Smart TVs & Zoom: 10 Answers (For Beginners)

If you’ve been working from home lately, chances are you’ve used Zoom.

Zoom is one of the biggest video conferencing apps available today. It features crucial tools for meetings and work presentations, such as screen sharing. You can also use it to video chat with friends!

But viewing those shared screens isn’t exactly fun on a small screen. It would look better if it were on a big screen, like a smart TV.

Is it possible to use Zoom with a smart TV?

Quick Facts about Smart TVs and Zoom.

Zoom is a video conferencing service that lets you hold meetings or socialize with other people. While Zoom does not have a smart TV app, you can use your smart TV as a screen for Zoom by mirroring or casting your device to your TV or by connecting with an HDMI. 

1. Can You Use Zoom with Smart TVs?

You can use Zoom with your smart TV with the help of mirroring, an HDMI cord, or casting devices.

• If you are using Apple devices, such as a Macbook or iPhone, you can use AirPlay to cast your device’s screen onto a compatible smart TV.
• You can also use Chromecast for this purpose. The Chromecast option is ideal if you are Zooming on your Android smartphone or if you are using Zoom with a Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop.
• If your smart TV does not have AirPlay or Chromecast, you can connect your smart TV to the video output of your computer with an HDMI cord and turn your TV into a secondary display.

2. How Do I Install the Zoom App on a Smart TV?

Unfortunately, Zoom does not have an app for smart TVs.

You will need to mirror Zoom onto your TV, as outlined above.

3. Which Smart TVs Are Best for Zoom Video Calls?

If you are looking for a smart TV that you can use in tandem with your Zoom meetings, you will want something with a high screen resolution for better viewing.

You also will want a smart TV that can handle different lighting conditions, since you might opt to dim the lights when viewing a presentation.

Note that regardless of which TV you choose, you still need your computer or smartphone to serve as your camera and microphone. Leading smart TVs do not come with built-in microphones or cameras. 

With that in mind, here are some recommended smart TVs.

LG CX

The LG CX is probably one of the best 4k smart TVs you can get on the market today.

• At the core of this smart TV is its OLED display, which displays consistently crisp imagery.
• The LG CX features an infinite contrast ratio, which helps produce sharp shades of black, especially in dim lighting. In well-lit rooms, this smart TV can handle reflections and light quite well.
• Response time on the LG CX is quite exceptional. That means that any cursor movements or keystrokes will have minimal lags, which is great, considering that video streaming in general already has latency.
• Viewing angles are also wide on this smart TV.
• If you are using a Mac or an iPhone, you can use the built-in AirPlay to mirror your Zoom call to the CX.

The only disadvantage of this smart TV is its risk of burn-in, which can be a problem if you leave a static image onscreen for prolonged periods. This issue is common among smart TVs using OLED displays.

You should also be reading our article which talks about Smart TVs & Karaoke: 12 Answers

Samsung Q80T

If you fear the risk of burn-in from OLED displays but want great image quality, then take a look at the Samsung Q80T.

• The Q80T features an excellent LED display. It comes with 4k resolution and performs well in different lighting conditions.
• When it comes to computer monitor usage, the Q80T stands out with its chroma 4:4:4. That means you can read fine text onscreen without any distortions.
• Response time is almost instantaneous.
• Viewing angles are also supreme so everyone can see accurately, regardless of seating placement.
• The Q80T also has its own mirroring system, which works with some devices. It’s different from AirPlay and Chromecast, so there may be some limitations.

The only drawback of the Q80T is a propensity for a dirty screen effect, although this varies. But don’t worry, you probably won’t notice it at all.

Sony A8H

The Sony A8H is one of the higher-tier quality smart TVs from the Japanese company, which packs in quite a lot when it comes to features.

• It features a 4k resolution, which gives you clear images every time.
• The A8H is very similar to the CX, as they both have high-quality OLED displays. You probably wouldn’t see the difference at once when put side by side.
• Response time on this smart TV is also near-instantaneous, which does not come as a surprise, as this TV was designed for use with one of Sony’s best-selling products, the Playstation.
• The A8H also has built-in Chromecast and AirPlay, so you won’t have any compatibility issues when mirroring your device, regardless of platform.

