The short answer
Pick by what you watch. An Explora suits satellite channels, live sport and recording. An Apple TV suits apps and smooth streaming. A streaming stick suits light use and small budgets. Many households use an Explora and an Apple TV together.
| Apple TV | DStv Explora | Streaming stick | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Apps and streaming | Satellite channels and recording | Basic apps on any TV |
| Needs internet | Yes | Not for live satellite channels | Yes |
| Recording | Depends on the apps | Yes | No |
| Load shedding | Needs router power | Needs decoder and TV power | Needs router power |
| Setup | Simple | Dish and cabling | Simple |
| Best for | Streaming households | Live TV, sport and recording | Light use, spare rooms |
Features and prices change, so check each provider’s website.
Many homes keep an Explora for live TV and add an Apple TV for streaming. See how to set both up with a soundbar and can I watch DStv on Apple TV?.
Add up the box, the subscriptions, any installation and your data. See Is Extra View worth it? for a way to work out your running costs. For streaming data use, see how much data Apple TV uses.
An Apple TV can also act as a hub for Apple’s smart home system. If you are planning home automation, see keeping a smart home working during load shedding.
For some viewers, yes. It depends on your channels, recording needs and internet.
Not necessarily. Many households do use both.
Anything with a router needs backup power. A decoder needs only the decoder and TV on power.
No. Recording needs a recording decoder or a cloud feature in an app.
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