Can You Use A Smart TV As A Regular TV? | Smart Home Chief (2023)

Smart TVs have made regular TVs pretty defunct. They are ubiquitous. But can Smart TVs be used as a regular TV?

Here’s how one can use a Smart TV as a regular TV.

A regular TV’s features include the ability to connect to a Cable Box which is possible with a Smart TV and browse through many channels. A regular TV also has HDMI ports and USB Ports to connect and watch content directly through an external device. Smart TVs can be used as regular TVs without having to connect to the internet.

Smart TVs have been around for a few years, and millions of people worldwide have this device. If you plan to buy a new TV and want to know whether you should buy a smart TV, this is the difference between a smart TV and a regular TV.

When you compare smart TVs with regular TVs, it is obvious that smart TVs have many features that regular TVs do not.

There are common features in smart TVs that most regular TVs lack. These features include:

· Can access the Internet.

· Combines the functions of TV and computer.

· Has an internet browser.

· Has various built-in applications.

· Provide opportunities to install other advertisements.

· Can be used to access streaming services.

· Touch screen.

However, it should be noted that although all these features are common in smart TVs, each smart TV is different. Depending on the TV’s version, manufacturer, and various technologies, the smart TV’s actual features may vary in practice. Some may not have all these features, while others may have other features. Therefore, it is best to check each smart TV’s features.

Bottom Line: A smart TV can be used as a regular TV because a smart TV has all the functions of a regular TV and much more than that.

How A Smart TV Works In Comparison with A Regular TV

Regular TV focuses on displaying the image on the screen by adjusting the tuner and decoding the broadcast signal. Smart TVs have additional features that can load/access additional content from the Internet.

In Layman’s words, if you have a TV, a set-top box, and an Internet connection, you can integrate these three tools to access Internet-based content on the TV.

In fact, a smart TV is like a computer. Many smart TVs have an ethernet connection and also allow internet access via Wi-Fi. The smart TV platform has a software development kit (SDK) or a native development kit (NDK). Regardless of the hardware manufacturer, third-party developers can create applications for it. Users can install and uninstall these applications to bypass regular media platforms to access online content.

Smart TVs can access and transmit content (such as photos, movies, or music) from other connected devices through technologies such as local area networks. Smart TV can also access Internet-based services such as video on demand (VOD), electronic advertising, games, social networks, and multimedia applications.

Why Is It Preferable to Use A Smart TV?

In addition to internet streaming, some smart TVs also provide more features, such as Miracast and screen sharing, which allow users to watch content on compatible smartphones and tablets on the TV screen. Other tags for this feature include SmartShare (LG) and SmartView (Samsung).

Some smart TVs can even do the opposite: send content from the TV to a compatible smartphone. After sending, the user can continue to watch the content on the smartphone away from the TV.

Smart TVs With the Best Regular TV Features

Samsung 55-inch UHD 4K Smart TV

LG 43-inch Smart Full HD LED TV

Infinix TV S1 Smart TV

Choosing Between A Smart TV And Regular TV

1. Screen Size: Searching for The Sweet Spot

Whether you are buying a basic TV or a high-performance TV, the most significant factor in your decision may be the screen size. Consider how many people in your family usually watch TV at once and where you plan to put your new TV. Then choose the largest screen size that fits the space and your budget. Considering the price, performance, and a typical living room, today’s best size is 55 to 65 inches.

The screen size also depends on the distance between you and the TV. Basically, if you can see the pixels of the screen, it’s too close. A good rule of thumb is that the distance between you and the TV should be three times the HD screen height and 1.5 times the 4K Ultra HD screen’s height.

No TV buying guide (no matter how detailed) can replace your own experience and judgment. If you have the opportunity, please go to the store (possibly with your family) to see the TV. Although 4K content is not as common as 1080p, you may need higher resolution technology if you plan to sit near a very large screen.

However, you should also consider where the TV will stay in your home. Although the above suggestions apply to living rooms and home theaters, you need to consider the size of other parts of the house (such as the bedroom or kitchen). In this case, you may need to use a smaller TV.

Bottom Line: Choose the screen size and resolution that suits your distance from the screen. We will start at 55 inches unless you are in a small apartment or dormitory.

2. Screen Resolution: 8K, 4K, Or HD?

Resolution describes the number of pixels that make up a picture on display, expressed in horizontal rows and vertical columns. More pixels result in sharper pictures and more refined details.

Without discussing the resolution, any TV buying guide will not be complete. For many years, 1920 x 1080 resolution (also known as Full HD) has been the standard configuration and remains the most common resolution in TVs worldwide. However, TV manufacturers are rapidly switching to ultra-high-definition televisions (also known as 4K). These 4K models have four times the number of pixels of current HDTV screens. We are talking about 2160 horizontal lines, which are 3840 x 2160 pixels.

The biggest advantage of 4K TV is that the small objects on the screen have more details, including clearer text. Overall, the images look richer and more realistic than HDTVs, but the benefits are negligible. Clear images also have other benefits, allowing you to comfortably watch the screen from a short distance, making large TVs more comfortable watching in regular-sized homes.

Ultra HD video looks great, and it’s getting easier and easier to find. Several streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Video, and even YouTube have begun to provide 4K content, making smart TVs and streaming sticks the best choice for easily finding 4K movies and shows.

