What Is the Portable TV and Why Does It Matter?
The Portable TV is classified as a Rare item in Arc Raiders. Its main use is for recycling into crafting materials. While it doesn’t directly increase your combat power or give a special ability, players often underestimate how useful these recyclable items can be for upgrading gear or completing certain crafting objectives.
In practical gameplay, most players treat the Portable TV as a recyclable resource rather than a collectible trophy. If your inventory is tight, it’s worth picking up, because the materials you get from recycling are commonly needed for more advanced blueprints and upgrades.
Where Can You Find Portable TVs?
Portable TVs are typically found in Residential areas. In-game, these are scattered across various maps, often inside abandoned homes or apartments. From my experience, the spawn rate is consistent but not overwhelming—expect to find one per small residential block.
Players often ask whether it’s worth clearing entire neighborhoods just for these items. The reality is that a single sweep of a residential area usually yields one or two TVs. So unless you are farming for recycling materials specifically, it’s best to pick them up opportunistically rather than going out of your way.
How Do You Recycle or Salvage a Portable TV?
Understanding the difference between recycling and salvaging is key. Recycling gives more materials but destroys the item, while salvaging gives fewer materials but may leave the item intact in some quests.
Here’s what happens in practice:
Recycling a Portable TV yields:
2 Batteries
6 Wires
Salvaging a Portable TV yields:
4 Wires
In practical gameplay, most players prefer recycling because the extra materials—especially batteries—are hard to come by early in the game. Batteries are used in multiple crafting blueprints, so having a steady supply is helpful.
If you are playing with a team, it’s common to assign one player to collect these recyclables while others focus on mission objectives. That way, you maximize efficiency without slowing down the main quest.
How Do Players Usually Handle the Quest?
The Portable TV quest is not a standalone mission but more of a scavenging objective. Here’s how players approach it:
Scout residential areas first, marking buildings likely to spawn the item.
Collect Portable TVs opportunistically as you go through other objectives—don’t waste time running back and forth across the map.
Recycle immediately if you need batteries or wires for crafting. Many players keep a small stockpile for crafting upgrades and then turn in remaining TVs at specific quest checkpoints.
Balance inventory space—Portable TVs weigh 3 units each, so carrying more than a few can start to clog your inventory if you are also collecting other scavenged items.
In practice, efficiency comes from not over-prioritizing the quest. Focus on completing missions while collecting TVs as a side objective.
Can You Buy or Skip Farming for Materials?
Some players prefer shortcuts. For example, if you’re looking to get the components quickly without relying on RNG spawns in residential zones, you can
buy Arc Raiders blueprints from U4N. These blueprints sometimes come with necessary components or recipes that let you bypass the scavenging grind. This is especially helpful for late-game crafting when you need multiple high-value materials at once.
Using a blueprint-based approach changes how you prioritize scavenging. You might still pick up a Portable TV occasionally, but you won’t be dependent on it for crafting progress.
Tips for Efficient Collection
Based on common player behavior, here are practical tips for handling the Portable TV quest:
Plan your route: Focus on clusters of residential buildings to minimize travel time.
Check rooftops and interiors: Some players miss TVs that spawn on higher floors or near windows.
Recycle strategically: Don’t recycle if you’re saving for a specific quest that requires intact items.
Team coordination: If you’re in a multiplayer session, assign one teammate to handle recyclables while others focus on combat or mission tasks.
Inventory management: Keep only a few Portable TVs at a time. You’ll want space for higher-priority loot.
Practical Takeaways
Portable TVs are Rare, recyclable items found mainly in Residential areas.
Recycling is generally better than salvaging if your goal is crafting materials.
Don’t over-prioritize this quest; gather items opportunistically while completing other missions.
Players can skip some of the grind by using blueprints from U4N to access materials directly.
Coordination and route planning save time and inventory space.
By understanding how the Portable TV works in practice, you can make better decisions in scavenging, crafting, and inventory management. Unlike flashy combat loot, these small recyclable items quietly support long-term progress in Arc Raiders. Efficient players treat them as tools, not trophies, and that mindset can save hours of grinding over time.
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