Did you know that TV mirror technology is one of the coolest ways to hide your TV? It’s the best option, especially if you’re considering placing your TV set in a central location in your living room without having to look at it all the time. Your TV only works when it’s switched on, and becomes a mirror when not in use.
TV mirrors add sophistication to your entertainment devices and a TV lounge. But how does this work? Do you need one? What do you need to consider when buying TV mirrors? These are some of the questions you need answers to, especially if you’re considering having one at home. Read more to learn about the TV mirror.
How does a TV mirror work?
The TV mirror technology uses dielectric glass, which is also known as smart glass. Smart glass uses electricity, which gives the TV the capability to change modes when switched on and off. This means that the glass switches from being transparent to opaque.
This technology has just been developed recently, so don’t be confused if you see different types and qualities of TV mirrors. One thing you can be sure of is that the low-quality ones decrease the TV’s brightness the moment they are switched on. This results in a weaker reflection when switched off. It is very important to check a showroom and determine how the TV works before buying one.
There are so many companies offering glass options for TV mirrors. It’s important that you know this, depending on where you plan to place your TV mirror. For example, bathrooms use a different mirror to compensate for different lighting inside. Companies also offer a variety of options like waterproof models and different frame collections.
When choosing a TV mirror, make sure that the mounting support is strong enough to handle the extra weight of the glass. When installing it, make sure that it gets proper ventilation so that it will not overheat when used for a longer period of time. The mounting support must be strong enough to handle the extra weight of the TV’s glass.
Choose an LCD TV, and not a plasma TV because it works better in terms of reflecting when the TV isn’t switched on. This may cost a lot, but it’s definitely worth the investment. What’s important is that it provides a beautiful layout for your living room.
What are the types of TV mirror?
The TV mirror technology allows you to hide your TV completely when it’s switched off, and make brilliant pictures when it’s switched on. The good thing about it is that it transmits ninety-nine percent of the light from the mirror to the TV. This means you’ll get the brightest images as you watch your favorite show or movie. Below are the different types of TV mirrors available in the market today:
- Iris TV mirrors. These TV mirrors provide beautiful quality because they reduce glare. This means that your viewing experience will be similar to that of a standard HDTV. When the TV is switched off, it vanishes virtually, leaving a faint outline of its subtle perimeter. This perimeter is only noticeable in close range.
These TV mirrors allow comfortable viewing, even in the morning when there’s direct sunlight. They are used in non-bathroom applications such as living rooms, bedrooms, guest rooms, etc. because they are a little darker compared to the usual mirrors.
- V-mirrors. These TV mirrors will surely impress you because of their ability to vanish when switched off. When the TV is switched off, it completely vanishes, and you wouldn’t be able to tell that it’s a TV. Its vanishing technology works best if it’s in a dark environment.
In a lit environment, its reflection is 80 percent as bright as typical mirrors, and its vanishing quality may increase glare. It’s best that you use them in living rooms and bedrooms.
- Spectrum TV mirrors. Spectrum TV mirrors are perfect when used for makeup applications because they have very good reflective surfaces. Therefore, it’s best to place them in bathrooms.
A spectrum TV mirror’s brightness is very high. So, if it’s switched off, it camouflages, so that you would only be able to see a light grey image.
- B-series TV mirrors. These are the most affordable TV mirrors that you can use for guest rooms and bathrooms. So, if you’re looking for a cheaper TV mirror option, then this is the best choice.
These TV mirrors have a reflective mirror surface, and have great brightness quality, without any increase in glare.
These are the 4 types of you can choose from if you’re considering buying a TV mirror. If you want to share content from your computer, smartphone, or tablet to a TV display, you’ll need a mirroring device.
TV Mirror: Screen Mirroring and Media Streaming
Most people confuse screen mirroring from media streaming. Screen mirroring is a lot different from the latter. Knowing their differences will better help you to understand how these two technologies work, and which one fits your needs more.
Screen Mirroring
Screen mirroring enables you to take the full content of your device (tablet or computer), and then send the contents to an external screen. This is achieved by sending it through a wireless connection. If you mirror your phone’s display, you’ll see an exact copy of what’s in your mobile device or computer. If you read an email message or launch an application, it is exactly what will be displayed on the screen. If you’re surfing the internet, your audience will be able to see what you’re doing.
Screen mirroring is very important especially if you’re giving a presentation. That’s because it will help you use the presenter mode on PowerPoint. While your audience watches the presentation, you’ll be able to watch them and also compare them with your notes.
Media Streaming
Unlike screen mirroring, media streaming-only takes a particular content from your device and then sends it to a digital media player. This is achieved by sending it through a wireless connection. Among the most common examples include Netflix shows that you select from your tablet, and then stream them into your TV. This technology allows you to continue using other applications without interrupting the videos.
Media streaming and screen mirroring are both good, and they offer great user experience. Media streaming works best for you if you only want to watch videos without the need to control your shared content. Screen mirroring is the best if you want a solution which facilitates screen sharing as well as collaboration while doing a presentation in meetings.
If you’re unsure of which to choose, always think about what you need. It’s always important to know what your needs are as a user when choosing a type of technology. They both have flexible capabilities that can help in professional environments.
How to choose a TV Mirror
The most important thing to know when choosing a TV mirror is the mirror’s transmission rate or reflectance rate and the brightness of the screen.
Transmission and Reflectance Rate
Transmission rate (T) and reflectance rate (R = 1 – T) are important factors when choosing between TV mirrors. The more reflectance we want our TV mirrors to be when they’re switched off, the lesser the transmission we get for the TVs when they’re switched on. Thus, it’s always kind of a balance. The normal rate of transmissions varies (from 0,3 to 0,7) and it’s conversely equal to the rate of reflectance (from 0,7 to 0,3).
The brightness of the screen
The screen’s brightness is the most important factor in TV mirrors. If you place TV mirrors where there’s ambient daylight, it will be hard to watch or see anything unless you adjust the screen’s brightness. This is why a lot of TV manufacturers use bright panels to achieve the best results in TV mirrors.
TV mirror is a wonderful technology that can help you hide your TV when not in use. It draws attention to your bedroom, bathroom, guest rooms, and other areas at home. There’s a variety of TV mirrors you can choose from, so always consider your needs if you’re considering getting one for your bedroom, living room, guest rooms, etc.
Even if you know the exact transmission or reflectance the TV uses, as well as its screen brightness, it’s very important that you check it’s real performance. You should personally check the performance, or perhaps read some reviews to know more about the TV mirrors.
TV mirrors with the high transmission can lead to problems. It may expose some part of its internal structure such as the internal components and the TV frame. Because of this, your mirror will not look good when the TV is switched off. Lastly, it can cause color shifting problems, depending on your TV’s LCD panel type. To prevent this, make sure to adjust the panel parameters to get the best results.
