Learn me modern tv's

Time to get a new TV set. LED vs LCD, smart vs non smart, so many choices. For comparison my 3 yr old $500 (at the time) LG 42" LED was decent but the screen clarity/color left room for improvement imo. I'd like to get a 50"-52" incher. I already have a stand alone Roku to feed all the streaming channels needed. If possible Id like to be able to hook my iphone6 up to it so I can mirror what I am able to internet surf on the phone. Not sure what's needed to be able to do that? I'm willing to spend what's needed to get this. Any recommendations/insight/advice is appreciated.

I'm not a big fan of "smart" TVs, since you already have a Roku. I'd rather have an external box than I can replace every ~3 years as technology advances. Having said that, it's pretty hard to avoid getting those features unless you buy a bottom-of-the-line TV. Which, honestly, isn't a bad option these days. You almost can't buy a bad HDTV at this point.

Can't help you with the iPhone stuff, sorry. I'm an Android guy, so I use a Chromecast to do what you want to do.

You can use a Lightning Digital AV adapter or an Apple TV. The Apple TV is only twice the price of the Apple adapter, provides wireless mirroring, and solves the "smart" tv requirement. I would suggest the Apple TV, though you should read up on the various limitations, as not everything can be mirrored, at least, last I looked.

I would not buy a smart tv. I like the integration, but smart televisions have a history of being privacy and security nightmares. I mean like Samsung SmartTV Customers Warned Personal Conversations May Be Recorded.

Expensive cables mean almost nothing when your standard is digital. Thick HDMI cables are worse because they can exceed the designed load limitations of the connector. Your HDMI cables should cost under $15 (probably under $10) and have a good Amazon rating.

Agree with don't go with a 'Smart TV' - a Roku is the smart part of the TV. Separates is always the best route to go for audio/video/networking equipment...because an all-in-one devices are not equal at performing every task they do, usually have more thermal issues, and when they crap out you now have to find another single unit that matches all of your needs and wants. Much easier to plan setup around specific devices that just have one main function and can perform that function with excellence.

Just get the best reviewed/recommended non-smart LED/OLED tv you have a budget for (unfortunately Plasmas are not a thing anymore...shame because they were the best for picture quality.)

Get a 4K for future proofing.

With the Roku and the YouTube channel I can stream movies from my iPhone.

I can also control the Roku via the iPhone and I'm sure there are other apps that interact, like Hulu and Netflix and possibly Amazon's video app.

The Roku 4K is a nice upgrade and provides better options to support a 4K TV.

Otherwise I wholeheartedly agree on avoiding the "Smart TV" if possible. My new 55" Panasonic TV has some Smart capabilities, but I generally just ignore them.

One thing to think of when shopping: if you have a Receiver or DVD/Bluray player, sometimes they can be controlled via the TV remote via the HDMI cable. Generally this works between the same brands and can help avoid remote clutter (doesn't help with the Roku of course, but such is modern life).

Guess it depends of how much of a TV junkie you are. We finally decided to replace our 11 year old Mitsubishi 65". We shopped and shopped, but decided that since we're really not TV people, spending extra would be lost on us. We found a 58" Vizio 4K Ultra HD smart TV for under $650. Haven't mounted it yet, but we saw the model of it in Best Buy and were very pleased with it. It's better technology than the one we have now and considering we watch it maybe 4 or 5 hours over the course of an entire week (including weekends), it's all we need.

This is the one we bought...it was on a much bigger sale when we got it. 58" Vizio

In reply to Klayfish:

I actually bought the 55" version of that Tv before the superbowl. I love that I can hook an external harddrive up to it, the built in youtube and pandora, and I guess netflix, is nice. It's also got "apps" that are rather useful, weather and sports if you care about that.

The tv is usually left on for background noise here, and at least since January, it's been great.

I've had great luck with sony. I really like my smart tv.

I prefer a self contained smart device over mirroring off my phone. +1 on keeping TV and BR same brand.

revrico wrote: In reply to Klayfish: I actually bought the 55" version of that Tv before the superbowl. I love that I can hook an external harddrive up to it, the built in youtube and pandora, and I guess netflix, is nice. It's also got "apps" that are rather useful, weather and sports if you care about that. The tv is usually left on for background noise here, and at least since January, it's been great.

Glad to hear you like the Vizio. Unlike cars, TVs are one thing we tend to keep forever, because it's really low on our priority list. The only reason we're replacing our giant old Mitsubishi is because my wife wants to redesign our family room and the old TV is sitting on this monstrous cabinet thing she wants to get rid of. She refuses to buy furniture, etc...until we replaced the TV, as she wants to clear the space. So it's the first domino in the redesign. Not to sound "get off my lawn", but we won't use most of what the TV can do. I only have a vague concept of what Netflix, Hulu, etc...are, I've never actually used them. 90% of our TV watching is made up of sports or HGTV. That's why we were looking for a cheap TV. If it turns on and has a decent picture, we're happy.