What’s… The least crappiest TV os experience?
A smart TV with android/ android tv/ google TV/ those custom xiaomi/one plus/ moto/ Samsung or tizen or web os?
Or just a dumb TV + streaming stick?
The reason? I don’t want to be encumbered by “you can’t install this app” nonsense.
Something open or accessible at least
ive seen this asked a few times the best answer is a “retail display panel” combined with your choice of input device… its basically a reliable, dumb screen with no inherent OS. theyre pricier as they are made to last a bit longer that home screens.
Personally I go with the external streaming device. At least can be easily replaced/upgraded during the lifetime of the TV, unlike an onboard system.
Retail displays have great brightness but generally bad contrast and refresh rate sadly :/
commercial displays are often smart these days too, sometimes just with a more limited default app setup aimed at signage and such and usually a more commercially focussed warranty.
The cheaper dumb commercial displays as others have said can have severe limitations in image quality.
Usually the smart one use a standard board which can be swapped (or more likely purchased separately) and there are Raspberry Pi Board that are compatible with the standard. It’s pretty cool! Consumer TVs should be mandated to work this way to help obsolescence.
I’ve only seen that on brands like NEC, Benq and some dedicated education or business models. Sony and Samsung just have modified versions of their standard OSs on much of their range.