Is it still possible to buy a “stupid” TV?

Buying a new TV is a trap. You’re forced to choose between thousands of different smart TVs, and they all have the same problems – they spy on you, stuff ads down your throat and run slower than a snail in a bunch of boogers. But there is a way to escape this trap; Buy a “dumb” TV.

Yes, you can still buy a brand new “dumb” TV. And we’re about to highlight a few options with modern features like 4K resolution and HDR support.

What’s Wrong With Smart TVs?

Most people are happy to own a smart TV, and that’s fine. Smart TVs give you instant access to streaming services and cost less than their older, dumber siblings. But in our opinion, these benefits are totally outweighed by both the TV’s usability and privacy.

Because smart TVs run on crappy underpowered little computers, they tend to stop working properly after just a few months. gets everything Yes, really slow, apps randomly crash and in some cases the TV’s basic settings won’t even open. You can call it planned obsolescence or sheer incompetence – the result is always the same. People feel compelled to replace their TV sooner than necessary.

Maybe that’s no big deal; After all, smart TVs are super affordable. But they are cheap because they steal your data and stuff ads down your throat. And this espionage goes Furthermore the integrated operating system of the Smart TV. Fingerprinting software allows your TV to identify videos from external devices such as streaming sticks, game consoles, DVD players or even VCRs.

TIED TOGETHERWhy are Smart TVs so dumb when the problem is so easy to fix?

Businesses don’t care about all of these issues. In fact, they double because intrusive spying and advertising are so profitable. Smart TV is getting worse and worse, hence the demand for “dumb” TVs.

Despite this demand, there are no “dumb” TV categories on Amazon or Best Buy websites. You can’t walk into a Walmart and ask for a TV without Wi-Fi connectivity, and often an internet connection is required to even set up a TV.

You can still buy a “dumb” TV

It takes a bit of digging, but you can still find and buy “dumb” TVs. And I’m not talking about the old flat screens at your local Goodwill – I’m talking about new 4K TVs that are good value and not totally crappy.

The best and most basic option is the Scepter 50-inch 4K TV, which is completely devoid of any smart features. Zepter is, of course, a Walmart brand, so this isn’t a high-end TV. But it’s only $308, it doesn’t spy on you, and it has a decent 15,000:1 contrast ratio. (The speakers kinda suck, but you can fix that problem with a cheap soundbar.)

Scepter sells a few other “dumb” TVs, including a 40-inch 1080p model and a 55-inch 4K unit with HDR support. But again, none of these models are high-end.

If you want something sturdier, you can always buy a commercial TV – like those used in sports bars and department stores. Several commercial TVs, even some Samsung 4K models, don’t have an internet connection. My only suggestion is to look at the specs before you buy a commercial TV. Some models are Yes, really nice, while others have obscenely low refresh rates or loads of input lag. (Ideally you want a refresh rate of 60Hz or 120Hz and a response time of less than 30ms).

And if you don’t need one gigantic TV, you could always buy a computer monitor. But you’ll probably want to buy a soundbar with a remote control if you go down this route.

Some smart TVs allow you to skip the smarts

If you already own a Smart TV and are concerned about privacy, you can simply disconnect it from the internet or lock it to your router. But that only solves the spying problem — your TV is still loading its operating system, which can get clunky and slow over time.

However, some smart TVs, especially models with Google TV software, allow you to skip the smart features entirely. You only need to select the “Basic” mode during setup. Unfortunately this may not work for everyone Google TV, and if you already have a Google TV set up, you will need to reformat it to factory settings.

TIED TOGETHERDo I need a firewall if I have a router?

And while it’s not the easiest option, you can Prevent a Smart TV from phoning home by using your router’s firewall or a PiHole. With this method, you can use the smart TV interface without spying or ads. But you have to figure out what URLs your TV is using to perform these unwanted tasks, and of course you’re still stuck with the crappy smart software.

Finding a “dumb” TV only gets harder

You can always buy a “dumb” TV as long as you’re not too picky. But that will probably change in the next few years. Manufacturers can’t help it, and frankly, I’m surprised Walmart’s Zepter brand is still selling TVs without connected features.

The commercial space will be the last bastion of “dumb” televisions. Still, buying the same TV as your local sub isn’t a long-term solution to our current problem. We’re dealing with greedy companies, and it’s only a matter of time before those companies realize that the televisions that companies use are a potential gold mine for data collection.

Things will continue to deteriorate until consumers are protected by legislation. A stupid privacy policy shouldn’t give manufacturers the right to spy on people, and let’s face it, there’s no excuse for selling TVs that suck after a year. Millions of people have switched to smart TVs for the intelligent functions; The fact that these functions break (and cannot be repaired) is totally unacceptable.

If any “dumb” TV manufacturers want to look super cool and trendy, please feel free to contact us review geek. We are happy to check your TV that is not connected to the internet. And I promise people will buy it even if it’s a bit more expensive than a smart TV.