How Do I Know If I Have a Smart TV? 8 Ways

In this article, we’ll look at eight indicators that a smart TV is present, as well as what to look for when purchasing a new smart TV.

85% of all televisions in use as of 2018 are smart TVs. But in 2015, producers started producing smart TVs for the majority of their higher-end sets. As a result, smart TVs are frequently found in homes. You may be asking yourself, “how do I know if I have a smart TV.”

There are many features on smart televisions that let you connect to streaming devices and access different entertainment options like Google TV. You can easily manage the available content on smart TVs by using a compatible app or remote control. If you have a smart TV, continue reading to find out.

How Can I Tell My TV is a Smart TV?

Examining the remote control and its buttons is the best way to determine if a TV is smart. By looking at the TV’s app section, you can also determine whether your model is intelligent. The types of products can also be determined by the ports on a TV. If you cannot use the TV properly, you can also check whether the model is smart by researching it online.

You can also find out about your TV’s features by getting in touch with the manufacturer. Here are the detailed ways that will allow you to tell whether your television is smart or not:

Check Your Remote

Each standard and smart television has a remote control, which is a necessary accessory. Because of the numerous buttons, it serves as a reliable indicator of the type of TV. This is due to the fact that you can access particular features, some of which are exclusive to smart models, by using the shortcuts on your remote.

The menu button is the main tool for determining whether your TV is intelligent. The most recent televisions with smart features typically have this shortcut on the remote control. Your TV might not be smart if it has no menu button.

The absence of a menu button should not be taken as proof that a TV lacks smart features. You can look for other buttons, such as the one with the Netflix logo or text, as some brands may provide alternate shortcuts for convenience. Some remotes have a button for Netflix that allows you to open the app directly by pressing it.

Your TV is undoubtedly a smart model if there is such a shortcut. Hulu and Amazon Prime shortcuts are two additional buttons you might search for. Not all smart TVs may have extensive remotes with shortcuts or a menu button for accessing the apps. This is why this parameter may not be the best for learning about your television type, so you must check other things to know if your TV is smart.

App Section

A smart TV’s ability to connect to the internet and use online features is one of its best features. If you have personal accounts for streaming apps, you can use different streaming services on your TV.

Most models also come with some pre-installed programs, including YouTube. Your ability to use apps to learn about smart features is the main advantage of having them on your TV. This is due to the fact that televisions, like smartphones and tablets, have an application section.

The application section logo that might appear on the TV can be accessed using the remote control. To browse the various apps, you can also use the TV’s settings menu. It is a smart model with online accessibility if you have applications installed on the television.

The product lets you stream a variety of films and TV shows. Gaming applications are one of the additional platforms that might be accessible on your TV. These are also reliable signs that your model is intelligent and enables wireless gameplay. Some smart TVs also have social media apps for ease of use.

By pressing a particular button on the remote, you might also be able to browse the app sections. With the logo of an application section on the accessory, some brands offer a shortcut. If the TV runs Android, it might look like dots as it does on phones.

See If the TV Has An App Store

The presence of apps on your TV is a good sign that it is a smart model, but keep in mind that not all products come with pre-installed platforms. Because there aren’t many apps, you might not find an app section. This is where looking for a store can help you figure out what kind of television you have.

Keep in mind that the prices vary depending on the brand and operating system of the different TVs. When attempting to determine whether your TV is smart or not, you must conduct the proper store search. Android-powered smart TVs are available from companies like Samsung and Sony.

This indicates that a Google Play Store with a triangular logo will be present on these televisions. Green, yellow, and red make up the majority of the colors in the logo. You can look for the Play Store to determine the type of TV because its presence will show that the design is intelligent.

TvOS is the operating system that Apple TVs use and they vary in a number of ways. The main distinction between this brand’s smart TVs is that they have an App Store rather than a Play Store. A symbol of an A is on a blue background in the section’s distinctive logo.

If your TV does not have these stores for downloading platforms, it may not be smart. This is because these programs are pre-installed in the smart TVs of the respective brands. They cannot be turned off, so looking for the store is a surefire way to tell what kind of TV it is.

Ports on the Television

Every television has unique jacks or ports that let you connect a variety of external devices to the TV. Whether or not the model is intelligent is irrelevant. In order to connect the television to a DVD player, AV plugs are typically found on standard TVs. A specific port found on smart TVs is an Ethernet port, which enables the television to connect to the internet.

The RJ45 port is another name for this port that can be used to recognize it. The second name is primarily used by Samsung TVs to indicate whether an Ethernet port is present. The location of an Ethernet port on a TV is different from other ports, so keep that in mind.

Not to be confused with the HDMI or USB ports in this section. Using these types may give you the impression that your TV is not smart because they are not designed to connect to an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet port is typically found on the right or left side of the back of a smart TV.

You must carefully check the locations because some brands also provide this port underneath the TV. In most smart TVs, the word “LAN” is written above or below the port. You can use this port to directly connect your TV to the internet using the Ethernet cable from your router. On your smart TV, you can use it to play games, stream TV shows or movies, use social media apps, or all of the above. The lack of a port usually indicates that the television is not smart.

