5 ways to convert normal tv to smart tv
If you are already having a TV that is not a smart TV. Or thinking to buy a TV and confuse that should go for normal TV or Smart TV. This post could be useful for you on how to convert a normal TV to Smart TV.
Table of Contents
What is difference between Normal TV and Smart TV
A smart TV is a TV that is having internet connectivity using Wi-Fi or Ethernet port. Further smart TV are also built with apps to watch OTT (Over the Top) content.
Here OTT means Television shows or Movies etc. telecast over high speed internet without use of any special service provider in between.
Nowadays many OTT apps and services available and popular to watch web series, movies, TV serial, shows online. Example of some of these platforms are YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Zee5, Alt Balaji, SonyLiv etc.
These smart TV having their own custom OS for TV for example Samsung are running on Tizen OS, LG runs over WebOS operating system, Panasonic runs over FireFox OS, Sony TV runs over linux based OS.
On the other hand a normal TV having LED / LCD screen and different ports for connectivity most common are HDMI and USB. Using HDMI port you can connect your DTH Set Top Box, DVD player, Laptop etc.
Now smart TV also coming with Android OS inbuilt and called android TV. On android TV you can download and install apps from google play store as like your mobile. Most of Android TV are inbuilt with Chromecast with them. So that you can cast your popular apps using your android or Apple mobile easily.
All the Android TV are smart TV but this is not necessary that a Smart TV is an Android TV.
Nowadays a lot of streaming devices are available in market, so you need not to worry that your TV is smart TV or normal TV. Even if you are thinking to buy a LED TV you can save a lot by using these streaming devices to convert your normal TV to smart TV.
Even you can convert your HD monitor into smart TV. Your TV should have HDMI port / s to connect these streaming devices.
1. Convert normal TV to smart TV using streaming sticks
Using Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Airtel Xstreme stick , Mi TV Stick, Motorola Streaming Stick you can convert normal tv to smart TV.
Using Streaming devices you can not only use your dumb TV as Smart TV but can also Screen mirror your Android and iPhone using Chromecast and Airplay feature.
Just plug the stick on the HDMI port of your TV. We will explain these three devices here.
Using Chromecast you can cast and stream content of OTT apps on TV. For setting up first time Chromecast device you need to install Google Home app in your android mobile or iOS device.
To use Chromecast you have to first open the apps like Hotstar, Voot, Prime video, Netflix etc. in your mobile and start casting from the casting icon shown on top right side. Once you start casting content directly pickup by Chromecast device itself and start streaming using Wi-Fi.
Your mobile now free and can be used for another work. However to change app and or different series you have to again use your mobile.
You can also cast from your laptop to TV using Chrome browser and chromecast. See our previous post on how to cast from laptop to TV.
Google also launched their 4K enabled Chromecast that is called Chromecast ultra. But it is not launched in India.
Amazon Firestick also a streaming device that plug into HDMI port of your TV. The difference between the Chromecast and Firestick is that on the Amazon Fire stick apps installed on the device it self. You can start streaming directly using Firestick, and content can be searched using its Alexa based remote.
Casting is also possible through mobile, but same app is to be installed on the both the devices, your mobile and fire stick.
Amazon fire stick come with two models full hd and 4K stick. Using 4K stick you can stream videos in 4K if support by the OTT app (Netflix, Prime etc.) and your TV should also support 4K. To stream Prime video from Amazon fire stick you need prime video membership
Recently airtel has also launched Chromecast and Firestick like streaming device that works in same way. Airtel Xstreme stick based on Android 8.0, you can install apps from play store to this stick. Airtel Xstreme app is pre installed on this device. Earlier Airtel TV now become Airtel Xstreme app.
On this app you can access many TV shows and series from different platform e.g. Colors, HOOQ, ZEE TV, Sony TV etc., thousands of movies. But live TV is not supported to watch on TV, that can be accessed through app only. Also, to use Xstreme stick you need active Xstreme app subscription. That is a disappointment for the users.
Airtel Xstreme stick come with voice enabled remote to easy search and control the content over stick. Chromecast is also built-in in this stick; therefore, you can also use your mobile to cast app on your TV.
For the other apps like Prime Video, Netflix you have to take separate membership individually.
From the above three devices you can screen mirror your mobile phone screen to your TV.
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Flipkart MarQ Turbostream Stick
Flipkart also recently launched a Android based media streaming device. Lets see What is Flipkart MarQ and how it works.
MarQ Turbostream stick is a streaming device just like Chromecast but it is also a Android TV Box along with Chormecast built in feature. MarQ come with voice enabled remote with Google assistance to control and search the content over the stick.
MarQ voice remote having infrared and Bluetooth both so that you can search seamlessly without interrupt in the voice command.
Specification of MarQ are as below:
- OS : Android 9.0
- Resolution : 1920 x 1080 p, 60 FPS
- Connectivity : Dual band Wifi 2.4 and 5 Ghz, Bluetooth 4.0, Built in Chromecast
- Hard Ware: 1 GB RAM, 8 GB ROM, Mali 450 GPU
- Audio : Dolby Digital
- Remote: Google assistant based voice remote with Bluetooth, Can also used Android TV app remote from Smart Phone
The price of Flipkart MarQ is Rs. 3099/ that is very competitive price with the available options available in India.
Buy From Flipkart: MarQ by Flipkart Turbostream Media Streaming Device
As per reviews of MarQ on flipkart it seems that MarQ is a very better device and works fine. It has all the features you want in a Android Stick e.g. Android TV, Built in Chromecast, Voice remote those are not available on many available streaming devices.
There is also no restriction like subscription on Airtel Xstreme app in Xstreme stick or Box.
