Tell me about “Smart TVs”

[jon-nyc]

Thinking of upgrading for the boy. We traditionally had a totally unconnected TV with a built in DVD player and that’s the only way we used it - renting DVDs from the library. No television service of any kind.

Then Covid hit, library was closed. I got the little Apple TV gizmo to attach to the TV which allowed us to rent movies on demand.

I’m only just learning about the existence of “smart tvs”. I’m assuming these come wi-fI ready, with services like Apple TV, Amazon prime, etc built in? Maybe controllable from an iPhone app? What else should I know? Is there really all that much difference from one major brand to another? Remember I’m no power user, not looking to create a “home theatre” environment or anything like that.

[bachophile]

Oxymoron.

(I know nothing of TVs. Except that yes I can connect to wifi. Yes I have a streamer. Yes I know to switch hdmi inputs. Other than that I’m a Luddite.)

[89th]

@jon-nyc said in Tell me about “Smart TVs”:

I’m assuming these come wi-fI ready, with services like Apple TV, Amazon prime, etc built in?

Basically. They connect via WiFi and should have installed the main apps (Netflix, Prime, Disney, Hulu, etc etc etc). They also make connecting via bluetooth (so you can listen via wireless headphones) easy too. Most brands are the same. I have enjoyed Samsung TVs, personally.

[Jolly]

Mine is a Samsung, also. 8k is out there, but 4k is cheaper and my old eyes don't see enough difference to pay for it. You might. The smart feature just makes them easier to use when hooked to the wifi.

Do read some of the sizing guides, since things have changed a little with increasing definition.

Don't neglect over the air, as many broadcasts are in HD and picture quality can be quite good. If you're not in a streaming package that includes locals, a small antenna can do a lot.

Lastly, if you don't want the surround sound experience, but still want better sound, many tv's today don't have the best speakers. Look into a decent soundbar, and see if you think it would be worth the addition.

[Mik]

Does your AppleTV thing allow you to access other streaming channels?

If no, just get a Roku. It operates over Wifi and you can get pretty much any streaming channel.

[Doctor Phibes]

@bachophile said in Tell me about “Smart TVs”:

Oxymoron.

You're thinking of smart TV.

[George K]

We have a couple of TCL Roku TV's. They're fine for casual watching. As Jolly says 4K is plenty.

These have the Roku App built in, and through that I can access whatever streaming service (including Apple TV and Spotify) I want.

They have several input choices:

1. Built in Roku
2. HDMI 1 - whatever you hook up to it
3. HDMI 2 - whatever you hook up to it.
4. USB - you can load whatever media you want on a stick
5. Traditional A/V in
6. Cable/Antenna

You can select which input is selected when the TV powers up - we set it to HDMI 1 - cable.

[LuFins Dad]

Is your old TV bad or are you just wanting to add options? As noted, a ROKU device or a Chromestick can add the other channels.

[Copper]

My older Samsung doesn't have a YouTube TV App, but I use my XBox to get the streaming Apps (Youtube TV, Netflix, Amazon, Disney) on that TV.

We have a new Sony with everything, that is OK, but it is almost too smart for how we use it. It can be a pain flipping through all the options to find a tv channel.

I agree that ROKU is a good solution, it is simple to operate and has all the streaming sites that we want. With the ROKU you can have a plain old dumb TV just functioning as a monitor.

And I think a good sound bar is important, it makes a difference.

[LuFins Dad]

We run an Xbox for newer apps (Disney+ and HBO Max)

[Axtremus]

I have two “Smart TVs” but that’s only because I could not find “not-smart TV” that would give me the same screen quality at the prices I was willing to pay.

I see no reason for TVs to be “smart.” Get the best screen, best video quality for the amount of money you’re willing to spend and be done with it. The “smarts” can come from your AppleTV — it’s a lot easier to operate an AppleTV than it is to operate the “smart” stuff on a “smart TV.” Apple is also a lot more deliberate about respecting your privacy than the typical “smart TV” vendor.

Most of the “smart TV” vendors just slap Android onto their hardware anyway, so in essence you’d just be dealing with a most likely outdated version of Android crippled customized in various ways by the “smart TV” vendors who will most likely not bother to keep up with OS/security updates.

I rarely use the “smart” stuff on my “smart TVs.” When I do, that’s mostly because I accidentally pressed a wrong button on the remote that triggered the “smart” stuff.

Just go with the best screen for your TV money and pay no mind to the “smart” stuff.

[xenon]

Others have said it. Get Roku or Google TV if you want on-demand video rental, netflix, hbo max, youtube, etc.

Both of them have all the apps you'll need.

Smart TV is basically like a modern phone running on your TV.