Modern Smart TVs do much more than stream your favorite shows—they’re rapidly advancing into the center of our home entertainment systems. From sharper images and smarter interfaces to integrated voice control and atmosphere-enhancing lighting, smart TVs now offer powerful, seamless experiences. But with so many options, it can be hard to know which features are worth your attention.
Here are the most exciting and genuinely useful smart TV features to look for this year—so you can get the most value and enjoyment out of your next upgrade or purchase.
High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut
Today’s content isn’t just about resolution—it’s about colors, contrast, and realism. HDR dramatically enhances brightness range, deeper blacks, and more accurate colors. Look for TVs supporting:
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HDR10+ or Dolby Vision for frame-by-frame tone mapping
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Wide Color Gamut (WCG) like DCI‑P3 for richer hues
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Local dimming or OLED technology for deeper blacks and glowing highlights
These combined technologies deliver stunning visuals in movies, sports, and games.
Smart TV Ecosystem Integration
Your TV should get smarter by working well with the rest of your smart home, not just supporting streaming apps.
Check for:
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Voice assistants built-in (Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri/HomeKit)
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Smart‑home hub functions for speaker control, lighting scenes, or camera feeds
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Works with labels for compatibility with Nest, Philips Hue, Ring, etc.
This way, your TV becomes more than a screen—it becomes part of your connected living space.
Gaming‑Oriented Capabilities
With console quality graphics now streaming and next-gen consoles here, gaming features matter.
Look for:
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HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K at 120 Hz
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Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
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Integration with cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming
These make your TV a competitive gaming device with buttery‑smooth response and sharp visuals.
Multi‑View and Picture‑in‑Picture Modes
Whether you’re watching the game while video‑chatting or monitoring two shows, smart TVs increasingly support multi‑view:
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Split‑screen modes for simultaneous apps or HDMI inputs
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Picture‑in‑Picture during streaming, cable, or live sports
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Multi‑View in select livestream/multicam sports apps
A must‑have if you’re multitasking or sharing the screen with family.
Personalized Home Screens & Profiles
Tired of scrolling through generic menus? Modern Smart TVs use AI to recommend content and remember preferences:
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Multiple user profiles for personalized recommendations
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“Continue watching” hubs and shortcuts to recent apps
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Voice‑guided searches with natural language processing
It’s like having your own home theater concierge—without the pre‑roll ads.
Smart Remote with Voice, Motion, and Quick Keys
The remote may be small, but it can make a big difference.
Features to look for:
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Integrated voice mic to find content hands‑free
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Motion control/gyro for gaming or menu navigation
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Backlit buttons or customizable macro keys (e.g., Netflix, Prime, ambient lighting)
A well‑designed remote turns frustrating clicking into smooth control.
Energy‑Saving and Ambient Modes
New smart TVs include eco‑friendly and aesthetic features like:
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Ambient Mode (Samsung): blends the TV into your décor with artwork or photo display
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Automatic brightness adjustments based on room light
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Low‑power standby for faster wake‑up and less energy use
These features help your TV stay out of the way—literally and figuratively.
Voice & Gestural Controls
Hands-free operation is more common now, especially in kitchens or living rooms:
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Far-field voice control (Alexa/Google built-in)
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Gestural control for basic hands‑free operations (volume/mute)
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Smart integration with remote cameras or ceiling‑mounted sensors
It’s convenience and accessibility without the need to touch the remote.
Advanced Audio: Dolby Atmos & Object‑Based Sound
Great picture needs great sound. Top TVs now support:
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Dolby Atmos or DTS:X decoding
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TV speakers tuned with upward‑firing channels
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Enhanced audio modes for dialogue, sports, music, and movies
Paired with the right soundbar, these can deliver theater‑like immersive sound.
AirPlay, Chromecast, Miracast or Similar Casting Options
Seamless screen‑sharing is a crucial feature:
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Look for built‑in Chromecast or Google Cast
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Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support
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Custom screen‑casting or Miracast for Android/Windows mirroring
Casting makes it easy to share photos, videos, or even presentations right from your phone or laptop.
Over‑the‑Air (OTA) DVR and ATSC 3.0 Integration
For cord‑cutters, new TVs now include OTA DVR features:
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ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) tuner for higher‑quality free broadcast
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Built‑in DVR recording via USB drive
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Hybrid features like sports stats overlays and live notifications
It’s live TV enhanced for the streaming era—no monthly subscription required.
Regular Software Updates & Security Patches
Smart TVs run on software, and keeping that updated is essential for performance and privacy:
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Choose brands with consistent firmware and security updates
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Avoid models with outdated OS versions that may lose app compatibility
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Look for open platforms like Android TV/Google TV for future‑proofing
An updated TV stays secure and keeps up with new apps and standards.