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Mi TV Stick
Mi TV stick is based on Android TV 9 Pie and also equipped with voice enabled remote. Using Android you have access of Google play store and thousand of apps and games. Mi TV stick also have Google Chromecast built in so that you can easily cast your mobile screen over TV and Chromecast apps from mobile to TV.
Mi TV stick available at Flipkart at Price Rs. 2799.
All the major OTT platforms are available on Mi TV stick like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hotstar etc. Output of Mi TV stick is full HD (1920x1080p) at 60Hz.
Mi Stick remote is Bluetooth enabled with google assistant.
Features of Mi TV stick are given below:
- Quad Core A53 CPU
- 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM
- Wifi support of 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
- Google assistant
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Motorola Media Streaming Stick
Motorola also has launched their 4K media streaming device recently with Price tag of Rs. 3,999. Motorola streaming stick is a Android TV based stick with Android 9 Pie.
It has more features compared to Mi TV Stick and Airtel Xstreme Stick. More RAM, internal storage, resolution and better processor.
Motorola Media Streaming features:
- 4K Resolution (3840×2160 p), 60Hz
- 2GHz Cortex A53 quad core processor
- 2GB RAM, 16GB ROM
- Supports HDR & HDR10
- Built in Chromecast
- Google Assistant
- Mali G31 MP2 850 GHz GPU
- Voice enabled remote
Motorola Media streaming stick can be bought from Flipkart.
2. Convert normal TV to smart TV using Android TV boxes
Another method to convert your normal TV to smart TV is Android TV Boxes. Android TV box is like TV set top box that can stream the content through Wi-Fi or through Ethernet cable with RJ-45 port. These boxes are based on Android OS and having Chromecast feature inbuilt so that you can also cast the app-based content from your mobile apps to TV.
These Android Box having play store support so that you can install the apps from Google Play Store. Android box having their own remote control that could be a voice enabled or non-voice depends on product to product.
Some of the example are:
Android TV supported list of apps can be seen here.
3. Android TV setup boxes
Using Android based Set Top Box you can also convert your normal TV to Smart TV. Nowadays, most of DTH service provide also provide Android Based Set top box like Airtel, Tata Sky, Videocon, Dish TV etc.
These set top box provides you both the feature in one box like you can watch DTH live TV channels using traditional Dish Antenna, as well as OTT content over Wi-Fi or Ethernet based connectivity.
You can found detailed comparison of these set top box along with their features, prices, Hardware Specifications here.
Now Airtel providing Android Box functionality along with DTH set top in one box. They have released Xstreme STB from which you can not only watch DTH channels using dish antenna but can also watch other OTT contents like Netflix, Prime video etc.
Xstreme Box based on Android 9.0 and users can download the apps from play store as like Android TV Boxes. To enjoy Xstreme box services you need a working DTH connection active on your Xstreme box. For existing users Airtel providing discounted price on xtreme box and one year subscription of Airtel Xstreme app of Rs. 999.
Airtel Supports 4K contents, but your TV and apps should support 4K videos. Voice enabled remote is provided with airtel Xstreme box. Airtel Xstreme Box and Stick both are available at the price Rs. 3999. However existing Artel Digital users can upgrade their set top box with the price of Rs. 2249 only.
To upgrade your existing set top box, you have to login in your Airtel account on browser by visiting airtel.in or using my airtel app in mobile. In the account go to connection and select upgrade my box, select Xstreme box and pay.
Reliance Jio is also providing Android based set top box to access live TV channels and other apps as like airtel Xstreme box. The full details will be updated after releasing their set top box.
However, as per the information provided by Jio and various news, it seems that this box will run through the internet of Jio Fibre connection and shall needs to be plugged with Jio Fibre router. Using Jio Fibre users will get high speed broadband connection, free voice calling. Jio Fibre STB can also be controlled using voice enabled remote.
On the Jio STB users will get access of all Jio apps like Jio Cinema, JioSaavn Music etc.
On the Jio STB users can also do video conferencing through their TV, they have to purchase the extra camera device for video conferencing. Jio Fibre and DTH channels tariff will be separate. The DTH tariff shall be based on TRAI new guideline. And after elapse of data plan users shall be able to use their DTH channels.
Jio STB shall also support VR and Gaming.
4. Apple TV Box
Using apple TV box you can also convert your normal TV into smart TV. But Apple TV are costly compared to other options as mentioned above. You need Apple id to start Apple TV services that are same that you are using in your iPad or iPhone. You have to plugin the Apple TV with your TV using HDMI cable.
On Apple TV store you can download your apps to watch and stream on your TV like Netflix, HBO. The iOS devices can cast using Apple air play. For Android mobile you have to use Plex type of app to stream apps. Apple TV come along with Siri based voice remote.
Supported apps by Apple TV are not as wide as like Android TV. Apple TV supported apps list can be seen here.
Apple TV also come with Full HD and 4K option is also available.
5. Using Laptop
You may wonder that your laptop is itself a Smart TV box for you. Now most of streaming platform are also working through web browser. For example, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, HotStar, Voot, SonyLiv, AltBalaji etc. You can connect your laptop with your TV using HDMI cable and can enjoy the most of streaming contents, movies, web series, TV shows, Live TV channels using their web interfaces.
If you have wireless mouse and keyboard, you can connect them to your laptop for easy access and searching of content from the comfortable distance.
Further, you can also install Android based OS on your Windows laptop using Blue stack OS/ phoenix OS. Visit our page on how to install and access android apps on Windows using Blue stack.
Conclusion
From the above mentioned five methods you can convert your normal TV into smart TV and save lot of money. Further these devices are more easy to access OTT content compared to Smart TV using your mobile. There are many other options are also available as like above devices but these are not available in India e.g. Amazon 4K TV cube, Roku TV, Chromecast Ultra 4K.
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