Which TV Brands Last the Longest? [2023]
Shopping for a TV can be pretty difficult, considering the number of TV brands and their numerous products in the market. While many consumers focus on the design and audio, they forget to check one essential factor: durability.
However, it’s not easy identifying the longest-lasting TV brands. For this reason, our experts will list TV brands with an amazing lifespan.
Top TV Brands That Can Withstand the Test of Time
Not all TV brands are durable. If you plan on spending hours in front of your TV, you must purchase one that has an excellent lifespan. These are the best durable TV brands currently.
1. Samsung
Samsung is arguably the most popular brand globally and the de facto leading company in consumer electronics. Samsung TVs are costly but best rated due to the number of features. Samsung TVs feature QLED technology that offers bright and high-quality images with good contrast.
QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode) utilizes quantum dots or tiny particles to create clean light that emits pictures. So, you can enjoy watching your HD movies seamlessly.
(For brand comparison, you can check how we pitted Samsung TV against TCL here)
2. Sony
Sony is another electronics manufacturing giant that produces reliable TVs with excellent features. While Sony doesn’t use QLED like their Samsung counterparts, the company makes use of OLED. OLED technology produces sharper images with good contrast.
OLED technology emits its light, allowing more light control on the screen. This makes Sony TVs’ picture quality unique.
(If you want to know how Sony compares with other brands, you can check our detailed comparison of Sony X950H vs Samsung Q80T here)
If you are an ardent gamer, LG TVs are your ideal choice. LG produces premium-quality TVs that make use of the latest technology for superb picture clarity. Like Sony, LG uses Organic LED technology, so you should expect a perfect contrast and quality display.
Most importantly, you should expect products made by this brand to last for a long time.
4. Panasonic
Some consumers vote Panasonic as the longest-lasting TV brand in the market. This brand has been around for decades. Panasonic TVs feature an extensive color pallet, good contrast output, and an OLED panel that creates theater-like displays.
See Also: Best 85-Inch TVs
Contributing Factors to a TV’s Longevity
A TV’s longevity is based on several factors. An exceptionally-looking TV with a large resolution may not have a good lifespan. Below are the factors that contribute to a TV’s longevity.
As our technical engineers mentioned, TV brands with the highest longevity are Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic. However, you can find other affordable brands that could give you several years of use if well maintained. These brands include Sharp and Vizio.
Technology
TVs use specific technologies to emit pictures. These technologies directly impact the longevity of the TV. Most TVs in the market use LCD and LED technology to emit light.
LEDs tend to be better because the light-emitting diodes create clearer images [1].
LED comes in two parts for Samsung TVs: OLED and QLED. OLED TVs have an excellent lifespan and offer a better colorful display than QLED. According to our TV professionals, most of these TVs last for between five to seven years.
Construction
The build quality contributes to the product’s longevity. A TV built with low-quality components will fade in no time. On the other hand, a TV constructed with quality components would last for several years.
Maintenance
Regardless of how well constructed or technologically advanced a TV is, it might not last beyond a few years if you don’t maintain it well. Maintenance is necessary for increasing the lifespan of your TVs. Ensure you clean it, switch it off when not in use, and reduce the backlight.
(For affordable options, here is also our list of high-quality Westinghouse TVs you can consider)
How to Extend Your TV’s Lifespan: Tips and Reminders
You wouldn’t want to replace a TV you bought for hundreds of dollars after some months to a year of use.
While no one expects their TVs to last for a lifetime, you can at least extend their lifespan. Here are some tips and reminders you should have in mind.
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Set your TV to Energy Saving to minimize energy. Don’t expect the picture quality to be clear when in this mode. -
If you can’t change the TV’s mode, modify the brightness level. You can do this by simply changing the setting to “Home.” -
Don’t install the TV in a sunny environment or near heat-generating pieces of equipment. The heat and rays could affect the TV components. -
Keep your TV in a properly ventilated environment. -
Don’t place the TV too close to the ground to prevent specks of dust from entering the TV.
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Your TV could explode when an unexpected power surge occurs. Therefore, you need to use a voltage regulator. -
Switch off your TV when you are not watching instead of leaving it on standby.
Conclusion
Your TV’s durability is a vital factor you must consider during a purchase. If you want a TV that will stand the test of time, our technical team recommends these longest-lasting TV brands.
These brands aren’t only known for their longevity but design and latest feature offerings. With the maintenance tips listed here, you can even get more years out of your TV.
