That’s because there’s no reason for most people to buy another TV. The majority of people who would want one already have a TV, and there has been no technological advancement in the last decade or two that would entice anyone to throw away their already perfectly acceptable large LCD/OLED/whatever television just to buy another one just like it.
The only thing anyone has been able to come up with is making all TV’s internet connected and “smart,” which is a feature that approximately nobody except the MBA’s in charge of the companies cranking them out seems to actually want.
This. Nowadays people mostly buy TVs when their old ones break. There’s no marginal improvement. The industry is here to stay, but its high growth days are in the past.
We have also seen the budget range improve in quality and affordability. There will always be cheap junk TVs and overly expensive TVs, but that midrange, where most people buy, has become rock solid. There just isn’t much region to upgrade at the moment.
And we’ve mostly hit the limit of usable maximum sizes. For like the last two decades you could upgrade your TV to the next bigger size every few years for the same money you paid for the last one.
I remember starting with a maybe… 21" LCD TV back in 2005ish, and for that money today I could get like 70" TV. I don’t have space to fit one that large, nor do I have any need for it even if I could.
Actually, a LOT of people stream with a smart TV instead of a separate device. More than half in the US.
https://gitnux.org/smart-tv-sales-statistics/
This tends to track with what I see in my family and friend’s homes. People tend to do couch streaming via the smart TV’s apps.
Personally, I think a fast, separate HDMI CEC device is a MUCH better user experience, and it’s still one remote. But for whatever reason, a lot of people aren’t opting to go with a separate AppleTV, GoogleTV ChromeCast, Roku, game console, etc.
But do they use it because it’s there, or do they actually go out and buy a TV because of the smart features? I’d much rather have a separate device (and do) than use the built in smart features. I would greatly prefer to buy a TV with no smart features and just continue using my AppleTV than have to buy a new TV every time the built in system stopped getting updates.
Upgraded my £200 dumb LCD to a £1000 OLED 3 years ago. My wife much prefers the simplicity and reliability of the TV remote and inbuilt smart features over separate devices. It’s all personal preference
We were that way as well for a few years. Then the updates cause the sluggishness of the internal processor to become apparent… and then the updates stop completely. An internal smart system can’t be upgraded, external ones can. Not to mention that the HDMI spec will auto start the TVs and put it to the right input automatically when you turn in a connected device.
There was a time when people were buying the smart TV because Netflix and Apple were then apps on the TV and used the same remote.
But the apps are old and crunchy, the tv shovels ads at you, and the steamers are no longer offering the value required to make smart TVs a prime consolidation target.
I am looking forward to the contraction of the market and a shift back to “just a TV with 4 HDMIs” models. No tuners even.
The one thing I disagree with is the technological advancement. I feel like there has been advancement, but the problem is the cost of those advancements. No one is pining to drop thousands/tens of thousands of dollars on OLED, Micro-led, or whatever the hell else they have come out with over the years. On top of that the crappy interfaces of these TV’s as well as privacy problems. See the recent roku debacle.
Yep, this here. I have a 10 year old tv and was considering buying a new one last year but it just didn’t seem worth the price for the upgrade.
OLED TVs have not been around for two decades.
Pretty damn close to it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_XEL-1
It took a little longer for them to become mainstream. But even so, an ordinary LCD screen is perfectly acceptable to most people.
people do want smart features on tvs.
they just dont want ads or the privacy nightmare tvs are.
More people living at home with parents of roommates, probably mean fewer TVs being sold.
Tvs have a short lifespan, now. People have to replace them like every 5 years on average, I’d guess. I think people have less tvs in their homes, though.
The other part of this is that people brought a lot of tvs up to a couple years ago when there was a decade long stretch of LED back-lit tvs. The problem was that there might be 100 leds back there and a single one going out junked the tvs. They were cheaply fixable, but not easily fixable. Most people wouldn’t be able to do it.
People replace them that often!? Damn…I have an old 1080p LED tv from Samsung that’s more than a decade old and still going strong. Blacks aren’t the best on it, but not bad enough to warrant an upgrade.
