Despite the popularity of streaming platforms that are easily accessible by phone, having a Smart TV at home is still a smart choice for entertainment.
Watching your favorite shows or movies on a Smart TV provides a whole different kind of experience than watching from other different streaming devices like your phone or laptop.
A Smart TV has built-in apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and many more that allow you to watch a wide range of content.
It also has a number of HDMI ports that can connect to consoles, streaming devices, and home theater equipment.
But what if you don’t want to dispose of your non-Smart TV just yet? What if it’s still working just fine?
If that’s the case, we’re not here to convince you to buy a new one. Instead, we’re here to answer one of the main questions about non-Smart TVs, do they have HDMI ports?
To add to that, we’re here to show you how you can connect an HDMI cable to a non-smart TV.
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Do All TVs Have HDMI Ports?
Nope, not all TVs have HDMI ports. Some older TVs don’t have any because it’s either they aren’t a high-definition TV or they were manufactured in a time where HDMI ports weren’t that popular yet.
But if we’re only talking about HD TVs and Smart TVs, then they will definitely have at least one HDMI port at the back of the screen.
1. Do Old TVs Have HDMI Ports?
Like we said earlier, there’s a high chance that old TVs will not have HDMI ports, but this all depends on when your TV was manufactured.
HDMI ports became ubiquitous during the second half of the 2000s which means that TVs before this period might not have any HDMI ports.
It’s either the TVs didn’t need an HDMI port, it wasn’t part of the design, or it was just not as popular as it is today.
2. Do All Smart TVs Have HDMI Ports?
Yes, all Smart TVs have HDMI ports. This is all part of the appeal of smart TVs – the increased number of connectivity options.
If with non-Smart TVs, we were only limited to cable TV, VGA, or audio output, Smart TVs allow us to connect using HDMI, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. You can be sure that each Smart TV will have at least one HDMI port.
However, we recommend choosing a Smart TV that has more than one HDMI port. This is to accommodate other devices that also use HDMI as their main connectivity option.
Do Dumb TVs Have HDMI Ports?
Non-Smart TVs, also called “dumb TVs” by some people, usually have HDMI ports.
If your TV was manufactured in 2006, you can almost be sure that it has at least one HDMI port. The same is the case if your TV supports high-definition.
Why? It’s because it was during the early 2000s that HDMI ports were introduced to TVs and camcorders.
And when it comes to high-definition resolution, HDMI is the port and cable of choice for transmitting high-definition signals (hence, the ‘HD’ in HDMI).
But if your TV was manufactured before 2006, there’s a chance that it doesn’t have any HDMI ports, especially when it isn’t a high-definition TV.
This is mainly because non-HD TVs won’t need HDMI cables to receive signals.
How Do I Connect an HDMI Cable to My Non-Smart TV?
The first thing that you have to do is check if your non-Smart TV has an HDMI port.
If it does, follow these steps:
- Turn off your TV. Connect one end of your HDMI cable to the source device (laptop, tablet, or PC).
- Connect your HDMI cable to the HDMI input port of the TV. Then turn the TV on.
- From your remote, click ‘Input Source’ or ‘Source’. Choose the right HDMI port from the list. This should be the port where the HDMI cable was connected a while ago.
- Wait for a few seconds until your TV mirrors your source’s homepage display.
If your non-Smart TV doesn’t have an HDMI port:
- Use an HDMI to Composite Video Audio Converter that will convert HDMI signals to separate audio and video signals whose cables are the ones found on older TVs.
- Connect a separate HDMI cable to the HDMI output port of your source device, then the other end of the HDMI input port of the adapter.
- If your converter adapter needs to be plugged, plug it into the nearest socket in between the source device and your non-Smart TV.
- Once done, connect the right colored cables to their respective ports at the back of your TV. Check the manual to ensure you’re connecting the right cables.
- Then turn on your computer. This should automatically read the connected source.
When Do You Need an HDMI Cable for Your Non-Smart TV?
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There are a lot of devices that use HDMI as their primary connectivity option. Some examples are consoles, streaming devices, and sound bars.
If you plan to stream or play through a console, we recommend using an HDMI cable since it can already transmit both audio and video to your TV. There’s no need to buy a separate audio cable.
Another reason why you may need an HDMI cable is when your non-Smart TV uses high-definition resolution (1080p and up). This way, audio and video quality is not ruined as the signals are being transmitted from the source to the TV.
In other words, the “high-definition-ness” of the game or show is preserved with HDMI.
Conclusion
Even if non-Smart TVs are no longer a thing today, know that you can still connect an HDMI cable to it regardless of whether it has an HDMI port or not.
If your old TV has an HDMI port, you can easily connect a cable from the source device to your TV.
On the other hand, if your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can use an HDMI to Composite Video Audio Converter that will serve as an adapter for HDMI signals to separate audio and video signals.
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In the end, you don’t need to throw away your old TV for the sake of HDMI connectivity.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.