Have you ever wondered “What is a smart TV”? You’re not alone. It’s a pretty common question. The fact is, the not-so-smart versions of TV’s are are somewhat of a rarity these days.
The exact definition of a smart TV is not very clear. It will vary quite a bit with the brand (sometimes even with the model). So, it can be a bit confusing to decide which “smart” TV is worth your money.
Generally speaking, smart TV’s connect via the internet to your favorite streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. You can play games, control connected home gadgets via Alexa or Google Home, check social media on smart TVs, and even more. In short, they offer you a large-screened interface with the internet.
With wide variation in features on these devices, it’s important that you have some insight into what the desirable features in a smart TV are. Here are 6 important things you need to know before you buy Smart TV.
1. Dumb TV’s Are All-But Obsolete
It’s almost redundant to put the word “smart” before TV these days. Almost every TV has some smart features. So, most TV’s these days would be considered smart; you won’t have to pick them out from the lot. However, the corollary of this fact is that getting to the one with the best features can be a tricky task. With that being said, don’t buy a TV that does not have the exact features you’re looking for. All of the options and competition between competing smart TV manufacturers means that nearly all consumers can find a TV meeting their specifications and budget.
2. Selecting the Perfect Display Size
One of the first things that comes to mind while buying a new TV is the display size. If you are wondering “What is the best display size”? the answer, as it almost always is, is that it depends. How many people are going to watch it at a time? How far do you want to sit from the TV? Where will the TV be placed?
Considering these factors, taking into account your family’s preference, and the budget, of course, you can then decide on a perfect fit. If you’re looking for a concrete benchmark, a general sweet spot in terms of screen size these days is around 60 inches.
As a side note, if you’re wondering how TV sizes are measured, the answer is diagonally.
3. Smart TV Resolution: 4K UHD VS 8K
720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K are the resolutions of a smart TV’s screen. These values show how many pixels your TV screen displays. The more the pixels displayed, the clearer the images. So, the more the better.
However, the production of 8K content is pretty rare (almost non-existent). So, the TV’s offering 8K resolutions are actually just scaling the images up to 8K from a lower resolution – a smart TV 4K resolution, for instance. That said, 8K resolution is obviously more detailed as the displayed pixels are multiple times more than the other displays. The other thing that is multiple times higher on 8K smart TV’s: the price tag.
If you get an 8K smart TV, you would have to sit closer to the screen to feel the difference. Otherwise, the details of the images are quite similar. But, as the content in 8K is scarcely available, going for an 8K smart TV won’t give you that high a return.
So, if you are not a very close viewer and want to enjoy from afar, a 4K smart TV is more than enough for you and your family’s entertainment. And a way better bang for your buck. Just a note: when you are shopping for a 4K TV, the terms “4K” and UHD (Ultra High Definition) are often used interchangeably. No need to get confused by this. And definitely no need to get up-sold to a more expensive device by some sleazy salesman because “this one is only 4K, you need ultra high definition.”
4. Smart TV Refresh Rate: 60Hz vs 120 Hz
Refresh rate is the number of times an image is refreshed on the screen in one second. Its unit is Hertz, which is abbreviated as Hz. So, what is the best refresh rate for a smart TV? The short and sweet answer is “the higher the better”. The long answer is a bit more complicated.
The standard is 60Hz. This does the trick in most situations because almost all content produced specifically for TV’s isn’t filmed at more than 60 refreshes per second. But, in scenes with swiftly moving objects, such as hyper-responsive gaming, this refresh rate might not offer smooth picture transitions.
It’s important to note that the refresh rate is a little different than a frame per second (FPS). FPS is the number of times the content is displayed on the screen.
So, 120Hz is better than 60Hz; it’s offering double the speed. But, the FPS should also be high; to display a smooth motion without blur. Let’s say your TV is 60Hz and the content you are streaming is 30Hz. There is a gap in the refresh rate and frame rate. The smart TV fills in that gap by placing in additional images that it processes based on the surrounding frames.
Some companies have even started offering 240Hz as well. However, spending a ton of money to grab 240 Hz won’t be very beneficial if your content doesn’t match it. And, rapidly moving objects won’t show smoothly at a 60Hz refresh rate.
For smooth video output, a 120Hz refresh rate seems to be the ideal sweet spot.
5. Smart TV Display Tech: LCD vs QLED vs OLED
There are basically three major Smart TV display technologies out there: LED, Quantum dot LED (QLED), and organic LED (OLED). If you want to go for the best among the best and have the budget to afford it, OLED TV’s are a clear winner.