You kind of got lucky. I have the skills and equipment to find the bad ones and replace those LEDs on them. Keep an eye on Facebook marketplace and it’s impressive how many people will put up their three year old 65+ inch tvs that don’t work for free just to get rid of them because they can’t fit in a trash can.
Getting to the LEDs without breaking anything is usually the hard part. Aside from like a million screws and clips, the screen itself is extremely thin and fragile, and you have to pick it up and move it around without cracking it. Little 40 or 50 inch tvs are fairly easy to do, but those 70+ inch tvs are going to take handled suction cups and a couple of people.
Then finding the burnt out led isn’t much work with the right tools, and neither is soldering on a new led. So much trouble for just a single little LED that I can literally but in rolls of 100 for like $12.
So yeah, your TV breaks because of a 12 cent led. And that’s consumer prices. Samsung probably pays like 5 cents.
replace them every 5 years
Less if you went with Visio lol
Vizio
Walmart bought the brand and made it worse with more ads.
That’s what the article says… People don’t replace them as quickly anymore
Make more dumb TVs and my interest in buying a new one goes up significantly. Im actively avoiding buying a new one even though I have to furninsh a good sized living room and all I have right now is a bit small for the space. It’ll still work.
There are tons of dumb TVs out there but they’re more expensive because the ads and data harvesting subsidizes the cost.
I know it’s not a perfect suggestion but I agree with the other comment: buy a smart TV and never connect it to the internet. The vast majority of displays don’t gain anything (outside of the “smart” features) with firmware updates. The exceptions to that are very rare.
It sucks to have to buy a streaming box on top of it but the two items combined is less than a commercial (dumb) display. Even at cost.
Though instead of a Chromecast for streaming, I’d consider an AppleTV…I’m not a fan of Apple but it’s hands down the best streaming box I’ve used outside of a dedicated HTPC.
I keep hearing people say that, but I paid thousands of dollars for my TV to still have ads. The days of if you don’t pay for the product then you are the product is dead. You will pay for it and still be the product regardless of cost.
Well, no Internet connection no ads. I definitely agree it sucks
They all ship with default ads.
i connect my smart TV, along with IoT devices to an internet only group with DNS adblock. I also use an Xbox for streaming but looking at replacing it with a shield or something once my gamepass runs out.
That works, too. I just assumed most people don’t have the knowledge or hardware to vlan
It’s sad how Apple’s strategy of “just use an actually fast CPU and make a Home Screen without ads” is a breakthrough in the industry. It shows what a fucking mess everyone else is in.
The home screen on an AppleTV has ads, unfortunately. The main thing I like about it is how responsive it is - made possible by both the hardware and software. I also really like the remote, though I preferred the one from a generation or two ago.
What I DON’T like about it is that a few years ago Apple disabled IP control unless you set it up through HomeKit. If you don’t want to use HomeKit, enjoy your IR control.
You can always just not use the smart features, and if you do want them, pick up a chromecast to plug into it. Walmart’s one is like $20 and holds its own against the more expensive ones.
With some exceptions, enthusiasm in technology is in decline in general. We are peaking in terms of rate of progress across the board, from computer speed to smart phone innovation to TV specs. When’s the last time ordinary folks got excited about a new phone release? Who cares about a TV larger than 60 inches? It’s not like most people can even afford a wall big enough to put it on. Who cares about anything more than 4k on a tiny screen?
Meanwhile, the cost of living is only increasing, and consumer trust in product life support is in decline. Stories about TVs listening to private conversations, or holding your device hostage for forced TOS updates, anti-right to repair, the mountain of e-waste and micro plastics, pervasive DRM, enshitified services, subscription hardware…
Should we be surprised? No.
The only thing that gets me excited about tech any more is repairability and offline/local networking.
Most of them are dead to me. Sell me a dumb TV or sell me nothing.
My last two purchases were a 32" PC monitor for the guest room and a projector for the main room. Both connected to a Roku and media center PC.
I’ve got an order out for a digital signage display to replace my living room tv. It was more than I would’ve spent on a “smart” tv but it’s a dumb box that I can plug anything I want into. If they sold dumb TV’s still I’d probably upgrade some of the other TV’s my family has, but fuck smart TV’s.
