A Guide To Buying A Dumb TV

They’ve Gone Too Far!

2026 may have a lesson for TV manufacturers, if consumers are willing to make the choice to ensure their next TV is a dumb TV.  The proliferation of advertisements being shown in menus and the home screens of smart TVs is not appreciated by customers, especially since these ads appear even on flagship models.  Ars Technica delved into the world of dumb TVs and smart TVs which will still work even if cut off from the internet; some smart TV models will refuse to function if you don’t let them connect.

Their favourite choice is an Apple TV box, which lets you circumvent the OS baked into your TV and use Apple’s tvOS which not only doesn’t serve you up adverts but is also more secure than most other TV operating systems.  It’s also far simpler to implement and use than a DIY solution which is a boon if you are setting it up for someone else.

Ars also lists a few brands that are still selling dumb TV models, like Emerson and Westinghouse which aren’t as famous as LG or Samsung but are still around. There are also projectors to consider, which can give you a great picture at impressive sizes, without needing to be bombarded by ads.  Check out their other suggestions, like setting up an HTPC with Plex and many other alternatives to a smart TV.