While you may constantly get prompted to get a Smart TV…
I’m here to tell you why you shouldn’t.
Brace yourself, because…
I’m about to reveal some not-so-appealing facts that come together with these appliances.
Keep reading to learn:
- 7 must-know reasons why you shouldn’t buy a Smart TV.
- How you can turn an LED or HDTV into a smart one in an instant.
- 9 factors that have contributed to the rise of Smart TVs in recent years.
- And a lot more…
Why you shouldn’t buy a Smart TV – 7 reasons
#1: Smart TVs don’t have strong protection against hacking
The number 1 concern many people have about Smart TVs is security.
Whereas Windows, Mac, and Linux computers have built-in antivirus…
Smart TVs simply don’t have that. Therefore, they’re much more vulnerable to hacking.
In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation itself gave a warning about it back in 2019.
According to the FBI, the unsecured nature of a Smart TV makes it easy for hackers to access the owner’s WiFi and router.
In addition, hackers may also steal sensitive info that you store on some of your TV apps.
Of course, the likelihood of any of those happening is slim. But they’re certainly within the realm of possibilities.
And it’s something that you won’t have to worry about with a regular TV that doesn’t use the internet.
If you’d like to know more about the FBI’s security warning on Smart TVs…
Watch this video:
#2: There are possible privacy issues
This is in connection with the previous entry.
Most Smart TVs are equipped with 2 microphones. One’s on the TV itself. And the other’s on the remote control.
These microphones allow you to control your TV via voice command.
But they should also be causes for concern.
Why?
Hackers may also gain access to those and use them to invade your privacy.
And through those microphones…
Cybercriminals may be able to pick up conversations that take place near the TV.
So it’s another thing about Smart TV that can potentially cause a major problem.
#3: The presence of many bloatware
If you’re shopping for a Smart TV…
Try to use one in an appliance store.
When you navigate through the user interface, you’ll see a lot of apps.
And let me tell you, many of those are completely unnecessary.
But you won’t be able to delete them because they come preinstalled.
These are what’s called bloatware.
They’re those apps that aren’t really useful. But they’re packaged with Smart TVs anyway.
And that’s because the manufacturers make money from them.
These preinstalled apps can be annoying. They can slow down a Smart TV. And there’s not much you can do about them.
#4: Most Smart TVs have a cluttered user interface
As far as user interface (UI) goes…
Smart TV UIs are generally cluttered with bloatware and ads. And the presence of those makes it hard to navigate the menu and other settings.
In comparison, the UIs of streaming players like Roku and Fire TV Stick look much cleaner.
They’re also much more user-friendly.
So you may be better off using one of those devices on your non-Smart TV.
#5: You’ll experience crashes fairly often due to a lack of processing power
Smart TVs are comparable to laptops or desktops in what they can do.
You can:
- Install apps.
- Play games.
- Or stream videos and music.
It’s just that Smart TVs also lack the processing power of actual computers.
So your TV may experience freezes, lags or app crashes from time to time.
And it’s certainly annoying when it happens in the middle of watching.
#6: Smart TVs have many unnecessary features
It’s great that you can surf the internet and play games on a Smart TV.
But are those really necessary?
I mean, we already have computers, smartphones, and gaming consoles for those.
It’s much more comfortable browsing the web on a phone or laptop than on a TV.
And consoles games are superior in every way to Smart TVs’ apps.
So when you buy a Smart TV…
You’re also paying for features that you most likely won’t even end up using.
#7: It’s easy to turn a non-smart TV into smart
Why buy a Smart TV when you can turn your old TV into a smart one?
It’s really easy. All you have to do’s buy a streaming stick.
Roku, Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast are all really affordable. Their price ranges from $25 to $50 only.
You just have to plug one of those into your TV’s HDMI port. Then connect it to the internet.
And voila!
Your “dumb” TV’s now smart.
Why are Smart TVs so popular?
Smart TVs are so popular because of their ability to connect to the internet. This makes it possible to watch from popular streaming apps without the need for a media player. Smart TVs also offer a better display and resolution than an LED or HDTV. And they’ve become more affordable in recent years.
Take a stroll at your nearest appliance store. And I’m willing to bet the majority of TVs that you’ll see on sale are smart.
Because let’s face it…
Since the early 2010s, smart TVs have grown exponentially in popularity.
But just how popular are they?
Well, let’s take the US as an example.
In America, around 76% of households now own a smart TV. In other words, you’ll see one of this type of device in about 8 out of 10 homes.
This is according to an early 2022 research conducted by Hub Entertainment.
Now as far as the rest of the world’s concerned, the trend’s lagging a bit.
A study by Strategy Analytics revealed that over 665 million homes have at least 1 smart TV.
That’s 34% of the global households.
However, that number’s projected to grow to over 50% by 2026.
In other words, experts are saying that smart TVs will continue to rise in popularity in the coming years.
But what factors have made Smart TVs so popular?
Well, there are several. And I’ll be breaking down each one of them.
#1: Capable of connecting to the internet
If there’s one thing that separates Smart TVs from LED and HDTVs…
It’s the former’s capability to connect to the internet.
Because Smart TVs can go online, it became possible for them to do so many things.
And perhaps the most important of those is the ability to stream from apps like Netflix directly.
Back in the day, you’d need a media player to watch from a streaming platform to your TV.
But the emergence of Smart TVs made it unnecessary to use an external device.
In addition, this internet connection also made it possible to browse the web using only your TV.
And you can even install gaming apps if you’d like.
