Will My Samsung TV Work In Europe?

person watching TV with feet upperson watching TV with feet up

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

It doesn’t matter if you’re moving to Europe, studying abroad or just going on vacation, you can rest assured about being able to watch your Samsung TV. Most people really enjoy watching TV to relax or in their down time. You may be planning a trip and wondering if you can take your Samsung TV with you. 

Your TV will work in Europe as long as you purchase an adapter to convert the voltage. You must convert it from 120 volts (US) to 240 volts (Europe). After doing this you can easily stream your content using apps such as Netflix and Hulu on your TV. If you decide you’d rather have a cable that requires a little more effort and you will need an HDMI video format converter to convert the format of your TV. 

In this article, we’ll tell you why your Samsung TV will probably work in Europe, and some reasons why it might not. In addition, you’ll learn why taking your TV to Europe might not be such a good idea. 

Things To Consider About Your TV

When considering if your television will work in Europe there are a few things you should consider first. You should check the electrical system and the signal transmission. If there are types of electrical differences then you can easily fix this by purchasing an adapter/converter. If there are signal transmission differences this can be harder and make it difficult for your US TV to work and not be useful in Europe. 

If you have a Samsung smart TV and you don’t care about watching local TV and you’re fine with watching apps such as Netflix or Hulu then an adapter will work just fine and should be all that you need. You can use an internet connection for your TV to stream via an app to your television. 

It is possible you may not be able to access all smart TV apps but it shouldn’t be a big issue. If you do prefer to watch local TV instead of an app then you will likely need an HDMI video format converter. Having this will convert the format to NTSC which is what is needed in Europe. 

Before bringing your TV to Europe, be sure to keep in mind: 

  • Electrical issues
  • Voltage differences 
  • Frequency changes

Electrical Differences

Considering Europe is a different country you can imagine things are different there than they are in the US. This means even the plugs are different. Europe has two rounded prongs whereas the United States has two flat prongs. This is a simple fix though, all you need is an adapter. The adapter will convert your US plug so that it is shaped like the European outlet and will fit in the correct plug. 

Voltage

Voltage is what makes electrical charges move and allows your TV to work. In the US most appliances run on 120 volts. In Europe appliances run on 240 volts. If you were to plug your US TV into a European outlet, more than likely you will destroy your TV for good and it will no longer work. To fix the voltage issue all you need is a converter. This will basically convert the voltage to your TV from 120 volts to 240 volts as this is what’s needed for your TV to work correctly. 

When you purchase a converter it will ensure that your television receives the correct voltage. You shouldn’t just purchase any converter though, you should make sure to purchase a quality one that can handle the power output of your TV. A good and inexpensive converter can handle up to 500 watts and will solve the conversion issue. You can find an affordable option here.

Frequency 

The frequency in Europe is different from what it is in the US. Power in the United States and Europe is both Alternating Currents also called Hertz. The typical power frequency in Europe is 50 Hertz whereas in the US it is 60 Hertz. The power frequency difference luckily isn’t a big deal for Samsung TV’s as their power supplies can handle this difference pretty easily. 

If the voltage remains correct then it won’t cause any damage to your television. One thing it can affect is the picture quality of your TV. This can impact the quality and sometimes make it difficult to watch, although your TV will still function. 

Conclusion

Most of the time it isn’t recommended to take your TV with you from the US when moving to Europe. Shipping costs are extremely expensive and oftentimes just not worth it to pay that fee to ship your TV overseas. It’s not impossible though and if you’re determined to take your Samsung TV with you there are simple solutions to make your television work properly in Europe. 

You can purchase an adapter or converter and that should be a solution. Samsung TV’s are great to own and you probably want to keep them with you while on your adventure to a new country. 

Keep Reading