Although ultra-high-definition Blu-ray discs are becoming more common, they are still not so common compared to the standard 1080p. Live TV has not yet fully adopted 4K, but DirectTV, Dish Network, and Comcast Xfinity have all begun to provide 4K movies. Although Ultra HD units can upgrade existing HD content, the results may be mixed and do not look as clear as the original 4K programming.

You may start to get 4K TV over the air. The new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard (also known as NextGen TV) began to be promoted in many cities in the United States in 2020, bringing better signals, better images, and smarter functions through Internet connections. This new standard will be expanded in 2021, but TVs with ATSC 3.0 tuners are still few and far between.

Now, some affordable 8K TVs have finally appeared on the market. The resolution of these displays is four times that of 4K TVs, providing a huge leap in picture quality, but it is extremely limited to make full use of higher resolutions to find content.

Bottom Line: Ultra HD resolution (also known as 4K) is increasingly becoming the standard, and it is a better choice if you want to validate your investment in the future. You can already buy a higher resolution 8K TV, but we recommend that you postpone your purchase.

3. HDR: If You Want the Most Colors, Get It

HDR is a new feature of 4K Ultra HD TVs. It stands for high dynamic range and is a reference for providing more colors, more contrast, and increasing brightness. HDR is essentially an upgrade of 4K or Ultra HD format (not applicable to 1080p HD set). For this new feature, TV manufacturers are setting new nicknames for TV sets to distinguish them from standard 4K ultra-high-definition TVs.

The basic standard for high dynamic range content is called HDR10, which was formulated by the UHD Alliance, an industry trade organization. Dozens of companies support this basic minimum requirement for HDR compatibility. Therefore, more TV stations will see “HDR10” or “Ultra HD Premium” this year.

Dolby Vision is a more demanding version of HDR. It was created and licensed by people to bring us Dolby noise reduction and surround sound. In theory, Dolby Vision devices must meet a stricter set of standards to display HDR content, and our tests seem to prove this. So far, Dolby Vision has led the industry in proprietary HDR formats.

There is still some confusion in HDR. All HDR-enabled devices on the current market are compatible with HDR10, but Dolby Vision can only be found on devices that both meet the Dolby technical standard and have to pay a license fee for this standard. Despite this, Dolby Vision has quickly become the industry standard for HDR content and can be found on high-end models from most brands, including LG, Sony, TCL, and Vizio.

Bottom Line: Don’t choose one set to support HDR because the standard has not yet been established. However, if you want the best, buy an HDR device compatible with Dolby Vision, as this format seems to be gaining momentum.

4. Refresh Rate: The Faster, The Better

The refresh rate expressed in Hertz (Hz) describes the number of times a picture is refreshed on the screen per second. The standard refresh rate is 60 times per second or 60 Hz. However, in scenes with fast-moving objects, the 60 Hz refresh rate can make the objects look blurry or jittery, especially on LCD HDTVs. Therefore, to produce clearer images, the manufacturer doubled the refresh rate to 120 Hz (up to 240 Hz in some cases).

Bottom line: Gamers will get a lot of benefits from 60Hz TVs, but most TV shoppers should not buy TVs with refresh rates below 120Hz.

5. HDMI And Connection

This seems to be an afterthought, but please pay attention to the number of HDMI inputs in one set. Manufacturers hoping to save costs may provide fewer HDMI plugs on the back. These ports will run out soon: add a soundbar, Roku or Chromecast, and game console, and you already use three ports.

Bottom Line: look for at least four HDMI ports, and choose the newer HDMI 2.1 format (if you can).

6. LED And LCD Sets

Today, the largest share of TVs are LED LCD. These HD and Ultra HD TVs use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate the LCD screen and are very thin. Many of these TVs can dynamically light up specific parts of the screen and darken other parts to represent the mixture of light and dark areas in the scene-this function is called active dimming or partial dimming. The compact LED LCD package costs only US$200 for a 32-inch screen, while the top 90-inch model costs US$8,000.

Most LCD devices use LEDs at the edge of the screen. The better one of these models supports active dimming, but only by manipulating the light along the edges requires some digital magic to achieve it.

7. 8K Resolution: Delayed

If you think the process of jumping into 4K resolution is amazing, then you will be amazed by 8K, which further enlarges the details with 7680 x 4320 pixels. Surprisingly, this is the next big thing in consumer TV. However, any valuable TV buying guide should tell you that it is not worth spending your money just yet.

Bottom Line: You can leave expensive 8K TVs to early adopters. You will have to spend a lot of money on the upgraded 4K video before the content is available.

More and more devices come with built-in Wi-Fi to connect to Internet-based services such as Netflix to stream videos or run applications for watching special interest programs, downloading on-demand movies, playing games, and posting to Facebook. The latest models can even search for content in streaming services and real-time programs on cable and satellite.

Streaming media applications on smart TVs are also one of the best ways to find and enjoy 4K and HDR content. With the help of movies and shows from Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube, finding 4K resolution and HDR-enabled content is quick and easy, and easier than finding Blu-ray in the desired format. The only thing to consider is whether your Internet connection can provide enough bandwidth.

Bottom Line: Considering the above factors, it is strongly recommended to choose smart TVs over regular TVs as most smart TVs come with the above features, unlike regular TVs.

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