If you're not in the market for a smart TV, there are still plenty of standard "dumb" TVs you can consider. Unlike smart TVs, these TVs won't compromise your privacy or inundate you with ads. They are often more affordable, but without sacrificing quality. It's hard to find a dumb TV nowadays, but there are a few excellent options to consider.
Best Dumb TV Overall: Insignia 43-Inch Class N10 Series LED Full HD TV
The Insignia 43-inch Class N10 Series LED Full HD TV strikes the right balance between affordability and clear picture and audio. While it's not 4K, the 1080p resolution does justice to movies and shows, and its DTS surround sound speakers bring the home theater experience to the comfort of your living room.
You can connect gaming consoles or streaming devices like Roku or Chromecast via the HDMI and USB ports, and a built-in turner means you can view local channels with a basic antenna. The only downside is that it's not as bright as the latest and more expensive smart TVs, but even that is not a dealbreaker unless you're viewing in a really bright environment.
Insignia 43-Inch Class N10 Series LED Full HD TV
Insignia is a Best Buy brand and stands out as one of the few remaining TV brands that offer true non-smart TVs. The 43-inch Class N10 Series LED Full HD TV is completely devoid of any smart capabilities but boasts excellent picture and sound quality, making it a great addition to your home entertainment setup.
- Affordable
- Excellent picture quality
- Very good built-in sound
- Average brightness
Best Budget Dumb TV: Westinghouse HD 32-Inch TV
If you want something even more affordable than the Insignia N10, this small 32-inch dumb TV from Westinghouse should be right up your alley. It has a 720p HD resolution, but at only 32 inches, the lower resolution doesn't have a dampening effect on the picture quality. The picture looks sharp and clear, and the colors are vibrant, making your movies appear more lifelike and immersive.
In a market where TV manufacturers are increasingly focused on larger models, the Westinghouse HD 32-inch TV offers a nice alternative for smaller spaces, and it's available in an even smaller 24-inch size. Both models offer rich connectivity for your streaming and gaming devices, including HDMI, VGA, USB, and a coaxial input for direct antenna or cable TV.
Westinghouse HD 32 Inch TV
The Westinghouse HD 32-inch TV is a budget non-smart TV that offers a very good overall picture quality. It comes in small 32-inch and 24-inch sizes, making it perfect for small rooms or your kitchen counter.
- Very affordable
- Beautiful picture
- Perfect for small spaces
- Parental controls via V-chip
- Not available in bigger sizes
Best Premium Dumb TV: Samsung BEC-H Series 4K Pro TV
The Samsung BEC-H Series 4K Pro TV was originally designed as a signage device for businesses. However, as this TV has the option to connect (or not connect) to the internet when you set it up, it makes for a great non-smart TV for home entertainment.
With its stunning 4K display, incredible detail and color accuracy, and Samsung's powerful 4K upscaling, you can enjoy watching TV without the distraction of apps that require an internet connection. But you can also connect your smartphone to the TV with the relevant iOS or Android app, so you can show off your signage if you want to use it for commercial purposes.
Samsung BEC-H Series 4K Pro TV
The Samsung BEC-H Series 4K Pro TV brings modern features like 4K resolution, HDR, and 3D surround sound to dumb TVs. Add in Samsung's solid reputation, and you get a reliable, high-end, non-smart TV for your home.
- Stunning 4K HDR picture
- Rich and vibrant colors
- Clean interface with no apps or ads
- Comes in a range of sizes
- Quite expensive for a non-smart TV
Best Dumb TV for Movies: Hisense A6 Series
You'll be hard-pressed to find an affordable 4K dumb TV, let alone one that supports modern and high-end features like Dolby Vision. Luckily, the A6 Series from Hisense fills the void at a price that's affordable for most people. While it's a smart TV, it uses the Google TV platform, which has a "basic TV" option that disables all the smart TV features and apps, allowing you to set it up as a dumb TV.
The 4K resolution with Dolby Vision and rich colors breathes life into your movies and games, with its advanced 4K upscaling ensuring that old and low-resolution movies look as good as the latest blockbuster releases. It has all the connections you need for your TV antenna, streaming devices, or external sound system, and it comes in different sizes ranging from 43 to 75 inches.
Hisense A6 Series
The Hisense A6 Series delivers brilliant 4K HDR picture quality thanks to its vibrant colors, Dolby Vision HDR support, and solid 4K upscaling, making it suitable for movie buffs.
- Brilliant picture and sound quality
- Proper HDR support with Dolby Vision
- Option to set it up as a dumb or smart TV
- Available in a range of sizes
- No local dimming
Best Dumb TV for Gaming: Sony X85K
Like the Hisense A6 Series, the Sony X85K is a smart Google TV with the option to set it up as a dumb TV. It supports HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for smooth and powerful 4K at 120Hz gaming on the latest gaming consoles and PCs, with VRR and PS5 exclusive features to boot.
In addition to gaming, the X85K delivers some of the best and most stunning picture quality for a non-OLED TV. It supports Dolby Vision and gets very bright in HDR to make highlights pop, making it a solid option for watching movies and shows. Although it falls on the higher side of the pricing spectrum, it's worth the investment if you can take advantage of its high-end features.
Sony X85K
It's hard to go wrong with the Sony X85K if you're looking for a dumb TV for gaming. With a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, it's the perfect option for PS5, Xbox Series X, or the latest generation of gaming PCs.
- Brilliant picture and contrast
- Superb HDR experience with Dolby Vision and high peak brightness
- 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 support
- Exclusive features for PS5
- No local dimming support
FAQ
Q: Do Dumb TVs Still Connect to the Internet?
Dumb TVs cannot connect to the internet because they lack built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If you want a non-smart TV with internet capabilities, we recommend a business TV such as the Samsung BEC-H Series 4K Pro TV or a Google TV like the Hisense A6 Series, which provides the option to set it up as a smart or dumb TV.
Q: Can I Use a Streaming Device With a Dumb TV?
Yes, you can connect a streaming device to your non-smart TV to stream content like video, music, movies, and sports over the internet. Most streaming devices connect via HDMI or USB, so as long as your dumb TV has the necessary port, you can use it with any streaming stick or box.
Q: Can I Turn a Dumb TV Into a Smart TV?
The easiest way to turn a dumb TV into a smart TV is by using a streaming device like Chromecast, Firestick, or Roku. Streaming devices add apps such as Netflix and other smart features to your dumb TV.
Q: Are TVs Still at Risk for Burn-In?
While the risk of burn-in is still a concern for certain types of TVs, if you're buying a new TV today, you don't have to worry about burn-in. Burn-in mostly affects OLED TVs, and it occurs when you display static images on the screen for an abnormally long period, often at peak brightness.
Unless you watch the same TV channel 24 hours a day without turning the TV off, there's no need to worry about burn-in. Additionally, most OLED TVs sold today include features to mitigate the risk of burn-in.
Q: What Is Dolby Vision, and Do I Want It for My TV?
Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR format designed to enhance the visual quality of movies and video content by adding dynamic metadata alongside the core HDR signal. The metadata carries frame-by-frame instructions to ensure that each frame or scene is displayed with precision and accuracy, resulting in superior picture quality compared to standard HDR formats like HDR10.
If you want the best possible visual experience from your TV or aim to view movies and videos as the creator intended, Dolby Vision can be a valuable feature.