Are you planning to buy a new television? The endless options can make your search rather difficult and time-consuming. One of the aspects that you may want to understand is the difference between LED TV and Smart TV.

Difference Between LED TV And Smart TV

LED TV is one whose backlight technology is LED (light-emitting diode). On the other hand, a Smart TV is an LED TV with a built-in operating system (OS) and can connect to the internet.
The operating system allows the installation of additional applications and services, such as Internet browsers, media players, games, or web-based TV guides.

We’ll take you, step-by-step, through many important terms that you must know to make a well-informed purchase.😊👍🛒

Here we go! 🚀

What is LED TV and Smart TV?

Let’s begin by understanding the concepts of LED TV and Smart TV individually.

What is LED TV?

LED stands for light emitting diode.

It’s a technology that’s used in the backlighting of LCD screens. (You’ll find more details about LCD and LED in the sections below).

So, LED TV is a type of flat-panel display technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as backlight units to produce images.

The diode is a semiconductor light source that can be used to illuminate an entire screen or just parts of it.

The LED TVs use light emitting diode (LED) as their backlight source instead of CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp).

This makes the screen brighter. LED backlighting also results in deeper blacks, a higher contrast ratio, and better color reproduction.

Today, LEDs have largely replaced other types of displays such as fluorescent, incandescent, and plasma displays due to their energy efficiency, long lifetime, and relatively low cost.

What is Smart TV?

Smart TVs are internet-connected TVs that you can control using a remote or a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. They offer access to online content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube directly on your TV screen.

A Smart TV allows you to connect to the internet wirelessly (Wi-Fi), or through an Ethernet cable or USB port. Smart TVs usually come with an onscreen keyboard, so you can type in your search query instead of using a remote control.

Some Smart TVs even allow you to download apps directly onto your television.

Difference between Smart TV and ordinary LED TV

Well, are LED TVs and Smart TVs the same?

You must have observed above that Smart TVs and LED TVs are two entirely different concepts.

A Smart TV is one that you can use to watch content from OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney + Hotstar, Hungama, and more. They run on one of the different operating systems (OS) like Android OS, Google OS, Fire OS, webOS, Tizen OS, etc.

On the other hand, LED TV refers to one that uses a light-emitting diode (LED) as its backlight source.

👉 An LED TV can be a Smart or a standard (non-Smart) TV.

👉 Similarly, a Smart TV can be an LED TV or one having some other display technology like OLED that doesn’t have backlights at all.

Just for your information, the OLED TVs display the image by using millions of individually-lit pixels.

In case you missed it:

Top 10 Smart & Android TVs

Top 10 TVScreen Size (inches)ResolutionOperating SystemBest Deal on AmazonOverall ScoreModel
MI Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/55A Pro
LG Smart LED TV32HD ReadyWebOSPrice4.8/532LM563BPTC
MI Smart LED TV434K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/55X
Samsung Smart LED TV32HD ReadyTizen OSPrice4.8/5T4340
Redmi Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/5L32M6-RA/L32M7-RA
Redmi 4K Smart LED TV434K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/5X43
OnePlus Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/5Y1
OnePlus Smart LED TV43Full HDAndroidPrice4.9/5Y1S
Redmi Smart LED TV504K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/5X50
Sony Bravia 4K Smart LED TV554K Ultra HDGoogle TVPrice5.0/5X74K

What is Smart LED TV?

A Smart LED TV is one with a built-in operating system (OS) and can connect to the internet. At the same time, its screen is backlit by a light-emitting diode (LED).

Difference between LED TV and LCD TV

The difference between LCD and LED is that:

  • LCD is screen technology; whereas
  • LED is backlight technology.

What is LCD TV?

LCD stands for liquid crystal display.

The image on the TV screen is made up of various colors and brightness levels produced by the liquid crystals.

The light on your TV screen either moves through or is blocked by these liquid crystals to display the picture.

What is LED TV?

LED stands for light-emitting diode.

We have seen above that the liquid crystals only allow or block the light to pass through them.

But where does this light come from? It comes from the light-emitting diode (LED).

Most of the present-day LCD screens are backlit by LED.

Is LED and LCD the same?

The terms LED and LCD are normally used interchangeably.

✔ All present-day LCD TVs are popularly regarded as LEDs; which means that the LCD screen is backlit by LED.

✔ But in case a TV is specifically described as LCD then it might be possible that it’s not backlit by LED but by some older fluorescent backlights (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps – CCFLs). In this case, you need to check the backlit technology, if you are aiming to buy an LED TV.

Which is better – LED or LCD TV?

LED and LCD are two distinct concepts. They don’t compete with each other; rather they work together to give you that perfect picture quality on your TV screen.

The image on the TV screen is essentially the output of LED (the backlight technology) and LCD (the screen technology) working together.

The former is the source of light on your TV (to create the picture) and the latter is responsible for displaying the picture.

The picture is created and displayed on the screen when light (the source of which is LED) either moves through or is blocked by these liquid crystals (LCD).

👉 In conclusion, LCD and LED are two different technologies.

👉 They do not compete; rather they complement each other.

