Televisions have come a long way from the black and white, tiny screens that your parents and grandparents thought were amazing. Throughout history we can look back and see how every decade had the coolest TVs. When we got the amazing flat screen television sets that were lightweight to move and had excellent color quality, we figured life was never going to be better. However, nowadays, we have been shown that better is still an option. It comes with the constant increase in the popularity of so called, “Smart TVs” or connected TVs. Are they really worth the investment? Is a smart TV better than a normal flat screen television set? Here are the pros and cons of each.
The Good and Bad of Smart TVs
When it comes to a smart TV, you can expect a few good qualities. They provide instant access to some of your most favorite video streaming companies such as Hulu and Netflix. You can surf the internet, browse through Facebook, use twitter, check email, and of course play games. It basically turns your TV into a very large computer screen for you to enjoy. The picture quality is the same as other flat screen televisions, but it allows you to do more, without having a variety of boxes and wires attached to your entertainment stand.
The downside of having a fun TV is first and foremost the price. This type of TV is still pretty expensive when compared to other television sets and you have to figure out if you are really gaining when you can purchase a Roku or some other video streaming device and get the same features. Smart TVs also work best if you have a faster internet connection. It does not matter whether you have it wired or wireless, but updates on the TV as well as streaming your favorite music and movies could be slow if your internet is lacking at all. These TVs are also a little complicated. Their remote controls and menu buttons can be a little hard to figure out, which is a definite issue for some people.
The Basic, Not so Smart TV
In today’s market, you have access to a variety of LCD screened televisions. They are lightweight, easy to hang on walls, and the picture quality is a definite bonus. The LED type television is getting cheaper by the minute it seems and people are able to afford a larger television than they could have imagined a few years back. The picture quality is outstanding and way more impressive than the TVs we had just a few years ago. This drastic increase in affordability is due to the smart TV’s constantly growing popularity. They are also slightly more energy efficient, according to some. You do not have to deal with apps or updates when you want to watch TV. You do have the option to still add it to your wired or wireless network.
The downside, you will have wires. In some cases, depending on what you want your TV to have access to, a lot of wires. If you add video streaming devices, DVD players, and other stuff to your TV, it is going to be wire filled, even with a wireless home network set up.
Which Should You Choose?
As to whether a Smart TV is better than a normal flat screen, your choice should be based on what you can afford and what you want from your new TV. If you do not want wires, the Smart TV is going to be best. If you want uncomplicated, a normal LCD screen should be sufficient. Instead of basing your choices on the differences between the two and which one fits your needs, you should also consider the picture quality and the amount of TV you get for your dollar because when it comes to TVs most people do agree that bigger is definitely better. However, if you can afford a $500 dollar TV, but can see better picture quality on one with a slightly smaller screen, you should perhaps consider smaller. No one wants a TV that gets distorted because you walk too close to it or sit too far away from it.