You finally bought a smart TV, or maybe you’ve owned one for a while now, and it looks great in your living room. But somehow, something feels missing, and you can’t quite put your finger on it.
Well, these smart TV accessories will take your viewing experience from “Yeah, this is nice” to “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”
9
Dedicated Sound System
I bet your smart TV’s built-in speakers probably sound like they were an afterthought. I say this because these days, manufacturers focus on making TVs thinner and bezels smaller, which is great for aesthetics but terrible for sound quality. A soundbar is the easiest upgrade. Even a budget-friendly one (like the Hisense HS2100 I copped) can deliver more immersive audio than your TV’s tinny, downward-firing speakers.
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But if you really want a home theater experience, a surround sound system with multiple speakers is the way to go. A 5.1 setup (five speakers plus a subwoofer) or Dolby Atmos system can make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
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8
Streaming Stick
If your smart TV’s built-in apps feel sluggish, outdated, or just plain annoying, a streaming stick is an upgrade you need. These little devices plug into your TV’s HDMI or USB port and instantly give you a smoother, faster, and often more feature-packed streaming experience than whatever your TV came with.
The great thing about streaming sticks is that they come in different flavors depending on your preferred ecosystem. If you’re deep into Amazon’s world, a Fire TV Stick makes sense. If you love Google’s ecosystem (or just want built-in Chromecast), a Chromecast with Google TV is a solid pick. And if you want something that just works with minimal hassle, a Roku Streaming Stick or an Apple TV 4K (not exactly a “stick,” but close enough) are great choices. As an added advantage, if you travel a lot, you can take your streaming stick with you and plug it into hotel TVs to avoid dealing with weird, unfamiliar interfaces.
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7
Bias Lighting
This one is more useful if you love watching TV in the dark. Bias lighting is basically an LED strip that you stick to the back of your TV to create a soft glow around the screen. It helps reduce eye strain by balancing the contrast between your TV’s brightness and the surrounding darkness. Instead of your pupils struggling to keep up with dramatic shifts in brightness, they get a more consistent level of ambient light to work with.
Aside from saving your eyeballs, bias lighting also makes your TV’s colors pop. When you have a light source behind the screen, it tricks your eyes into perceiving deeper blacks and more vivid colors. If you’ve ever seen high-end TVs in showrooms looking almost too good to be true, part of that magic is careful lighting placement. You can get a similar effect at home for less than the price of a movie ticket.
Installation is a breeze. Most LED strips attach with adhesive backing, and you just plug them into a USB port on your TV for power. Some even come with color-changing options, letting you match the backlight to what you’re watching—though I prefer a simple warm white or neutral daylight tone for the best results.
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6
Motorized TV Lift Mount
If you don’t want your TV to dominate the room when it’s off, a lift mount lets you tuck it away neatly. This is perfect for maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic, especially in living rooms where a giant black screen might not complement your decor. Plus, if you have kids or pets, keeping the TV safely tucked away when it’s not in use can help prevent accidental knocks, scratches, or, in my friend’s case, the occasional flying toy disaster.
Motorized TV lifts come in different styles—some are designed for furniture integration (like inside a media console, custom cabinet, or even at the foot of your bed), while others are built for wall or ceiling installations. You’ll also want to make sure you choose a lift that can handle the size and weight of your TV. Installation takes a little planning and can be a DIY project if you’re handy, but if cutting into furniture or walls isn’t your thing, hiring a professional might be the way to go.
It’s not the cheapest accessory on this list, but for the convenience, space-saving potential, and sheer wow factor, a motorized TV lift mount like the VIVO Motorized TV Stand is absolutely worth considering.
5
HDMI Switch
Most TVs don’t exactly spoil you with HDMI ports. You are usually stuck with two or three, which is barely enough to power your streaming stick, gaming console, soundbar, or maybe even an old Blu-ray player you refuse to let go of all at the same time. That’s where an HDMI switch comes to the rescue.
It is exactly what it sounds like: a little device that lets you connect multiple HDMI inputs to a single port on your TV. They’re relatively cheap, and you can get a decent HDMI switch for under $100 from brands like Kinivo or Ugreen. Just make sure to check the specs to see if it supports the right resolution and refresh rate for your devices. If you’re gaming in 4K at 120Hz, for example, you’ll need a switch that can handle HDMI 2.1. Otherwise, you might end up with a downgraded experience, and no one wants to pay for a high-end console just to game at peasant-tier frame rates.
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4
TV Antenna
I know, I know—using a TV antenna in 2025 sounds like something your grandparents would do. But please hear me out before you skip this one. If you’re tired of paying for streaming services that seem more expensive every year while offering fewer good shows, try an antenna and see if it’s a good alternative. And no, I’m not talking about those clunky rabbit-ear antennas with wobbly V-shaped rods.
A good modern TV antenna like URIIU Long Range Antenna (pictured above) or the ClearStream 2V (which you can place outdoors) lets you access free, over-the-air channels in full HD (and sometimes even 4K, depending on your area). That means you can watch local news, major network shows, live sports, and even classic movie channels—all without a subscription.
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3
Smart Power Strip
Many smart power strips come with individually controlled outlets and USB ports, letting you automate when certain devices power down. That means if your TV shuts off, the strip can automatically cut power to your gaming console or sound system. You can even schedule everything to turn off at a set time, which is a lifesaver if you tend to doze off mid-episode (only to wake up betrayed by autoplay and three episodes deep into a show you barely remember starting).
For the best experience, look for models with surge protection (essential for expensive electronics), voice control, and at least six to eight outlets to accommodate all your devices. If you are looking for some solid recommendations, you can take a look at Kasa HS300, Meross, and Geeni smart power strips. The slightly higher upfront cost compared to standard power strips pays for itself through convenience and lower energy consumption over time.
2
Wireless Keyboard (And Mouse)
Typing out search queries or entering login details using a TV remote is one of my most frustrating experiences. It’s like trying to write an email with a T9 keypad—painfully slow and full of mistakes. But with a proper keyboard, you can type out movie titles, browse the web, and even chat in apps like YouTube or Netflix without wanting to throw the remote at the wall.
For the best experience, go for a compact, media-friendly keyboard—something with dedicated volume controls, playback buttons, and a responsive touchpad. Logitech’s K400 Plus is a solid pick, but plenty of budget-friendly options do the job just fine.
1
Universal Remote
Juggling multiple remotes is the second most annoying part of owning a smart TV setup. One for the TV, another for the soundbar, a separate one for the streaming device—before you know it, your coffee table looks like a spaceship’s control panel.
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The best ones, like the Sofabaton X1 (which we rated the Sofabaton X1 highly during our review) or Logitech Harmony Elite (if you can still find one), let you control not just your TV and sound system but also your gaming console, Blu-ray player, and even smart home devices like lights and thermostats. Even better, some models now support voice control, so you can channel your inner Tony Stark and command your entertainment system using Alexa or Google Assistant.
