Do Smart TVs Have Bluetooth? (YES, but!…)
Wires are so early 2000s.
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. 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 smart phone app.
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve at least heard of 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.
But while a lot of smart TVs do come with Bluetooth built in, many still don’t. (I’m looking at you, Roku and Vizio).
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 – A6, A60 and A6G series
- Hisense – H55, H65, H8, H8G, H8G1, and H9 series
- Hisense – Laser TV, U6, U7, U8 & U9 series
- 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
(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)
For the manufacturers that do bother, they usually only include Bluetooth in their flagship smart TV 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.
Ultimately the easiest thing to do is check the TV’s user manual and confirm whether or not it includes 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.
Best Smart TV with Bluetooth built-in
The best smart TV available today with built-in Bluetooth capabilities is the Sony X80J 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV.
The X80J reproduces more colors than a conventional TV, resulting in picture quality that is natural and precise, and closer than ever to real life.
With Google TV built-in, you can seamlessly browse 700,000+ movies and TV episodes from across 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 the cherry on top – this TV comes with a compact, space-conscious soundbar that delivers enhanced sound quality, featuring a bass reflex speaker for deeper audio.
What can a Bluetooth TV do
You may be wondering if this investigation/effort is even worth it.
For me it definitely was.
Bluetooth just offers a lot of great functionality that you can’t get otherwise.
For example, a Bluetooth enabled smart TV allows you to do the following:
- Connect wireless headsets or speakers to the TV
- Use your smart phone as a remote control
- Sync a wireless keyboard to type on the TV
- Stream music from your iPod or smart phone to your TV
- Project your smart phone’s screen and apps onto the TV
Just being able to watch TV with a pair of headsets 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 make a TV Bluetooth
For those smart TVs that don’t have Bluetooth “out-of-the-box”, there are several ways to make them “Bluetooth enabled”:
1) Enable Bluetooth through the TV’s secret service menu
2) Download the TV manufacturer’s smart phone app
3) Buy a Bluetooth transmitter for your TV
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 useful 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!
Smart phone app
One far less intimidating option is to download the TV manufacturer’s app to your smart phone, and then use your phone’s Bluetooth to connect to your TV.
Take Roku, for instance.
They provide a free smart phone 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.
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.
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).
(As an added tip, bring your Bluetooth transmitter with you the next time you fly. You can plug it into the headphone jack and finally use your Bluetooth headphones to watch TV on the plane!)
Conclusion
Yes, some smart TVs have Bluetooth built in, but not all. I’ve found that the flag ship models of Samsung, Sony, and LG are the most likely TVs to have it.
For those smart TVs that don’t have Bluetooth “out-of-the-box”, there are a several ways to make them “Bluetooth enabled”:
- Enable Bluetooth through the TV’s secret service menu
- Download the TV manufacturer’s smart phone app
- Buy a Bluetooth transmitter for your TV
What’s your favorite thing you use your TV’s Bluetooth capabilities for? Leave me a comment down below!
