On today’s episode of You Asked: What is a good TV that can function as both a work monitor and a gaming TV? Also, an increasingly important question: What good TVs are there that don’t spy on you?
TVs that don’t spy on you
@raffin2040: Do you know any good TVs that don’t spy on you?
Not very specific, but that makes it easy. If you’re looking for a TV under $1,000, and I’m assuming a 65-inch TV, the TCL QM7K is a good TV.
Even better, the Hisense U8QG is currently on sale for less than $1,000. This is one of the best bang for your buck available today.
And if you have a larger budget, several OLED TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony are also good buys. The Samsung S90F is a great all-rounder with excellent colors. The same goes for LG’s C5, which offers plenty of premium features for less than flagship OLED TVs.
But again, since you were pretty general, I don’t know if I gave you the answer you were looking for, but I can offer this: If you really want a TV that doesn’t collect information and throw targeted ads in your face, whatever you get, set it up in a dumb TV mode.
This means you don’t have many of the smart features available to you and the internet connection is limited, but rather the TV is essentially a monitor. Then you can get a streaming stick or box like the Apple TV 4K or Roku or anything else that allows you to use all the popular apps: YouTube TV, Prime Video, Netflix, etc.
Otherwise, what you describe as spying probably depends on what data you are comfortable sharing or not. There’s a whole rabbit hole we could go down but don’t want to.
In my opinion, it’s not so much a specific brand of TV that I would have to worry about my data, but rather the operating system that the TV uses. Google and Amazon are big on collecting user data, but so are the others, because the ultimate goal is to create and sell profiles based on our viewing habits, interests, political leanings, and more. Sorry to be so grim, but that’s how it is.
Recommended best practices from experts, including the FBI, are to know exactly what your TV has access to, such as: B. a microphone or a camera, and knowing how to disable these features. Use unique passwords to log in. Stay up to date with security patches and updates. And then you know what data each app collects, because here too, it’s not just the TV that’s the problem. It’s because of the software on it.
But even after all of this, there is still a lack of transparency about what is still being shared and who has access to it. Therefore, the safest option is to disconnect it from the internet.
And unfortunately, even if you choose the streaming box, you still have to worry about the apps there and the data they collect.
And while no one wants their TV spying on them, smart speakers, doorbell cameras, phones, and various apps are the ones we should be most wary of. But again, I don’t know, unless you’ve been extremely careful and consistent about sharing specific data, it just seems to me like going through the trouble of finding a TV that won’t spy on you is like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound.
Budget-friendly smaller TVs for work and gaming
@kelrynstrijder: Any recommendations for smaller TVs, say 40″ – 50″ in the budget conscious range? (I find myself in the unique situation of needing a panel that works at my desk and while gaming after work.)Thank you!
No, thank you for submitting a question. Also, I would imagine this situation is more common than you think. One of the best ways to make the most of your space is to use your work monitor as a gaming setup at the same time.
However, there are some compromises with these options, but that’s to be expected given the price.
The first is the 43-inch Hisense QD6QF for $200. It is a 4K LCD TV that runs Fire TV as a smart operating system. It supports HDR, including Dolby Vision. So if you’re an Xbox gamer, that’s a plus. However, I wouldn’t say this TV will be special for HDR without local dimming.
But in gaming mode, there’s low input lag and support for a refresh rate of 60 Hertz in 4K or 120 Hertz in 1440p resolution.
For the same price there is also the TCL S551G, which offers the same support for Dolby Vision and refresh rates in gaming mode. But even without local dimming you can’t expect the best HDR effect.
Still, these are both good options that won’t break your budget and should be solid as long as you don’t demand the best performance from your gaming TV.
For a little more, the $300 50-inch TCL QM5K model, a Best Buy exclusive, offers local dimming for better contrast in HDR.
And going a little beyond your parameters, if you have the space and budget for the 55-inch TCL QM6K for $450, that would be the best option of all. It’s the only one of the four mentioned here that supports a refresh rate of 120 Hertz or faster in 4K, and its HDR performance is super solid.
TCL QM6K vs LG B5 OLED
@benngu8074: Would you buy this TCL QM6K in the 75″ size for $550 or the LQ B5 Oled in the 65″ size for $450 more? I have a pretty bright room.
We’ve talked a lot about these TVs, so I won’t go into detail. But to keep it simple: If you want the best picture quality and don’t need a super bright TV, go for the LG B5. It’s beautiful and undoubtedly has the superior HDR image. You will love it for movies, series, games and everything in HDR format.
However, if you need a little more brightness, especially in SDR for basic programming or sports, the QM6K is quite a bit brighter.
Honestly, if I were you I would consider the 65″ QM7K rather than the 75″ QM6K. It offers better black levels for more contrast, which also makes it a better performer in HDR. For me that would be worth the slightly smaller size.
Aside from the TVs themselves, if you don’t have a soundbar or speakers and have space for them, I would consider that too. If you can save money with a TCL model instead of an LG OLED and then use the extra money to improve the viewing experience with solid audio gear, it’s worth it.
I’m spoiled, but I’ll never again be able to not have at least one soundbar with a little more power.
