For starters, American TVs use a different electrical standard, with the two common voltages being 120 volts (60 Hz) and 240 volts (60 Hz) — mostly the former — versus Europe's standard 230 volts (50 Hz). The American and European electrical plugs also look different, along with the electrical outlets. U.S. TVs typically use a flat Type A or B plug, while European TVs use a pronged Type C, E, F, or G plug. That's because each country uses different frequency bands for cellular, radio, and TV — that's also why you need a compatible cell phone or smartphone when traveling, though most modern phones are designed to accommodate this. This is unlike other electronics — for instance, European Samsung Galaxy S26 devices are built differently from American ones.