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13 Steps To Know If Your Philips TV Is Smart (2023 Guide)

Is My Philips TV Smart

Smart TVs can act like regular TVs.

But you can’t use the latter like their smarter versions.

That’s why it’s essential to know if your Philips TV is smart or not. 

And if you’re wondering how you can do that…

Continue reading to learn: 

  • 3 easy ways to know if your Philips TV is smart. 
  • 7 effortless steps to turn basic Philips TV into Smart TVs.
  • 13 steps to check if you have a Smart Philips TV or a regular 1. 
  • And a lot more…

How to know if your Philips TV is smart – 13 steps


There are 3 methods to check if your Philips TV is smart or not: And they’re by:

  1. Checking if your TV has streaming apps. 
  2. Looking for an ethernet port at the back of your TV. 
  3. Reading your TV’s specs on the Official Philips website.

And with that said, I’ll start with:

Method 1: Check if your TV has streaming apps (4 steps)

Now, the easiest way to do this is by observing your Philips remote.

That’s because some remotes like the 1 for the Philips TV NH500UP have app shortcuts.

See, on these remotes, there are launching buttons for the streaming platforms:

  • Vudu. 
  • Netflix.

So if you can see these shortcuts on your remote, you have a smart TV. 

With that said, follow these steps to do this method correctly… 

#1: Grab your TV remote 

Now, turn your Philips TV ON. 

That’s because you’ll need to navigate your TV system later. 

#2: Check if you see any streaming app shortcuts

Do you see a Netflix button on your remote?

If yes, then your TV is a Smart TV. 

But if not, then proceed to the next step. 

Now, bear in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean that your TV isn’t smart.

That’s because some Smart TV remotes simply don’t have these app shortcuts.

#3: Press the Home key on your remote

This looks like a house icon. 

And you can generally find it in the upper-middle part of your remote.

After clicking this, you’ll be on your TV’s home screen.

So from here, you should…

#4: Check if you see any streaming apps

If you have a Smart TV, you’ll be able to see some apps by now. 

With that said, the most popular streaming platforms that pop up first are usually:

  • Hulu.
  • Vudu. 
  • ESPN.
  • HBO Now. 

Don’t see any of these?

Then, unfortunately, you don’t have a Smart TV. 

Method 2: Look for an ethernet port on your TV (4 steps)

There are 2 ways to connect Smart Philips TVs to a network:

  • Through Wifi.
  • Through an Ethernet cable. 

So it goes without saying that all Smart TVs also have an ethernet port. 

Unplug Your TV From The Wall Outlet

And now that we’ve tackled that aspect, it’s time to…

#1: Unplug your TV from the wall outlet

Since you’re going to be interacting with your TV and its cables…

It’s best to turn your TV OFF and unplug it. That way, you’ll eliminate the chance of being electrocuted. 

Now, after unplugging your TV from its power source… 

#2: Pull your TV away from the wall

And that’s if it’s currently placed close to 1. 

However, if your TV is in the middle of a room.

Or there’s already ample space behind it…

Then skip to the next step.

Note: You should have a meter gap between the wall and your TV. Because this way, observing the ports on your TV will be easier. 

#3: Disconnect all the cables from your TV

See, most connection ports on Philips TV models are beside each other.

So if you have cables connected to your TV…

You should disconnect them so that all of the ports remain visible. 

After doing so… 

#4: Check if your TV has an ethernet port

Some Philips TV models label their ports.

So 1st, check if you can find the word Ethernet at the back of your TV. 

Don’t see this word? 

Then you need to check all the ports’ shapes.

And see if any of them is for Ethernet connections.

With that said, if you see 1, you have a Smart TV. 

But if you don’t, I suggest you do a final check which is to… 

Method 3: Read the specs of your Philips TV (5 steps)

#1: Find the model number of your TV

You can find this on the sticker on your TV’s backside. 

Or, if you want, you can also search for it in your TV settings:

  1. Turn your TV ON. 
  2. Press “1-2-3-6-5-4” on your remote control. 
  3. A menu will pop up.
  4. The 1st line will show your TV’s model number. 
  5. Take note of this number.

And now, you should… 

#2: Head to Philips’ official website

Head to www.philips.com and then wait for the page to load. 

#3: Search for your product’s leaflet

Click the button that looks like a magnifying glass at the upper-right corner of the page.

Then, type in the model number you took note of earlier.

Now, on the results that show up… 

You’ll see different documents like:

  • Leaflet.
  • Energy label.
  • Quick start guide.

And from these choices, select the Leaflet document.  

#4: Check the Highlights page of the leaflet

Navigate to the 2nd page of this document. And you’ll see the different features of your TV.

Now, try to find the Smart TV section on this page. 

Can’t find it?

Then check if you can see these headings instead:

  • Android TV. 
  • AI voice control.

If you find 1 of these titles on the page, your TV is smart.

But if not, then… 

#5: Head to the Specifications page 

This is usually the 3rd page of the document you’re on. And here, you’ll see these headings: 

  • Sound.
  • Picture/Display. 
  • Smart TV Features. 
  • Supported Display Resolution. 

