13 Surprising Things Your Smart TV Can Do Without an App

11. Smart Home Hub and IoT Device Control

Smart TVs function as comprehensive built-in smart home hubs that can discover, connect to, and control various Internet of Things (IoT) devices throughout your home without requiring dedicated smart home apps. These native smart home capabilities typically support multiple communication protocols including Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, and infrared, enabling direct communication with smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, door locks, and other connected devices. The built-in smart home interface often provides centralized control panels accessible through the TV's main menu, allowing users to adjust lighting, monitor security systems, control climate settings, and manage other smart devices directly from their television remote. Advanced smart home integration features frequently include automation capabilities that can create custom scenes and routines, such as dimming lights and adjusting temperature when movie mode is activated, or automatically turning on security systems when the TV is turned off for the night. Many smart TVs also incorporate device status monitoring that displays real-time information about connected smart home devices, including battery levels, connectivity status, and current settings. The built-in smart home functionality often includes voice control integration, enabling users to control connected devices through natural language commands spoken to the TV's built-in AI assistant. This centralized approach eliminates the need for multiple smart home apps and provides a unified interface for managing your entire connected home ecosystem, while the large screen display makes it easy to view device status, adjust settings, and monitor home automation systems from the comfort of your living room.