Supposedly, the Spectre 55 inch is 4k and dumb as a rock: https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV/U550CV-UMR-55-4K-UHD-TV-product959category1category73.html
this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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I have an older model of this Spectre. Can confirm it looks fantastic for the price and no smart features .
I paid $200 for mine. Do not buy the Walmart version. Also this seems overpriced for this unit
Iβve got a slightly older Sceptre 43 inch 4K, and tbh Iβve been trying to find a replacement for a while. The form factor of the TV itself is great, but the picture is pretty crappy. Thereβs a ton of light bleed around the edges, the HDR functionality is insanely frustrating and looks terrible, and the upscaling is crap. I got it on a ridiculous sale towards the beginning of the pandemic when local shops were clearing their inventories, so I canβt really complain. But I would not buy it again.
I also have two of their PC monitors, and they have the same problems as the TV. No more Sceptre for me in the future.
Got a Sony Bravia OLED and it's set up as a dumb TV, turns on instantly + I never see the Smart TV UI, not even a logo.
What I did was decline everything at setup, hook up to the Internet via Ethernet once to update, unplug Ethernet and set it to turn on to last input.
That's just a smart tv acting dumb. Or a smart TV that was taught wrong, as a joke.
"I must apologize for Wimp Lo. He is an idiot. We have purposely trained him wrong, as a joke."
"Hah ! [Tittering ] If you've got an ass, I'll kick it."
-Kung Pow
Yep, the new Bravias with Android TV or whatever give you a choice as a part of the first time setup that essentially disables all the smart features. I had the same experience.
I researched this recently - here's what I found:
Vizio P65-F1
TCL 65R617
Sony x900e
Hisense H65M7000
Sony KDL-65W855C and Samsung UE65H6400
Sceptre U650CV-U
Sceptre, Supersonic, SunbriteTv, outdoor TV's, and Caixun have non-smart Tv's
https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-buy-a-dumb-tv-and-why-youd-want-to
Look into commercial displays.
This is the answer every time this question comes up. You pay more because it doesn't generate revenue by spying on you, but it doesn't have all the bullshit cause it's meant to be on during all biz hours showing store promos and the like.
I'm rocking a 4k ViewSonic display. Nothing smart about it.
If it's not been mentioned, you want Commercial Displays, or Large Format Displays. Much more expensive generally for less features, but many are explicitly non-smart.
https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/products/computer-monitors-displays/large-format.html
If you connect your device to a compatible hdmi port and turn on the device first, it should turn on your tv to that input straight away. Boot times should be nearly instant unless you do a full restart of the smart tv.
Almost every TV doesn't have smart functions if you don't connect them to your network.
They usually still have their dumb OS bloated with pre-installed apps.
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I hate "smart" TVs too, unfortunately I have one but I just never connected it to the internet. I only use the HDMI input to connect it to my HTPC running Linux and Kodi, it's an awesome setup.
I got a Vizio 4K and refused to give it my wifi access. it boots in maybe 5 seconds and the only issue is the time displayed on screen is way off. otherwise fully functional with no smartness. and it restarts using the same input as when it was last used.
I did the same thing with Vizio and it eventually would randomly turn off, or sound wouldn't work or something, you'd call support and they'd tell you that you have to update it. It doesn't make any sense, but I did it and it would work find for awhile again. Thr tinfoil hat in me says they do that to get whatever info they have stored on you.
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Almost every smart TV I have played with you can set them up to just go to an HDMI input and turn off any "home" menus screens. You also can usually skip any Network setup.
I have played with LG, Vizio, Samsung and Sony TVs all have had options to do this. (But this has been over the last 1-7 years).
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Isn't that basically just a monitor?
While I get what you're saying, there are some differences between TVs and monitors that may be relevant to OP.
TVs have tuners built into them, if they need to receive overt the air or cable signals.
TVs have remote controls where monitors typically don't.
Large TVs are hella cheap compared to monitors of the same size.
Can you actually get TV-sized monitors?
All day. Above 24" they all get pretty gaming focused, and i will say the fast response time and framerates are incredible if you game. These tv sized ones are a bit rediculous though
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Is there actually any practical use for having a tuner built in still? I haven't plugged a coax into one of those in like 15 years, it's always to a set-top box first and then hdmi from that to the tv, and the only reason we have cable at all is because of my dad.
Antennaeβs still work great. Picture is better with no or little compression compared to cable. Great for live sports.
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Well yes, but finding a monitor that is as large as a TV, doesn't have smart functionality and isn't prohibitively expensive is hard enough.
I'd just buy a smart TV, don't give it internet access and connect an HTPC.
This is what I did
With an IR remote and built in speakers.
