Looking for a 4k tv without smart functions
Hey do anybody know where you get a tv that supports 4k and does not have that locked up smarttv shit?
If there are none, does anybody know a tv that boots fast(less than 30 seconds) and displays an hdmi input by default without the need to choose the input from a menu.
Thanks in advance.
And sorry if I am in the wrong place.
Supposedly, the Spectre 55 inch is 4k and dumb as a rock: https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV/U550CV-UMR-55-4K-UHD-TV-product959category1category73.html
I have an older model of this Spectre. Can confirm it looks fantastic for the price and no smart features .
I paid $200 for mine. Do not buy the Walmart version. Also this seems overpriced for this unit
I’ve got a slightly older Sceptre 43 inch 4K, and tbh I’ve been trying to find a replacement for a while. The form factor of the TV itself is great, but the picture is pretty crappy. There’s a ton of light bleed around the edges, the HDR functionality is insanely frustrating and looks terrible, and the upscaling is crap. I got it on a ridiculous sale towards the beginning of the pandemic when local shops were clearing their inventories, so I can’t really complain. But I would not buy it again.
I also have two of their PC monitors, and they have the same problems as the TV. No more Sceptre for me in the future.
So is their 65 inch https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV/U650CV-UMRD-65-4K-UHD-TV-product1171category1category73.html
Still happy with it after a year. Recommend getting a soundbar though
Does it bother anyone else to pay for all that "smartness" and then figure out how NOT to use it?
How can consumers fight back against this bullshit?
You aren’t paying for the smartness. You are actually getting a subsidized TV that should cost a whole lot more but is being sold for cheap since it is also a data collection device.
Non smart TVs are more expensive than their smart counterparts.
The only answer is to never give your smart tv access to your network and to use an external device for streaming.
This is exactly what I do, my TV never connects to my network.
It bothers me a LOT!
Especially when I don't even use the smart shit, basically use it as a glorified monitor and the thing pops up a message "Our terms and conditions have changed". I cannot use my fucking TV till I accept the new terms and if I refuse, the TV just turns off.
It's such bullshit! I own the TV, how can you change the terms and conditions after the fact? Can I change the terms and conditions? I know I paid $1000 for this TV, but I changed my mind, can you please give me back 250$. I altered the deal, pray I don't alter it any further.
Same with my goddamned piece of shit phone. Here is a new software version, it will remove 3 features you love and use every day, drains your battery twice as fast and makes the whole thing slow. You can maybe hack shit till it doesn't update automatically and only occasionally bugs you about it. But then you don't get any security updates or compatibility fixes, so that's not really a good option either. So you buy a new device every 2 years, even though it was perfectly fine.
I know the EU is working on it, but I can't wait for the day manufacturers are forced to provide at least 5-7 years of security/compatibility updates for devices, without also bundling feature updates. And be legally bound to the terms and conditions at the moment of sale, no changing the deal after it's done.
Weird, the new ToC just says "I have altered the deal. Pray I do not alter it further."
We altered the deal, pray we don't alter it further.
Don't give it internet access and it can't get new terms and services.
The only solace I can offer is that I think most TOS have been deemed unenforceable since literarily no-one reads that shit.
Somone correct me if I'm wrong please.
It bothers me it's so hard to find one that doesn't include it, but it doesn't feel like it's bloating the price to me, if that's what you mean. Besides the insistence on the smart shit, TV's have constantly been getting better, bigger, and yet still cheaper.
It's unfortunate, but if anything the smart features are part of why they're staying so cheap. The TV costs the same to make no matter what, but when every company under the sun is paying a fee to have their app baked into the tv, you don't have to charge the end-user as much to make the same profit. Not to mention the treasure trove of data you can collect(and sell) from the ones who connect it to the internet.
This happens everywhere now.
We had the garage doors replaced, and replaced the openers since they were also a couple decades old and a small part of the total cost. Every damned opener that wasnt bare-bones had smart features. Camera, motion detection, wifi... of course, none of it to any sort of standard, and requiring a special app and account with the vendor. Smart devices are fine - I want smart, to some standard like zwave - but I'll be god damned if I'm going to make an account with Genie so they can track and sell my garage door use.
Same thing with the dishwasher. The house being as old as it is, all the devices are hitting planned obsolecense at the same time. All the new dishwashers that have any decent features are smart. Again, with some shitty bespoke app, and requiring an account. This time, I got the damned thing and just haven't installed the app or configured the wifi on it. Maybe it's talking to one of the neighbor's unsecured wifi networks; I guess I can live with that.
We got lucky on the refrigerator (this time, something inside broke and leaked water into the underfloor for a week before we caught it). We got a model that had everything we wanted and didn't have wifi.
I read an article a few months ago about a conference where all these companies are bitching that people are buying these things and not connecting them; with any luck, they've been losing money on them and will stop adding smart features to everything. But I'm not holding my breath.
It's mostly because it's all heavily integrated. The chipset that drives the smart platform also drives everything else, including the inputs and stuff.
Got a Sony Bravia OLED and it's set up as a dumb TV, turns on instantly + I never see the Smart TV UI, not even a logo.