With that said, if you see the Smart TV Features section on your screen…

Then your Philips TV is a smart 1. But if not, then it isn’t.


Are all Philips TVs smart?


Not all Philips TVs are smart. 

See, Philips still has TVs that aren’t compatible with the Internet. 

That’s why if you’re planning to buy a new Philips TV…

I recommend making sure it’s a Smart 1 before paying for it. 

However, if you currently have a regular Philips TV and want it to be smarter… 

Then let me show you how you can…

Turn non-smart Philips TVs into Smart TVs in 7 easy steps

#1: Buy an external streaming device 

See, if you want to turn your regular Philips TV smart…

Then you need to provide it with another input source. 

With that said, you need to get your hands on external streaming devices like:

See, these will act as the brains of your non-smart TV. And that way, it’ll be smarter. 

Now, once you have your hands on any of these external input sources… 

#2: Plug your streaming device into an outlet

Connect your device to its power cable.

And plug its adapter head into an outlet. 

Now, you can also choose to power your streaming device using your TV’s USB port.

But I highly recommend that you plug it into an outlet. Because the electricity is more stable this way. 

With that, once your streaming device shows some sort of light indication…

#3: Connect your streaming device to the TV

If you have a device like the Roku streaming stick or Amazon Firestick

Then you can simply plug it directly into your TV’s available HDMI IN port.

However, if your streaming device also has an HDMI port…

Then you need to connect it to your TV with an HDMI cable. 

Note: Your streaming device will already have this cable in its box. So you don’t need to buy this separately.

With that, plug 1 end of your HDMI cable into your TV.

And then insert the other connector into your streaming device. 

#4: Turn ON your TV

If your TV isn’t connected to its power source yet, plug it in.

Then, press the power button on your TV or its remote. 

And once your screen boots up…

#5: Set it to the correct input source

Do you remember which HDMI port you plugged your streaming device into?

If yes, proceed to the steps below. 

But if not, you should recheck the HDMI slot’s label and remember its name.  

After that, switch to the correct input source on your Philips TV using…

A remote control:

Step 1: Click the Source button on your Philips remote.

If your controller doesn’t have this, click the Home button instead.

Step 2: A list of available input sources will appear on your screen. 

Step 3: Choose the HDMI port of your streaming device. 

Use the navigation buttons on your remote to highlight the input you want. 

Then, press OK once you’re hovering over this input. 

Don’t have a remote? No worries. 

You can still change your input using… 

The buttons on your TV:

Step 1: Find the Source button on your Philips TV. 

This is usually located on the right side of the device. However, not all Philips TVs have this.

So if you can’t find the Source button on yours, find the Home button instead. 

Step 2: Tap the Source/Home button. 

This will bring up the list of available input sources on your device. 

Step 3: Hover over the input name you want to choose.

You can navigate using the CH+ or CH- buttons on your TV.

And once you’re highlighting the correct input… 

Step 4: Click the Home button on your TV. 

This will select the input you highlighted. 

And your screen should now display your streaming device’s welcome screen. 

#6: Pair your streaming device’s remote

Insert the batteries that came with your remote. 

And give it a couple of seconds to pair with your TV.

Now, if it doesn’t pair automatically…

Then refer to your streaming device’s user manual. So that you can do this process manually. 

With that, once you’ve successfully paired the remote…

#7: Set up your streaming device

For most models, you’ll need to: 

  • Select your preferred language. 
  • Sign in or sign up for an account.
  • Connect your TV to the Wifi network.

So simply follow the on-screen instructions on your TV. And after that… 

Bonus: Enjoy your Smart TV

Yes, you read that right.

Your regular Philips TV is now a Smart 1. 

So now, you can use it to:

  • Surf the web.
  • Play online games.
  • Stream online shows and movies.

However, bear in mind that you have to keep this streaming device connected to your TV at all times. 

Because if it’s not…

Your TV will return to being a regular Philips TV again. 

Further reading: 9 Easy Ways To Turn Your TV Into A Smart TV

Differences between a normal Philips TV and a smart Philips TV

The differences between a normal Philips TV and a smart Philips TV are their features. 

See, non-smart TVs can’t:

  • Access the Internet. 
  • Launch any streaming apps. 
  • Be controlled with voice commands. 

However, all of these features are available on Smart TVs. 

On top of that, some Philips Smart TVs also have the Ambilight feature.

Not familiar with this? Then you’re completely missing out.

But I got you. So watch how Ambilight looks in real life in this short video:

Read next: Will a Smart TV Work With an Antenna? 5 Device Facts

Are Philips Smart TVs worth it?

Philips Smart TVs are worth it. 

And that’s because they have way more features than the regular ones have. 

On top of that, there’s also a wide array of Philips TV selections. 

So surely, you’ll be able to find a TV model that’ll suit your needs. 

Moreover, you can control Smart TVs with voice commands. 

So if you want the convenience of navigating your TV with minimal button taps…

I say you should go for a Philips Smart TV.