Pros And Cons Of Smart TVs That You Need To Keep In Mind

Smart TVs are one of the most popular home appliances. These devices give users unprecedented freedom of action: they can watch whatever they want. Even cable providers don’t give their clients that much choice.

Thus, Smart TV became the most popular television option in the 2010-20s. According to the IHS Markit research, nearly 70% of TVs sold in the last few years were Smart. But this tech differs from its predecessors: you can’t “repair” it with an easy smack on a rear panel.

It’s a device with complex software, so you may need expert help to fix Samsung TV, Apple TV, or another Smart option. We asked Howly technicians about the crucial pros and cons of Smart TVs. And here is what they told us.

Pros: You Can Watch Any Movie Or Series Online

The biggest advantage of the Smart TV is that you don’t need to buy additional devices for streaming services. You just download your favorite apps and watch movies without any other interactions.

If you want to watch Netflix or Hulu on your old television, you should buy a special device. It’s called a TV box, and it acts like a system unit in the PC.  You should have a spare socket to use it. And it’s struggling for small apartment owners. Moreover, most TV boxes don’t have a wireless interface, so you need to connect them to a router with an Ethernet cord. It creates a mess in a room: there are too many wires in it.

At the same time, Smart TV doesn’t give you that struggle. They all have a built-in Wi-Fi interface, so you can wirelessly connect to a router or a phone.

Cons: Smart TV Is More Expensive Than The Classic Option

You can find a traditional TV for less than $150, which will work just fine. You can also buy an old TV from a thrift shop, which still works OK. But while you look for the Smart TV, there are barely any options for $150-200. Why does it happen?

Old TV doesn’t have software that needs to be constantly updated. Classic TV from 2022 has an almost identical composition to a model from 2005: LED lights, transistors, audio cards, signal transmitters, etc. But Smart TV is more similar to a tablet rather than television.

Thus, Smart TV manufacturers use the latest possible hardware for their budget. That’s why it’s almost impossible to find an option for less than $200-250 because there is no fine-working hardware lower than that point.

Pros: You Can Play Games Without A Console

If you are tired of watching movies, you can play games on your TV. It wouldn’t be an action like RDR2, GTA5, or Subway Surfer. It will be casual and logical games that you can play even with your remote: Solitare, Sudoku, Battleship, etc.

Cons: You Need To Update The TV’s Software Every 2-3 Months

As we said before, this device acts more like a big tablet. And, of course, it gets regular software updates like any computer. If you want to watch your favorite movies without lags and glitches, update the TV and apps regularly.

Pros: It Can Replace A PC On Some Occasions

If you use the computer just to watch streaming content, you can substitute it with a Smart TV. It will be just enough to watch videos and surf the web. But in that case, buy a wireless keyboard and mouse. So you can work with the browser right from the couch.

Cons: You May Purchase A New TV Every 7-8 Years

Your parents may still use the TV they bought back in the 00s. And it’s entirely possible with classic options. It has almost nothing to break except the screen and speakers.

But most Smart TV works under different variations of Android, which is infamous for its fast obsolescence. After 5-6 years after release, they stop updating the software. Most apps start lagging at that time, while some even refuse to open. So experts recommend replacing Smart TVs every 7-8 years.

You can’t just change the hardware to more modern because it’s integrated into the device. And you have three choices: lose access to favorite apps, use the TV as the display for PC or buy a new TV.

Pros: You Get An Excellent Picture

Many modern Smart TVs have features that improve picture quality. The most popular are the HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. They enhance an image, so you’ll see true-to-live shades, details, and realistic shadows.

Classic television has only 5-7 filters that slightly change the image, making it dark, bright, or saturated. You need to set filters manually. But Smart TV automatically adjusts the picture, so you can relax and watch movies.

Pros: You Can Set Up A TV Wherever You Want

Regular television needs to be connected to a TV outlet. At the same time, Smart TV only needs a fine Wi-Fi signal to stream content from the Internet. You can place it in any room, including the guest bedroom and kitchen!

Pros: You Can Sync Your Watchlist Across Multiple Devices

If you watch some movie on the classic TV, it doesn’t sync with your content library. So you need to remove it from the watchlist manually.

But with the Smart TV, you can download your favorite streaming apps and watch new content from here. It will sync with watch history on all devices with the same app. So, if you’ve paused the movie on the TV, you can continue watching it from your phone.

Pros: There Is A Lot Of UltraHD Content

Even modern television still streams on HD (720p) or even SD (480p). It may look blurry on big LED screens. Thus, watching FullHD (1080 p) or even UltraHD (4K) content on big screens is preferable. But “dumb” TV doesn’t give you this opportunity: you need to connect an additional device like a game console or DVD player and stream content from there.

But why should you clog your living space with DVDs or pay money for a console? It will be convenient to buy Smart TV and watch FullHD and UltraHD videos from there.

Final Thoughts

Smart TV allows users to watch whatever they want at their tempo. But, as with anything in our world, this decision has advantages and disadvantages.

And experience shows that choosing Smart TV over the classic one is a highly beneficial decision. You can watch any online content and play casual games in any room with a decent internet connection. You don’t need to pay for cable television because you can log in to your favorite streaming services.

Consider that Smart TV has more similarities with the tablet than actual television. That means that you should update the software every few months. Also, remember that in 5-7 years, you may look for another Smart TV because your current device may get too old to the point it won’t fit system requirements for apps.

Buying a Smart TV is a good decision in the dry residue. It can substitute multiple devices, saving valuable space and providing desirable comfort.