Ask HN: Non-Smart TV Recommendations?
25 comments
Look into commercial/digital signage displays from NEC, LG or Samsung - they're designed for pure display functionality with excellent panels, multiple inputs, and zero smart features.
Increasingly zero smart features isn't one of the features of commercial displays. For instance, a lot of Samsungs want (but not require, as far as I know) you to use their VXT content and remote management system, including a mobile app to control calibration and they still run Tizen, like their consumer TVs. LG appears to be similar. NEC might be better about this by making the smarts an optional module. Hopefully all will be less onerous in their implementation of twiddling you with their smart features, but it is hard to get away from even in commercial displays now.
Find one you like and just don't connect it to the network?
Most TV's won't freak out if they lack an internet connection and are still fully functional (outside of services that require internet), and many can be updated via firmware on USB thumbdrive over sneakernet.
This is also more futurepoof - I have a relatively ancient (in TV timelines) Vizio that is so old that none of the apps were working with modern services (and even when they worked the were slow/laggy), so I just unplugged ethernet and drove it from other HDMI sources.
Most TV's won't freak out if they lack an internet connection and are still fully functional (outside of services that require internet), and many can be updated via firmware on USB thumbdrive over sneakernet.
This is also more futurepoof - I have a relatively ancient (in TV timelines) Vizio that is so old that none of the apps were working with modern services (and even when they worked the were slow/laggy), so I just unplugged ethernet and drove it from other HDMI sources.
Most TV's won't freak out if they lack an internet connection...
If only this was true.
Some (if not most) check for a connection on power up and "freak out" by launching into setup if there isn't one --- unless you run the TV in store/demo mode.
Backing out of setup on every startup is possible --- but it is often a multi-step process that becomes extremely annoying. Basically, they try to frustrate you into connecting --- unless you run the TV in store/demo mode.
I have a lower end Hisense 55" QLED model from Costco (roughly $250) that I run in this "dumb" store mode connected to my own "smarts" that I control.
If only this was true.
Some (if not most) check for a connection on power up and "freak out" by launching into setup if there isn't one --- unless you run the TV in store/demo mode.
Backing out of setup on every startup is possible --- but it is often a multi-step process that becomes extremely annoying. Basically, they try to frustrate you into connecting --- unless you run the TV in store/demo mode.
I have a lower end Hisense 55" QLED model from Costco (roughly $250) that I run in this "dumb" store mode connected to my own "smarts" that I control.
Some models can find unprotected networks and connect automatically to them the same second someone accidentally opened such network and upload all accumulated data.
I discovered that with TVs and privacy, it is possible to have your cake and eat it too.
Smart TVs are actually cheaper --- which make no sense until you realize they are counting on recurring revenue from privacy invasion. They try to strong arm you into connecting the TV to the internet --- unless you run the TV in store demo mode.
Also, the picture quality on lower ends models differ from the more expensive ones primarily because their bightness, contrast and color saturation controls are artificially limited --- except when run in store demo mode.
So my solution is to buy a low end smart TV and run it in demo/store mode without connecting it to the internet. Whereupon, it it will act just like a dumb TV with the brightness and contrast jacked up to simulate the more expensive models.
Smart TVs are actually cheaper --- which make no sense until you realize they are counting on recurring revenue from privacy invasion. They try to strong arm you into connecting the TV to the internet --- unless you run the TV in store demo mode.
Also, the picture quality on lower ends models differ from the more expensive ones primarily because their bightness, contrast and color saturation controls are artificially limited --- except when run in store demo mode.
So my solution is to buy a low end smart TV and run it in demo/store mode without connecting it to the internet. Whereupon, it it will act just like a dumb TV with the brightness and contrast jacked up to simulate the more expensive models.
Your best bet is to buy a good regular (smart) TV and then never connect it to the Internet.
The commercial digital signage displays are very expensive and not as good for normal home use cases.
There's some comments in this thread about the TVs "freaking out" if they aren't connected to the Internet. I haven't run into one where that can't be disabled, and I've messed with a lot of TVs.
Datapoint: my house is blanketed with recent-ish TCL and Samsung models and I don't have any issues with them. While they were much cheaper, I prefer the TCLs, if it matters. I have Apple TVs plugged into them.