Research the TV Online

You might not be able to use the earlier features to determine whether your TV is smart or not if you are not adept at using tech equipment. This is because it might be difficult for you to operate the remote. Due to the high availability of information, researching the model online will be extremely helpful in this situation.

Due to the fact that the information on the brand’s official website is always accurate, this method is also a surefire way to determine whether your TV is smart or not. Before looking for television online, you must be aware of certain details because different serial versions of the same model may exist. You can easily conduct online research about your device using the serial number.

The TV’s bottom or back may contain the digits. Because different brands identify their devices in different ways, the location varies. Use the box that the item came in if the serial number is not on the TV or can’t be located. The cardboard box’s exterior is primarily where the number is written.

You can also look it up in the TV’s information guide. You can review the information by entering this serial number and the brand of the TV in the Google search field. The brand’s official website is your best bet for finding the same model. Observing reviews or unboxing videos of the same-serial-number TV on YouTube is another trustworthy option.

Understand the Television’s Name

When determining whether or not you own a smart TV, you don’t always have to put much effort into it with some brands. Since many models use specific terms, you can use the television’s name to determine its type. A well-known streaming service called Roku and a well-known brand called TCL is partners.

Because they can stream content, TCL’s smart TVs are also known as Roku TVs. This name makes it clear that television is intelligent. As a result, you won’t need to check the buttons on the remote control or search online for information about the features of the television.

Brands that work with Amazon to create smart TVs are another excellent illustration. For ease of use, these models are referred to as Fire TVs. Check the title before configuring the model because you can determine the TV’s smartness from its name. The television might not be intelligent if the name doesn’t include Fire or Roku.

Due to shifting partnerships over time, some older models of the same brand of smart TV might also be lacking a specific title. You should try alternative methods for greater reliability if the term is absent from the TV name.

Check the Television’s Startup Screen

The device’s startup screen is another useful aspect that will help you determine whether or not your TV is smart. When you turn on the TV, some brands, like TCL, provide a large screen with numerous menu options. They are useful for understanding the type of TV and checking its settings.

Numerous designs, such as Roku TVs, display numerous controls for various settings, including registering for the product and accessing streaming apps on the startup page. If you look around the screen a little bit more to try to find other features, you can also find smart soundbars.

A clear indication that a model is smart is if a home appliance also connects to the TV automatically after turning it on. You might also see a popup asking you to connect to the appropriate home device appear on the screen. On some Roku and Fire TV models, these features are available.

The startup screen is a great way to assess the smart features of your TV. This method’s only downside is that it can be a little erratic for those who are unfamiliar with how to access apps on a TV. This is due to the fact that using a new smart TV can be challenging for those without a lot of technical knowledge.

Contact the Manufacturer

You can ask the manufacturer directly if all other attempts to determine whether your TV is smart to have failed. To assist their customers in resolving issues, all brands have customer service departments. Calling the manufacturer’s official number will connect you with the office.

You can learn more about the TV model by having a conversation with an informed representative. Remember that before providing the information, the employee will ask you for more specifics. Before calling, you must have your television’s serial number, purchase date, and model handy. The representative will determine whether or not your TV is smart using this information.

Your television type can be determined using this quick and accurate method. The best part is that you don’t need any technical knowledge to use it. The possibility that your TV is smart but may not have been configured properly is another advantage of getting in touch with the manufacturer. You may be lacking the standard features that are present in smart TVs.

Only the manufacturer will be able to assist you in resolving the problem and utilizing the smart features as the model might also have some technical design flaws. Due to the lengthy wait times on some brands’ customer call lines, you should only use this option as a last resort. The various techniques mentioned earlier can be used to determine the type of TV rather than wasting time on the call.

What is a Smart TV?

A digital television with integrated computer technology that is specifically intended for entertainment applications is known as a smart TV. It combines the Internet’s integration with apps to expand your experience beyond live broadcasting by enabling streaming and browsing features.

Smart TVs have their own “TV operating system (TV OS)” and GUI, short for Graphical User Interface. They can access video, music, and images from storage devices on your home WiFi network in addition to connecting to the Internet.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and YouTube are currently the most used smart TV apps. You can download a variety of other third-party applications to further personalize your Smart TV.

How Do I Know If My TV is HD?

Your television is probably HD today, especially if it’s a flat panel. Simply put, an HD TV is any TV that has a screen resolution of 720P or higher. 85% of all televisions in use as of 2018 are these.

One way to tell if your TV is HD is to look up your model number online. A simple google search of the model number will usually lead you to the manufacturer’s page with your TV’s specs. The model number of the TV itself should be visible on the back. If the resolution is at least 720P (1280 x 720), then you have an HD TV.

Conclusion: How Do I Know If I Have a Smart TV?

Once more, an HD Smart TV is likely to be the one you purchase if you buy a new TV today. It has become fairly typical. If it has an Internet connection and can run outside apps, it is a Smart TV.

The buttons on smart TV remote controls are uniquely designed and are not present on traditional TV remotes. If the home screen has multiple tiles with logos of applications, you probably have a smart TV.

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