What’s the go-to vendor/manufacturer for this sort of dumb tv these days?
Sharp NEC is the brand I bought from. They have models you can put a raspberry pi directly inside of it. I’ve got a pi with librelec waiting for the screen to show up. However they’re really expensive. Sceptre makes more affordable dumb TV’s but they don’t make very large ones.
I heard the color accuracy and gamut on these signage displays are terrible. Know if there’s any reviews out there with this kinda info?
How do they compare to TVs? At least the last time I looked into it, pretty much every TV was terrible compared to even a halfway decent computer monitor.
OLED TVs are insanely good and spoiled using the computer altogether for me, until I got an OLED monitor. At least on my LG B2, the color gamut and contrast are extremely good. I can’t stand LCDs for anything dark as the backlight bleed really washes out the picture.
The 85 inch display I’ve got coming is listed as 4k HDR with full array local dimming. As far as actual accuracy is concerned, I’ve heard good things about Sharp NEC specifically but I won’t know until my unit eventually arrives.
I don’t own one, but even if I did, I sure as hell would not want a smart television. So I completely agree with you.
Amen. Monitors, digital signage and, as you said, business projectors are the way. CEC, auto input switching and ARC are all the smarts I want in a TV.
Which projector?
If you’re willing to pay up, there’s some amazing new laser projectors that can be placed just a few inches from the wall, so basically where your TV would sit, and are super bright. I saw some YouTube videos about some models from LG. They cost 2k or more depending on the model.
Oh pricy! That sounds amazing though, I’ll look into it
Yup. I’m hoping the prices do down at least 50% before i even consider one, but I’ll be watching this space.
This one. Loving it so far.
It’s only 1080p but no more than we watch it, didn’t think it was worth spending extra money for 4K.
Going to a projector was the best move for me. Easy HDMI and Plex steams seamlessly.
I dunno if TV is dead per se as we all enjoy watching shows/movies. Not really interested in gimmicks - we only have 4K as all new TV’s are 4K & we only got it because our previous TV failed & they can no longer be repaired.
All i want is a good quality dumb screen. You can stick all your smart features where the sun dont shine, I’ll handle everything via a separate box that I control thank you. I’ll not be at the mercy of your shitty EULA, you won’t monitor my viewing habits or force ads into the UI or remove your dogshit apps without warning. Our TV has never been online, HTPC with a couple of USB TV tuners, uBlock Origin, an interface of my choosing, remote control & lots of storage handles everything. Still perfectly happy watching SD stuff, the only 4K we watch is YouTube.
SmartTube is better than YouTube
I’ve still got all my 1080p dumb tvs. Works for me
How do you configure to keep it offline? Just blocking in dns/router?
Just don’t connect it to your home’s wifi.
Don’t forget enshittification. I use my TV less and only streaming but am really frustrated by ever more intrusive ads and surveillance. Sometimes I’m just too annoyed to turn on the big TV.
Mine is only 3 years old, but I can definitely see not bothering to get a new one when it’s old, unless they start making dumb TVs again. There are plenty of screens in the house and done of them are less annoying to use
Nothing prevents you from using your Smart TV in the same way as a dumb TV. Just don’t connect your TV to the internet and use a third-party device via HDMI.
If you do that, depending on the TV, you might have some system messages and stuff on startup…
But yeah it’s a good start.
If TV can’t remember last used HDMI port that TV is a shit.
Ahhhh if only it were that easy
What is the problem?
Many, even when offline, will constantly pester you to connect to a network, or will attempt to connect to any open one it finds.
Some have offline, non-targeted ads from factory.
There have recently been trials of Amazon-powered TVs automatically linking to any Echo devices it can find and using it as a bridge to get internet. I’m unsure if that’s something they’re actually going to go ahead with right now though.
Roku doesn’t let you use your device unless you accept their TOS for example.
Absolutely. Dumb TVs going forward. Unfortunate that the best screens like those made by Samsung are ruined by surveillance and hardware that can’t run the “smart” OS for more than a few years without eventually running like dog shit.
Yeah, all manufacturer OSes are shit. Don’t connect the TV to the Internet and use your own preferred streaming device.
