Last updated on June 5th, 2024
The allure of a smart TV is undeniable. They promise convenience and simplicity, with countless apps and services at your fingertips. Delving deeper however, is a solution that might seem awkward and needlessly complicated at first, but which is good advice upon closer examination: Opt for a “stupid” TV and enhance it with a smart TV box like a Google TV or Apple TV. This approach unifies the disparate pace at which the software side of TV viewing is evolving, like the available apps, streaming services, and functionality, with the now more incremental evolution of the hardware – the TV itself. The argument for a “stupid” TV paired with a separate streaming device is compelling, especially when considering the rapid pace at which smart functionality evolves compared to the relatively stable advancements in screen and other hardware technology. By separating the smart capabilities from the display, you ensure that your entertainment setup remains future-proof.
The Smart Choice in a World of Smart TVs: Don’t Buy a Smart TV
Gone are the days when annual updates rendered last year’s models obsolete. Today, whether you’re looking at OLED, QLED, or LED, the advancements in screen technology have become incremental rather than revolutionary. We are unlikely to see any new ports for a while. HDMI, USB, what more does the average consumer need? Neither is there any competing alternative on the horizon to to usurp their dominance. This slow in evolution means that investing in a good quality “stupid” TV can keep you contented for years, if not decades, with its performance. The real change and innovation occur on the software side, where new services and platforms emerge with dizzying frequency, and and the potential impact of rapid AI adoption remains a topic of speculation. As new streaming platforms emerge and existing ones update, a standalone streaming device can be easily upgraded, updated or replaced, keeping your home entertainment system current without the need to invest in a new television.
The Power Couple: Basic TVs and Advanced Streaming Devices
One of the most immediate benefits of pairing a smart TV box with a “stupid” TV is the cost-effectiveness. “Stupid” TVs, lacking the built-in smart technology, are cheaper than their smart counterparts. Smart TV boxes can be had cheaply as well, the Google TVHD is available for as low as $50. Another benefit is that you can choose the ecosystem you want. With plenty of Apple and Android fans out there, and having their TV operating on the same ecosystem as their phone really streamlines things. By separating out the smarts from the TV, consumers get an overall cheaper more tailored solution to their needs.
Choosing a “stupid” TV and pairing it with a smart TV box is also a sustainable choice. It significantly reduces electronic waste, as the lifespan of the display itself is extended, not being held back by outdated software. Instead of discarding a television simply because its smart features are outdated, you can continue using the same “stupid” TV for years, updating (soft and hard) the streaming device if needed.
From Limited Storage to Brand Tiffs: The Smart TV Pitfalls
I remember having an LG smart TV, and it had such a tiny amount of storage that you had to delete apps to fit new ones on. I remember in 2019 when Google and Amazon were having a tiff and refusing to allow each others streamers on their smart TV boxes or operating systems. I remember when it took LG a full 12 months after Disney+ was released for them to have it as an available app for download on my LG smart TV. And don’t even get me started on the smart functionality of my current Ffalcon 50” TV.
The 50” Ffalcon (a rebranded TCL) TV we offer at Whybuy is far from smart. It’s actually a bit embarrassing how bad it is in terms of smarts. It doesn’t have Chromecast, instead some nonsense called T-Link, you can’t add new apps, and it has only Netflix, Stan, Crackle and Youtube alongside a bunch of weird apps. The processor is so underpowered that it lags when you change the volume. This isn’t uncommon among Smart TV’s. We always advise our customers when they subscribe to this TV, that they should treat it as a stupid TV and outsource the smart functionality to a $50 Google TV.
However, if you look past the smart features, the 50” Ffalcon is actually a fantastic TV. The picture is awesome, and the inbuilt sound is great as well. I personally have this TV, and I’ve paired it with a Google TVHD. You can opt for a more expensive Google TV4K as the TV is 4K HDR, but I, like most consumers can barely tell the difference between HD and 4K, and even if I could, I wouldn’t pay the extra for my streams to be in 4k, so barely any of the content I watch would be 4k. You can sync up the Google TV remote so it can power the TV on and off and adjust the volume (when prompted for the brand in the Google TV setup select TCL), but I’ve always needed the TV remote to change the HDMI input. I can live with that.
Beyond 40 Inches: The Challenge of Buying Big "Stupid" TVs
You might wonder why we even offer the 50” Ffalcon smart TV if they’re such a bad idea. Here’s the problem – once you go past 40”, it is basically impossible to find a non-smart TV; they are all smart. At Whybuy, all our TVs are “stupid” until you reach the 50″ model. Finding a large TV that isn’t smart is a challenge. So, the next best thing is to buy a TV based on picture quality and pair it with a Google TV or an Apple TV. Ensure it has enough ports for your needs so you’re not constantly plugging and unplugging devices. Sound is important, but if needed, you can always upgrade with a soundbar.
The Smart TV Trap
Why is it that all TV’s over 40 inches are smart TV’s? I have a theory. TV manufacturers have realised that screen technology has matured and they can’t expect consumers to throw their TV away every few years due to redundancy. So they’ve come up with something more deceptive. So, they’ve devised a more deceptive tactic: software that quickly becomes obsolete. This software, lucky to receive an update, runs on processors barely powerful enough at the time of release. If updates are provided, the applications often become more resource-intensive over time, leaving you without the necessary processing power. If updates cease, the apps might continue working until one day, they don’t, due to the app owner ending support for your version. Thus, within a few years, maybe 5 if you’re lucky, the smart functionality becomes obsolete, slow, buggy, prone to crashing, a security risk, and likely incompatible with some of your streaming apps.
Thin Margins and Hidden Profits
As TV prices have gotten cheaper, especially on the lower end of the market, the margins on the TV itself have become very thin. To compensate, TV manufacturers are increasingly making money through deals with streaming services and advertisers. They are paid to add special buttons to their remote controls and to preload bloatware onto the TVs. This practice not only enhances their revenue but also creates a feedback loop which encourages manufacturers to design a product which will need replacement every few years so they can profit again by adding new buttons and bloatware.
Planned Obsolescence
Consumer expectations have been shaped over the last two decades to believe their TV would become obsolete with hardware advancements, which is no longer the case. To maintain profits, manufacturers have introduced deliberate software obsolescence to their products, fostering the illusion of progression and prompting consumers to replace their TVs every few years. They can do this because the smart functionality is perceived as a minor component of the overall product. It’s not that the Smart TV no longer works; it’s that technological advancements have supposedly rendered the smart features obsolete, absolving manufacturers of blame for the premature obsolescence.
In contrast, streaming boxes like Google TV or Apple TV, designed solely to offer smart capabilities, face greater scrutiny. If they don’t perform well from the start and become obsolete within a few years, consumers would rightly be outraged and abandon these products. It can be seen that Smart TV box manufacturer interests are aligned much better than Smart TV manufacturers and consumers.
Ultimately, breaking free from the smart TV trap by opting for a ‘stupid’ TV and a smart streaming device is a testament to smarter consumerism. It champions a more enjoyable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach to staying on the cutting edge of entertainment technology. So, before you commit to another smart TV, consider the benefits of this smarter combination. It’s a decision that promises to enhance your viewing pleasure and simplify your life in the long run.