When walking across Walmart or Best Buy TV aisles…
You’ll most likely see an Insignia TV in their displays.
Honestly, this brand isn’t that well-known.
But if you’re wondering if it’s a Smart TV worth buying…
Continue reading to find out:
- How long Insignia TVs last.
- 5 things you should know about Insignia TVs.
- How to check if your Insignia TV is a smart TV.
- And much, much more…
Is Insignia TV a Smart TV?
Insignia TV is a smart TV. And it uses either Amazon Fire TV or Roku TV as its operating system. However, some Insignia TV models aren’t Internet-enabled. That’s because the brand still sells non-smart TVs on the market.
Are all Insignia TVs smart?
Not all Insignia TVs are smart.
See, there are different kinds of Insignia TVs on the market. And as mentioned earlier, they vary in size and specs.
With that, although most Insignia TVs you’ll find now are smart…
You can still find non-Smart Insignia TVs online or from your local stores.
And to give you some examples…
Here are some non-Smart Insignia TV models:
- NS-19D310NA21
- NS-43D420NA20.
- NS-32D310NA21.
How to know if your Insignia TV is Smart
There are different ways to know if your Insignia TV is smart.
But don’t worry, I’ll walk you through each of them.
With that said, I’ll start with the easiest method, which is to…
Observe your Insignia TV remote
See, there are different kinds of Insignia remotes on the market.
And some of them immediately hint that they’re for smart TVs.
How?
By showing shortcut buttons to launch online streaming apps like:
- Hulu.
- HBO.
- Netflix.
With that said, you should grab your Insignia TV remote.
And see if it has shortcut buttons for any of the apps mentioned.
If it does, then you have a Smart Insignia TV.
“I don’t see any shortcut apps on my remote.”
In that case, try turning ON your TV. And scan through its system.
Do you see any streaming apps on your TV?
How about a web browser?
If the answer is “no” to both, you don’t have a Smart TV.
But if you see any streaming apps or a web browser, then your Insignia TV is a smart 1.
You might also want to know: Will a Smart TV Work With an Antenna? 5 Device Facts
Check if your TV has an ethernet port
The next method you can try is to…
Locate your TV’s ethernet port.
As you know, Smart TVs connect to the Internet. And an Ethernet connection is 1 of the few ways you can connect your TV to a network.
With that, if your TV has an ethernet port, you have a Smart Insignia TV.
But if you don’t see it, your TV is basic.
Check using your TV’s model number
This is the most guaranteed way to check if your TV is smart or not.
Because you’ll be using your device’s model number to see its specifications.
With that said, follow these steps to…
Check if you’re Insignia TV is smart using its model number:
Step 1: Locate the model number of your Insignia TV.
You can find this at the back of your device.
Step 2: Take note of your TV’s model number.
Step 3: Head to Insignia’s official webpage.
Step 4: Tap the search bar in the upper-right corner.
Step 5: Type in your Insignia TV’s model number.
Step 6: Ensure that the result that pops up matches your TV.
Step 7: Head to the Specifications tab.
Step 8: Scroll down to the Feature section.
Step 9: Find and read the Smart Capable feature.
If you see a “Yes,” your TV is a smart 1.
If you see a “No,” you have a non-smart TV.
5 things you need to know about Insignia Smart TVs
#1: Insignia TVs are budget-friendly
I met up with a friend last weekend, and she asked me:
“Are there any TVs I can buy with a budget of $300?”
So, of course, as somewhat of a tech-nerd, I confidently smiled and answered.
And you know what I recommended?
Insignia TVs.
See, for as low as $230, you can get yourself a 43” Insignia smart TV.
For Samsung TVs, this size would generally cost you $600. And that’s almost double the price.
So if budget is 1 of your top priority, Insignia TVs should also be at the top of your list.
#2: Some are Alexa-enabled
I’ve mentioned that Insignia TVs are cheap.
But don’t think they can’t hold their end of the competition with pricier brands like:
- LG.
- Sony.
- Samsung.
See, it’s worth noting that…
Insignia has exclusive deals with 1 of the top leading companies in the world: Amazon.
With that said, some Insignia models are running on Amazon’s Fire TV software.
And with these TVs, you can access online streaming platforms like:
- Hulu.
- Netflix.
- Amazon Prime TV.
But not that’s not everything Insignia Fire TVs can offer.
See, Amazon’s AI, Alexa, also lives in these Fire TV models.
And this means you can use your voice to control your TV with just a button tap.
