I’ve long moved on to 4K TVs, and I imagine many others have as well. When you walk into a store, you will find 4K TVs just about everywhere you look, and it’s hard to justify buying something in another resolution. Video game consoles and most streaming services utilize 4K resolutions, so not only are these TVs the most available, but they also make the most sense to buy.
That’s fine and good for people looking for the modern experience, but I wanted to find a TV that’s a bit older. I’ve been looking for something that would let me get a more authentic experience with my Xbox 360 and PS3, and that means I wanted to avoid plugging either of them into a 4K TV. I have a 1080p TV, but it’s down in my basement where it gets near-daily use with my Roku Streaming Stick, so I didn’t want to move that one around.
What I ended up doing was going to Woot and picking up a 720p Fire TV for $60, and while that’s steeper than I’d have liked, I’m ok with getting a new TV that I know works instead of thrifting for something that might not. What I didn’t anticipate was this being the TV I used most in the past month or so.
A 720p TV still has its uses
Don’t sleep on your old TV
Your PS3 and Xbox 360 work just fine on a 4K TV, but I don’t particularly love seeing something from a lower resolution blown up to 65 inches, where every little flaw is obvious. My 720p Fire TV is just 32 inches, so it’s in a bit of a sweet spot. I have my PS3, Xbox 360, and original Xbox, using an HDMI adapter, plugged into this TV. I’m perfectly happy with how everything looks on it, and what’s even more surprising is that it’s a smart TV. I didn’t realize 720p smart TVs existed, but this does, and it allows me to use voice controls to switch between the HDMI ports.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this TV has quite a few limitations. The big one is I don’t have any room to hook up a soundbar or a pair of speakers, so I’m stuck with the weak TV speakers included with the set. As you might guess, sound isn’t exactly a priority when it comes to a $60 TV. This comes with the territory, but I don’t really feel like enhancing this TV’s setup, so it is what it is at this point.
Aside from that, I don’t have much to complain about with this TV. I was well aware of its limitations, and it’s perfectly suitable for what I wanted it for. I wouldn’t recommend going out and getting one for your living room, but for some early HDMI gaming, it’s a good fit.
I wouldn’t prioritize a smart TV
It’s nice if it’s there, but don’t seek it out
While I use the voice controls on my remote, I don’t use this TV at all for watching Netflix or anything of the sort. It is a smart TV, so I can install any streaming app I want, and I get an ad for the Fallout TV series each time I turn it on, but I couldn’t imagine actually watching something like that on here.
I purposely sought out a 720p TV, but even I’m drawing the line at watching shows designed for 4K resolutions on this small, 720p screen. I won’t fault you if that’s your only way of watching, but I’d definitely look somewhere else if I wanted to enjoy any sort of television. This TV’s whole purpose is to run games in 720p, and that’s what I plan to use it for. For my needs, this is a perfect use for a 720p TV, and I’m very glad they are still available for niche cases like this.
