With the surge of streaming services, internet content, and smart home add-ons, the need for smart TVs has only grown. To be sure, not everyone is willing to part with their current TVs in exchange for new smart ones. Whether you’re holding on to an old tube TV or that flat-screen you spent a bundle on a decade ago, there’s a way to breathe new life into your aging television. It’s not difficult — or hysterically expensive — to make your old TV smarter in time to watch runners make their way from Hopkinton to Boylston Street.
In this guide, we’ll explain how you can smarten up your old TV in a number of different ways, ranging from a rudimentary, remote-controlled external device that ships with streaming services. You can then watch some of the best modern entertainment without saying goodbye to your favorite old TV. So, let’s begin and look into your possibilities on how you can turn your TV experience into something else.
1. Use a Streaming Device to Get Smart TV Features
Adding a streaming device remains the easiest way to make an old TV smart. You can pay for these inexpensive little devices and plug them into your TV’s HDMI port, and they will give you access to all your streaming services, apps, and extras. The following streaming devices are common among people in the US:
Amazon Fire Stick
This tiny device plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and lets you stream content from favorite services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, be, and more. It also includes a smart TV remote for hassle-free browsing.
Google Chromecast
A device that enables you to cast content from your phone, tablet, or computer to your TV. You can stream from YouTube, Netflix, and even surf the web.
Roku
Roku makes a bunch of streaming players that you plug into the HDMI port of your TV. Roku is simple for us and makes streaming easy, offering a wide range of available services, both free and paid.
Not to mention, these devices are not only budget-friendly but also remarkably easy to install and use. All you need is an HDMI port on your TV, a Wi-Fi connection, and an account with a streaming service.
2. Add a Media Player or Set-Top Box
If you’d like to make your TV even smarter and able to do much more than simply stream, consider purchasing a media player or a set-top box. These boxes do quite a bit more; they are capable of playing local content, streaming services, and some have peripherals that allow for gaming or voice control.
Apple TV
This is a higher-end option that adds streaming capabilities, along with features such as access to the App Store and support for Apple’s home ecosystem, as well as voice control with Siri.
NVIDIA Shield TV
This is for gamers; it’s a streamer at heart, but also acts as a console. It supports 4K HDR content, is powered by Google’s Android TV software, and can even stream Android games to your TV.
Android TV Boxes
No longer the poor cousin to TV sticks, these devices enable you to use the full Android operating system, albeit on your TV. With an Android TV box, you can install a plethora of apps to save you money or just for fun fiddling, Google Assistant, and a lot of other great components.
These set-top boxes typically ship with powerful remotes that often feature advanced capabilities, such as voice recognition and gaming functions. They’re a great way to make an old TV smart, without having to trade performance or picture quality in the process.
3. Transform Your TV with a Smart HDMI Adapter
If your aging TV doesn’t already have the built-in functionality of a modern smart TV, a smart HDMI adapter is a good workaround. Our list of the best smart TV adapters is easy to use and offers entry-level smart features, including streaming, browsing, and app support. You’ll just need an open HDMI slot.
Miracast Adapter
This allows you to mirror cast content from your smartphone to your TV. It’s great if you’re accustomed to watching videos on your phone and would like to see them on a larger screen instead.
Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote
Plug in and start watching instantly. With access to Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, and more, there’s a TV episode, movie, or channel for everyone to enjoy.
Budget-minded Adapters are available, which, depending on your use, can provide you with all the smart features you want without the cost of a new TV.
4. Install a Smart Blu-ray Player
A Blu-ray player may seem like a basic component for watching movies, but many, if not most, newer Blu-ray players also have the smart equivalent features. Many contemporary Blu-ray players feature Wi-Fi and app support for streaming content from services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others.
This single device can transform your old television set into a smart TV with a built-in smart Blu-ray player. They might not offer the full feature set of a dedicated streaming box, but they’re a great way to add streaming services and more to your current setup.
5. Upgrade the TV’s Firmware
Some older TVs, particularly those from manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, and Sony, can still receive firmware updates that improve their smart features. This won’t fly with every model, but it’s worth a visit to the manufacturer’s website to explore the possibility for your television.
Suppose your TV is capable of receiving firmware updates. In that case, you can look for new firmware to install on the manufacturer’s website or through the TV itself by pushing the “update” button inside its settings menu or system update option. That’s not going to turn your TV into a full-fledged smart TV, but it could give you access to some apps or streaming services, including Netflix and YouTube.
6. Invest in an HDMI-CEC-enabled device
HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) enables connected devices to control each other. Depending on your old TV’s capabilities (more on this in a moment), you could plug your old TV into something like a smart Blu-ray player, streaming box, or gaming console, and the TV would gain “smart” features, like the ability to be operated with a smart TV remote control.
HDMI-CEC doesn’t add all of the smart features, but it can smooth the overall user experience and your ability to control your devices.
7. Make Your Old TV a Smart Hub with a Smart Speaker
Do you want to turn your old TV into a smart one? Consider including a smart speaker in your television room. Gadgets such as Amazon Echo, Google Nest Hub, or Apple HomePod can connect to your television to deliver voice control and access to streaming services, among other smart home capabilities. With a smart speaker, you can bark out commands to your television (turn it on, crank up the volume, switch to a streaming service), and not just those commands that either skip backward or move forward through an episode or movie.
And, of course, smart speakers usually have built-in assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri) that can help you control your home, listen to music, or do a million other things. Include a smart speaker and you’re not just upgrading your TV, but you’re also transforming your living room into a smart home hub.
8. Upgrade with Electronics Repair Services in Pomona, CA
If your old television still works but doesn’t have the necessary hardware to become a smart TV, you may want to consider a change through a TV repair services or electronics repair services in Pomona, CA. Repair technicians may also be able to install smart components to update older models, but that also depends on your TV’s make and model.
Whether it’s replacing parts, adding new components inside, or upgrading the hardware, professional service can be a money-saver in keeping your TV young for longer and achieving the smartness you desire.
9. Use Your Gaming Console as a Smart Hub
If you are already the owner of a gaming console, like a PlayStation or Xbox, you can transform it into a smart TV hub. Get a universal. This includes streaming content through apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and can be navigated using the console’s smart TV remote or a connected game controller.
If you’re looking to save on a dedicated streaming box, using a gaming console as a bridge between your old TV and smart functionality is a great option. It also offers gaming, in addition to your smart TV features.
10. Future-Proofing Your Setup
While the previous options will help make your old TV smart, remember that technology advances rapidly. If you’re thinking about upgrading an older TV, it might also be wise to future-proof. And of course, the world of streaming sticks, set-top boxes, smart home hubs, and other similar devices is constantly evolving, and many of the solutions laid out in this article will get better over time.
If you upgrade now, you will save money and enjoy a modern TV experience. If you can swing it, though, think about future-proofing your setup with future tech by buying some versatile hardware to keep your TV looking good in this ever-changing digital world.
Conclusion
It’s actually easier than you might think to turn your old TV into a smart TV. Between streaming devices, set-top boxes, consoles, and other convenient gizmos, you don’t have to shell out a ton of cash to bring your old TV into the future. With the option of including a smart Blu-ray player, a streaming device, or simply a few TV repairs, there are hundreds of ways to improve your overall watching experience.
Smart TVs are no longer pricey, like they used to be in the past, it’s an affordable utility which we require to fulfill our entertainment spectrum as per our requirements, and with the right accessories, your old TV can still support you to the modern non smart TV features which were not easily accessible before.