Vizio P-Series

If you are on a budget, the Vizio P-Series might be the smart TV for you.

• The P-Series from Vizio features built-in Chromecast and AirPlay, which gives you more options for mirroring from your smartphone or computer.
• You also get a 4k display, which helps you see more detail during your video calls.
• It handles different lighting conditions well, as it can get bright enough to combat glare and reflections and produce deep blacks for dim environments.
• The weakness of the P-Series is its color calibration. While you get more detail using a 4k resolution, you still need to calibrate it to get the best results.

4. Can You Broadcast Zoom to a Smart TV from Your Phone?

You can cast your Zoom call from your smartphone to your smart TV if your TV has Chromecast, AirPlay, or any system that can mirror your smartphone’s screen.

The process is pretty straightforward: mirror your phone to the mirroring device on the TV, then open Zoom on your phone and proceed with the call.

Now, if you are using Chromecast, you need to have a mirroring app installed on both your smartphone and smart TV. These apps enable your phone and TV to communicate with each other so they can synchronize screens.

You can use apps like ApowerMirror, Screen Cast Mirroring, TV Mirror, and a plethora of other apps that let you mirror to Chromecast.

AirPlay, unfortunately, does not have third-party mirroring apps, as it is exclusive to Apple devices.

5. How Do I Join a Zoom Meeting on Smart TV?

Once you install the mirroring app, as detailed above, turn on mirroring on your smartphone and smart TV or Chromecast/Apple TV.

Make sure the two devices are connected on the same network.

Once your screen is mirrored, you can open the Zoom app and enter the meeting details to join.

6. Do All Smart TVs Have a Camera and a Mic?

Modern smart TVs do not have webcams and microphones in the TV.

A few older models have them, but they have been phased out because they increase the cost and can also be a security concern.

7. Where Can You Find the Camera and Microphone of a Smart TV?

If your smart TV has a built-in camera and microphone, you are most likely to find it in the center of the upper bezels of your TV.

You will know it’s the camera through the small lens at this location. Not too far from it should be a pinhole where the microphone is placed.

In some cases, the camera of a smart TV is retractable. You can find them behind the upper bezel of your smart TV. The microphone will also not be too far from it.

Some cameras of smart TVs have LEDs lights to show if they are active. You can also look for that to help you find the camera of the TV.

Note that most smart TVs do not have a mic or camera built-in. 

8. Can You Connect any Webcam to a Smart TV?

Not all webcams can be connected to smart TVs—it depends on the webcam brand and the model of your TV.

It can be difficult to pair the two, so check with the manufacturer’s suggestions. Some smart TVs do not work at all with the usual USB webcams, and not all webcam-compatible smart TVs will accept any camera.

Now, if you are looking for something likely to work with your smart TV, a good option is the Facebook Portal. The Facebook Portal plugs into the HDMI port of your smart TV, but it only works using the Facebook Portal app. Thus, it won’t work for Zoom meetings.

9. How Do You Connect a Webcam to Your Smart TV?

Webcams plug into the USB port of smart TVs compatible with webcams.

Your TV should detect the new device plugged into it, and prompt you for any action that needs to be done.

10. Can You Use a Smart TV to Stream Live?

You can’t use a smart TV to broadcast and stream live videos.

Smart TVs are mostly for reading or receiving data and do not have any capacity to do broadcasts on the web.

For more information on smart TVs and streaming, check out our article Smart TVs & Live Streaming: 16 Answers (For Beginners).

Final Thoughts

As Zoom does not have a smart TV app, the only way to have Zoom on a large screen is to use screen mirroring or an HDMI connection. 

If you use Apple products, it would be good to have a smart TV that supports AirPlay, and if using Android or Google Chrome, a Chromecast.

You can use your HDMI connection if you are using a computer to Zoom and want to connect to your smart TV.

 

Sources:

Can you get Zoom on a smart TV?

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