How to Turn Your 'Dumb' Television Into a Smart TV

Unless you're a steadfast supporter of regular cable and direct-to-home TV programming and services, you would've have noticed that a lot of new content depends on the Internet. Although you do have access to a wide variety of programming through your regular set-top box, you're missing out if you don't get on board the streaming revolution. Many of the best TV shows and movies are now found online, and often available exclusively via streaming services like Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime Video.

Even if you're sold on the concept, the problem now arises with your screen. Sure, your smartphone supports popular streaming services, and the reducing cost of mobile data means it's affordable as well. But what if you don't want to watch your video content on a small screen? What if you could use your TV?

You can indeed, thanks to smart TVs. These connect to the Internet to give you access to streaming services through apps, in much the same way that a smartphone, tablet or computer would. But not everyone owns — or can afford — a smart TV. How do you get access to these services on your big screen then? Our guide will help you with just that.

The best way — a streaming stick or dongle

The easiest and most effective way to add smarts to your dumb TV is a good streaming stick or dongle. There are numerous options in this category, all offering different features and abilities that let you connect to online services.

Listing out your specific requirements will help you choose the best streaming stick or dongle for you. For this, you should figure out what kind of content you want, which will help you pick the best device for you. For example, if you watch a lot of content on Amazon Prime Video or Netflix, the Amazon Fire TV Stick range might be ideal for you. On the other hand, if you have a lot of Apple devices, you might prefer the Apple TV range for its seamless ability to interface with your iPhone or Mac computer. Similarly, if you have an Android phone to use as a controller, you could use a Chromecast.

Some of these high-end devices may be able to draw power from one of the USB ports on your TV itself, while others may need to rely on a wall adapter to draw enough power. You'll, therefore, have to make sure you have either a free USB port or a wall socket for the adapter.

If all you need is a device to cast content or mirror the screen of your Android smartphone, you could potentially make do with one of a number of Chromecast ‘clones' available both online and offline. These plug into the HDMI port on your TV and add Miracast support, letting you directly mirror the screen on your Android smartphone or cast the screen from a number of apps, including Netflix and VLC Media Player.

Some of these devices can be purchased for under Rs. 1,000, turning your smartphone or computer into the controller and provider of internet connectivity to your TV. And if you can buy devices from abroad, you have various options such as the Roku Streaming Stick+ and Xiaomi Mi TV Box to choose from as well.

The most affordable way — good-old cables

The most affordable way to add smarts to your dumb TV is one that not a lot of people think of straight away, but it seems rather obvious in hindsight. However, it isn't the easiest or most clutter-free way to do things. At a very low cost — or free, if you already have the necessary cables lying around at home — you can add basic smarts to your TV. The easiest way is to use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to your TV, and mirror or extend the laptop screen onto the TV this way.

The advantages of this method are that it is extremely affordable, and gives you the full power of your computer on the large screen. If your laptop has an HDMI-out port, all you need is a standard HDMI cable; decent options cost as little as Rs. 300. If you use a laptop that doesn't have an HDMI port — a MacBook Air, for example — then you may have to spend a bit more on the right cables or adapters. Ease of use is another key advantage; you only have to plug the cables in and switch to the right source on your TV to mirror your screen.

With this, your TV is effectively connected to the Internet (through your laptop, of course). You can now use your laptop as a controller and fetch whatever content you want, which can be downloaded, through specific apps or even an Internet browser. The same technique can work with many smartphones as well, assuming that you have the right cables and the device itself allows its display to be mirrored over HDMI.

Cables and adapters are also available for connecting USB Type-C/Thunderbolt or Lightning-compatible devices to TVs through the HDMI port, which offers the ability to connect compatible smartphones and laptops to the TV. The cable you use entirely depends on the device you intend to use as a source since you'll have to ensure it adheres to the ports you have available and the compatibility of the feature.

The biggest disadvantage of this method is the cable itself; it can be messy, inconvenient and cluttered. In an age where technology is increasingly finding ways to do away with wires, using long cables will come across as a rather low-tech method of doing things. And of course, having your laptop or smartphone screen mirrored on the TV can be inconvenient in different ways — everyone looking at your TV will be able to see your notifications and private conversations. Not to mention you won't be able to control your laptop while sitting on the couch unless you throw in really long cables or additional accessories into the mix.