What is a Smart TV?

Devices are getting smarter these days. Even putting aside AI — which seems like some kindly Harvard valedictorian who’s too polite to accept a paycheck for its brilliant, 24/7 work — we now have smart lights, smart locks, smart doorbells, smart thermostats, and, yes, smart TVs. (If only office printers were smart — or designed to function for us at all.)

You know how the least used app on your phone is your phone? A smart TV works a lot like that. You can use it to play games, stream videos, check social media, Skype with the wing of your family that vacationed in Bali but decided not to buy you a plane ticket — and you can watch TV on it. Older TV models only display content once they’re hooked to an A/V source. Those TVs are settling into the fossil record of outmoded tech, but while smart TVs are more popular, they come with their own pros and cons. Read on for our overview of the benefits and disadvantages of smart TVs.

Benefits of Smart TVs

Along with indoor plumbing, general anesthesia, and the internal combustion engine, the smart TV is a modern convenience that makes living today much more enjoyable than in generations past. Here are some of the perks of owning a smart TV:

Stream away.

Smart TVs hook up to the Internet via WiFi or ethernet, so you can stream content courtesy of your favorite platforms. The same is true of a “dumb” TV, but you usually need to buy a separate streaming device, sometimes called a “TV box,” and not all streaming devices are compatible with older TV models. This may not qualify as a DEFCON-1 crisis, but it does often turn into an inconvenience.

Smart recommendations.

Perhaps the key benefit of having a smart TV is that it makes recommendations for what you should watch based on the content that you’re already gobbling up all the time. By now, users tend to expect this functionality in any smart TV, since they can browse suggestions personalized to their tastes — whether they’re into Akira Kurosawa epics, Sex and the City reruns, or fall slasher flicks. (We don’t judge.)

Create a smart home HQ.

So many devices are achieving “smart” status that it’s no wonder our houses are turning into smart homes. If you choose to do so, you can make your smart TV into the command center of your smart home. Buy a smart TV with an operating system that’s compatible with your other smart devices and you can use the microphone in your remote to adjust the thermostat, turn the lights on or off, play footage from your CCTV, and so on. (All while you’re sinking into that fall slasher flick recommended for you.)

Disadvantages of Smart TVs

Smart TVs are getting smarter and more secure every year, and the few remaining issues that you may encounter when buying one are being ironed out practically as we write this. Still, here some potential factors to research before you buy one:

Price.

Smart TVs are more expensive than a non-smart TV. With that said, we stand by our point that you’re probably getting the most value when you purchase a smart TV. Plus, they’re becoming more affordable every year. Browse our options and you’ll see that we carry plenty of TVs that are high tech and highly accessible — for all budgets.

Freezing.

Like computers and smartphones and, really, all other tech options, smart TVs sometimes freeze or crash. Newer models of smart TVs are less likely to crash, however, because the operating systems have matured — regular software updates squash bugs and ensure the TV is operating at peak performance.

Security issues.

One of the benefits of smart TVs is they’re plugged into the internet. The downside? Anything plugged into the internet can be breached. So don’t click weird links. Don’t open that email from Geek Squad telling you to contact them about the $485.97 bill for the warranty you never purchased. Follow digital best practices, in this device and others.

Let Hisense Help You Make the Best Decision

Every device has its pros and cons. Smartphones have forever superseded dumb phones, so the question for people looking for a new cell phone today isn’t whether they should buy a dumb phone or a smartphone — it’s which smartphone should they buy. The same goes for smart TVs. The market has spoken, and Hisense has responded by making market-leading TVs with smart models in various sizes and configurations that display a ludicrously detailed picture quality for every budget.

We may not be able to explain how today’s innovators can map the human genome but not get a printer to cooperate with the simplest request, but we can tell you which model, features, and upgrades of the newest TVs will deliver the premier in-home viewing experience for you. View all our TV options and make the smart choice for you.