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How to turn your TV into a Smart TV

Smart TVs are common in homes nowadays. But how do you turn a TV into a smart TV? We’re breaking down the various options you can use to do just that!

This blog was updated in June 2022.

Smart TVs are a brilliant development in entertainment tech, and these days you can buy a smart TV straight out of the box and at an affordable price. It could even be a 4K TV, too – so that stunning picture quality means you’ll be enjoying your films and favourite shows in high quality in no time at all!

But did you know that there’s still the option to turn your normal telly into a smart TV? 

Learning to turn a regular TV into a smart TV is easier than ever, and all because of streaming devices, cheap cables, and fast broadband connections.

In this article, we’re going to run through the simplest fixes for hooking your TV up to the internet and making sure you get your fix of the latest shows and movies. We’re going to teach you how to make your TV smart… but not so smart it tries to take over the world. Sorry, SkyNet.

What is a smart TV?

Smart TV is the general term for any television that has built-in internet access. This connection to the internet allows the TV to work with a range of online services, such as live streaming, on-demand video, social media, and other applications.

Smart TVs have the ability to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or ethernet and process the incoming information on their operating system like a basic computer. A non-smart TV, sometimes called a dumb TV, doesn’t have these features, so it requires help from an external source. Essentially, it needs a smart TV adapter.

Turning a dumb TV into a smart TV requires an additional external device, that works as a smart TV converter, to access the internet and process the incoming information. The online content is then sent from that streaming player and is displayed on your TV. 

Simple, right?

You can turn your ‘ordinary’ TV into a smart TV! (Shutterstock)

What are the benefits of smart TVs?

By far the greatest benefit of a smart TV is the sheer volume of TV programs and media options you’ll have instant access to, all without the need for an ariel, dish, or subscription service.

Not only is this variety fantastic, but you can also use a smart TV for web browsing, gaming, and viewing content from another device via screen sharing. All from the comfort of your couch!

How to make your TV smart

There are a few things you will need and need to know to turn your TV into a smart TV, so let’s start with the basics.

First, you’ll need to get your hands on some form of streaming device, like a laptop, as well as make sure you have a broadband internet connection with either an ethernet cable or a Wi-Fi router.

An HDMI cable or VGA/Audio cable combination can also be handy to transfer the image from the device to the TV if you want to hook your streaming device directly into the ports on the back.

How do I connect my TV to the internet?

Generally speaking, there is no dedicated way to connect a standard TV to the internet if it’s not already smart.

However, there are a few ways you can connect your standard TV to the internet to access online content, all of which we’ll discuss below. But if all you want is to wirelessly display your mobile phone content on your TV, all you need is a wireless connector for your TV.

In short, a wireless connector for your TV allows you to project your phone on-screen, letting you use its apps without issue.

What is a dongle for TV?

TV dongles, or sticks, work as a mini version of a streaming player. They plug directly into your TV and are usually powered via USB or HDMI. The advantage of a dongle is that everything you need is on board: power, HDMI/USB, and an internet connection.

This makes them super compact, usually the size of a flash drive. A great example of a TV dongle is the Google Chromecast or the Amazon Fire Stick

Android TV is a little different to a TV dongle as it runs a version of the Android mobile operating system on your TV. It makes your TV look like a giant tablet, which means you can theoretically use any app you can get on an Android device on your Android TV, which can be very handy.

You can install various official and third-party apps, ranging from Netflix to YouTube, as well as your choice of games, music, and social software. This is what makes the use of Wi-Fi dongles for TV so popular.

Using a laptop or desktop connection

The crudest but often the most easily available option that acts as a smart TV converter is a simple link from your laptop or computer to a TV.

Internet-enabled computers have access to the largest variety of content, so linking one to the TV gives you a huge choice of media right at your fingertips, even if the process and the set-up are a little cumbersome.

The best way to link a TV with a laptop or computer is via an HDMI cable, as it will carry both the audio and video signals digitally down one cable. If you don’t have an HDMI connection, it’s also possible to link via VGA and audio cable combination.

Using TV streaming devices

Media boxes and TV streaming devices are internet-enabled devices with built-in pre-set channels and applications. Think of them as a sort of ‘Freeview box’ which hooks up to your Wi-Fi to stream content, rather than using an ordinary aerial connection.

All you need to do to get your TV streaming device to work is to plug this device into a TV, usually through an HDMI port, and power it up via a USB or wall socket. The device then works as a mini-computer and processes the incoming internet signal and links it to the built-in apps and channels.

The pre-set channels vary from each device, but the majority tend to have a plethora of the biggest names, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, All4, ITV Player etc…

Upgrading your TV is the smart thing to do (Shutterstock)

Using games consoles and smart players

Arguably, it was actually previous generations of game consoles which began the media streaming revolution. Both Xbox consoles and PlayStations could stream online programmes direct to your television.

Consoles work in a similar way to streaming players, with built-in apps and set channels for each manufacturer. You just need to connect them via HDMI for the best results.

Smart DVD and Blu-ray players also often use the same display format as their counterparts and can be a cheaper option than buying a brand new smart TV. It’s also worth noting these players can sometimes have three devices rolled into one: a smart TV, Blu-ray, and media player.

What is the best device to convert your TV to a smart TV?

There is no single best streaming device to help convert your standard TV into a smart TV. They’re all good options, so the best streaming device for you will be the one that has the benefits you prefer while also fitting into your budget.

Of course, if you’d rather take the plunge and you’re thinking about buying a smart TV or a 4K TV to replace your old TV anyway, then look no further than the Ebuyer store for all your smart TV needs.

We’ve got smart TVs from all the top brands. Have a browse around our website and you’re sure to find something which smartens up your viewing pleasures!

You can also read more articles like this one over on the Ebuyer blog.

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