Ask HN: Which TV do you recommend for privacy?
I haven’t owned a TV in years and would like one that respects my privacy. Are there any TV’s which do this well? I am looking for something in the 60”to 80”range and would like a 4k display with at least 60hz display. I don’t mind paying a premium. I have heard good things about Apple TV as a better alternative to most smart TV native apps. Would some TV’s pair better with this than others for privacy? I don’t want the TV doing anything other than being the display for Apple TV. I am curious what success others have had.
Discussion Highlights (20 comments)
rvz
My honest answer at this point is none.
liquidise
Keep the glass disconnected from the network forever and it will solve the vast majority of your concerns. Jellyfin is the answer if you are looking to spend a premium on a privacy-focused media experience.
nvme0n1p1
- Buy any TV you want - Don't connect it to the network
DiabloD3
A large format monitor that does not connect to the Internet nor has any smarts at all. Also, do not plug any Internet-facing devices into it, have a captive SBC that connects to a LAN server hosting (legally owned) videos.
giancarlostoro
I just dont connect mine to the internet, hook up an Apple TV to it.
epwr
I went and researched this, and found that basically none of the TV brands were anything but creepy on privacy. What I’ve ended up doing was I got an LG and never hooked it up to Wifi/internet, and then use an Apple TV to watch things on. It’s a bit annoying if I want to switch to a game console as Apple TV can’t control the TV’s input channel, but otherwise works very well. Make sure the TV supports HDMI CEC.
AAAAaccountAAAA
https://www.sceptre.com/ seems to be pretty much the only remaining brand of non-smart TVs left. However, I have no experience of them.
damascus_kei
I rooted my LG C1 and honestly I can't go back to an unrooted TV. Game streaming works so much better(I can actually install the apps). I can control everything so Home Assistant automations are much better. Internet is blocked so no nagging or ads, But they are turn off via root just in case.
choroid
I recently was stressed about the same & ended up buying an LG C6, sticking it on an isolated VLAN, rooting it, then just letting it hit my NAS for jellyfin.
qubex
I’m sticking with my 2010 Toshiba REGZA until it dies. 1080p is fine for me.
sbstp
Don't connect it to a network, buy a mini pc and install Linux on it. Get a Logitech k400 keyboard with an integrated touchpad to control it remotely
setopt
Personally, I used to be very privacy-conscious, but have given up on enforcing it everywhere over the years. I still care, more than most people I know in real life, but when it comes to stuff like TV's I just get whatever has the best panel for the lowest price. Last time I bought a TV, that was an LG TV running WebOS, which is not exactly the best from a privacy standpoint. Initially I used it with an Apple TV, but now I just use the native apps and try to disable the telemetry that I can in the settings panel.
tehlike
I think the answer now changes with ability to root some of these tvs. Still, might be best to run an android tv box yourself, and plug hdmi.
beej71
I don't know how true it still is, but dumb TVs have traditionally been marketed as "commercial displays". You'll pay more and have to bring your own media, of course.
shadowAuror
Disconnect the TV from internet and use a solution like Apple TV for apps you would like in TV. Even better is a Mini PC connected to the TV if you are savvy enough.
pyrophane
If you are open to projectors they still make “home cinema” projectors that don’t have any smart features or connect to the internet. I have a BenQ (710tki iirc) that is like this and I believe it meets all your stated requirements (size, resolution, etc). I’ve been very happy with it.
PaulHoule
I shop for elite televisions at the “reuse” center, my latest score was a 2013 Panasonic plasma which is a perfectly good dumb TV hooked up to an XBOX ONE and a home theatre. Downstairs I have a big curved Samsung 4K attached to my big PC. Someday I’ll see the high end OLED that I crave. If you have the room and price is no object you definitely want at least 5.1 theatre, both movies and TV programs sound great in 5.1. The next step up is a second subwoofer, even for music subwoofers take a load off your other speakers and reduce distortion.
u1hcw9nx
Samsung is the worst by far. Samsung (TizenOS) does not respect even privacy opt outs. It seems like LG, Google TV OS (Sony) and Fire TV OS (Amazon) and VidaaOS at least do that. https://allaboutcookies.org/smart-tv-tracking-privacy-opt-ou... Never connect to internet is the best option.
j45
Tvs can themselves have their privacy improved by never connecting it to WIFI, except, maybe for software updates, if needed (rare). The smarts you connect to the TV can vary. Apple Ts manage things in some good ways. NVidia Shields are good in others for Android TV. The Android TV platform is likely more customizable (check youtube the past few weeks) to get it how you want. Last, but not least, some poeple may just hook up a web browser to the TV and then contain that.
thinkingkong
I allow my Samsung to connect to my local network, but then use openwrt and refuse to allow any outbound data from any IP using the MAC address of the television set. It cant update itself and no traffic suggests it can do anything regardless of what it might be collecting. Rooting it to prevent it from connecting to other wifi AP’s is probably the only better thing.