The 5 Most Reliable TV Brands Ranked (2023)
If you’ve been spending hours trying to troubleshoot your TV or dealing with stressful warranty claims, you may be wondering what the most reliable TV brands are.
Or maybe you’ve been perfectly happy with your current set and are just looking to upgrade, but want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck.
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Instead of talking about pixel density and quantum dot technology, I’ll cover the one topic that matters more than any other: Will your new TV continue working for years to come, or not?
Considering that the average household uses their TV for 25 hours each week, investing in a brand that is going to be reliable isn’t just a smart investment, it’s one that will pay off day after (hassle-free) day.
That’s why I have compiled a list of the 5 most reliable TV brands available now to help you make your decision!
I’ve taken into account not only overall reliability, but also the warranty and repair process. Because if you do run into a problem, having a solid warranty and repair experience is key to having a stress-free experience.
Let’s get right into it!
Table of Contents
Most Reliable TV Brands
The most reliable TV brands tend to be those that produce millions of units every year and have a large service presence, such as LG, Sony, Samsung, Hisense, and Vizio.
These brands boast higher build quality, a longer lifespan, and a better-than-average service experience when things do go wrong.
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Most Reliable TV Overall |
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Most Reliable Sports TV |
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Most Reliable High-End TV |
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Most Reliable Budget TV |
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Most Reliable Gaming TV |
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5Most Reliable TV Overall
LG C2 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo Smart TV
4.8
$1,499.99$1,296.99
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Sports TV
Sony X90J 50 Inch TV: BRAVIA XR Full Array LED 4K Ultra HD
4.5
$798.00
View on Amazon
Most Reliable High-End TV
SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
4.3
$647.99
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Budget TV
Hisense 55-Inch Class R6 Series Dolby Vision HDR 4K UHD Roku Smart TV
3.5
$599.99$459.37
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Gaming TV
VIZIO 50-Inch M-Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV
3.
3
$469.98$343.99
View on Amazon
06/28/2023 03:02 am GMT
In order to come up with this list, I analyzed the number of consumer complaints about each brand between 2012 and 2022 from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
I also looked at predicted reliability and owner satisfaction for each TV brand on leading professional review sites. And I cross-referenced those findings with thousands of individual customer ratings to come up with a truly comprehensive look at overall reliability.
In total, I analyzed hundreds of TV models and spent over 40 hours reading through warranty documents, repair statistics, and customer experiences. And while other articles on Reset Anything may use affiliate links, there are no affiliate links anywhere in this article.
This article exists solely to help you end up with a television you’re happy with for years to come.
I scored each brand according to two separate factors, described below. You can also skip to the #1 pick or see a list of the top 5 brands and the TVs that received top marks in reliability.
Overall ReliabilityAdvertisements
To determine the overall reliability score, I calculated the number of complaints over the last ten years across all the TV brands in the data set. This score accounts for both how frequently the brand receives complaints and how serious those complaints are.
Service & Warranty Options
No one ever wants their TV to experience a problem, but let’s face it — even the most reliable brand can run into the occasional issues. This score takes into account how easy it would be to repair a defective television set, length of the warranty, if extended coverage options are available, and what the repair experience is like.
The Top Five Television Brands Ranked
I then added up all of the scores to create a final ranking and give you an unbiased view of the most reliable TV brands going into 2023.
1. LG
Most Reliable — Overall
Overall Reliability
Service & Warranty
Summary
LG secures the top spot as the most reliable TV brand going into 2023 thanks to a generous 2-year standard warranty, a low failure rate, and exceptional build quality.
LG recently passed a major milestone, celebrating over 500 million television sets sold worldwide.
That depth of experience has clearly translated into solid product quality and a best-in-class service network, helping to propel LG to the top of the list of the most reliable TV brands.
Not only did LG receive the highest score in owner satisfaction, it also received the fewest overall number of complaints. The issues that customers did encounter tended to be minor and they were addressed quickly, without the need to escalate the issue in order to get it resolved.
Like most manufacturer’s these days, there were reports of LG being unable to provide service to malfunctioning TVs because of a shortage of parts. However, I gave them high marks for offering full credit to replace the TV with a new unit in these situations.Advertisements
LG Service & Warranty Options
While most other manufacturers only offer a 1-year standard warranty, LG stands above the rest by offering an additional year of protection at no extra cost.
Their customer service in 2022 was highly rated by owners, as was the repair process.