I’ll keep my dumb TVs and monitors over a
spysmart tv anytime. Can’t wait for them to roll out pay-to-use-tv next.Especially be sure to avoid anything with ACR (automatic content recognition). If it detects you’re watching content from an unapproved source, it will bug you to watch it on that approved source such as a streaming service. It’s just a software update, or a congress bill away from reporting anyone who watches pirated content on their TV. So just beware.
4K came out in 2012 and 8K just isn’t that popular, in part due to content issues but also people’s eyesight. If you don’t need a new TV now, why would you buy an upgrade?
TVs are also a product that seems to last, at least on my experience.
Sorry, your TV OS is no longer supported. All your apps will stop working tomorrow. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
Solved
Smart people don’t use smart TVs.
Smart people get dumb panels and connect the steaming box / computer of their choice.
Smart person here.
The Roku that I purchased 6 years ago just bricked itself until I agreed to forced arbitration. This, of course, has nothing to do with the data breach they just announced.
Agreed. You shouldn’t have to trust that some third party software built into your TV won’t abuse your trust and shut everything down until you do what it’s owners want.
I’ve got an external Roku and if it starts being a dick, I can just unplug it and toss it in the trash and I still have a working TV.
Smart people with money perhaps. Not everyone can shell out several times more money to pay for privacy…
I don’t agree with this as it sounds a bit elitist.
Some people just don’t want to buy another device and use more electricity to watch a movie.
But I know what you mean.
Most smart TVs have a dumb mode. As long as you can plug in anything you want you should be fine.
I bought a 65" TV in 2013. It’s good enough for me. I don’t need 4k at home. It got zapped after 9 years, but there were tons of power supply boards on eBay for $40 each. Turns out a lot of people break the display and sell the other parts.
And it should stay that way. I don’t want another product with planned obsolescence.
They could only try to end your TV by not supporting its apps because of its age, but luckily you can just plug a computer or a console on it to get all the apps you need.
Still, for now, I enjoy using my TV apps with an alternate launcher like Flauncher instead of the normal Android one.
Yesterday I was in an electronics store and saw a 65" 8K TV and a 65" 4K TV. The difference in image clarity is almost imperceptible even if you get up close. Maybe 8K will be useful for huge TVs like 85" or more.
You say I need to get my wife to spend her yearly bonus on an 85" 8k TV … for science?
I’ll do it. It’ll be hard to pitch that but dammit it’s for science.
Exactly what im thinking.
Is it just that we have in the last few years reached the threshold for large TVs to have come down in price and up in quality for them to be worth the purchase - but also the incentive to get a new tv to have a bigger/higher quality picture isnt worth the upgrade (or just your satisfied with the product you have).
And then factoring in that practically worldwide inflation and cost of living is out of control and people sure can make do without a fancy TV when instead they can have food and pay their rent.Next article “is streaming dead? We keep putting up prices and consumers are dropping subscriptions!”
Gizmochina doesn’t understand that physical TV sales has nothing to do with “TV being dead,” what a disconnect here.
“TV is dead” because it is full of ads, and crap nobody watches, not because global flat screen TV sales are down.
They’ll pry my 10-year old non-smart TV out of my dead cold hands. It’s a 1080p Toshiba that can connect to anything (4x HDMI, VGA, composite, component, SCART, coax and satellite), has a CI/CI+ slot, has DLNA support, and can record/replay using a USB SSD. The only regret I have is that I should’ve bought the larger model.
I’m pretty sure that PEOPLE ALREADY OWN A TV and probably can’t afford to replace it.
I have no intention of replacing mine.Well they aren’t alive especially when my TV asked me to sign this no lawsuit BS
Market’s saturated. Why do analysts not understand this? Once you hit a certain size you don’t get much more from a new tv.
B-b-but… line must go up!
Projector guy here. Once you get a taste you don’t wanna go back. The tech has gotten so much better over the last 10 years and short throw projectors are a game changer.
My dumb TV is 15 years old. It’s a bit small for the space and there’s a W burned into it but you can only see it on static screens.
I would like a new one but it’s pretty low down on the list of things I need to buy with the 37p I manage to save each month.
