To check if your TV is smart, try pressing the Home or Menu button on your TV remote. If a number of squares showing small ads for TV shows, or logos for apps such as YouTube and Netflix appear, congratulations! You already have a smart TV!
You can use an external streaming device to turn your regular TV into a smart TV. These are small dongles or boxes with internet connectivity that support video and music streaming services. Some well-known streaming devices you may have heard of include Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Google Chromecast.
Smart TVs come with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. This allows them to provide you with a variety of streaming services and content. You can choose to connect your smart TV to the internet either wirelessly or using an ethernet cable. An ethernet cable will provide you with a stronger, more stable internet connection.
Not all TVs are smart; a "dumb" TV doesn't connect to the internet, so it's simply a display device for whatever you connect to it (much like a computer monitor).
If you don't have a smart TV, you can use a streaming device like Chromecast, Roku or Firestick to stream movies and series on Netflix on your TV. If you have a Chromecast or a TV with Chromecast built in, you can cast Netflix to your TV from your phone or within the Google Chrome browser.
Investing in an HDMI cable is another inexpensive option for making your TV a smart TV. Many of today's smartphones, tablets and laptops use HDMI cables (or an MHL or HDMI adapter), so you can directly hook them up to your HDTV. Whatever appears on the device will then show up on the TV.
Perhaps the most obvious difference between a regular TV and a Smart TV is that a regular TV can't connect to the internet. A Smart TV, on the other hand, allows you to connect to the internet and lets you surf your favourite sites and social media.
A smart TV is a TV that can connect to the internet without the need for a set-top box or streaming device. While both of those devices provide a whole host of new content, most smart TVs will have the same content available in their built-in app store.
What is a dumb TV? TVs without built-in internet and smart functionality are often referred to as dumb TVs, since they remove the "smart" features that define smart TVs.
To check if your TV is a smart TV, use your TV remote to go to the Settings menu and look for Network Settings. If you have that option, you can scan for, and connect to, your wireless network. Alternatively, you can look for the Wi-Fi symbol or Wi-Fi Alliance logo (both pictured below) on your TV.
Do I need a TV package if I have a smart TV? Besides broadband internet, you don't need to pay for any TV or streaming services to use a smart TV. However, you need a television license to watch live television or use BBC iplayer.
For non-smart TVs, you will need a casting device such as a Samsung AllShare Cast, Chromecast or Amazon Firestick. Note: the process of sharing your screen to a TV differs depending on the make and model of both your TV and device.
The first and simplest device is the casting stick. These essentially operate as a portable receiver, connecting your TV directly to your broadband via your WiFi or a USB port. Most are controlled by an app on your phone or computer and are readily available to purchase online or at your local electronics store.
While smart TVs typically come with built-in antennas, they are used for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity — not for picking up free-to-air channels. You can always try using a less sophisticated analog antenna, but there's a good chance you'll experience signal problems.
Some smart TVs come with a special dashboard that allows you to control smart lights and smart locks. The standard LED TV, on the other hand, can only be used as a display device for video sources from media playback devices like Blu-ray players, TV boxes, and cable TV boxes.
However, due to addition features, smart TVs are generally more expensive than regular TVs. On the other side, they provide more flexibility and convenience in terms of content accessibility.
The Amazon Fire Stick provides a smart TV device that has Alexa integrated. So you can tell your TV what to do and get it to search for your favourite shows on streaming apps such as Netflix, Apple TV+, NOW TV, Disney+ and Prime Video. The stick plugs into an HDMI port and uses your wi-fi to access services.
TV or TV-connected device
If you can't find the Netflix app on your TV or a device that connects to your TV, your device might need a software update. On most devices, you can check for updates and install them from the settings or system menu.
Troubleshoot your hardware connection
Make sure you're using an HDMI cable. Try reversing the ends of the HDMI cable. Bypass any receivers or sound systems in use by connecting your device directly to your TV using an HDMI cable. Try connecting to a different HDMI port on your TV.