Smart TV - a dummy's guide

Ebe_Scrooge

My son has asked for a smart TV for Christmas. Now I know nothing about such things, and searching the internet has only served to confuse me further !


As a result, I'm turning to the great MSE collective for advice. Can anyone explain to a dinosaur like myself :


1. What on earth does it do ?
2. Is it worthwhile buying one ?
3. Are there any particular features I should look for ?
4. Am I likely to get one for about £150 or thereabouts ( not bothered about a massive screen, just something that does what it's supposed to ) ?


If the answer to (4) is "No way Jose, you'll need to spend well over £400", then it's a non-starter. But any advice would be appreciated.

DoaM

All a "smart" TV really does is provide an interface (built in to the TV) to access various catch up and streaming applications (BBC iplayer, ITV Player, All 4, Netflix, YouTube etc.). The main disadvantage of this is that there's no guarantee that these apps will be kept up to date by the TV manafucturer.

You can achieve the same thing by getting a normal TV and plugging into it a separate device (Roku, Android box, Amazon Fire stick etc.) to provide the "smart" features.

DCFC79

Why a smart TV though ?

Is he aware that the "smart" name is as DoaM pointed, just gives the user a way to access various apps ?

I wonder if he has heard other kids at school talking about a smart TV they have and you son wants one thinking its so good.

As DoaM Your better of buying a Firestick or a Roku and a suitable tv, Richer Sounds have 3 TVs under £150 price point.

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks for the helpful advice :beer:


My daughter has a Firestick plugged into an ordinary TV, I didn't realise that that will do pretty much everthing that a smart TV will do. That being the case, I think that's the much smarter ( groan ! ) option. Many thanks

DCFC79

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Thanks for the helpful advice :beer:


My daughter has a Firestick plugged into an ordinary TV, I didn't realise that that will do pretty much everthing that a smart TV will do. That being the case, I think that's the much smarter ( groan ! ) option. Many thanks

Even a games console would give some aspect of a smart TV as you can download apps but just not enough.

A Firestick is a good choice.

custardy

As said,many ways to get the same features.
Though I have to admit we use the 'smart' features on our new Samsung far more than the old LG.

Ant555

Smart features we use on the living room TV
100% Netflix

Smart features I use on the Smart TV in the conservatory=none (We watch Netflix and BBC iPlayer using the Amazon FireStick plugged into one of the HDMI ports)

Does your son already have a TV?

If so then Amazon fire stick is a genuine option - if not then I would probably see if a 32" Smart TV is a cheaper option as opposed to purchasing a new TV and a fire stick.

Frozen_up_north

You might want to check on adult content limits with the browser in smart TVs, they are fairly basic and as others mentioned rarely updated and quite vulnerable to malware and viruses (you will have heard of problems with hackers accessing “the internet of things”), well smart TVs are those!

dunroving

+1 to what others have said. I have a Samsung "dumb TV" and recently bought a Firestick. If new apps come out or new technology that leaves the Fire Stick obsolete, I presume I can just buy a new Fire Stick - much cheaper than buying a whole new TV.

I recently also bought a large screen flat screen LG TV on Gumtree for £50, so if you can find similar and add a Fire Stick, that would enable you to have a smart TV, large screen, for less than £100.

TVs are the sort of thing that a lot of people feel like they have to upgrade every few years. Subsequently there are some great used TVs for sale for silly money.

dunroving

Also, if you really are looking for a dummy's guide, remember that regardless of whether your son has a smart TV or dumb TV + Fire Stick, he'll need decent wi-fi signal in his TV room (as the "smart" capabilities involve streaming digital content from the internet, not from the aerial/satellite dish). If he doesn't he'll need to get a wi-fi extender or powerline ethernet extender to improve the internet signal in the TV room.

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks all. It's looking like a Firestick is the way to go - we already subscribe to Amazon Prime. Good to know that shelling out on a "smart TV" won't give us anything that we can't get with a much cheaper option :-)