Do Smart TVs Have Bluetooth? (YES, but!…)
These days, we want all of our devices to be connected, but we definitely don’t want to be restricted or tied down by a wire in order to achieve this.
We just expect a certain level of freedom, even from our TVs.
Do Smart TVs have Bluetooth?
Yes, many smart TV models today come with Bluetooth built-in. Samsung, Sony, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, and Hisense, all make Bluetooth-enabled smart TVs. For smart TVs that don’t have Bluetooth, you can still make them “Bluetooth enabled” by using a Bluetooth transmitter or downloading the TV manufacturer’s smartphone app.
Most of us have heard of and probably used Bluetooth before. You probably even know that it’s a wireless (radio-wave) technology used for short-range data exchanges.
That’s because Bluetooth has been incorporated into many of the tech products out today, and smart TVs are no exception.
More and more TVs now come with Bluetooth connectivity. Due to the popularity of Bluetooth headphones, almost all manufacturers have started to include the feature.
It has taken some time for all manufacturers to catch up. But while a lot of smart TVs do now come with Bluetooth built-in, some still don’t. Some low-cost manufacturers and entry-level models still do not come with Bluetooth.
That’s partly because Bluetooth isn’t a required smart TV feature, but it’s mostly due to cost.
Incorporating Bluetooth chips into every single smart TV set is an expensive undertaking, so some manufacturers simply don’t bother.
Which TVs have Bluetooth?
The following smart TV models come with Bluetooth enabled:
- Hisense – A7, A6, A60 and A6G series
- Hisense – H55, H65, H8, H8G, H8G1, and H9 series
- Hisense – Laser TV, U6, U7, U8 & U9 series
- LG – OLED evo, UHD, NanoCell, QNED miniLED
- LG – UN7300, UN7370, & UN8500 series
- LG – Nanoclass 81, 85, 90, & 99 series
- LG – BX, CX, GX, WX, & ZX series
- Samsung – 6, 7, 8, & 9 series
- Samsung – Frame, Serif, Sero, and Terrace series
- Samsung – Q60T, Q70T, Q80T, Q90T, Q800T, & Q900TS series
- Sony – Android and Google models released after 2016 (complete list here)
- Toshiba – Fire TV Editions
- Roku – Plus Series 4K
- Vizio – V Series, M Series, D Series
This is not an exhaustive list, so confirm before you purchase your TV by looking at the specifications.
(Hint: for an up-to-date list of all Bluetooth-enabled smart TVs, you can use BestBuys website and filter based on “Bluetooth” under features)
Many manufacturers usually only include Bluetooth in their flagship smart TV models or their most recently released models (which, as a result, usually come with a higher price tag).
In my experience, of all the smart TV brands out there, Samsung, Sony, Hisense, and LG are most likely to come with Bluetooth built-in. Many of the newer TVs from Roku and Vizio have Bluetooth built-in as well.
Ultimately the easiest thing to do is check the TV’s user manual and confirm if the specifications include anything about Bluetooth.
If you don’t have the manual, just Google your TV’s make and model followed by the word “manual.” Most manuals can be found online this way. Then search the page for “Bluetooth” and see what comes up.
If you can’t find the TV manual go to “Audio” within the TV’s settings and see if “Bluetooth” is listed as an “Output option” there.
What is the best Smart TV with Bluetooth built-in?
One of the coolest smart TVs available today with built-in Bluetooth capabilities is the Samsung QN900C Neo QLED 8K Smart TV.
The QN900C Neo is 8K and reproduces more colors than almost any other TV, resulting in picture quality that is natural and precise, and closer than ever to real life.
With Samsung’s Smart Hub, you can seamlessly browse all your favorite streaming services, all in one place. Watch content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, the Apple TV app, and many more.
And of course, it does have Bluetooth connectivity along with all other modern connections since this is a recently released TV.
What can a Bluetooth TV do?
You may be wondering if this investigation/effort is even worth it.
For me it definitely was.
Bluetooth offers great functionality that you can’t get otherwise.
