Akersposten published a guide on Thursday advising Norwegian TV owners on when a separate streaming box is worth the money and which models suit the local market. The article argues that a television can keep producing a strong picture long after its built-in apps have slowed down or stopped working, making an add-on device a cheaper option than a new set.
Why it matters
The piece frames the decision as a practical one for households whose smart TVs have aged out of software support. According to Akersposten, the apps most Norwegians rely on have grown heavier with each update, while the hardware inside televisions is kept as inexpensive as possible.
The outlet explains that a TV's internal computer spends most of its capacity on upscaling, motion handling and backlight control. The part that runs menus and apps is deliberately modest. That works initially, but as services such as NRK, TV 2 and Netflix add features and cache more temporary data, including preloaded thumbnail images, memory runs short. The TV then has to shut down background apps to free space, which is why apps restart from scratch each time they are opened.
Akersposten also points to a second irritant: many smart TVs carry a feature called ACR, which captures images of what is on screen and sends them to the manufacturer. The outlet notes that it operates on content from external devices, such as a game console, and that the data can be shared with advertisers. The practice is contentious enough that Texas has sued five major TV makers over how they use it. The article adds that several manufacturers have drawn criticism for advertising in their menus, and that streaming boxes are not entirely free of the same problem.
Why Norwegian app support lags
Akersposten divides the Norwegian streaming market into three parts: global subscription services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Prime Video; national and Nordic broadcasters including NRK TV, TV 2 Play and Viaplay; and the services run by TV and broadband providers, among them Telenor T-We, Telia Play, Strim, Allente and RiksTV.
The global players, according to the outlet, have the resources to build apps for nearly every TV platform on the market, plus enough commercial leverage to secure solid support. Norwegian services face a different calculation. Each TV platform requires its own build and constant maintenance, which is expensive, so app availability varies widely between brands.
The consequences have already landed in Norway. Akersposten reports that in September 2024 NRK began winding down its apps on LG TVs from 2015 to 2017 and Samsung TVs from 2016 to 2017. Those models included expensive flagship sets and the first version of Samsung's popular The Frame. NRK attributed much of the problem to TV manufacturers that had stopped updating software on older models, leaving them unable to support the technology the broadcaster needed. NRK's own testing found that its new live broadcasts did not work on Samsung TVs made before 2018. TV 2 Play has likewise cited missing manufacturer updates as a difficulty, the outlet notes, because outdated software makes keeping streaming apps running progressively harder and costlier.
Which boxes make sense in Norway
Internationally, Akersposten lists Apple TV, Google TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV as the major competitors. In Norway the field narrows sharply. The outlet says only Apple TV and Google TV are realistically viable here, because Roku is poorly adapted to the Norwegian market and lacks key local apps such as NRK TV and TV 2 Play. Amazon Fire TV has similar limitations, with an app selection geared mainly toward international services. The article mentions that alternatives exist for more advanced users but does not detail them in the material summarised here.
For most Norwegian households, the outlet concludes, Apple TV 4K and Google TV devices are the safest choices. Both platforms carry a broad selection of Norwegian streaming apps, receive regular updates and work with services from Norwegian TV distributors.
Akersposten's guidance on whether to buy at all is conditional. Owners of newer Samsung or LG sets generally manage fine with the built-in apps. For an older TV that still delivers good picture quality, upgrading the streaming side is far cheaper than replacing the whole set. The outlet notes that the Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer pack powerful hardware for faster menus, smoother app switching and less waiting, along with access to more apps, regular updates and the option of wired internet. Apple TV in particular is described as having a clean interface without traditional advertising banners. For heavy sport and film viewers, the article also flags strong support for various picture formats and frame rates.
Beyond video, the piece notes that a streaming box can send photos, video and music from a phone to the TV, support wireless headphones, connect to game controllers and control smart home devices. Apple TV pairs especially well with iPhone, AirPods and other Apple products, while Google TV fits into Google's Android ecosystem. The outlet also names the Xiaomi TV Box S as its cheapest recommendation.
On price, Akersposten reports that Apple's newest streaming box, due late in November, costs 3,790 kroner, while the previous version can be found in Norwegian shops for just over 2,000 kroner. The outlet says it has not tested the latest model but has used the prior generation since its 2022 launch, describing it as highly user-friendly, with easy app installation and simple control from an iPhone when the remote goes missing.
Its practical advice for anyone with an older TV is to check for a used previous-generation Apple TV or ask a local shop about stock, since that is considerably cheaper than the newer, faster model. For most people, the outlet says, the new variant is hard to recommend.
Norwegian viewers with ageing sets will get a clearer picture of the new Apple TV's real-world performance once independent testing appears.
