The genuinely useful tech gadgets for your TV in Belgium
A streaming box to get back to Pickx or Telenet, a remote to control everything, a smart plug for ambience: some gadgets really change life in front of the TV. Others duplicate each other. Here is our sorting, adapted to Belgian apps and operators.
- Google TV Streamer : €119, the most Belgian apps
- Apple TV 4K : the only one to host Pickx, Telenet, VOO and Orange
- The HDMI-CEC often replaces the universal remote
- Matter : home automation that talks to all brands
Streaming boxes: useful, but not for everyone
A streaming box adds a complete Smart TV system to any TV via an HDMI port. It's useful in three cases: an important app is missing from your TV, your TV is old and slow, or its system no longer receives updates. In Belgium, the first case is common: many TVs don't have their operator's app.
| Device | Official price in Belgium | Strengths | Belgian apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google TV Streamer | €119 (Google Store) | Most apps, built-in Chromecast, Google Home hub with Matter and Thread | Auvio, VRT MAX, Play, Telenet (Android TV 10+), VOO TV+, Orange TV Go |
| Apple TV 4K (new generation) | From €349 (Apple Store), available 13 November 2026 | A19 chip, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, Apple Home hub with Matter and Thread | Auvio, Play, Pickx, Telenet, VOO, Orange |
| Amazon Fire TV | International versions on Amazon.com.be | Good value, Alexa, Xbox Cloud Gaming | To be checked app by app |
Belgian apps based on the official help pages of RTBF, VRT, Play, Proximus, Telenet, VOO and Orange, as read in October 2026. The price of the new Apple TV 4K is the one shown on the Belgian Apple Store on 15 October 2026, for pre-order.
Google TV Streamer: the most versatile choice
The successor to the Chromecast with Google TV sits beside the TV, with its voice remote. It gives access to the Google TV catalogue, the largest: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Auvio, VRT MAX, Play, Streamz, plus the Android TV apps of Telenet, VOO and Orange. It also serves as a Google Home smart home hub, compatible Matter and Thread. It also lets you install GeForce NOW for cloud gaming.
Apple TV 4K: the key for Belgian operators
It's the only off-the-shelf box on which all the major Belgian operators have an app: Pickx (Proximus), Telenet TV (tvOS 15 or later), VOO TV+ (tvOS 14 or later) and Orange TV. Apple is announcing a new generation, with the A19 chip, HDMI 2.1, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Wi-Fi, available 13 November 2026 and priced from €349 on the Belgian Apple Store. It's expensive, but it's also an Apple Home hub, compatible with Matter and Thread, and a small Apple Arcade console that accepts PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
Amazon Fire TV: check before you buy
Fire TV sticks are inexpensive and the Xbox Cloud Gaming app is available on them. But in Belgium they are mostly sold as the 'international version', and availability of Belgian apps (Auvio, VRT MAX, operator apps) is not guaranteed. Don't buy one to watch your operator's TV without checking first.
Universal remotes
For years, the Logitech Harmony was the benchmark. Logitech stopped making it in 2021. Today, before buying a universal remote, check whether you really need one.
- HDMI-CEC (Anynet+ at Samsung, SimpLink at LG, BRAVIA Sync at Sony, EasyLink at Philips) lets your TV remote adjust the soundbar volume, switch on the console or box and turn everything off at once. Turn it on in the settings of the TV and of each device.
- Voice remotes boxes and TVs already control a lot of things.
- A universal remote is still useful for setups with an amplifier, an old player or an infrared device that CEC can't handle. Brands such as SofaBaton offer models controlled by a mobile app.
Smart plugs, bulbs and Matter
Matter, in brief
Matter is a common standard, backed by Google, Apple, Samsung and Amazon. A product bearing the Matter logo (plug, bulb, sensor, blind) works with Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings or Alexa, without depending on a single brand. Thread is a low-power wireless network that many Matter devices use; it needs a 'border router' at home, a role played by the Google TV Streamer and the Apple TV 4K.
The TV as the heart of the home
Some recent TVs also act as smart home hubs: Samsung TVs with SmartThings, or LG with its hub built into webOS depending on the model. You can see cameras on screen and start a 'movie night' scene that dims the lights. Check the Matter and Thread compatibility of your exact model.
Good uses for smart plugs
- A mood lamp behind the TV, which switches on with the ‘film' scenario.
- Secondary devices (old console, speaker, charger) that you really want to switch off at night.
- Consumption monitoring : many plugs measure what your devices consume.
Before buying a box, list the apps you really use, especially your provider's, and check them on the TV. Often, a TV running Google TV, such as Sony or TCL, already has everything you need. And if your TV works well but you only lack Pickx or Telenet, the Apple TV is the safest solution, and the Google TV Streamer the most economical for Telenet, VOO and Orange.
TVs that need nothing else
Google TV TVs have the largest number of apps, including those of Telenet, VOO and Orange. A few models from the shop, recommended retail prices: TCL 65C6K (65") 849,99 €, TCL 55P79L (55") 649,99 €, TCL 65P79L (65") 799,99 €, Sony Bravia 6 K55A65PB (55") 1 299,99 €. On Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) you'll find Auvio, VRT MAX and Play, but not operator apps: Samsung TU43M74H (43") 499,99 €, LG 55NU850B6LA (55") 599,99 €. The product sheet is authoritative, and Nimesclub members often get a reduced price.
TVs with a complete system
QLED TV TCL 65C6K€727.00
QLED TV TCL 55P79L€466.00
TV QLED TCL 65P79L€799.00
TV LED SAMSUNG TU43M74H€435.00
NANOCELL TV LG 55NU850B6LA€435.00
OLED TV SONY K55A65PB€1,193.00To learn about the different ways to receive TV here in Belgium, also read receiving TV in Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a box if my TV is already connected?
Only if an important app is missing (often your provider's), if your TV is old and slow, or if its system no longer gets updates. Otherwise, the built-in apps are enough.
Which box lets you watch Pickx without a decoder?
According to Proximus, Pickx works on the TV Box, on Apple TV and via Chromecast (casting from the phone). There is no Pickx app on Samsung, LG, Philips or Hisense TVs, nor on commercial Android TVs.
Can a smart plug switch my TV off completely?
It can, but it's not a good idea with an OLED: in standby, it runs small panel-maintenance cycles. Instead, cut power to the accessory devices, or use the plug for a mood lamp.
Does Matter work in Belgium?
Yes, it's an international standard. Products bearing the Matter logo work with Google Home, Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings or Amazon Alexa, wherever they're bought.
Is the Amazon Fire TV sold in Belgium?
You can find it on Amazon.com.be, often as the “international version”. Its catalogue of Belgian apps is less well documented than that of Google TV or Apple TV: check your provider's app before buying.
Play on a screen worthy of the game
120 Hz, VRR, low latency: come and try our gaming TVs at our Temploux store, or ask our expert salesperson for advice.
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