’t need 4K.

Apple has a list of TV app and Airplay 2 enabled TVs: https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app/devices/

For my purposes, I think that an Airplay 2 enabled TV would be better, but if anyone has any advice about what to look for, I’d greatly appreciate it because I have not used either Apple TV or Airplay 2 (other than with my Homepod). Also, does anyone know why the 2020 Samsung TVs seem to be TV app-enabled, but don’t have Airplay 2?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[MiamiC70]

2 is more than 1 and when there is a 3 that will be more than 3 🙄
Smart TV’s are for dumb people, get an ATV

 

[mallbritton]

For what’s it’s worth I think you are making this too complicated. In my opinion it will be far, far easier to buy the TV and an Apple TV device and have your relative learn to use that rather than having to teach them how to use AirPlay every time they want to watch something. With AirPlay you’re adding too many steps.

 

[JulesK]

For what’s it’s worth I think you are making this too complicated. In my opinion it will be far, far easier to buy the TV and an Apple TV device and have your relative learn to use that rather than having to teach them how to use AirPlay every time they want to watch something. With AirPlay you’re adding too many steps.

Thanks. Appreciate that perspective.

 

[HDFan]

I’d like them to be able to access Apple TV+ programming on it without an Apple TV box (so a built-in Apple TV app?)

Built in apps will almost always be inferior to those on the Apple TV.

In my opinion it will be far, far easier to buy the TV and an Apple TV device

Agree. If they already have iPads, then they know the interface and have a head start on using an Apple TV.

 

[jzuena]

For reference we just got an LG 43” 4K TV to replace a 10-15 year old Visio 40” 1080p screen that was starting to flake out. It has Airplay 2 and the Apple TV app. We just wanted a good screen so we went with a low cost good screen option, figuring if the built-in apps suck we can still get a Roku Ultra or Apple TV 4K. The TV interface is sluggish so we will limp along until Black Friday with either the built-in apps or with 1080p from our current Roku box, but then we will go with a 4K streaming box. We haven’t even had time to try Airplay yet, the TV is 5 days old. The screen itself is very nice, especially streaming 4K content, and it only cost $225 delivered from Best Buy.

The Roku box we have now is a 3 so it has all kinds of problems with Apple TV+ content, so that is the one area the built-in apps shine. Fast forward past commercials on Sling shows how sluggish the TV interface is. When we stream commercial free content from Apple TV+ or Disney+ (or live TV where we can’t ff past commercials anyway) the TV interface isn’t a problem. But I’m not a big fan of the interface so going back to Roku or even Apple will be a step up.