What I did was decline everything at setup, hook up to the Internet via Ethernet once to update, unplug Ethernet and set it to turn on to last input.
That's just a smart tv acting dumb. Or a smart TV that was taught wrong, as a joke.
"I must apologize for Wimp Lo. He is an idiot. We have purposely trained him wrong, as a joke."
"Hah ! [Tittering ] If you've got an ass, I'll kick it."
-Kung Pow
Yep, the new Bravias with Android TV or whatever give you a choice as a part of the first time setup that essentially disables all the smart features. I had the same experience.
I researched this recently - here's what I found:
Vizio P65-F1
TCL 65R617
Sony x900e
Hisense H65M7000
Sony KDL-65W855C and Samsung UE65H6400
Sceptre U650CV-U
Sceptre, Supersonic, SunbriteTv, outdoor TV's, and Caixun have non-smart Tv's
https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-buy-a-dumb-tv-and-why-youd-want-to
If it's not been mentioned, you want Commercial Displays, or Large Format Displays. Much more expensive generally for less features, but many are explicitly non-smart.
https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/products/computer-monitors-displays/large-format.html
Look into commercial displays.
This is the answer every time this question comes up. You pay more because it doesn't generate revenue by spying on you, but it doesn't have all the bullshit cause it's meant to be on during all biz hours showing store promos and the like.
I'm rocking a 4k ViewSonic display. Nothing smart about it.
If you connect your device to a compatible hdmi port and turn on the device first, it should turn on your tv to that input straight away. Boot times should be nearly instant unless you do a full restart of the smart tv.
Almost every TV doesn't have smart functions if you don't connect them to your network.
I hate "smart" TVs too, unfortunately I have one but I just never connected it to the internet. I only use the HDMI input to connect it to my HTPC running Linux and Kodi, it's an awesome setup.
I got a Vizio 4K and refused to give it my wifi access. it boots in maybe 5 seconds and the only issue is the time displayed on screen is way off. otherwise fully functional with no smartness. and it restarts using the same input as when it was last used.
I did the same thing with Vizio and it eventually would randomly turn off, or sound wouldn't work or something, you'd call support and they'd tell you that you have to update it. It doesn't make any sense, but I did it and it would work find for awhile again. Thr tinfoil hat in me says they do that to get whatever info they have stored on you.
My 6 yr old Visio is starting that general fuckery too. I have to unplug for a minute to get it going.
Track the DNS requests and if anything calls for telemetry.brand.com block it.
If they arent as evil as youtube and use separate subdomains for thr respective service you should be able to allow the update domain but block all others.
A few months ago, I connected my Vizio to my network to do firmware updates to see if it could be any better since it was 3 years old and I was sure there were improvements. Then and only then did I start seeing random crashes and the TV speakers turning on and up to max volume (I have a sound bar + subwoofer). The TV shut off without warning in the middle of a Rocket League tournament and wouldn't turn back on until I unplugged it and plugged it back in. That was the last straw. Disabled the Wi-Fi connection and it's been running fine ever since.
interesting. i didnt have those issues. i havent updated.
Almost every smart TV I have played with you can set them up to just go to an HDMI input and turn off any "home" menus screens. You also can usually skip any Network setup.
I have played with LG, Vizio, Samsung and Sony TVs all have had options to do this. (But this has been over the last 1-7 years).
I have a TCL Roku TV and I just set it to boot straight to the HTPC on startup
Isn't that basically just a monitor?
While I get what you're saying, there are some differences between TVs and monitors that may be relevant to OP.
TVs have tuners built into them, if they need to receive overt the air or cable signals.
TVs have remote controls where monitors typically don't.
Large TVs are hella cheap compared to monitors of the same size.
With an IR remote and built in speakers.
So basically no.
I have found some. The key is to look for either outdoor televisions or ones designed for commercial use, such as those used for restaurant menus at the counter.
Outdoor televisions usually aren't very good besides being bright and weather resistant.
Don't judge my living room design! I need those features!
My Samsung boots fast, goes straight to whatever input I left it on, and doesn’t have smart functions because I don’t have it on the network and never accepted the license for them. I update the software occasionally and then disconnect it again.
It’s older though. I’d try and see if you can play with one somewhere and if they’ll let you reset it to factory.
Why even update the software? If it works don't fix it
It does device recognition and updates have improved that, but really there’s no need.
I have a Samsung and a Vizio and the Samsung hands down is the best for ignoring the smart features.
Samsung bought in 2022 and Vizio in 2021
The latest tvs the boot pretty fast, when you turn them on for the first time just don't agree to the policies and it'll be a dumb tv.
The other option is a computer monitor.
My Sony TV allows for a default input on boot. Wish it allowed a default App on boot...
I need to get non-smart TVs for work and usually end up buying Sceptre TVs. They do everything you're asking, but I don't live with them day-to-day so I'm not sure what they're like in that regard.
I'm going to assume because you said your shopping for a 4k telly and havent set a set amount that you got the money to afford something decent in that case look at getting a used commercial or large format display I found this for £380 which may interst you or prehaps just buying a smart telly and not connecting it to the Internet
I got an LG C3, never plugged in the ethernet cable and changed the song so it starts on that last active input.
