Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Do I need a smart TV if buying Apple TV?

jshannon01

jshannon01

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 22, 2011
43
68
Southwest
jshannon01 said:
I will likely buy a new LCD TV in the next few weeks and wonder if I need a smart TV if I am going to use it with the latest Apple TV? Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Only if you need something that isn't available on Apple TV (like Amazon Prime or Vudu). But even then you're probably better off buying a cheap Roku or something. Apart from that the Apple TV has a much nicer and more fluid UI than most smart TVs.
 
Rigby said:
Apart from that the Apple TV has a much nicer and more fluid UI than most smart TVs.
Click to expand...

I'd say this is the most valid point. The operation of the smart TVs functions i have always found to be very ordinary, and slow. Alas I'd think it would be hard to buy a TV these days that aren't "Smart".
 
Last edited:
If you decide to go with a "dumb" TV, just make sure that you have enough HDMI inputs. The model you linked has only 2 inputs. If you e.g. want to connect a cable box and a disc player and not use an A/V receiver, there's no input left for a streaming box ...
 
I have a smart TV...is soooooo slow to do anything. I should have just bought a dumb TV and hooked a box up to it to give it smart features
 
  • Like
Reactions: RhythmAndBlues
Hog Milanese said:
ATV4 makes your TV dumb. Don't waste your money. Buggy, crashing, pile of worthlessness.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

Rigby said:
Only if you need something that isn't available on Apple TV (like Amazon Prime or Vudu). But even then you're probably better off buying a cheap Roku or something. Apart from that the Apple TV has a much nicer and more fluid UI than most smart TVs.
Click to expand...

Vudu is a featured app in the App Store.
 
You better buy dumb tv and hook it with roku or apple tv. Sadly, I can't find dumb tv anymore in Singapore with good quality display
 
jshannon01 said:
I will likely buy a new LCD TV in the next few weeks and wonder if I need a smart TV if I am going to use it with the latest Apple TV? Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...

Avoid Smart TV's at all costs. An HDTV can last 10 years, the apps in these Smart TV's are a year old by the time the TV's shop and they never get updated and are therefore obsolete the moment you open the box.

BJ
 
newdeal said:
I have a smart TV...is soooooo slow to do anything.
Click to expand...

My experience, also. Shockingly crap. So much so that I can't use many of its allegedly 'smart' features, because they're just too unwieldy and agonisingly slow.

Bloody useless.
 
SmartTVs are crap. They are slow, buggy, and all around inconvenient. Too many menu options that can't be turned off. We have some at work that I would throw out the window if we could replace them with dumb TVs.
 
I can't remember the last time I saw a tv worth buying that wasn't "smart". Just get the tv that works best for you and add the services box that's right for you. Then just forget about those "smart" features.
 
Last edited:
If you get a SmartTV and intend to use the Smart TV functions, you will want to look one with Roku or Fire built-in. Granted, these aren't the top of the line models, but they are fine for most people and have platforms that are typically first or 2nd to get the new streaming services. Between the Roku built into my TCL 4K TV and my Apple TV4, I pretty much have all services covered.
 
jljue said:
If you get a SmartTV and intend to use the Smart TV functions, you will want to look one with Roku or Fire built-in. Granted, these aren't the top of the line models, but they are fine for most people and have platforms that are typically first or 2nd to get the new streaming services. Between the Roku built into my TCL 4K TV and my Apple TV4, I pretty much have all services covered.
Click to expand...
My wife got a free gift from work and she picked the TCL 32inch with ROKU. We just wanted to try it but we mainly use the Apple TV 4 Box. The Apple TV picked 1080P and the quality is poor. I tried changing to one of the lower numbers but still 1080p (maybe 60 down to 50 or something like that) and I think it got a little better but not much. I assume your 4K is much better but would you have any idea why the quality is poor. I know it was pretty cheap model but did expect better quality. I have not tried any of the Roku Built in Apps to verify the quality. Maybe I can force it to 720P in the Roku menu if you think that would help. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back