Dumb TVs are a nostalgic waste of money

The question of whether you can still buy a “dumb” TV comes up quasi-regularly in tech journalism. I understand why. On a basic level, that’s how TVs worked for decades, and it’s not like smart tech is essential. You can still tune into over-the-air broadcasts if you’ve got an antenna, or hook up an external Blu-ray or DVD player if you’ve got a decent library. Other people just loathe the idea of having to pay for features they’re not going to use, or have concerns about data collection. Those aren’t entirely unfounded, given how many sets have ACR on by default.

The fact that people even have to ask points towards the broader truth. It’s still possible to buy dumb TVs — but they’re now a rare breed. More importantly, I’d argue, they’re not really worth hunting down for the average viewer, especially since there are ways around a TV’s built-in software.

Can you still find dumb TVs for sale?

Be prepared to hunt around

Yes, dumb TVs are still being made and sold, although you’re unlikely to find them at your local big-box electronics outlet. They’re not very popular, so you’ll probably have to do your shopping online. You may not have to shop for too long — I knew going into this piece that Best Buy still sells “non-smart” TVs on its website, and sure enough, the company’s US division lists 34 options. That’s a fraction of their smart TV selection, but honestly, 34 is better than I expected versus the last time I checked.

In a way, it’s a peek into another world. Part of the reason people aren’t aware dumb TVs exist is because they’re not really marketed at consumers anymore. Rather, the current target is the business world. These are the TVs you see used for digital signage, security monitors, or maybe showing sports at bars. If you’re trying to buy a dumb TV, your best bet may be to search the web for keywords like “commercial TV” or “business TV.” Some companies even include these terms in product names.

Speaking of which, there are brands that exist in this space that you’ve never heard of, such as DuraPro, SunBriteTV, and AWALL. You’ll also find familiar behemoths like Samsung and LG, but there’s apparently more room to specialize in the commercial world.

Indeed, one of the reasons this segment exists is that businesses have different priorities. Some models are built not just to be visible outdoors, but to be waterproof or impact-resistant. At the high end, you can buy what are essentially video walls — TVs so large that they might not fit in your living room.

There’s quite a price range, as you can imagine. Best Buy lists a 43-inch 4K Samsung TV for about $339. If money (and size) are no object, however, you can spend $56,900 on a 162-inch MicroLED TV by AWALL. It’s like something out of Blade Runner. The only non-business customers I can see buying one are millionaires.

Why dumb TVs aren’t worth buying in 2026

Consider your priorities

Credit: AWALL

In many cases, you may actually be paying more for inferior specs — that is, the specs that matter to watching movies and TV shows in your home. That 43-inch Samsung set is not only small by modern standards, but limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, no HDR support, and outdated backlighting technology. Conversely, for a little over $250, you can get a 50-inch Hisense QLED smart TV with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. At the $400 mark, mini-LED TVs become available, some of which may actually be preferable to OLEDs, depending on your interests.

This theme persists with other dumb models. I won’t bore you with more examples, but even in the MicroLED realm, choosing a smart TV you can get similar (or better) performance for less. The features these commercial sets offer may be invaluable to businesses, but they’re not going to deliver the best possible version of Blade Runner 2049 or the Super Bowl.

What’s sillier still is that it’s easy to bypass a smart TV’s interface, or at least minimize the time spent with it. In my home, for instance, the Roku TV in our bedroom is set to automatically switch to the Apple TV 4K’s input when it powers on. It may take some searching in menus (or on the web) to figure out what setting to change, but once you’ve done it, you’re good — the only flashes of Roku OS I see are when I power down or adjust audio and picture settings.

Because of this, worries about data collection don’t hold much water either. After you’ve disabled ACR (check the link in the intro), no meaningful data collection is possible unless you start using apps. You could, in theory, set your TV to default to an antenna or Blu-ray input and become a ghost as far as a lot of advertisers are concerned.

Ultimately, the biggest issue may be that without some form of smart tech running, content can be difficult to come by in 2026. A reasonable Blu-ray collection is going to cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars, and still get stale quickly if you watch a title every day. Broadcast channels, meanwhile, are often chock-full of sitcom reruns and “reality” shows. That’s not exactly inspiring when shows like Andor and Pluribus are breaking ground in streaming. Heck, sometimes the caliber of those reruns is better in apps — you’re going to have a tough time finding I Love Lucy, The Twilight Zone, or The Golden Girls on your local affiliate. I can watch the first two for free on a service like Pluto.

Are dumb TVs doomed to extinction?

A legitimate question

Credit: Sonos

The short-term answer is no, because there’s no sign the demands of the commercial market are poised to go away. It’s not just about durability or outdoor use. A dumb TV is inherently easier to manage — there’s no software to update, and no separate internet connection to configure or pose a security risk. Even supplying content can be simpler. At a weightlifting gym I used to go to in Calgary, staff would change the digital signage by plugging in a USB stick.

Beyond the next few years, the forecast becomes hazy. The best smart TVs are already bright enough to outshine the sun, and there’s no reason why software and materials couldn’t come up to par with business standards. We might even see wall-sized sets become the norm. I suppose there’s not much call for a rainproof TV in most homes, so that niche might be left.

For you and I, however, the verdict is clear. Dumb TVs are effectively irrelevant. You’re better off deciding on your smart platform of choice, and working within those boundaries. The downsides are easily brushed out of the way.