How do I turn my TV into a Smart TV?

With current TV sets, you can not only watch the normal TV program, but also surf the Internet, use apps and streaming services. TVs that are equipped with such features are called smart TVs. But you can also upgrade an old TV.

How to upgrade your old TV to a smart TV

If your old TV is not equipped with Internet access or other smart TV features, there are several ways to retrofit it.

• The Amazon Fire TV Stick is one possible retrofit option. The stick is connected via the HDMI port of the TV. After setting up the dongle, you can download apps from its own app store, surf the net and use the various streaming services. In terms of price, the entry-level model is 38.98 euros. The next larger model of the Fire Stick, which also allows streaming in 4k Ultra HD, is 58.48 euros.
• Another option is the Google Chromecast. Like the Fire Stick, you also connect it to your TV via HDMI. The Chromecast is set up with the help of a smartphone and then offers all the functions that a Smart TV also has. In terms of cost, the entry-level model of the dongle is 38.02 euros. The Ultra version, which also allows 4k streaming, is 77.01 euros.

Retrofit TV with smart TV box

Alternatively to the dongles, there are also smart TV boxes that you can connect to your TV. Smart TV boxes are available from various manufacturers. For example, Apple offers the Apple TV and Amazon offers the Fire TV Cube. The smart TV boxes are often equipped with more powerful hardware than the dongles, which, among other things, allows higher streaming quality.