Looking for a Monitor to replace my TV

Posted by DNex97@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 7 comments

Hi everyone!

I hope I'm not off-topic and that someone can help me or at least point me in the right direction for my search.

I'm looking to replace my TV with a large monitor, preferably 50" or 55", to use mainly as my primary screen in the living room, connected to a PC and a few external devices via HDMI.

I'm not interested in it being "smart" – I don't need built-in apps or an operating system, and I'd actually rather avoid that to keep the price down and not end up with useless bloatware. For reference, I'm familiar with the Samsung Smart Monitor M7 43" (S43FM702) and it seems like a great quality/price benchmark, but I'd like something bigger.

I've already looked at a few options:

\- JapanNext has some interesting models in the size I'm looking for, but the reviews don't fully convince me

\- Professional/signage monitors from brands like Samsung, LG, iiyama, Philips, or Sony seem solid but often come with fairly high price tags (above €700-800) and are designed for commercial use

What I'm looking for:

\- 50" or 55" diagonal (40" minimum)

\- 4K would be ideal

\- At least a couple of HDMI inputs

\- Doesn't need to be a gaming monitor (I don't need 144Hz or extreme response times)

\- Rough budget: open to suggestions, but I'd prefer to stay under €600-700 if possible

My questions:

Do you have any experience with monitors of this size for "TV replacement" use? Which brands would you recommend?
Are there any specialized websites (Italian or European) that cover this category of products well, beyond the usual Amazon/big-box retailers?
Is it worth looking at digital signage displays (like the LG UH5N, Samsung QE50T, iiyama ProLite) or are they overkill for home use?

Thanks a lot in advance! 🙏

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whomad1215@reddit

there aren't really any 50"+ monitors

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#F=1244600000,1651000000&sort=price&r=384002160

I'd just buy an OLED TV and be done with it if you need something that size

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Old_Bug610@reddit

I second this, there really aren't monitors made that large. Especially if you don't need anything above 144Hz. An OLED TV will be far more affordable than a 49" monitor as well.

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whomad1215@reddit

I'm not really sure why OP is trying to find a monitor, just hates the "smart tv" bit I guess?

they don't want any features that are the main reason you'd buy a monitor, like response time/refresh rates, so I don't know why even a super cheap TV doesn't do what they need

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DNex97@reddit (OP)

I live in Italy, where we are obliged to pay a fee to television stations simply by owning a TV, in particular a device that allows you to receive signals via antenna (via decoder). I’m looking for a monitor to use like a normal TV because, in general, I don’t watch the channels in the clear, but I use external apps. And also, I intend not to have a TV at home and therefore to cancel this fee

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whomad1215@reddit

https://it.pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#F=1016000000,1651000000&sort=price&a=16009&page=1

Could get a projector too

Sounds like that law is anything with an over the air receiver, and some monitors may have that capability too, it also sounds like you can just say

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Old_Bug610@reddit

True, smart features are a major privacy concern and... just annoying in general. I found this post from a couple years ago, could be a thing for OP to try?

https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/1borurg/nonsmart_tvs_best_options/

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whomad1215@reddit

Just don't connect the TV to the internet