A major concern at the time of buying a new Smart TV it is not the technology used for the screen or the resolution, but the operating system it has.All Smart TVs, in fact, include an operating system similar to that of a PC or a smartphone, which acts as the basis for installing applications, offers the possibility of connecting to the internet to view and view video content from websites, as if we were on your computer or on our tablet.
The problem with Smart TVs is right here: we have to choose a TV with a well supported operating system and with frequent updates of the app, so as to be able to keep up with the times and with the new multimedia features.
In this guide we will show you what they are the best-operating systems for Smart TVs for each manufacturer, so you can choose only the supported systems and on which we can find the official YouTube, Netflix and other apps.READ ALSO: Best apps for Smart TVs Samsung, LG, and Android
Best Smart TV for the operating system
In the following chapters, we will show you which operating systems we can find on the main Smart TV manufacturers. If we want to know the other features to check before buying a smart TV, we recommend reading our guide on What does Smart TV mean, what are the advantages and disadvantages.
LG webOS
One of the fastest and most practical operating systems for Smart TV is definitely webOS, supplied on all Smart TVs produced by LG.
With it, we get a very intuitive and easy to use interface, with all the apps available in overpressure as we continue to see the underlying content. With this operating system, we can launch the most famous apps at maximum speed (many are already pre-installed), install new apps from the LG Content Store (where new apps are regularly added), move existing ones and uninstall those we no longer use, using the remote control buttons. Being based on Linux offers a good support for all types of Bluetooth keyboard so that you can write quickly inside the internal Web browser or in the apps that require the entry of access data.
In the latest versions of the system, we find integrated with the voice commands of Alexa and Google Home, so as to extend its control even in your favorite home automation platform (we can turn it on and off with the voice assistant, as well as open apps and content only with the vocals).
The best LG Smart TVs with webOS are:
- LG 49UK6200 49 “Uhd Smart Tv 4K (448 €)
- LG 50UM76007LB 4K UHD 50 “TV (€ 598)
- LG OLED55B7V 55 “4K Ultra HD Smart TV Wi-Fi (€ 1513)
- LG OLED AI ThinQ 55C8 55 ” (€ 1842)
- LG 65B8S OLED AI ThinQ 4K UHD 65 ” (€ 2090)
Samsung Tizen OS
Another very good operating system for modern Smart TVs is Tizen OS, developed by Samsung for all its modern TVs.
With this operating system, we have native support for many very famous multimedia apps (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) and we can install others from the integrated store (also very updated). Being also based on Linux, it offers good support for all types of Bluetooth keyboards and USB peripherals, so that it can effectively manage writing in the browser and in the apps that require it.
In the latest versions of the operating system, we find the voice commands of Alexa and Google Home, great for managing the TV and opening apps and content without having to touch the remote control.
The best Samsung Smart TVs with Tizen OS are:
- Samsung UE49RU8000U 4K Ultra HD 49 “Wi-Fi Smart TV (€ 460)
- Samsung UE65NU7090UXZT Smart TV UHD (€ 648)
- Samsung UE55MU8000TXZT UHD Smart TV 55 “(€ 899)
- Samsung UE55LS03NAUXZT The Frame 4K UHD 55 “TV Frame (€ 1253)
- Samsung UE75RU7170U Smart TV 4k Ultra HD 75 “Wi-Fi (1270 €)
Android TV (Hisense, Philips, Sharp, Sony, etc.)
The rapidly growing platform in the field of operating systems for Smart TV is Android TV, currently supported on the latest generation Hisense, Philips, Sharp, and Sony TVs.
With this operating system we will have all the advantages of an Android smartphone but with a much more intuitive and convenient interface to use with the remote control. Currently all the most famous multimedia apps are supported, we can start a voice search on Google, activate the interface with the Google Home assistant present in the house, control the phone interface from any Android smartphone and receive Google Cast streams without the need to use a Chromecast (these TVs are displayed on the local network as Chromecasts already ready for use).
Currently, the best Smart TVs with Android TV are:
- Sharp AQUOS Android TV 40 “(€ 449)
- Philips 49PUS7503 Smart TV UHD 4K Android TV (€ 499)
- Sony KD-43XG70, 43-inch LED Smart TV 4K HDR Android TV (€ 699)
- Sony KD-65XG70, 65-inch LED Smart TV 4K HDR Android TV (€ 1199)
- Sony KD-75XG80, 75-inch Android TV, 4K HDR Smart TV LED (€ 1339)
Conclusions
If we have to choose a new Smart TV, let’s make sure that it has one of the operating systems listed in this guide, so that you can be sure of always finding the app we want, without having to use external devices like TV Box or dongle. They are also present on the market Smart TV with “smooth” Android, but it will rarely be as fluid and snappy as one of the TVs certified to run Android TV, which is the version optimized directly by Google. We avoid any unknown operating system, as we will hardly find the apps we need on it.
If we don’t want to buy a new Smart TV, we can always turn a simple TV into a Smart TV using a Chromecast or an Amazon Fire TV Stick, as described in detail in the Chromecast guide with 16 tricks and applications to use it to the fullest and in the Amazon Fire TV Stick Guide with hidden tricks, apps and features.
If we have an iPhone or an iPad, we can integrate AirPlay on any TV with an Apple TV, as seen in our article When it comes to the Apple TV 4K: strengths and weaknesses.
READ ALSO: Guide to the cheapest Smart TVs (less than € 400)