We have had a smart TV for several years. It allows you to connect it directly to the internet and they have "apps" kind of like a phone. So I can watch Netflix, Hulu, etc, if I subscribe to those services, without the need for a separate device to connect to the TV.

Thanks. At this point I won't be connecting the tv to the internet - I will have limited bandwidth and package for internet, which I plan to use for other things. So, ill skip the smart this go round.

Smart will provide no advantage until you are able to connect to internet.

Agree w/saltidawg

I saw the "How" and missed the "what" at the end.

Yes, it's for accessing internet content. No connection, no need to have the capability.

Can you even get non-"smart" TVs anymore?

If you ever do consider connecting the TV to WiFi, I second the firestick suggestion. It is very easy to use. We have a smart TV in the bedroom, and it is overly complicated vs the Living room tv with the firestick.

Thanks.. appreciate knowing. And I do need Internet access.

It is very tough to find a TV these days that is not a smart TV. If you do, they are typically not a great TV overall either. TV manufacturers are installing the best components in those TVs they sell the most of, which are smart TVs. I would shop this way-- look for the TV size and feature set that you see most advertised across Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Wal-mart etc. That is the TV type that generally will have the most price pressure on it and give you the best deal. If there are features you don't use, so be it. It is rare that the average TV owner will use every single feature on a TV anyway.

Today culture, the internet is ones gateway to everything, especially entertainment. You can pay $5-$12 a month for a streaming service that give access to library of TV programs, movies, concerts, documentaries, etc.. The only big cost is your broadband bill. In 2020-2022 a new technology will be installed by the in the U.S. ISP that will give everyone up to 5GBS download speed. 4K programming will be the norm. Movies are being shot in 8K now instead of the previous 4K digital and before that, 35mm film which was over 4K but on film stock, not flashdrive storage aka called SSD. This new broadband technology is currently in use already in the Netherlands.

They do still make plain TV still and you can find some on eBay. They are the 720p and 1080i models that are marketed to the third world countries. Anything bigger then 32" is at least 1080p or full HD in current models sold in the U.S and are Smart TV equipped. You can still find previous models that are "new" in warehouses that were not sold for various reason still for sale and may not have Smart TV in them. If I were you, I buy the latest TV model and an UHD with HDR not a HD TV. Almost all UHD models have built-in 4K upscaling too. The difference is about 20% difference in price. Not talking about HDR 10 nor Doblevision equipped models or both but the basic UHD models here. The time is right for cheapest tv prices too!

artemis_ma, a "smart tv" is simply a tv that has built in "apps" for connecting to various internet content providers. This is a good article that explains the offerings. Without internet access, they are of no more use than a plain ol' tv.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/smart-tv-faq,review-2111.html

Originally called "connected TVs," these sets were later branded as "smart TVs" by companies such as Samsung and LG. The term has come to denote any TV that can be connected to the internet to access streaming media services and that can run entertainment apps, such as on-demand video-rental services, internet music stations and web browsers.