Like most standard warranties, LG’s only covers defects in workmanship. If you want your TV set to be covered against accidental damage or power surges, you have the option of purchasing LG Premium Care, an extended warranty serviced by Asurion that includes accidental damage coverage.
It’s available in 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year periods, and can cost anywhere from $99 to $189 depending on the model and length of coverage. You get access to a simple website to submit claims and can even schedule in-home repairs by selecting a date and time that’s convenient for you.
As an additional benefit, LG also allows you to split the extended warranty cost into three equal payments. This can make it even easier to afford.
I was particularly impressed by the C2 OLED TV. LG took their popular C1 OLED model from 2021 and refined it, which means one thing in particular — the C2 boasts improved reliability thanks to many of the issues being resolved in the previous generation.
It comes in a range of sizes from 42″ to 83″, with middle-of-the-pack 65″ version weighing only 37 pounds with the base. Most comparable TVs weigh 50% more than that.
That’s incredibly light for any TV and it makes the C2 easier to install, easier to move around, and easier to access for troubleshooting or repair. Add to that a fantastic picture quality, depth of color, and a range of premium features, and the C2 OLED is one TV that should definitely be on your list.
It’s not a particularly cheap TV — the 65″ C2 will set you back about $1,696 as of this writing — but if you’re looking for a high-end screen that will last for years to come and provide excellent picture and sound quality to boot, it’s one of the best options available today.
Watch CNET’s review below if you want to learn more.
(You can also rest assured that I have a complete guide to resetting your LG TV in case you run into any trouble!)
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Most Reliable LG TV
LG C2 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo Smart TV OLED55C2PUA, 2022 – AI-Powered 4K TV, Alexa Built-in
LG secures the top spot as the most reliable TV brand in 2023 thanks to a generous 2-year standard warranty, a low failure rate, and exceptional build quality.
The second-generation C2 TV is extremely lightweight and its OLED screen is brighter and more reliable.
Check Price
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2. Sony
Most Reliable — Sports TVs
Overall Reliability
Service & Warranty
Summary
Sony’s legendary reliability, color accuracy, and an extensive service network make it an easy choice — especially if you plan to use the TV for watching sports or other fast-moving video.
Sony is well-known for producing outstanding picture quality and resolution. The brand’s long track record along with overall high marks for reliability put it in second place in this list.
Sony has recently switched operating systems and most of their sets now come with Google TV embedded, which could be a plus or a minus depending on where you stand on that particular software.
The most common issues experienced by Sony owners were internet connection issues, main board failures, and the unit randomly turning itself on.
These issues most commonly appear around the 8-14 month mark, which may put them outside the standard 1-year warranty.
In my opinion, reports of these issues were common enough to recommend purchasing an extended warranty to ensure that any issues you run into after the first year will get resolved.
Which brings us to…
Sony Service & Warranty Options
Sony actually offers two types of extended warranties, giving a little extra flexibility.
Adding Sony Protect will simply extend the original manufacturer’s warranty. You can choose a 2-year or 4-year coverage period, giving you up to a 5-year total manufacturer’s warranty.
Sony Protect Plus is the more expensive option, but it also includes coverage for accidents and power surges. This is going to be best for households that move around a lot, have children or pets, or who are just good at breaking things (like me).
The extended warranty with accident coverage is also available for either a 2- or 4-year period.
(You may be starting to sense a theme here.)
A 2-year extended warranty with Sony Protect Plus—which includes accident coverage—for a typical 65″ Sony TV would cost you about $279.99. Compare that to Sony Protect, which would cost just $189.99 for the same period.
That’s slightly more expensive than rivals like LG or Samsung, but if you plan to use your TV a lot or just want the extra peace of mind, it may be worth the extra cost.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Most Reliable Sony TV
Sony X90J 50 Inch TV: BRAVIA XR Full Array LED 4K Ultra HD
Sony’s legendary reliability, color accuracy, and an extensive service network make it an easy choice — especially if you plan to use the TV for watching sports or other fast-moving video. The X90J finds a nice balance between Sony’s XR processor, brilliant brightness and color contrast, and reliability.
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I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
3. Samsung
Most Reliable — High-End TVs
Overall Reliability
Service & Warranty
Summary
Samsung has been making waves in the premium TV segment, incorporating cutting-edge technology without sacrificing much in the way of reliability.
Samsung is another household brand that routinely receives high marks among both professional reviewers and owners alike.
