Ask HN: Which TV do you recommend for privacy?

A lot of people are saying to not connect an ethernet cable to the TV, but what about if I want to connect the TV to LAN for my Jellyfin server?

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.

I was going to write buy Apple TV and never ever connect the actual TV to the internet, but:

- I am unsure whether modern TVs utilize ethernet over HDMI to connect to internet through Apple TV (I have no idea why Apple TV should allow this, but I don't trust Apple to not accidentally enable this)?

- I can only imagine nefarious five eyes reasons for why Apple released Apple TV that plays 4k60 exactly like the previous models, but now has 8 GB RAM, powerful machine learning CPU, and built-in microphones that are impossible to disable

So, apart from getting used prev gen Apple TV (and still having to trust company whose leader has to accept Trumps's lunch invite), I have no good advice.

The fact that we even need to have this conversation is messed up...

Thanks everyone for more practical comments, definitively bookmaking this post.

Gamers Nexus has a good discovery video on how extensive smart TVs are snooping on people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IFVTcM28KA

The consensus thus far appears to be that all modern TVs wipe their ass with user privacy.

Given what happened with games very recently, perhaps the question should be rephrased to: "Which modern TVs support flashing unsigned firmware?"

I just had claude connect to my Android TV over adb and rip out all of the spyware it could find.

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.

Sceptre. They have okay 4K panels at ludicrously cheap prices at Walmart that don’t have WiFi or a network port or any smarts at all. HDMI goes in, rendered images come out, end of story.

Panelook.com (DIY)

Do local repair shops offer aftermarket “TV lobotomy” services these days?

Thread-adjacent question: who is running REA against these tv firmwares so anyone can root their TV?

LTT did a video not too long ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJh72_O4pXE

Anybody has experience with TCL and Spectre? I'm seeing them a lot, even saw one really big TCL TV in a local shop and loved the colors and the FPS, but no idea how good are they really, are they longer-lasting, are they annoying if you don't give them network access etc.

Err - dont connect your tv to internet ?

Many TVs are advertised with features (even local features) that don't work until the first firmware update.

So plug it in, and update it once.

Then you can do all the things these other comments suggest.

is a computer monitor big enough?

A solid late 80s RCA Colortrak 2000 with down-converter is a solid choice and excellent conversation piece. Hardwood finish, or go for the full console experience. Best part is it can't call anything.

I read this as piracy and I was so confused.

Hotel/Business Signage TV may be a good options, but they may lack speakers and be considerably more costly and harder to procure

A TV should just be a display. If I already have an Apple TV or a mini PC, I don't need another smart OS tracking my activity.

I'm in Brazil, so I'm going to get Smart TV TCL 50 inches. It comes with Linux and you can manage it via adb.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how absurd it is that our world regularly manufactures TVs that we have to be worried spy on us?

Can you imagine explaining that future to someone in the 80s? They would not believe that our society let it happen

no, if you're plugging something in just pick a good tv and never connect it to internet :p

9 years ago I got a hisense 65h8c for around $800, at the time it seemed like the dumbest tv I could get (all new tvs, that now-old one included, are advertised as 'smart') that still hit other criteria. It has only ever connected over HDMI to a PC or an AV receiver. Still works great, used mostly for gaming, occasionally movie or show watching. It has weaker blacks and some edge bleeding, but meh; I'll never buy an OLED TV since at some point I'd play a game on it and soon enough after get burn-in from static UI elements.

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.

I just rooted my LG in about 30 seconds [using claude] and disabled all the junk. can also run own apps / homebrew.

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

Just use a desktop computer.

just pick a PC screen with TV sizes, although they might max out at 55 inches. displayspecifications.com has many hits for what has no FRC then.

Just open up whatever you buy and pull the networking components, microphones, and covert cameras. Leverage HDMI after that. Problem solved.

The one with the best looking picture at the store. Don't connect it to Internet and use your own streaming box (that you trust).

Really I think in store is the way to go. Some "low" and "mid" tvs look identical to me. Some "high end" are meh. Some other "low end" look great. I think it's a bit of a crapshoot. Not sure currently but Samsung QLED used to be rated well but I always thought LG OLED looked worlds better. I've always liked LG OLED although I've heard their firmware has gotten pretty predatorial...

Sceptre dumb TV. Failing that, large computer monitor or digital signage display. You WILL pay a premium.

Buy something used that was manufactured before ca 2018. Or get a projector that doesn't have any smart stuff built in.

You could just use something like adguard to block DNS requests for telemetry endpoints.

Any TV if you disconnect from the network and stream via HDMI instead.

buy projector, laser one are good, some of them are quite dumb in a good way. mostly US owned, or Japanese. Any chinese one are full of "android tv with their own flavors of spyware"

You can use a Sony Bravia connected to an Apple TV without connecting the Sony to the internet.

I use a projector plugged into a tiny Linux box.

Digital signage displays are dumb PC screens in giant sizes, like you are looking for.

Stop connecting TVs to the internet.

Samsung Frame is esthetically pleasing, high picture quality.

That old kind that just had a VCR slot on the front.

Or a projector against a wall.

Find an old projector TV

You can literally just buy any Sony and turn it onto dumb TV mode and not connect it to a network.

That's it, that's all you need to do, and the level of crazy over engineering and spend by some people below achieves literally nothing more at great difficulty.

I'd recommend a search, this gets asked at least once a year

I have a 42” tv from this cheap brand i found in MediaWorld in italy (i guess it’s called MediaMarkt in Germany and Switzerland): it’s called Ok.

It’s just great. Besides decoding digital tv it does essentially nothing.

If i want smart features i plug in an amazon fire stick.

I had it for six years now, i still love it.

buy a big monitor and hook whatever you want to it. samsung sells them and theyre about the same price as a tv, if not cheaper

Well, I have CRTs in most of the rooms in my home. That's because of an unrelated condition for which I refuse to be treated, but they are great for privacy!

Another slightly pricier option is buy a digital signage display. These are screens intended for use in like retail floors or even outdoors. They tend to be extra durable, resistant to burn-in, very bright and devoid of most fluffy end user features.