So basically no.
I have found some. The key is to look for either outdoor televisions or ones designed for commercial use, such as those used for restaurant menus at the counter.
Outdoor televisions usually aren't very good besides being bright and weather resistant.
Don't judge my living room design! I need those features!
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My Samsung boots fast, goes straight to whatever input I left it on, and doesnβt have smart functions because I donβt have it on the network and never accepted the license for them. I update the software occasionally and then disconnect it again.
Itβs older though. Iβd try and see if you can play with one somewhere and if theyβll let you reset it to factory.
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The latest tvs the boot pretty fast, when you turn them on for the first time just don't agree to the policies and it'll be a dumb tv.
The other option is a computer monitor.
My Sony TV allows for a default input on boot. Wish it allowed a default App on boot...
I need to get non-smart TVs for work and usually end up buying Sceptre TVs. They do everything you're asking, but I don't live with them day-to-day so I'm not sure what they're like in that regard.
I'm going to assume because you said your shopping for a 4k telly and havent set a set amount that you got the money to afford something decent in that case look at getting a used commercial or large format display I found this for Β£380 which may interst you or prehaps just buying a smart telly and not connecting it to the Internet
I got an LG C3, never plugged in the ethernet cable and changed the song so it starts on that last active input.
I did have to enter my postal code though, which is H0H 0H0.
Post code can be used to adjust settings for regional differences with broadcast tv reception
I'm still ok with the TV thinking I live in the North Pole
Also recently bought a C3 and can't say enough good things about it. I connected mine to wifi so I could use/control it within HomeAssistant but you can always just not connect it like you said to have a TV without the smart features.
I was worried about burn in, but after hundreds of hours of Zelda, Fae Farm, which do have static UI elements, I still haven't noticed anything.
I haven't connected it so far.
I use homeassistant a lot, but haven't connected the TV yet.
From looking at the integration, at least its not cloud bs, so I could probably block everything to and from the TV except TCP 3000-3001 with homeassistant and it could still talk locally with hass.
I've already blocked LG's ads domains, just in case I ever decide to plug it in, but denying everything except homeassistant would be nice.
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If there are none, does anybody know a tv that boots fast(less than 30 seconds) and displays an hdmi input by default without the need to choose the input from a menu.
I have a Phillips 4k "smart tv" I keep in "dumb" mode at all times. https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/65PFL5766_F7/5700-series-4k-ultrahd-led-android-tv-with-google-assistant
Just never ever connect it to the internet, and keep it on HDMI 1.
The TV is even smart enough to detect when there is a live signal on HDMI 1 and it turns itself on automatically. This might be a feature of my stereo having an ARC out HDMI line.
I have all my game consoles, google chromecast, etc etc connected to my stereo, then stereo out connected to the TV's HDMI 1. When I turn anything on it "just works". No menus, no inputs, it just flips on and displays HDMI 1 and keeps its mouth shut lol
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Look for a commercial grade television set. For example, on Best Buy, search for 'Television' click the 'Non Smart' option and you will get 38 choices to peruse. BTW, commercial grade is more durable with a longer warranty. Good luck!
I was in a similar position earlier this year. Problem was most non smart TVs were business grade and very expensive. Ended up with a Samsung Smart TV but didn't hook it up to the Internet. Fits my needs and remote is only ever used for changing HDMI devices. It boots up in about 10 seconds.
LG C1 is "smart", but satisfies your other criteria. It has been replaced with newer models, but I imagine the user experience must be similar.
I haven't even seen it's smart functions the whole time I've had it. I press a button on the Apple TV remote and a few seconds later the TV is displaying the Apple TV menu (connected via HDMI through a receiver). No menus to navigate and no ads that I've ever seen, though the first thing I did when I got it was disable all the "suggestions".
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Yes. They make them for commercial use, like the signs at fast food.
Many of those types while having great brightness and reduced image burn in actually have terrible quality images. Eg no hdr, some may only be 30hz, some may have the contrast ratio which is so low you'll just be sad to watch a movie on it looking at a black grey mush.
Though like all things, there's a gradient. Some of the conference room monitor panels can be better but often >3x more expensive than the consumer model due to much better warranty (eg same day parts).
So I don't have any advice here, just a bit of warning with experience with being around zoom, teams, and display walls from an IT solutions perspective,though generally I use AV partners for model selection and installation on any meaningfully sized conference/boardroom room or special application eg stages.
I just got a Hisense thatβs google tv but in setup I had the option to configure it as just cable and inputs.
I got the U7 series. I donβt know if this feature is consistent across all google tvs or all Hisense tvs or what, but Iβve given you somewhere to start at least.
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