In particular, Samsung has been focusing on the high-end TV category, rolling out specialty models like the Samsung Frame, which acts as a TV when turned on and an art frame when turned off.
These advancements have made Samsung a very popular brand, but they have also created a number of problems. For example, the first generation Samsung Frame TV suffered from a number of quality control issues.
In fact, inconsistent quality is a top complaint for Samsung in general. That can become an issue when you are paying premium for cutting-edge features, so if you’re willing to invest in a Samsung, I suggest exploring one of their extended warranties.
That said, if you want the absolute best TV with the most advanced features, Samsung should be a very strong contender.
Samsung Service & Warranty Options
Like all other brands on this list with the exception of LG, Samsung offers a standard 1-year warranty that covers parts and labor.
You can purchase an extended warranty as well for either a 2-year or 4-year period. That brings it in line with Sony.
However, unlike Sony, Samsung only offers one warranty service called Samsung Care Plus that includes accident protection.
Brace yoruself, though, because the coverage can get a bit pricey, with most models landing anywhere from $197.99 for two years of protection all the way up to $269.99 for four years of protection.
I’ve also written up a complete guide to resetting your Samsung TV, so if you ever do run into a problem, you know where to go for troubleshooting advice.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Most Reliable Samsung TV
SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
Samsung has been making 4k TVs for over a decade, which translates to great reliability and vibrant picture.
The Crystal line is available in a range of sizes at an affordable price.
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4. Hisense
Most Reliable — Budget TVs
Overall Reliability
Service & Warranty
Summary
Hisense may not be a TV brand you’re as familiar with as LG, Sony, or Samsung, but it boasts high customer satisfaction at extremely affordable prices.
Hisense doesn’t carry the same street cred as the others we’ve looked at so far, but it’s one worth paying attention to.
This brand has seen its popularity explode in 2022 thanks to its overall affordability and a high rate of owner satisfaction.
The brand received high marks for ease of use and the consistency of quality across its lineup. Unlike the brands we’ve looked at up until now, Hisense tends to avoid a lot of the more advanced options that let you customize picture quality.
That may sound like a downside, but if you’re someone who just wants a good picture with a minimum amount of hassle, it could be a blessing in disguise.
It’s almost impossible to mess up the settings and most Hisense TVs will work flawless out of the box for years to come, since there are fewer things that can go wrong.
Hisense Service & Warranty Options
Hisense only offers a 1-year standard warranty with no options to extend that.
That’s a problem, because my research revealed a pattern of issues happening around the 2-year mark that could be extremely annoying if not fixed. The most common problems reported by owners were with the motion blur (especially noticeable in fast-moving scenes) and unreliable color accuracy.
Hisense was also dinged in the rankings due to multiple reports of spotty warranty service. Some owners complained about being directed to contact a repair technician hours away from their location with no upfront guarantee of a resolution or how long it might take.
Remember what I was saying earlier about the perks of going with a brand that has built out a large service presence? This is where it starts to matter.
That said, Hisense has made strides in recent years and is catching up to better-known rivals like TCL and LG. In the budget category, there’s almost no competition that is as reliable as Hisense or boasts such high satisfaction rates among owners.
If you’re looking for a specific recommendation, I liked what owners had to say about the Hisense 55-inch Class R6 ($309.99 on Amazon as of this writing). It’s one of the best-selling and best-rated TVs on Amazon, receiving an average of 4.5 stars out of 5 from over 1,000 customer reviews.
YouTuber Andrew Robinson has put together a fantastic review of this TV if you’re curious to learn more.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Most Reliable Hisense TV
Hisense 55-Inch Class R6 Series Dolby Vision HDR 4K UHD Roku Smart TV
The R6 Series is quickly developing a reputation for solid picture quality, user-friendliness, and reliability—all for a surprisingly great value.
Check Price
I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
5. Vizio
Most Reliable — Gaming TVs
Overall Reliability
Service & Warranty
Summary
Last (but certainly not least), Vizio gets high marks for owner satisfaction across its lineup and some models even come with a three-year warranty.
Arriving fashionably late but in just in time to round out this list is Vizio, which earned the final spot based on solid customer satisfaction ratings and slightly higher-than-average reliability scores.
This year Vizio celebrates 20 years of manufacturing and selling TVs in the US. After briefly experimenting with more novel formats, such as the 59” Cinemawide TV, the brand has now consolidated its lineup to just 5 different series.