I did have to enter my postal code though, which is H0H 0H0.
Post code can be used to adjust settings for regional differences with broadcast tv reception
I'm still ok with the TV thinking I live in the North Pole
Also recently bought a C3 and can't say enough good things about it. I connected mine to wifi so I could use/control it within HomeAssistant but you can always just not connect it like you said to have a TV without the smart features.
I was worried about burn in, but after hundreds of hours of Zelda, Fae Farm, which do have static UI elements, I still haven't noticed anything.
I haven't connected it so far.
I use homeassistant a lot, but haven't connected the TV yet.
From looking at the integration, at least its not cloud bs, so I could probably block everything to and from the TV except TCP 3000-3001 with homeassistant and it could still talk locally with hass.
I've already blocked LG's ads domains, just in case I ever decide to plug it in, but denying everything except homeassistant would be nice.
If there are none, does anybody know a tv that boots fast(less than 30 seconds) and displays an hdmi input by default without the need to choose the input from a menu.
I have a Phillips 4k "smart tv" I keep in "dumb" mode at all times. https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/65PFL5766_F7/5700-series-4k-ultrahd-led-android-tv-with-google-assistant
Just never ever connect it to the internet, and keep it on HDMI 1.
The TV is even smart enough to detect when there is a live signal on HDMI 1 and it turns itself on automatically. This might be a feature of my stereo having an ARC out HDMI line.
I have all my game consoles, google chromecast, etc etc connected to my stereo, then stereo out connected to the TV's HDMI 1. When I turn anything on it "just works". No menus, no inputs, it just flips on and displays HDMI 1 and keeps its mouth shut lol
The turning on is most likely CRC which usually goes by various different names based on the manufacturer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Control?wprov=sfla1
I was in a similar position earlier this year. Problem was most non smart TVs were business grade and very expensive. Ended up with a Samsung Smart TV but didn't hook it up to the Internet. Fits my needs and remote is only ever used for changing HDMI devices. It boots up in about 10 seconds.
Look for a commercial grade television set. For example, on Best Buy, search for 'Television' click the 'Non Smart' option and you will get 38 choices to peruse. BTW, commercial grade is more durable with a longer warranty. Good luck!
What you want is a "public display".
You can easily turn it into a "pubic display" once it's set up.
Yes. They make them for commercial use, like the signs at fast food.
Many of those types while having great brightness and reduced image burn in actually have terrible quality images. Eg no hdr, some may only be 30hz, some may have the contrast ratio which is so low you'll just be sad to watch a movie on it looking at a black grey mush.
Though like all things, there's a gradient. Some of the conference room monitor panels can be better but often >3x more expensive than the consumer model due to much better warranty (eg same day parts).
So I don't have any advice here, just a bit of warning with experience with being around zoom, teams, and display walls from an IT solutions perspective,though generally I use AV partners for model selection and installation on any meaningfully sized conference/boardroom room or special application eg stages.
LG C1 is "smart", but satisfies your other criteria. It has been replaced with newer models, but I imagine the user experience must be similar.
I haven't even seen it's smart functions the whole time I've had it. I press a button on the Apple TV remote and a few seconds later the TV is displaying the Apple TV menu (connected via HDMI through a receiver). No menus to navigate and no ads that I've ever seen, though the first thing I did when I got it was disable all the "suggestions".
Mostly this. You pay the lack of features in either image quality or price, so it's probably not worth it. I have Samsung and LG OLEDs, and they mostly do the thing just fine, particularly if you have a single HDMI plugged in. I'll say I wouldn't use those OLEDs as monitors, if that's the idea, because there are other issues with doing that, but for a console or a single input device they're perfectly fine.
I never connected my LG tv to wifi, works like a regular tv should
I just got a Hisense that’s google tv but in setup I had the option to configure it as just cable and inputs.
I got the U7 series. I don’t know if this feature is consistent across all google tvs or all Hisense tvs or what, but I’ve given you somewhere to start at least.
Ya I haven't tried it but during initial setup I thought that was an interesting option. I also have a U7 series.
I've got a 55" from Westinghouse that's probably a decade old by now. It technically has some half-baked smart functions, but they're more like fixed apps than anything where you can install/update/change. It never gets connected though, just used as a monitor for whatever is attached. Cheap off-bramd type boxes are not bad if you're just looking for an output. Lots of times they don't have the time and resources to put into making some big infrastructure and app catalog, so they just focus on making the screen and inputs work.
My brand new Samsung boots to pc hdmi in like 5 seconds be default, and is a very smart tv.
Smart TVs arent bad because they're smart. They're bad because people buy cheap ones on black Friday.
SmartTvs aren't bad. That is correct. However if I don't get an android TV I am stuck with the apps the manufacturer chooses. Which does not include xstream, nexttube or a Firefox. So that is a big minus for me. Then there are other issues that begin at "not defaulting to an hdmi input" and end at "ads that are shown in the menu".
So I rather don't have any of that.
Your smart tv is not very smart, but apparently more so than you are.
Think you missed the point of the thread.