Every pixel in an OLED display produces its own light, so they can be turned off individually, offering you better contrast and higher quality images than other technologies.
These TVs don’t need backlighting; allowing the design to be very thin. Plus, they use less energy, which makes them environmentally friendly as well.
LED smart TVs are the most economical choice out of the three. They are illuminated by a backlight, which helps in producing images onto the screen.
The light is effectively blocked to produce the images in LCDs. These TVs have relatively higher brightness, but you won’t get the best contrast ratio.
That leaves us with QLED TV’s. Quantum dot TV’s are essentially LCD TV’s that use quantum dot particles to produce the image in different colors. The light that hits the particles comes from an LED backlight. This light passes through an LCD layer as well before hitting the screen. For practical purposes, these are a nice compromise between the high-quality, expensive OLED’s and the budget-friendly LCD’s.
6. Stand-Out Features of a Smart TV
While every TV that has an internet connection can be classified as smart, there are some features that are must-have if you want the ultimate media streaming experience. Let’s have a look at the stand-out smart TV features in detail.
Streaming Services
Smart TVs offer you to use streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and more. It’s a good idea to check whether smart TV allows the streaming of your favorite streaming platform or not.
A note on using Amazon Prime Videos on smart TV’s
Regular readers know we typically refer to Amazon.com due to it’s universal availability. Now, most smart TV’s will come with an Amazon streaming app built in, but you still have to be a Prime membership subscriber to watch. Our readers can sign up for a free 30 day trial of Amazon Prime here.
A Built-In Media Player
Watching your favorite shows is cool, but what if you want to put some old photos onto the screen and have a look at the slideshow with your family?
This is where a built-in media player comes in. With a media player, you can put on a slide show and enjoy your images and videos with your family. So, that’s a pretty desirable feature in a smart TV that can really add to your experience. This is especially true when the holidays role around.
Speaking of the holidays, a fun little thing to do with your smart TV is playing some background music while the image of a fireplace is displayed on the screen. It gives the home a nice cozy feel, and makes for great after-dinner hosting.
Universal Search
The Internet gives you the flexibility to watch your favorite movies and shows on your TV. You can find virtually anything and have it streamed onto your TV.
But, there are a lot of streaming services out there. And each one has hundreds to thousands of shows/movies. To open through and search through each app can be more than a little frustrating.
A universal search feature lets you put in the keyword and filters out the best matches from all streaming services, saving you the hassle of individually searching every service. Once you use this feature, it will become a necessity on all your future smart TV’s.
Games on Smart TV’s
When it comes to TV’s and gaming, the thing that first comes to mind for most people is connecting a console like the new PS 5 or Xbox Series X to a TV through an HDMI cord. But in addition to video, audio, and personal media streaming, did you know smart TVs can also have gaming apps? Although these games are pretty basic, the technology has been rapidly improving. You’re parents or grandparent will also love the fact that they can play solitaire on a screen they can actually see.
In addition, some smart TVs also support the Playstation Now service, which means you can play some of your favorite games from days past. More of these services are expected to pop up in the near future.
Smartphone Connectivity
With the smartphone compatibility of your smart TV, you can transfer and stream your media files using your phone wirelessly. This is a pretty cool feature to have if you keep videos, images, and audio files on your smartphone. The most obvious benefit is being able to stream something from your phone to your TV. An additional plus is that you can use your phone keyboard to type on the TV; meaning no more spending 15 minutes trying to enter in you complex, unique password for each app through the TV’s remote.
Appstore
A smart TV with an AppStore makes sure it’s up to date with the latest features and updates as technology grows. New applications are being developed rapidly, so it’s almost necessary to have an AppStore so that you can keep up with the entertainment industry.
Swift User-Interface
It doesn’t matter how crystal clear your huge, high-tech TV is; if you have a sluggish user-interface, you’re going to hate using it. Processing speed may be the most overlooked feature that can turn out to be pretty annoying down the road. A fast-loading screen, swift app shifts, and a silky-smooth interface will make your experience more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts on Smart TV’s
It’s true that not every TV is smart, but finding any smart TV these days is no longer an issue; dumb TVs are almost non-existent now. However, not every TV that offers an internet connection and a few apps is worth your investment. There is a lot more to it.
Finding a smart TV that has the most desirable features where things get tricky. And, to get those features, you need to have a basic understanding of them. Then, just prioritize your needs and make the best pick for you and your family!
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