Smart TV or Chromecast/Amazon Fire/etc?

[disneysteve]

We want to upgrade the TV viewing options in our bedroom. In our family room, we have Apple TV but I don't want to spend that much for the bedroom. However, we also need/want a new TV in the bedroom.

Is it better, both financially and technologically speaking, to get a Smart TV that has everything already built in (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) or is it better to get a regular TV and get a Chromecast or Fire device to plug into the TV?

[rutgers07]

We want to upgrade the TV viewing options in our bedroom. In our family room, we have Apple TV but I don't want to spend that much for the bedroom. However, we also need/want a new TV in the bedroom.

Is it better, both financially and technologically speaking, to get a Smart TV that has everything already built in (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) or is it better to get a regular TV and get a Chromecast or Fire device to plug into the TV?

In my limited experience, I find the UI for Smart TVs to be really clunky and not user-friendly. For a $35 pricetag for Chromecast, you really can't go wrong.

[Jluke]

You could get a smart tv, connect it to WiFi, then grab your new iPad , pull up YouTube, and then display the Ipad screen onto your tv.

There's an icon that will appear on the iPad that allows you to select the TV.

It will probably work for Netflix too.

but then you can't use the iPad for other stuff while watching.

minimal experience with this, but we have used the iPad to watch YouTube videos (and easily select them with the ipad instead of the tv) on the smart tv.

[disneysteve]

we have used the iPad to watch YouTube videos (and easily select them with the ipad instead of the tv) on the smart tv.

We have streamed stuff from our phones and iPad to the TV via Apple TV but that's rare. And if we had a smart TV or chromecast, it wouldn't be necessary unless we wanted to show photos that we've taken or home video but that's really rare.

[Jluke]

We have streamed stuff from our phones and iPad to the TV via Apple TV but that's rare. And if we had a smart TV or chromecast, it wouldn't be necessary unless we wanted to show photos that we've taken or home video but that's really rare.

agree, I just know it is a pain to navigate my smart TV's interface in YouTube, etc. with the regular tv remote... (like Rutgers mentioned). maybe they have voice recognition now.

hoping to learn from others on this subject too.

[HundredK]

We love our smart tv which runs android tv. It's fairly new, purchased in the last six months, and we have no problems with the interface. In fact, we also have the latest Roku, the one that does 4k, and that thing is a piece of garbage. It overheats and shuts itself off constantly (didn't have that problem with the prior version of the Roku), so we finally unplugged it. Now we just use our smart tv... I will have to confirm with the husband, but I believe we access everything from it: netflix, amazon, vudu, etc.

[disneysteve]

Netflix is really the main thing we'd want. We have Amazon Prime but I have never once used it for video. We very rarely use YouTube for TV viewing. So as long as we can get Netflix we'd be happy.

[tripods68]

I know Samsung has battery issue (exploding) on their Galaxy phone. I would also avoid them on their TV. I'm sure they are totally unrelated. But I think you could do better with LG, or Panasonic, Sony brand. Just sayin!

[disneysteve]

I know Samsung has battery issue (exploding) on their Galaxy phone. I would also avoid them on their TV.

I didn't know TVs had batteries, or do you just mean not to get a Samsung TV?

I don't think there's any connection between the phone issue and TVs.

[HundredK]

Netflix is really the main thing we'd want. We have Amazon Prime but I have never once used it for video. We very rarely use YouTube for TV viewing. So as long as we can get Netflix we'd be happy.

I agree - we are actually debating at this exact moment whether to keep Prime or not, and we're leaning toward ditching it. Most local stores match amazon prices now. Of course, the second we made that decision, Amazon released Goliath which you can only watch if you have prime. And it has Billy Bob Thornton in it who is one of my alltime faves. So we're trying to burn through it as quickly as we can before our membership expires! Ha!

[disneysteve]

I agree - we are actually debating at this exact moment whether to keep Prime or not, and we're leaning toward ditching it. Most local stores match amazon prices now.

Video had nothing to do with us getting Prime. We did it for the shipping. We buy stuff on Amazon all the time. Rarely does a week go by when we don't place an Amazon order. Being able to get things in 2 days or less is great, and nobody beats their prices. Local stores might match the prices but that means we have to actually go to the local stores, find the products, and get them to match the prices. It is far easier to pull out my phone, place an order, and have the item in 24-48 hours.

[Jluke]

I didn't know TVs had batteries, or do you just mean not to get a Samsung TV?

I don't think there's any connection between the phone issue and TVs.

I believe it carried over to the Samsung washing machines too.

I've had good experience with my 2 Sharp tvs (52" bought in 2009 [not smart] on amazon; and 60" bought in 2015 [smart])

[HundredK]

Video had nothing to do with us getting Prime. We did it for the shipping. We buy stuff on Amazon all the time. Rarely does a week go by when we don't place an Amazon order. Being able to get things in 2 days or less is great, and nobody beats their prices. Local stores might match the prices but that means we have to actually go to the local stores, find the products, and get them to match the prices. It is far easier to pull out my phone, place an order, and have the item in 24-48 hours.

Yeah, fair, but I live within easy walking distance of all these stores that match amazon prices. So, when I think about where my hundred bucks a year is better spent, and the fact that I should be limiting my purchases anyway, it is hard to justify Prime (for me). I was also way less irked about it when the price was only $79 per year.

[tripods68]

I didn't know TVs had batteries, or do you just mean not to get a Samsung TV?

I don't think there's any connection between the phone issue and TVs.

They are dead to me as a brand.

[rennigade]

Smart tvs will be the next 3d tvs. No one will need or want them.

Go with a good tv period...doesnt matter if its a smart tv or not...then get a chrome cast/android stick/apple tv/ etc etc. Those specific devices are constantly being updated...not to mention the fact that at the chromecast/android price point...you can always chuck it and buy the newest one if need be.