Hence, it isn’t fair to compare them.

LED TV Features and Benefits

Do you want to know about LED TV benefits? LED TVs have several advantages over other types of televisions.

An LED TV uses a group of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce images. The LEDs are arranged in a grid across the entire screen.

Each of these LEDs can be turned on or off individually, allowing the image on the screen to be controlled by what is known as “dynamic backlight control”.

This can be used to create a wider range of colors and brightness levels than would otherwise be possible.

The features and benefits of an LED TV are:

Energy efficiency

LED-lit LCD TVs use up to 80 percent less power. This means lower monthly bills for you and less environmental impact from manufacturing.

Better contrast ratio

LED TVs have a higher contrast ratio. The higher contrast ratio means that the black levels are deeper and the colors are more vibrant. This makes the picture look more realistic and immersive, especially if you are watching movies or playing video games.

Wide viewing angle

LED TVs have better viewing angles because there is no backlight shining through the screen from behind it. Therefore, you’ll never see any color shifting or brightness changes when looking at your TV from an angle – even in bright rooms where sunlight can reflect off of an LCD screen’s backlight panel.

Slimmer and lighter

LED TVs are thinner than LCDs, which means that they take up less space on your wall or stand. They also weigh less, which is important if you want to mount your TV on a wall.

Size

You can find many sizes of LED TVs today including big ones with HD resolution, UHD resolution, or even 4K resolution.

This means that you can get even bigger screens without having to worry about spending too much money on them!

Which TV is better – Smart TV or LED?

Wondering “Is smart TV better than normal TV?”

Let’s discuss and you’ll find out the answer to this question.

Smart TV and LED are different concepts altogether.

They aren’t comparable but complement each other to function effectively and enhance your overall TV viewing experience.

In a Smart TV, you get different pre-loaded apps on your TV to watch the content from OTT platforms.

You also get a host of other features that make your Smart TV way smarter than a normal LED TV like:

  • Get recommendations about the trending OTT content based on your preferences
  • Browse the internet, and save data while you explore the web – with Data Saver mode
  • Control the content that your kids should watch – Parental Control feature
  • Use your TV as a Personal Computer (PC) to work from the cloud on presentations, Excel, and Word documents or remotely access your office computer
  • Mirror your smartphone or laptop for a big-screen convenience
  • Use voice commands to browse through your TV, discover and play content, and even ask questions – using Google Assistant, Alexa, etc.
  • Play Music
  • View Photos and make albums
  • Connect your smartphone to your Smart TV instantly and cast photos, and videos using Google Chromecast or another such application
  • Connect your smart home devices to the TV

On the other hand, LED TV refers to one that uses a light-emitting diode (LED) as its backlight source.

👉 As such, a Smart TV may have LED display technology or other newer technologies like OLED.

👉 Similarly, an LED TV can be a Smart TV or a standard (non-Smart) one.

Having said that, we’re coming back to the question “Is smart TV better than LED?”

✅ To sum up, it isn’t fair to compare Smart TVs with LED TVs. These are two different concepts. Comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges.

However, a Smart TV – whether LED, OLED or QLED is a better option compared to a normal LED TV.

This is because it lets you enjoy the content from various OTT platforms and gives you access to a lot many additional advantages, as discussed above, to augment your overall experience.

LED TV vs Smart TV vs Android TV

LED TV, Smart TV, and Android TV are all types of televisions, but they have different features and capabilities.

An LED TV is a type of LCD TV that uses LED lighting to illuminate the screen. LED TVs offer a high-quality picture, with deep blacks and bright whites, and they are typically more energy efficient than other types of TVs.

A Smart TV is a television that has built-in internet connectivity and can access online content, such as streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Smart TVs often come with built-in apps, such as a web browser, and may also have a built-in microphone and camera for video conferencing.

An Android TV is a type of Smart TV that runs on the Android operating system. This allows users to access the Google Play Store and download apps, games, and other content, similar to how they would on an Android tablet or smartphone. Android TVs also have built-in Google Assistant, which allows for voice control of the TV and other smart devices.

In summary, an LED TV is a type of TV that uses LED lighting to illuminate the screen, a Smart TV can access online content and have built-in apps and a microphone/camera, and an Android TV is a Smart TV that runs on the Android operating system with built-in Google Assistant and access to Google Play Store.

Top 10 Smart & Android TVs

Top 10 TVScreen Size (inches)ResolutionOperating SystemBest Deal on AmazonOverall ScoreModel
MI Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/55A Pro
LG Smart LED TV32HD ReadyWebOSPrice4.8/532LM563BPTC
MI Smart LED TV434K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/55X
Samsung Smart LED TV32HD ReadyTizen OSPrice4.8/5T4340
Redmi Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/5L32M6-RA/L32M7-RA
Redmi 4K Smart LED TV434K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/5X43
OnePlus Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidPrice4.9/5Y1
OnePlus Smart LED TV43Full HDAndroidPrice4.9/5Y1S
Redmi Smart LED TV504K Ultra HDAndroidPrice4.9/5X50
Sony Bravia 4K Smart LED TV554K Ultra HDGoogle TVPrice5.0/5X74K

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are all LED TVs Smart TVs?

