Suggestions for an easy-to-use TV, please.

I have a Sony in my bedroom. I am partially sighted so I also do not need any frills. All I need and have are subtitles and the sound and picture are superb. I think it is classed as smart but I am unsure.

MY smart LG downstairs is a total pain, always wanting to be updated. If I could see it, I would do it. I would never repurchase it.

Most of the handsets just have squiggles on them, especially the LG. I am not tech-minded at all.

Thank you, Charley, that’s useful. We have an LG tv ourselves and it is not easy to use!

If it is a Smart TV it will need to be connected to a satellite, otherwise you will only get certain programmes without it. These can vary from around 70 down to about 15 if the local mast is only a "relay" mast. Not a lot of choice of vieweing.

Not all programmes have sub-titles (particularly older "repeats") so that might be a consideration.

I too am confused by a lot of the symbols on the controller. I need a list of "translations"!

Madmeg my mother-in-law recently bought a TV for her carer to use. It is a Freely TV and needs no connections other than a plug socket as it's all WiFi

rxtvinfo.com/2025/what-is-freely-and-does-it-replace-freeview/

I really don't know what's an "easy" TV but we deliberately chose a Samsung with my mother-in-law as it has a more old fashioned handset as well as a modern one. It still isn't as "easy" as just having 1 2 3 4.

I've had my LG Smart TV for the last five years and it's brilliant. Easy to operate, excellent sound and picture.

I think what is meant is a remote without 25 million buttons and stuff, just like in the “old days”.
I’m afraid I can’t suggest anything, but agree that one needs a very clear mind to operate these modern ones.

I shall be following this one with interest - given that my existing tv is a normal one - ie I can operate it by using a switch on the side of it to flip through the channels. That after I've first used a switch on the side of it to switch it on in the first place.

Don't they make ones like that anymore - ie it's got a handset (if I WANT to use it.....but I can just ignore the handset totally if I choose to)?

Quick check later and it's a Sony "Bravia". Couldnt even tell you if Sony still exists as a firm...

That's just had me googling just-in-case and I checked out Amazon and found that standard size tv's without that word "smart" written on the description are still sold.

I found two 22" ones straight off and they were described as "small tv with freeview receiver - suitable for bedroom, caravan" for the first one and the second described as a "small tv".

They were both under £100.

I was glad to note that - as I wouldnt want anything "smart" either and have still got the thing in my head that tv's are either small or out of sight if you have one - not gurt big things that dominate a room.....

Astonished at all these tv manufacturers that think we've all got enormous rooms for these enormous tv's - as most houses don't...

Does she get confused by the TV remote? We bought a DORO tv handset for Mum,which is compatible with her tv. Very few buttons, only on,off, volume up,down, and channel up, down.
Made life a lot easier for her.

Alkia Big Button Universal Remote Control then in that case maybe?

I just had a quick google on Amazon and found the Doro one - but doesn't seem to have any of that for sale currently. But the Alkia one came up as available.....

I only have Samsung TV's and in my bedroom I have a 44 inch smart TV. I only have it plugged into a socket and no aerial and get all the Freeview channels, which there are many.
I call it the catch up TV has you get all the programmes by the next day . If it's plugged into an aerial you get all stations as usual. It's easy to use , only have to go left or right to choose a channel. I have a 65in in the lounge plugged into an aerial so have the best of both worlds. This one is easy to use. If you don't want Freeview you just press 1,2,3,4 or 5 for the basic channels. Good luck.

Some years ago we bought a very cheap Bush tv for our bedroom. It’s incredibly easy to use, updates itself when needed. As the handset is now a little difficult to see a replacement is on our shopping list. It’s much easier to use than the Sony tv in the living room.

Nanato3

I only have Samsung TV's and in my bedroom I have a 44 inch smart TV. I only have it plugged into a socket and no aerial and get all the Freeview channels, which there are many.
I call it the catch up TV has you get all the programmes by the next day . If it's plugged into an aerial you get all stations as usual. It's easy to use , only have to go left or right to choose a channel. I have a 65in in the lounge plugged into an aerial so have the best of both worlds. This one is easy to use. If you don't want Freeview you just press 1,2,3,4 or 5 for the basic channels. Good luck.

Which buttons to press might depend on whereabouts in the country she is.

You can tell I'm not much of a tv watcher by my slight uncertainty about it - but I have to press channel 7 here in Wales to get Channel 4 (as otherwise I get the Welsh channel - which some people will obviously want - but it's not for me). Presume the same sort of thing applies in Scotland?? (ie pressing an "extra" channel number to get Channel 4).

I hadnt thought of that as something this will disadvantage people who only want to use/only can use the "basic buttons".

Then there's channel 10 for instance - which I do watch sometimes (and I guess others in this agegroup might too) - in order to get 1980s tv programmes...

Thank you all so much, you’ve certainly provided me with a number of options. I should have been clearer, I did indeed mean an easy-to-use handset, without the full alphabet of letters and a calculator’s worth of numbers!

I’m going to the care home soon so I can ask them what they suggest, too.

Many thanks again.

Reported.