Why Is My Smart TV Picture Not Clear? The Definitive Answer

Smart TVs often boast of having the best picture quality available. In most cases, you can’t get nearly the same resolution on an older TV as you can on modern smart TVs. However, that doesn’t mean smart TVs don’t have picture quality issues from time to time.

Your smart TV picture isn’t clear because the resolution is low, there’s an internet bandwidth issue, or one of the connection cables is faulty. Other causes of poor quality smart TV videos and images include malfunctioning displays and streaming service provider issues.

In this article, I’ll show you why your smart TV looks blurry and what you can do to fix it. I’ll also explain why it’s important to repair your smart TV’s picture clarity issues as soon as possible.

Why Does Your Smart TV Look Blurry?

Your smart TV looks blurry because the resolution is too low or the display is damaged. Direct force can harm any TV, regardless of how modern it is. Make sure to check your TV’s cables and other connections to ensure it’s getting the strongest connections possible.

Let’s dive into these issues below.

• Low resolution: One of the quickest ways I’ve fixed my blurry smart TV is by turning up the resolution. Check the resolution and picture quality on all of your favorite streaming services. Some services let you upgrade the potential resolution through their subscription plans.
• Internet bandwidth problems: Your smart TV needs reliable internet connections. Some smart TVs are programmed to dip below the preset resolution if they encounter bandwidth issues. For example, if there are too many devices on the same router, your smart TV might drop from UHD to SD.
• Faulty HDMI connection cables: Chron explains cable connections could be the primary culprit. When the cable is too old, not the right size, or loose, it won’t provide optimal picture quality for your smart TV. Make sure it’s in good condition if the TV looks blurry.
• Malfunctioning smart TV displays: Smart TV displays can lose their picture quality as they age. When the lights are worn, there’s a high chance the resolution won’t look as good as it used to. Sadly, the only solution to this problem is to replace the smart TV (in most cases).
• Streaming service provider issues: If your streaming service provider (Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, etc.) is dealing with outages, they might not be able to provide the best picture quality to your smart TV. On the bright side, these technical problems usually solve themselves.

The good news is that you can talk to your smart TV if you can’t see the display. Some smart TVs can use various voice commands to navigate through the settings. See if you can try a few of the solutions below with voice commands or remotes for the best results.

How to Improve the Picture Quality of Your Smart TV

To improve the picture quality of your smart TV, stick to these instructions:

1. Check the smart TV’s zoom settings. Smarthome Starter explains some smart TVs have zoom settings for the visually impaired. However, zooming too much can reduce a smart TV’s picture quality. All you have to do is find the zoom setting in the accessibility menu to change it.
2. Look for the standard resolution options. Go to all of your streaming services and make sure you have the highest solution set as the stock selection. You can also find these settings from your smart TV’s home menu.
3. Make sure your smart TV has a reliable internet connection. Smart TVs use a lot of data, so it’s important that they have their fair share of bandwidth. If your smart TV is too slow or has a weak internet connection, it might default to a lower resolution.
4. Replace worn cables and ensure they’re the right size. The Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable is a cable that ensures your smart TV gets the highest picture quality possible. Choose between 3-foot, 10-foot, and 15-foot cables with multiple color options.
5. Try a hard reset on the smart TV. Go to your TV’s settings menu and look for an option that says Hard Reset or Factory Reset. Keep in mind that this option typically removes all of your apps and information, so it’ll be as if you got it brand-new at the store.

If you’ve tried all of these suggestions and your smart TV is still blurry, you might need to upgrade. Smart TVs last several years, but low-quality models aren’t as reliable. Fortunately, many modern smart TVs are much more budget-friendly than they used to be.

For example, the Amazon Fire TV 43″ Omni Series is a 4K UHD display with Amazon’s Alexa built into it. This impressive smart TV has four HDMI ports, speaker inputs, an Amazon voice-activated remote, and sturdy feet. It also comes in larger models, including 55″, 55″, 65″, and 75″.

Is Poor Smart TV Picture Quality a Bad Thing?

Poor smart TV picture quality isn’t always a bad thing. It could simply mean that your TV has internet problems or that the standard picture quality settings are lower than you thought. Changing these factors will instantly fix the problem.

However, the poor picture quality could be an issue for your smart TV if the TV’s remote is slow. This combination could mean your smart TV needs a software update or that it’s getting worn down from long-term use. They could also be completely unrelated, so it’s not always a concern.

Before you assume your smart TV needs to be replaced, I highly recommend going through all of the software updates, cable connections, and other solutions mentioned in this article. There’s no need to get a new smart TV if you don’t have to (unless you prefer more features and higher picture quality).

Final Thoughts

Smart TVs are typically clear, but there’s a lot you can do to enhance the picture quality. If you think your smart TV isn’t as clear as it used to be, make sure you check the resolution settings and consider getting a new HDMI cable.