Well, the short answer is NOT NECESSARILY.
An LED TV can be a Smart TV or a standard (non-Smart) one.

2. What is the difference between Smart TV and Android TV?

Smart TVs are internet-connected televisions that allow you to stream content from the internet onto your screen. They also have apps that can be downloaded onto them so that you can browse the web, play games, watch videos, and content from OTT platforms, listen to music, and do more such things.
A Smart TV runs on one of the different operating systems (OS) like Android OS, Google OS, Fire OS, webOS, Tizen OS, etc.
On the other hand, Android is an operating system for Smart TVs.
In conclusion, Smart TVs use one of the many available OS; and Android OS can be one of them.
But an Android TV is a Smart TV that uses (or runs on) Android OS.
This is precisely the difference between Smart LED TV and Android LED TV.

3. What is the difference between LED and HD TV?

The difference between LED and HD TV is in the technology.
An LED television is an LCD TV that uses LED backlighting instead of traditional fluorescent backlights.
An HDTV is simply a high-definition television, meaning it has a screen resolution of 720px1280p.
In other words, LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. A diode is a device that can conduct electricity in one direction only, and this allows the light from an LED to be switched on and off very quickly.
And HDTV stands for High Definition Television. This means that the screen has a high enough resolution so that it can show images at 720 pixels (height) and 1280 pixels (width). The resolution of an LCD TV is based on its physical size: the bigger it is, the higher its resolution will be.
So both LED and HD in a TV are two distinct concepts that cannot be compared.
Rather, both these aspects work together to produce more detailed and vivid image outputs on your TV.

4. What is the difference between LG Smart TV and LG LED TV?

While LG Smart TV is essentially an LED TV that’s got a built-in operating system (webOS) and can connect to the internet, LG LED TV refers to a TV (whether smart or standard) whose screen is backlit by LED (light-emitting diode).

5. Is LED TV a Smart TV?

An LED TV may or may not be a Smart TV. To qualify as a Smart TV, an LED TV should have a built-in operating system (OS) and be capable of connecting to the internet.

6. Is LG a Smart TV?

LG offers both Smart TVs as well as standard (non-smart) TV models.

7. What is the difference between a Smart TV and a TV?

A smart TV is a television that has internet connectivity and built-in streaming capabilities, allowing users to access online content such as streaming services, social media, and other internet-based apps.
A regular TV, on the other hand, does not have internet connectivity and is limited to traditional TV broadcasting or external devices such as a cable box or game console to access the content.
Smart TVs also come with a built-in operating system and can run apps, while regular TVs cannot.
In summary, a smart TV has more functionality and can connect to the internet. In contrast, a regular TV is limited to traditional TV broadcasting and external devices to access the content.

8. Advantages of Smart TV over LED TV: Why choose Smart TV?

Smart TVs offer internet connectivity, allowing access to streaming services, apps, and online content, providing a more versatile entertainment experience compared to traditional LED TVs.

9. Can LED TV connect to Wi-Fi?

Yes, if it’s a Smart LED TV.
On the contrary, traditional (non-smart) LED TVs do not have built-in smart features, so they cannot connect to Wi-Fi. However, external devices like streaming sticks can be used to add this capability.

10. Which is better: Smart TV or Normal TV?

It depends on preferences. Smart TVs offer internet features, while normal TVs are more traditional. The choice depends on whether you want online connectivity and apps. Read the detailed article here.

11. LED TV to Smart TV: Can I convert my LED TV to a Smart TV?

Yes, by using external devices like streaming sticks, set-top boxes, or smart media players, you can add smart functionality to your LED TV. Read the detailed article here.

12. Smart LED TV: What makes it different?

A Smart LED TV combines the display technology of LED with smart features, offering internet connectivity and apps in a single device.

13. Difference between Smart TV and Android TV: Any distinctions?

While all Android TVs are Smart TVs, not all Smart TVs run on the Android TV operating system. Android TV is a specific smart TV OS developed by Google. Read the detailed articles here and here.

14. LED TV vs Smart TV: Which is better?

It depends on your needs. If you want internet features and apps, go for a Smart TV. If you prefer a traditional TV without these features, an LED TV might be sufficient.

DON’T MISS OUR HANDPICKED RECOMMENDATION

Top 10 Smart & Android TVs

Top 10 TVScreen SizeResolutionOperating SystemModelOverall Score
MI Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroid4A PRO4.9/5
LG Smart LED TV32HD ReadyWebOS32LM563BPTC4.8/5
MI Smart LED TV434K Ultra HDAndroid4X4.9/5
Samsung Smart LED TV32HD ReadyTizen OST43404.8/5
MI Smart LED TV43Full HDAndroid4A4.9/5
MI Smart LED TV40Full HD Android4A4.9/5
OnePlus Smart LED TV32HD ReadyAndroidY14.9/5
MI Smart LED TV504K Ultra HDAndroid4X4.9/5
Redmi Smart LED TV504K Ultra HDAndroidX504.9/5
TCL Smart LED TV40Full HDCertified AndroidS65004.7/5

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