Just get a nvidia shield and connect it to your TV

First and foremost, BUY A TV FOR PICTURE QUALITY ALONE . Then connect a smart device to it.

1. You get the best picture possible, which should be the number one reason for buying a TV.
2. TVs are given only a good enough CPU to get around the menus. Nobody purchases a TV based on how fluid the UI is. It's literally not even a thought in people's minds (see point #1 above)
3. Attaching a box means you get the best smart UI experience by being able to choose whatever device is currently out and runs the best.
4. Upgrading that smart UI is simple. Sell the old box, buy a new one. No need to buy a new TV just to get better performance.

A TV should last you like 10 years. You don't want to be anchored down to a 10-year-old smart UI.

The newer models of Sony Android TV. Just don't get the older ones.

Just keep your old TV if you're happy with the picture quality and get the Shield. Even the mi box is better than the built-in OS.

Don't worry about everything these guys say about boxes. I have a Windows HTPC connected to my TV. There is no reason for me to get a 3rd device, so I got an Android TV (Phillips PUS8804) to handle the light tasks that my HTPC isn't needed for. I also got a CI+ card so that I have no TV box. This means I have the TV as my decoder, for streaming, for light game emulation, and turn the HTPC on when I want to do something more rigorous. Not everyone needs a high powered Android tv box.

The problem with Smart TV's is you are depending on the manufacturer for updates, they may support them at first, but for how long.

My advise is to buy a TV of your preferred quality and add a device like a MiBox or Shield for Android TV

They usually mount mediatek SOCs with dual/quad core Cortex A53s (A73 for high end >2018-9 panels) with mali GPUs. They are midrange phones with enough GPU for postprocessing.

My Philips 55POS9002 has a """"decent"""" android tv experience, but nothing compared to nvidia shield tv. If you want a truly smooth android tv experience, go to it

I have a Sony 900F and it's OK. I also have a shield and it's much snappier, however the Sony does an adequate job. I stream Netflix and MLB_Atbat without issue. It's much better after last couple updates to Oreo. If all you want is to stream some video, the Sony TV will do alright, but you can do so much more with the SHield.

I bought an Apple TV to go with my Phillips and the experience has been great so far. I know it seems counter-intuitive to duplicate smart features like that, but the Apple CPU and interface are quite an upgrade.

Lots of people recommending the Shield but I wanted access to the iTunes 4k library.

As already mentioned below, the 2019 model Sony 4K TV's that run Oreo 8.x out of the box have a new, now pretty decent MediaTek chipset in them with the best, most powerful ARM Mali G71 GPU you can get on any Android TV device apart from the even more powerful GPU you get in the Nvidia Shield. Which all adds up to a snappy Sony Android TV Oreo experience - finally !

It's what the Android TV OS running on a smart TV should have been all along.

Instead ATV OS 4K TV users have been hoodwinked with poor, slow chipsets, with pathetically underpowered GPU's running an unoptimised, graphics intensive OS.

You need a really decent GPU for the Android TV OS, to decode video, and draw pictures and graphics onscreen as quickly as possible.

Yes the CPU plays a part, but it's no where near as important as the GPU, fast high quality DDR4 RAM also helps.