This gives the brand a distinct advantage, because with simplicity comes reliability. It’s much easier to produce five different models with a high degree of quality control than it is to produce twenty-five different models (and all their accompanying sizes).
Such streamlining of its television line has also helped the brand to rebound somewhat since it lost Consumer Reports’ recommendation over reliability issues (along with our #4 pick, Hisense).
And although Vizio made up just 3% of the US television market in 2022, it’s still a decent pick for anyone looking for a budget-friendly TV with decent reliability, quality control, and color accuracy. This brand can be an especially good choice for people looking for a decent gaming TV at a price that won’t make your eyes water.
Vizio Service & Warranty Options
Vizio’s score in this category was dragged down by a somewhat limited service network and a lack of extended warranty options.
Vizio offers a standard 1-year warranty and even extends that to 3 years for some models. But it’s difficult to determine which model receives that extended coverage, and some customers reported feeling like they had been misled by sales representatives.
Like with Hisense, I recommend adding at least a two-year extended warranty if you’re planning to purchase a Vizio TV.
Depending on which retailer you go to, you can purchase extra protection with Geek Squad Protection (available at Best Buy), Asurion (available from Amazon), or a third-party provider like Upsie.
Like the other brands on this list, I have also prepared a complete reset guide for Vizio. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but you know where to find it if you do!
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Most Reliable Vizio TV
VIZIO 50-Inch M-Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV
The M-Series gives you access to 4k picture quality, a fast 120-Hz refresh rate, and improved color contrast all at an impressive value.
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I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ConclusionAdvertisements
We live in a golden age of television with nearly endless options and features. But if you’re looking for a TV set that is going to last for years to come, here is your list:
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Most Reliable TV Overall |
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Most Reliable Sports TV |
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Most Reliable High-End TV |
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Most Reliable Budget TV |
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Most Reliable Gaming TV |
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8
98$343.99Most Reliable TV Overall
LG C2 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo Smart TV
4.8
$1,499.99$1,296.99
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Sports TV
Sony X90J 50 Inch TV: BRAVIA XR Full Array LED 4K Ultra HD
4.5
$798.00
View on Amazon
Most Reliable High-End TV
SAMSUNG 55-Inch Class Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
4.3
$647.99
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Budget TV
Hisense 55-Inch Class R6 Series Dolby Vision HDR 4K UHD Roku Smart TV
3.5
$599.99$459.37
View on Amazon
Most Reliable Gaming TV
VIZIO 50-Inch M-Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV
3.3
$469.98$343.99
View on Amazon
06/28/2023 03:02 am GMT
Total
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Chinese TVs: A Guide to Leading Brands
Venerable brands like Samsung, LG and Sony are rightfully considered leaders in TV production and new technologies.
But on their heels comes an armada of “tells” from the Middle Kingdom. Some of them compete almost on an equal footing with the sharks of the industry, while others bribe with a tasty price / product quality ratio. How do Chinese TVs perform and which brands are better to give preference to? Let’s clarify.
In the arena of televisions, well-promoted international brands with one bold “but” are fully exploited – their right holders are no longer engaged in the development, manufacture and maintenance of TV sets, but provide licenses for production of products to other companies. Most of them are concentrated in the mighty Celestial Empire, where the development departments and TV assembly lines are located. Many do not even know about the Chinese “breed” of some popular TV brands. And opens the TOP of “stars of the first magnitude” from the Celestial Empire, the well-known brand Philips.
Stars of the first magnitude:
Philips
The Dutch company Philips stopped making TVs at its own production sites in 2010.
The rights to the brand were taken over by the Chinese company TP Vision. At its factories, the assembly of Philips “teles” has been established.
Transition under the wing of TP Vision benefited Philips. The brand keeps up with the mastodons of the industry and produces high-quality TVs with screens based on both simple matrices and flagship panels such as OLED and MiniLED. The highlight of Philips TVs is Ambilight , a proprietary backlight that visually expands the boundaries of the broadcast image by illuminating the wall behind the device in those tones of the color palette that prevail on the corresponding side of the screen while watching content.
| Ambilight is the highlight of Philips TVs. |
Philips flagships are powered by the Android TV operating system with built-in Google Assistant, the smart ins and outs of the base-level TVs are revealed by the home-grown SAPHI system, an easy-to-use shell that provides viewers with access to over-the-air, cable and satellite broadcasting, online cinemas, own gallery of applications.
