LG's recent software update has forcibly installed Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant, on smart TVs without removal options, sparking widespread user backlash over privacy, bloatware, and loss of control. This highlights growing tensions in smart devices, where monetization often overrides user preferences.
But what do you use instead? The onboard apps work well and having two remotes always sucked.
Literally any device plugged into a dumb screen is better than a smart TV.
The hardware on a smart TV is typically absolute trash. It’s why they’re so slow.
Edit: This includes laptops, which is what I’d use, why do people even consider extra devices?
Thanks to HDMI-CEC you can control additional media players with your TV’s remote. Sometimes it might not be perfect for things like long presses and stuff, but for basic controls it works.
That’s my experience with an Nvidia Shield and a Raspberry with KODI. I wouldn’t really recommend the Raspberry though.
So long as the GabeCube is at a decent price it is going to be my TV’s media center. My old plan of building a new main rig and repurposing my old rig with an arc B580 upgrade went out the window for my budget when ram prices went through the roof.
Just consider that Netfliix and Co. don’t offer higher resolutions than 720p (?) on browsers that are not Edge (or does Chrome support it by now?). I really forgot the details because it’s such a mess using them on Linux. But maybe you use other sources for movies anyways. Also if you need to use your browser for media streaming you might lose some benefits from CEC because you still control things with mouse and keyboard.
I have no qualms against paying for Netflix and getting their videos from other sources. If Netflix wants my viewing data, they can change their stance. Until then, Jellyfin with Jellyserr to handle requests will suffice. The Netflix app may just become a browse app if they don’t accept the future.
Isn’t it possible to get around by changing your browser user agent?
Stremio with real debrid has very nice 4k with hdr, dolby vision, etc
Who would have thought?
I use a remote like this that has a pointer function and a keyboard on the back.
Install KDE Plasma Big Screen QT6, Waydroid Android TV, and you’ll be golden
Modern replacement as a kodi box for both shield and pi is ugoos am6b+. ~120$ on aliexpress (probably more with tariffs) and once you flash it with coreelec it can natively playback pretty much any format except av1. You still dual boot to android so can also run all the streaming apps too, if you want, and the android is really stripped back vs the shield (especially the later releases where ad bullshit creeped in quite a bit) though not fully degoogled because the play store is still present.
Main downside is some issues with hdmi-cec. It works 99% but power on doesn’t when in coreelec. Ugoos locked the bootloader for some reason and refuses to unlock it. Fixes for this depend on equipment and use scenario. Some people on the forum that watch tv a lot just disable power on/off cec and leave it running 24/7, it’s pretty low power. I have an avr that works with hdmi-cec and home assistant so I have hdmi-cec on/off turned on, it will turn off when I turn the tv off with remote, and when I turn the tv on the avr turns on via CEC then home assistant sends a wake-on-lan packet to the device, which turns it on. A bit of a delay, but works.
Only device on the market that can properly play back Dolby vision though, including commercial bluray players. If you download 2160p remux with the dv layer for lg oled this is literally the only thing that plays it back correctly. Alternatively just get hdr rips
Nvidia Shield or chromecast. Two remotes is really not a big deal, but I use a universal remote that works for everything.
I use an Apple TV with mine. You can control the TV and soundbar from its one small remote.
I have a Frame connected to an Apple TV. I’ve never let the Frame online to do anything. Its been perfect so far. The day it sneaks itself online through some means is the day it will probably go in the trash. I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of sludge it would download and wrap itself in if given half the chance.
But then isn’t there a worry about Apple tracking everything?
Everyone is tracking everything anyway, but having been a user of Apple products since 2007, they’ve got what they can on me.
Yeah I guess the better question is which device is best and who’s the better company to allow to track you. If I create an apple TV account with a user name that is a RNG and all fake information, do they even gain anything?
Plus the point is that you can replace the AppleTV with mostly whatever you like (some CEC functionality notwithstanding), and don’t use the TV’s own OS or apps for anything.
A separate box with apps that work better and just use the one remote.
I usually use my graphene smartphone connected with adapter cable usb c to hdmi on television.
Do you happen to know a guide about setting that up?
Grapheneos can currently only be installed on a google pixel phone, info can be found on yt.
Buy a USB-C to HDMI cable. Costs about 22 euros .
Look for mirror casting setting on your phone.
Recently bought a pixel 8 pro and everything works .
Everything related to TV and music can be found on https://fmhy.net/
Thank you! I own a Pixel 6a and a 7. I also run a Jellyfin server.
I’ll look into it.
👍
Chromecast
I only use the Nvidia Shield remote. It obviously does everything on the Shield, plus tv on/off, and volume. Then I remapped the Netflix button on it to open a little quick actions menu to select brightness/picture mode levels.
Haven’t touched the lg remote since
AppleTV.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/the-ars-technica-guide-to-dumb-tvs/
This is a fascinating article. As someone who has never owned an apple device in my life out of principle, this is actually making me consider one.
I have two AppleTVs and while they are great at what they do, I won’t buy another. The reason is that they are still locked down to what Apple allows you to do. Want to watch YouTube? Your only realistic option is Google’s app, complete with ads. If you connect a real computer to the TV, you have significantly more control over what’s going on, but you may lose some of the convenience of a dedicated TV device. Hopefully with things like the GabeCube, more Linux OSes will be dedicated to big screen TV use.
Would you connect it to the internet with all its consequences to be able to use one remote instead of two?
just block it from being able to reach wan AND wan from being able to reach it
I know, but OP says they want to use onboard apps and don’t want to use two remotes.
I have an lg TV. Never use it’s remote.