Updated for 2023 - While smart TVs allow users to browse websites, not many developers are addressing this fact by optimizing content for large screens and remote controls. This is possible due to the fact that User-Agent (UA) strings for smart TVs contain unique hardware and software information which can be parsed to locate the device in a database. Read on to get a handy list of smart TV UA strings and learn what you can achieve by parsing these strings to deliver optimized content.

What makes a TV smart

Smart TV capabilities generally refer to TVs that allow users to install and use apps for various purposes that may dramatically change the traditional purpose of that device. A typical app for a smart TV gives access to a library of TV-optimized videos streamed from online sources, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, Hulu, Eurosport, and a lot more.

These smart capabilities can be available through an external device, such as a TV dongle or a set-top-box, or embedded in the TV itself which is the norm for most devices today. In both cases, some sort of operating system tailored for TVs is required, for example, Android TV or Firefox OS, which makes it possible to install and use compatible apps. Here’s a handy list of popular smart TV platforms that can be found in both dongles and smart TVs.

Apart from OS-based smart TVs, users can also choose dongles that serve more like a link between a smartphone or a laptop and a TV. A good example is Google Chromecast which allows you to stream content from any compatible device, including "casting" what's currently displayed in the Chrome browser.

Thus, content accessible through smart TV platforms doesn't have to be limited to video services. One of the apps used on a smart TV can be a TV-optimized web browser which gives users access to basically any kind of online content viewable on the TV screen.

The fact that there are users who access websites on a TV screen offers an incredible opportunity for website owners to optimize content and target advertising for all TV users. This is particularly useful in terms of websites rich in videos and photos likely to be viewed on a bigger screen.

List of UAs for smart TVs

The following list of smart TV User-Agent strings can help you better understand how device information is passed in the case of these devices.

Apple TV

Google Chromecast / TV with Chromecast

Amazon Fire Stick / Stick Lite

Roku

NetCast Smart TV

Tizen TV

LG Smart TV

Various smart TVs

Why would you want to detect and target TV users?

DeviceAtlas offers over 180 device properties to detect and target according to your needs. Some of these properties are related to smart TV users, such as Primary Hardware Type, Vendor and Model.

These properties are typically used to optimize web content for TV users to make sure TV capabilities are properly used to improve UX and user engagement. They also provide an excellent option for targeted ad campaigns and an additional source of information for web analytics solutions helping you better understand your audience.

Click the button below to test a locally-deployed User-Agent parsing solution offered by DeviceAtlas.