Benefits and Drawbacks of the Smart TV

Smart TV is something that is capturing the entertainment market at a very fast pace and is starting to appear in most houses. It is an advancement over its older counterparts that we use. A Smart TV is not only a TV, it provides many other functions like browsing, streaming, gaming, etc. It provides a lot of options in addition to the usual TV watching quotient. But, like anything else, not every Smart TV is best suited for you. There are many benefits and drawbacks of the Smart TV that you need to consider before buying one for your home.

Here we are going to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the Smart TV to understand what is a Smart TV in a better way.

What is Smart TV?

Smart TV is a type of television that comes with an operating system and allows you to access and watch online programs via wifi or ethernet. These TVs don’t need you to necessarily connect to an antenna or a cable service to access shows and movies. A Smart TV has one other name i.e., is a Connected TV.

Now, let us look at the benefits and drawbacks of the Smart TV.

Benefits of Smart TV

The Smart TV comes with a number of benefits in comparison to the standard TV, such as the following:

1. Stream video content easily: A smart TV gives you an opportunity to access and stream on-demand content through cable subscriptions, streaming devices, and various other streaming services. However, an antenna is required for these TVs as well, if you want to access the local channels, you can stream online shows and movies online on various platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc. You just have to download the apps which offer the content you want to watch and take a subscription to some of them to access the content. Some apps like Youtube, Sling TV, Vidge, etc. offer you an option to enjoy live TV on your smart TV. Many free channels and some major streaming apps are pre-downloaded on your smart TV when you buy it and you are required just to connect to your wifi to access the content in them. In case some specific app that you want is not available on the TV when you buy it, you can download it from the App Store of your TV, only if the app is compatible with your TV. 
2. Easy to install anywhere in your home: Since a Smart TV just needs a wifi connection to function, it is easy to place it anywhere in the house without having to worry about antenna or network cables. You just need to place your smart TV in a location where it has uninterrupted access to the wifi. However, one obvious thing that you should remember is that the closer your TV is to the wifi router, the better connection it will get. 
3. Transfer content from other smart devices: One of the best features of a Smart TV is casting. It allows you to cast content from your computer or smartphone to your TV when it is connected to wifi. Various companies offer this function via various ways such as Google Chromecast, Screen Sharing, or Miracast. There are many names for this function like ‘casting’, ‘mirroring’, ‘flinging’, ‘swipe & share’, or ‘second-screen experience’. You can view images, watch videos or play games on a TV screen bigger than your computer or smartphone, without having to connect any cables. It gives you an option to cast your smartphone screen by using voice control or by using a mouse click to cast your computer screen. You can keep using your phone or computer normally after casting the screen, without any issues or interruptions. 
4. Voice control and smart device compatibility: One of the exceptional features of smart TVs is that you can connect them to other smart devices and voice assistants like Alexa, Google Nest, etc. Connecting your TV to these devices means that you can control the music, lighting, change the channel, control volume, etc. just with a voice command. Even the remote of these TVs come with an in-built microphone that enables the voice command facility in it. You don’t have to use your fingers to press the remote buttons, you just have to speak into the remote to control the TV. 
5. Browse the internet: The built-in browser of your smart TV helps you to access the internet, where you can view pages, watch videos, etc. on your TV only. You don’t have to go to your computer or phone to search or see anything on the internet, you can do it on your smart TV itself. You can watch the news, scroll on social media networks, or play some trivia quiz on your TV, only by fulfilling one condition that is a stable wifi connection.
6. Gaming option: Besides watching videos and images, you can also play games on your smart TV. There are some gaming apps that you can download on your smart TV like Sudoku, Solitaire, Angry Birds, etc. You can also connect PC games to your TV with the help of some specialized apps. Some smart TVs even come with a few pre-downloaded games that you can enjoy. 

Some bestselling TVs recommended for you:

1. TCL 32-inch 1080p Roku Smart LED TV – 32S327, 2019 Model
2. Hisense 40-Inch 40H5500F Class H55 Series Android Smart TV with Voice Remote (2020 Model)
3. Sony A8H 55-inch TV: BRAVIA OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with HDR and Alexa Compatibility – 2020 Model
4. SAMSUNG 40-inch Class LED Smart FHD TV 1080P (UN40N5200AFXZA, 2019 Model)
5. SAMSUNG 50-inch Class Crystal UHD TU-8000 Series – 4K UHD HDR Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (UN50TU8000FXZA, 2020 Model)
6. Mi 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Android Smart LED TV 4A PRO|L32M5-AL (Black)
7. OnePlus 80 cm (32 inches) Y Series HD Ready LED Smart Android TV 32Y1 (Black) (2020 Model)
8. LG 80 cm (32 inches) HD Ready Smart LED TV 32LM563BPTC (Dark Iron Gray) (2020 Model)
9. eAirtec 61 cms (24 inches) HD Ready LED TV 24DJ (Black) (2020 Model)
10. Kodak 80 cm (32 Inches) HD Certified Android LED TV 32HDX7XPRO (Black) (2020 Model)

Drawbacks of Smart TV

When you get some benefits from an appliance, there are bound to have some shortcomings as well. Let us have a look at the drawbacks of Smart TV here:

1. Privacy and security issues: Smart TVs are connected to the internet almost all the time and are also connected to different smart devices in your home. This puts the TV at risk of hacking. Hackers can get access to the settings and applications of the TV and take control of it to compromise various online accounts. Hackers can get access to the built-in cameras and microphones of the TV and control them for malicious purposes. They can even control the programming of your TV and hack into your other smart devices like your phone, laptop, etc. and access your information. Also if you browse the internet or do online shopping through your smart TV, all the details that you put in there like passwords, bank card details, etc. can be hacked by a third party.
2. Can crash like your computer: Since your smart TV is connected to a number of devices and performs numerous functions at the same time, it can freeze or crash just like your computer sometimes. However, this issue doesn’t usually occur in a new TV and the manufacturers offer regular software updates to deal with it. 
3. Internet dependency: One major drawback of smart TVs is that they depend on the internet connection to stream programs that you want to see. The streaming quality also depends on the stability and strength of the wifi connection to which your smart TV is connected. 
4. Expensive: Smart TVs are expensive in comparison to their counterparts. Though the price of smart TVs has come quite down, if you want all the latest and advanced functions in your smart TV, you will have to pay a higher price. Especially if you just want to stream content on the TV and the other functions are not of much use for you, it will be relatively costly for you, based on your needs. You can just buy a TV that is compatible with an external streaming device like ROKU, Amazon Fire TV stick, etc. instead of a smart TV if you just need a TV to stream your favorite shows and movies. 

Conclusion

Smart TV is a level-up development in the field of TV and entertainment. Its numerous functions and features give an advanced edge to your TV watching experience and keep you in sync with the latest technology. A smart TV adds not only to your entertainment experience but also to your comfort and convenience as you can control it with your voice-controlled remote or with a voice assistant like Alexa or Google. But, with benefits come some shortcomings such as internet dependency, expensive, etc. So, if you are thinking of getting a smart TV for your home, analyze all the benefits and drawbacks of the Smart TV mentioned above, follow the TV buying guide, and then make the final decision.