For example, a Bluetooth-enabled smart TV allows you to do the following:
- Connect Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speakers to the TV
- Use your smartphone as a remote control
- Sync a wireless keyboard to type on the TV
- Stream music from your iPod or smartphone to your TV
- Project your smartphone’s screen and apps onto the TV
Just being able to watch TV with a pair of wireless headphones late at night so I don’t wake up my wife, makes the effort to make my TV “Bluetooth-enabled”, worth it.
But what can you do to get some of these capabilities if your smart TV doesn’t come with Bluetooth enabled out-of-the-box?
How to add Bluetooth to a TV?
For those smart TVs that don’t have Bluetooth “out-of-the-box,” there are several ways to add Bluetooth connectivity:
1) Enable Bluetooth through the TV’s secret service menu
2) Download the TV manufacturer’s smartphone app
3) Buy a Bluetooth transmitter for your TV
Option 1: Secret Service Menu
One potential way to make your TV Bluetooth is through its “secret service menu.”
Every digital TV out there has a secret service menu. This menu allows users to access some advanced menus/options and to change/enable/disable lots of features in your TV that you cannot get at otherwise.
If you’re feeling brave enough, you can use certain combinations of codes on your remote to access this menu and poke around to see if Bluetooth can be enabled from there.
I say “brave enough” because in some instances, making a mistake in this menu can “brick” your TV (a term used when you mess up a device so bad, it’s as useless as a brick).
Oh, and accessing the secret service menu voids your TV’s warranty.
Not great.
If I haven’t scared you off yet, keep reading.
You can find many of the secret service codes for Sony, Samsung, LG, and Philips TVs here. If you have a different TV brand, just Google search for the codes.
Often times these codes can take a few tries before working, so don’t give up too easily if the menu doesn’t show up right away.
Take your time and make sure not to change any other settings while you’re in there!
Option 2: Smartphone App
One far less intimidating option is to download the TV manufacturer’s app to your smartphone, and then use your phone’s Bluetooth to connect to your TV.
Take Roku, for instance.
They provide a free smartphone app that allows you to use your phone’s Bluetooth capabilities.
This means you can sync your phone’s Bluetooth to your headphones, or even a speaker, via the Roku app, and listen to your TV that way.
Not perfect, but not a bad option either.
Option 3: Bluetooth transmitter
If you can’t enable Bluetooth through the secret service menu and the TV doesn’t have a dedicated smart app, don’t panic, you still have one good option left.
You can buy a Bluetooth transmitter or adapter
A Bluetooth transmitter is simply a product that plugs into a non-Bluetooth-enabled device (in this case your smart TV) and turns it into a fully functioning Bluetooth device.
These days the technology has gotten so good that there is very low latency with these devices (meaning the sound will come near real-time, without delay).
And even better, you can get a great one for cheap (under 40 bucks).
If you’re thinking about going this route, I highly recommend the 1Mii Bluetooth 5.2 Transmitter Receiver (check price on Amazon). This thing get’s amazing reviews and will make your smart TV Bluetooth in seconds.
This one does require a headphone jack (AUX) on your TV, so make sure you have one before buying it.
If your TV doesn’t have a headphone jack, no problem, go with the Avantree Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter. Same amazing reviews, but it offers multiple different options for setup (Optical, Aux, RCA, USB).
Conclusion
Bluetooth is becoming more and more popular, and consumers are demanding it be included as a feature in their smart TVs.
Many manufacturers have been including Bluetooth in their latest TVs for years but some are still catching up. You’ll have to confirm if your TV has it, but if it’s brand new and from a premium brand, you’ll likely be able to connect via Bluetooth.
There’s a lot of great functionality for any TV that has Bluetooth:
- Connect Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speakers to the TV
- Use your smartphone as a remote control
- Sync a wireless keyboard to type on the TV
- Stream music from your iPod or smartphone to your TV
- Project your smartphone’s screen and apps onto the TV
If your TV does not have Bluetooth, you’re likely able to add it in one of these ways.
- Secret Service Menu
- Smartphone App
- Bluetooth transmitter
Good luck and thank you for reading!
