Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#161

Post by dsp_person » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 1:39 AM UTC

tgtweak wrote: post #133

dsp_person wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

all the methods to root have been patched in the latest webos version :(

Even the USB key .mp3 homebrew?

https://cani.rootmy.tv/?q=OLED42C2PUA at least here the one listed method for webOS 24 is patched.

What is the method you mention? A top google result seems to be [1], which says

> All release versions of webOS 9 ("webOS 24") are patched. This means 2024 models and older TVs that have been upgraded to webOS 9 will require another exploit such as faultmanager-autoroot [2].

and [2] says

> As of 2025-08-24, the latest firmware for essentially all LG models running webOS 5, 6, 7, and 9 is patched.

[1] https://github.com/throwaway96/dejavuln-autoroot

[2] https://github.com/throwaway96/faultmanager-autoroot

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#162

Post by jqpabc123 » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 1:40 AM UTC

otterley wrote: post #31

jqpabc123 wrote: post #2

I bought a Hisense model from Costco and set it to "store mode". For all practical purposes, it is just a dumb HDMI display attached to my computer.

Are you able to adjust its picture settings when it's in store mode?

No. Brightness and contrast are maxed out but it's not bad with a cheaper model.

My opinion --- in some cases, the difference between expensive and cheap boils down to the picture controls being intentionally limited for marketing effect.

So the cheap model maxed out looks like the more expensive model at medium. People can recognize the difference in the store so they opt for the more expensive one. But the actual displays themselves are virtually identical.

It may actually be cheaper to make one grade of display and differentiate using the controls.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#163

Post by rrrrrrrrrrrryan » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 1:48 AM UTC

IshKebab wrote: post #139

rcarmo wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second this simply because LG is the least evil of all smart TV manufacturers _and_ has the best panels and (usually) connectivity.

Less evil than Sony? I have an LG TV. I can't recommend it purely because they have the audacity to omit a play/pause button from the remote control. Pausing requires pressing the "centre" button one, two or three times depending on which app you are in. Pure insanity. WebOS is trash too. Probably going to buy a Sony next time.

What's more devastating is that the CX and C1 actually had pause buttons, then they took them away around 2021/2022. It kills me that they have a dedicated button for Alexa and another for Sling (whatever that is) but none for pause.

You can disable most of the WebOS trashiness by Googling and digging through the settings. Once you get all the ads fully disabled, the OS is extremely clean and snappy.

And FYI Sony's OLED panels are made by LG. The Sonys are a bit better because of the software, but they're almost always more expensive, but if you can score a good deal they're definitely the way to go.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#164

Post by jdndjdjdbdn » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 1:57 AM UTC

batrat wrote: post #119

kelthuzad wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought the Samsung Frame TV and I love it, but you're correct about Samsung's OS (it's sluggish, filled with ADs and by far the worst TV OS that I've used so far)

Ads? I thought HN crowd already know how to use a pihole or at least adguard dns. I got Samsung TV's in every room because they are easy to use with a Galaxy phone, using it as a remote and a keyboard. Also wireless DEX is soooo underrated. Want a specific app on tv? no problem. I'm basically using them as displays for my phone.

My smart TV is used as a dumb TV and not connected to the internet because I cannot trust it to work in my interests...

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#165

Post by EvanAnderson » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 2:04 AM UTC

BozeWolf wrote: post #125

kelthuzad wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought the Samsung Frame TV and I love it, but you're correct about Samsung's OS (it's sluggish, filled with ADs and by far the worst TV OS that I've used so far)

Contrary experience from me: i hate my samsung frame, especially because of the ads. And more especially because of that samsung tv channel which autostarts. And I hate it even more because these ads change the menu in such a way that you cannot navigate it blindly because it inserts itself as a button mid way in the menu bar. You cannot disable or disable those things easily. Built in airplay is unstable. Bought and…

I got my Frame with the house we bought. I never put it on my network. It's irritating that it powers-on many times to the wall art display function versus just being a TV. I definitely wouldn't have bought it standalone.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#166

Post by amiga-workbench » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 2:23 AM UTC

KaiserPro wrote: post #131

Dpeends what your after, but a second hand NEC multisync, which has an ST slot https://www.sharpnecdisplays.eu/p/download/cp/Products/Optio... but that might be a bit too basic. because its basically a monitor with 100% duty cycle and a PC.

I did this. Got a new old stock unit for 300GBP, its got a SDM slot for gen8 Intel systems and Pi compute boards.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#167

Post by godzillabrennus » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 2:33 AM UTC

IshKebab wrote: post #139

rcarmo wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I second this simply because LG is the least evil of all smart TV manufacturers _and_ has the best panels and (usually) connectivity.

Less evil than Sony? I have an LG TV. I can't recommend it purely because they have the audacity to omit a play/pause button from the remote control. Pausing requires pressing the "centre" button one, two or three times depending on which app you are in. Pure insanity. WebOS is trash too. Probably going to buy a Sony next time.

I've owned Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL, Pioneer, Toshiba, Sharp, Amazon, and a variety of other flat panels over the years. I actually love the simplicity of the LG remote with the center button for play/pause. I don't need it to glow in the dark. I don't need to turn on my phone to find the button. I know exactly what button to press. Happy C1 owner over here since 2022. Still can't believe the quality of the image.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#168

Post by adabyron » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 2:38 AM UTC

paulgerhardt wrote: post #45

Do recommend the LG C series (C5 or C4 are new or the C1 series if you want a deal on classifieds - same hardware as the higher end models but needs a firmware bit flip). The OS is very rootable and it makes a great TV that doubles as a monitor. Supports free sync / g-sync. OLED is nice at this scale. Text is very readable, refresh rate is good. It uses the same panels as the fancier G series in the larger sizes. One…

I really wish there were alternatives for the millions of us out there who love the Frame concept but hate the Samsung OS.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#169

Post by kelthuzad » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 3:11 AM UTC

BozeWolf wrote: post #125

kelthuzad wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought the Samsung Frame TV and I love it, but you're correct about Samsung's OS (it's sluggish, filled with ADs and by far the worst TV OS that I've used so far)

Contrary experience from me: i hate my samsung frame, especially because of the ads. And more especially because of that samsung tv channel which autostarts. And I hate it even more because these ads change the menu in such a way that you cannot navigate it blindly because it inserts itself as a button mid way in the menu bar. You cannot disable or disable those things easily. Built in airplay is unstable. Bought and…

I have considered doing the same, but I decided to stick with the default since I love the Art Mode. I also bought it primarily as decoration, so it serves its purpose just fine. (I wouldn't buy it as primary TV however, because of the previously mentioned OS annoyances)

Re: Ask HN: What's the best hackable smart TV?

#170

Post by kelthuzad » Sat, Oct 11, 2025, 3:16 AM UTC

batrat wrote: post #119

kelthuzad wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought the Samsung Frame TV and I love it, but you're correct about Samsung's OS (it's sluggish, filled with ADs and by far the worst TV OS that I've used so far)

Ads? I thought HN crowd already know how to use a pihole or at least adguard dns. I got Samsung TV's in every room because they are easy to use with a Galaxy phone, using it as a remote and a keyboard. Also wireless DEX is soooo underrated. Want a specific app on tv? no problem. I'm basically using them as displays for my phone.

I've set up a Proton VPN wireguard connection for my TV with Tracker+Ad block on my router. I'm still somehow getting served ads, despite the VPN working properly. Maybe there's a bug in my router config. I will review it later.

(In Proton's Wireguard Configuration Wizard, I've selected "Block malware, ads, & trackers" - see: https://protonvpn.com/support/netshield)