So in a way, Smart TVs have become a lot more than just a device for watching.
In fact, it’s now more comparable to a personal computer. And that’s all thanks to its network connection ability.
Fun fact: The first TV that could connect to the internet was the Mediasmart SL760. It was manufactured by Hewlett-Packard. And it became publicly available in 2007.
#2: Status symbol
During the early to mid-2010s, Smart TVs became sort of a status symbol. And it’s another factor that helped drive these appliances’ growth.
By definition, a status symbol refers to a possession that shows your economic status.
In other words, it’s something that you own that’d make your friends go…
“Wow, you must be really rich!”
Back then, smart TVs were relatively expensive. So owning one was something that you could brag about to your peers.
And that was enough reason for many to buy it. Eventually, it helped push the popularity of this device.
But then, as time went on, the price of smart TVs went down as well.
And while it’s no longer really considered a status symbol now…
Many still think it’s more hip to own one than a non-smart variant.
#3: Bandwagon effect
Another driving force behind the popularity of Smart TVs is the bandwagon effect.
“What exactly does that mean?”
Well, in psychology, it’s the phenomenon of doing something because others are doing it too.
It’s kind of like peer pressure, actually.
For example, you decided to buy a Smart TV. And it’s not because you really need it.
But it’s mainly because most of your neighbors have just bought one.
You didn’t want to be left behind. So you chose to hop on the Smart TV bandwagon.
#4: There are very few non-smart TVs available
More people are also buying Smart TVs because, well, they don’t have much of a choice.
The reality is the biggest manufacturers are now focusing on producing Smart TVs.
In fact, you’re going to have a hard time finding a non-smart Samsung, LG, or TCL TV.
If you really prefer a non-smart unit…
You’ll have to settle for lesser-known brands such as:
- Onn.
- Sceptre.
- Element.
And because of the limited choices…
Many buyers end up settling for a Smart TV even if they prefer a “dumb” model.
Furthermore, with the way things are going…
It seems that LED and HDTVs are going the same path as CRT and Plasma TVs. Straight into obsoletion.
And soon enough, the only TVs that’ll exist are smart ones.
#5: The price difference between a smart and non-smart TV isn’t significant
“Why buy a dumb TV when it’s not that much cheaper compared to a smart one?”
That’s the way of thinking many people have.
And the truth is, Smart TVs are more expensive than LED and HDTVs. But the price difference isn’t that big.
Let me give you an example.
A 50-inch Sceptre LED TV with 4K resolution costs about $370.
But if you take a quick search on Amazon…
You can find a smart Insignia TV with the same size and display for around $400.
So you see, you’d definitely be able to save a few dollars when you go with a “dumb” TV.
However, for many people, because of how small the price difference is…
And how much more features a Smart TV offers…
They end up buying that instead of a non-smart variant. And that’s another reason why more and more people are shifting to Smart TVs.
#6: Don’t require the use of an external streaming device
Roku, Fire TV Stick, and Chromecast are excellent streaming players. And they’re also relatively cheap.
However, you don’t need any of those if you already own a Smart TV.
Sure, you may still plug a streaming device into your TV. But it’s somewhat redundant to do so.
This is because you can already install all your favorite streaming apps on your Smart TV. And that’s even if you own an entry-level one.
Moreover, since Smart TVs don’t require the use of an external device to stream…
You also get to save money because you don’t have to buy one of those.
Read next: 7 Easy Steps To Connect Chromecast To An Old TV
#7: Better display and resolution than LED and HDTVs
Let’s talk about resolutions first.
The vast majority of LED and HDTVs are only capable of up to 1080p resolution.
Meanwhile, a lot of Smart TVs these days can now play videos in 4K.
And recently, some brands have begun releasing TVs with 8K resolutions. Here are a few examples:
So resolutions-wise, it’s a definite victory for Smart TVs.
Now, let’s move on to displays.
In this aspect, smart and non-smart TVs are comparable.
You’d actually find plenty of Smart TVs with LED displays.
However, there are also many Smart TVs now with OLED screens. And this is an improvement over the LCD and LED panels of non-smart TVs.
OLEDs are more durable. And they offer more color contrast than LCD and LED screens.
So even in this aspect, Smart TVs are better.
#8: More convenient to use
Smart TVs are also popular because they’re more convenient to use as opposed to non-smart models.
“How so?”
Let’s take screen mirroring as an example.
You may do that with a “dumb” TV. But it requires the use of an HDMI cable and an adapter.
With a Smart TV, you just need the internet. You don’t have to physically connect your phone to your TV.
Another example of convenience is with the TV settings navigation.
If you own a Smart TV with voice control…
You just have to press the remote’s Microphone button. You may then start talking to make changes to the settings.
With a non-smart TV, you’ll have to press many buttons to do it.
And when it comes to streaming…
All you need to do’s launch an app on a Smart TV.
On a “dumb” TV, you’d still need to plug in an external streaming device before you can even watch.
These are just a few examples. But Smart TVs are overall much more convenient to use than non-smart units.
#9: Easier to maintain
Non-smart TVs are no longer the priority of the major manufacturers. Some have even stopped producing “dumb” TVs altogether.
And because of that, the maintenance of that type of TV’s also more difficult now.
If your LED or HDTV starts breaking down…
You may have a hard time finding replacements for the damaged parts.
On the other hand, that’s not a problem with Smart TVs. You won’t have trouble looking for replacement parts and service centers for this TV type.
And it’s yet another reason why many are choosing to go with Smart TVs now.