The commercial digital signage displays are very expensive and not as good for normal home use cases.
There's some comments in this thread about the TVs "freaking out" if they aren't connected to the Internet. I haven't run into one where that can't be disabled, and I've messed with a lot of TVs.
Datapoint: my house is blanketed with recent-ish TCL and Samsung models and I don't have any issues with them. While they were much cheaper, I prefer the TCLs, if it matters. I have Apple TVs plugged into them.
I second this. I too have TCL TVs with Apple TVs plugged into them for the smart features such as running specific streaming apps.
Added bonus: my home network blocks all traffic to and from the TVs. Therefore they are as dumb as they can be.
Added bonus: my home network blocks all traffic to and from the TVs. Therefore they are as dumb as they can be.
Get a tv that looks good in the store. Set it up, but don't connect it to your network. Not even once.
If it doesn't work without network, take it back to the shop. "TV does not work without wifi, I have no wifi. Please sell me a TV that works without wifi." Repeat if necessary.
At some point these fucking snakes will hopefully get the message.
If it doesn't work without network, take it back to the shop. "TV does not work without wifi, I have no wifi. Please sell me a TV that works without wifi." Repeat if necessary.
At some point these fucking snakes will hopefully get the message.
Does using your laptop to feed a signal to a monitor meet your needs? You can find large monitors that are indistinguishable in terms of screen quality from a modern television.
It can be annoying, but just running an HDMI cable from your device to the TV can be a simple solution.
You could use a laptop with no network connection and load it up with videos, or or just run your various streaming services in their own Firefox container[1].
You can add a TV tuner later on if you decide you need to access basic cable. (I got one back in 2016 to watch the debates).
[1] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account...
[2] TV tuner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_tuner_card
It can be annoying, but just running an HDMI cable from your device to the TV can be a simple solution.
You could use a laptop with no network connection and load it up with videos, or or just run your various streaming services in their own Firefox container[1].
You can add a TV tuner later on if you decide you need to access basic cable. (I got one back in 2016 to watch the debates).
[1] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account...
[2] TV tuner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_tuner_card
My LG OLED has never been connected to the internet. It never complains about it or asks me to connect. There’s a setting to automatically load the last used HDMI input when it turns in. I haven’t seen the TV’s Home Screen or OS in years. Probably as good as you can get at the consumer level.
Why not just get a regular monitor? That does everything you want, and is not smart. Plus you aren't locked in to a particular brand.
If you do want streaming apps, Bluetooth, wireless sharing, etc, you can buy a plugin box/dongle. E.g. a Chromecast, Google TV, or a full-blown AVR.
If you do want streaming apps, Bluetooth, wireless sharing, etc, you can buy a plugin box/dongle. E.g. a Chromecast, Google TV, or a full-blown AVR.
Regular monitors don’t come in 50 inch+ sizes
It is not technically a television, but a good short throw projector has suited my household's needs perfectly; i.e. gaming and streaming from devices
Could you recommend a model?
Sony professional displays. Any A/V supplier will have them and they’re barely more expensive than retail equivalents.
They are almost impossible to find. I just never connected mine to the network and plugged a box I trust into the HDMI port.
Get one from Sony, but they are expensive though.
https://pro.sony/en_FI/products/professional-displays/produc...
https://pro.sony/en_FI/products/professional-displays/produc...
There is only one way: go back in time.
Look for old, used TVs for sale. Something 2005-2015 that was highly rated (mostly plasma, but there are some LCD) is still a very good dumb TV in 2025.
Look for old, used TVs for sale. Something 2005-2015 that was highly rated (mostly plasma, but there are some LCD) is still a very good dumb TV in 2025.
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You can just turn on "dumb mode" on a Sony Google TV.
Get an older used one on Facebook or Craigslist.
Google TVs have a dumb mode.
Sceptre appears to be the only brand still making these, and it's difficult to find them in stock (or wad last I checked)
PS: I'm also open to smart TVs that can be "jailbroken" or severely restricted to remove all their "smartness".
My use case: Watch shows streamed from my laptop via HDMI, play games, etc.