Replacement remotes can sometimes be found on eBay. I have done this before with both TVs and DVD players.

ETA: OK I see what you mean, modern TVs aren't designed to be used without remotes.

Adding such control buttons with an HDMI-CEC dongle could be a nice hardware project.

I miss those times when you could buy a TV that was a TV (="dumb" TV) and not a propietary content platform, ads platform and security problem (="smart" TV).

Yeah, I miss "dumb" TVs too ... and also "dumb" lights and lots of other stuff that become "smart" (I tend to call them "dumb" because they can't do even the simplese things - like turn on with a wall switch) - interesting story, my wife like "smart" lights, and we ended up putting a lot of Hue lighs - which had a feature I liked, if you powered of/on twice they would come on. I could still use wall switches, I just had to operate them twice (and to handle power fail cases where it "flickers" coming back on there was about a 20 min timer to go OFF again (lotsof time for me to get something out of the storeroom)

But... they must have gotten to many support calls "why are my lights coming on when I didn't do so on my phone" - so they fixed it! - now you have to either buy a remote switch for Huestoreroom or do like it seems almost everyone else does, and just have your phone in your hand all the time! - I happened to have an unused Amazon echo-lite which now is in my storeroom so I can tell it to turn on the lights!

Back to original topic - I bought some "Chunghop" super small (egg shaped) learning remotes which I keep in several places near my TV (incl on the TV stand). Super easy to turn it on/off, adjust volume and operate arrows.

I am unfortunate enough to own a tv that lacks even a power button, honestly it is criminal not to at least have a very basic set of buttons on a set.

In my case I sometimes have to unplug several minutes then plug in and unplug several times if it crashes, makes it hard to know if the remote died or if it’s just the tv crashed out.

Zup wrote on 2026-02-22, 17:52:

I miss those times when you could buy a TV that was a TV (="dumb" TV) and not a propietary content platform, ads platform and security problem (="smart" TV).

Sadly because of the worldwide requirement of ATSC like tv tuners to recieve OTA and because of the rather high processing requirements of modern HDMI in general you already have most of the electronics required to decode “streaming video “ just to drive your 4k panel.

As a result of this (up until recently) it’s ended up cheaper to just have a single type of tv control board that already has the smart stuff and the slightly dumber control board used on pc monitors has ended up more expensive.

Now that the small embedded storage and memory chips used for smart devices are becoming rare and expensive (like everything else). There is a slight possibility that smart panels will die off but a larger possibility is that a bunch of companies will just go under and what’s left will get expensive.

The Brits extremely unpopular decision to create the unwanted Brit card standard that forces folks to have digital and biometrics to do basic everyday tasks will likely become even more despised as the expected 95% drop in cellular production comes to fruition in 2027. These ideotic requirements will look even more ideotic as it becomes impossible to comply without either a working antique phone or a new luxury item meant only for the wealthy.

I like the idea of forcing consumer electronics to become more similar to their antique counterparts without the smart stuff on things that don’t need it (toasters, microwaves, fridges, washers, even vehicles ) but I’m guessing they will just make fewer and further damage consumer choice.

Zup wrote on 2026-02-22, 17:52:

I miss those times when you could buy a TV that was a TV (="dumb" TV) and not a propietary content platform, ads platform and security problem (="smart" TV).

still exist real dumb TVs? sadly i think not

rmay635703 wrote on 2026-02-23, 15:11:

I like the idea of forcing consumer electronics to become more similar to their antique counterparts without the smart stuff on things that don’t need it (toasters, microwaves, fridges, washers, even vehicles ) but I’m guessing they will just make fewer and further damage consumer choice.

If we could do this with everything... electronics, appliances, vehicles.

Use "smart" technology when it makes sense but also go back to basics when it doesn't.

In the vehicle realm it looks like the US will FINALLY get some simple\small trucks again with a normal price range.
(Example: the Toyota Hilux Champ)

I simply don't need to spend 60k minimum on an internet infused land-yacht that you can't work on yourself.

(Roll up windows and real car keys will make a comeback...)