Need a tutorial on how you can set up the Insignia Fire TV? Watch this:
You might also be interested in: Do You Need To Have a Smart Home for Alexa?
#3: Some Insignia TVs run on Roku TV
Not a fan of Amazon Fire TV?
Or maybe you’re already a Firestick user, but you just want a change.
In that case, Insignia got you covered.
Because they also have TVs that use the Roku system.
With that said, you can expect these features from Insignia TV models with Roku:
- Kid-friendly programs and settings.
- Access to over 4,000 streaming channels.
- 3 HDMI ports to connect other devices to your TV.
- More than 500,000 movies and shows to choose from.
So if you’re interested in using any of these…
You might want to consider getting an Insignia Roku model the next time you buy a TV.
Fun fact: You can use Roku and Firestick on the same TV
#4: They come in different resolutions
You can get your hands on Insignia TVs that are in:
- 4K.
- 720p.
- 1080p.
So if you have a specific resolution in mind…
You won’t be disappointed with the choices you’ll have in Insignia TVs.
Now, if you’re thinking…
“How’s 4K Insignia TVs quality compared to more popular brands?”
Then you’ll be glad to know that the higher-end Insignia TVs can also…
Compete with the 4K TVs from brands such as LG and Sony.
That’s because like the TVs from the companies mentioned…
You’ll also get these features with Insignia:
- Fast response time.
- Decent build quality.
- Good gray uniformity.
- High native contrast ratio.
So if you want to save more money but still get a decent 4K TV…
I highly recommend Insignia TVs as they’re affordable yet have a decent resolution.
#5: Their lifespan matches the higher-end models
Don’t worry. Insignia TVs are cheap, but they’re durable.
See, these devices can last up to 7 years of constant, heavy usage.
Now, how does this compare to the TVs from other brands?
To answer that…
Here are the average life spans of TVs from the most popular TV manufacturers
| Brand | Lifespan |
| LG | 5 to 7 years |
| Sony | 4 to 6 years |
| Samsung | 4 to 7 years |
Disclaimer: These numbers are average, expected lifespans. And may or may not reflect the exact lifespan of every brand’s TV model.
From this chart, it’s safe to assume that Insignia TVs can match the lifespan of other models.
So it isn’t a factor that you should be worried about. If you want to buy a new Insignia TV.
Bonus: Insignia TVs are as loud as high-end TVs
I’m an audiophile, so I simply can’t dismiss this.
See, Insignia TVs have speaker output that’s as loud as other high-end TVs.
For example:
The 55” Insignia TV with model number NS-55DR620NA18 has a 20 watts speaker output.
And the 55” UN55TU7000FXZA Samsung TV model also has the same loudness.
Now, bear in mind that…
The Insignia model mentioned is almost $500 cheaper than its Samsung counterpart.
So really, it’s surprising how much quality you can get in such an affordable TV.
Are Insignia Smart TVs worth it?
Insignia TVs are worth it. And this is especially true if you’re on a budget.
As mentioned earlier, for almost half the price of other TV brands…
You’ll still get these features on your Insignia TVs:
- Fast response rate.
- High-resolution images.
- Voice-command enabled.
However, considering they’re the cheaper option, there are still some…
Drawbacks with choosing Insignia TVs over high-end brands
For 1 thing, some users have reported that…
Insignia TVs are sometimes unresponsive to the remote
According to users, Insignia remotes can sometimes be annoying. Because you’d need to continuously tap their buttons before the TV responds.
Moreover, Insignia remotes aren’t as durable as the TV itself is.
So you’ll most likely need to buy a couple of remote replacements throughout your TV’s lifespan.
TV pixels are visible up close
Watching Insignia TVs at close distances isn’t recommended.
That’s because you’ll see the pixels or small LED dots on your TV screen.
See, this usually doesn’t happen on higher-end TVs from Samsung or LG.
But they tend to appear in budget TVs like Insignia, TCL, and Toshiba.
Limited viewing angles
When viewed from angles other than up front…
The quality of the images you’ll see on your Insignia TV screen will drastically decrease.
So really, Insignia isn’t the best choice for enjoying the TV with multiple people. Because watching from the sides of the screen won’t give you the best picture quality.
Now, of course…
These are all downsides that are pretty easy to work around.
For example, if you simply watch further away from your TV…
Then you won’t see the pixelation of its screen.
And if you try to keep a direct line of sight with your Insignia device…
You won’t have any problems with its limited viewing angles.
With all of that said…
As a tech expert, I’m still confident that Insignia is a worth it, budget-friendly TV.
Because its cons are all understandable considering its price point.