Finally, the simplest Philips TV sets with screen sizes of 32 and 43 inches are supplied without Smart TV at all.
Xiaomi
At the facilities of Xiaomi, a huge list of electronics and smart home appliances is assembled. Smart TVs of the brand are very popular due to the winning combination of price and functional qualities. All of them are based on the Android TV software platform, which provides access to online media libraries, streaming services and an extensive application registry.
| In terms of equipment and functional charge, Xiaomi TVs compete on equal terms with TOPs from the category of smart TVs. |
Xiaomi’s portfolio has a suitable TV offer for any wallet thickness – from the budget TV series 4A with a 32-inch HD screen to the Mi TV Q1 line with QLED panels that support HDR10 +, HLG and Dolby Vision. The top Xiaomi acoustic subsystem works with Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound formats.
The Redmi sub-brand TV panels stand apart in the Xiaomi squad. The crown of their evolution is the 98-inch Redmi Smart TV Max, intended to be used as a screen when deploying home theater systems.
Xiaomi TVs
TCL
TCL, headquartered in Huangzhou, has complete production cycles for the production of TVs. Its products are presented in the budget, medium and pre-top segments of television technology. Screens for TV panels of the brand are produced at China Star Optoelectronics Technology’s own factory. From there they travel to other production sites of the company in Poland, Vietnam, India and other countries. TCL buys QLED matrices for pre-top TVs from Samsung.
| TCL is one of the largest manufacturers of TVs on a global scale on the Android TV hardware and software platform. |
The operating system for TCL TVs is Android TV , which provides convenient access to streaming services, global and home network resources, and files on USB media.
TCL also manages the popular Thomson TV brand, under the sign of which mainly low-end models are produced. Hisense
At home, Hisense is a significant player in the field of consumer electronics and home appliances. TVs of the brand are presented on store shelves under their own brand and the Toshiba brand – the Chinese company has owned the corresponding license since 2017. Hisense’s original TV panels overwhelmingly rely on the homegrown VIDAA operating system, and there are also brand TVs based on the Android TV operating system. Toshiba TVs also work on Android.
| Hisense owns the rights to use the Toshiba brand in TV production. |
The main suppliers of TV screens for the brand are InnoLux Corporation and AUO. These are mid-range panels, often with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. There are also advanced QLED TVs in the Hisense product park, which are an order of magnitude cheaper than TVs from A-brands.
An interesting fact. From 2015 to 2019, Hisense produced Sharp TVs for the US market. However, due to the decline in the quality of end products and the discrediting of the name of a well-known brand in the past, an agreement was reached for the buyback of the TV business by Sharp.
Strong middle class TVs from China:
Skyworth
Electronics manufacturer Skyworth is headquartered in China’s Silicon Valley. According to the GFK agency, the company occupies a leading position in the domestic market of the Celestial Empire in the production of LED and OLED TVs. The domestic market mainly sells entry-level and middle-class Skyworth TV panels from the “TOP for your money” category.
| Android TV is the backbone of Skyworth TV software. |
Skyworth smart TVs are equipped with sufficiently high-quality FullHD and 4K panels. The brand’s ultra-thin TVs based on the Android TV operating system are the most popular.
Skyworth premium models are equipped with 10-bit matrices with the ability to display over 1 billion colors and support for HDR10, HDR10 +, HLG, Dolby Vision formats. 9Realme 0003
Realme is a relatively new name in the firmament of global electronics manufacturers. De facto, the brand is owned by the parent company OPPO. The first pair of Realme TVs rolled out in 2020. They belong to the lower segment of the market , however, they work out their value for a solid “five”.
| The first-born Realme released with screens of 32 and 43 inches diagonally. |
TVs of the brand use the Android TV operating system with pre-installed Google Play Market app store. Initially, the Realme TV range includes one 32-inch HD TV and one 43-inch (Full HD) TV panel. The brand’s TVs are equipped with a built-in Chromecast player and have acquired support for the Google Assistant voice assistant.
BBK
BBK Electronics was founded in 1995 to capture the emerging market of the CIS countries. An important article of the brand’s profit is formed by televisions. By the way, the aforementioned Realme TVs are the products of OPPO’s subsidiary, which operates under the wing of BBK Electronics. The original TVs of the brand have occupied a niche in the budget segment and are confidently afloat in it.
The most affordable BBK TV sets come without a pre-installed Smart TV platform. Models of a higher rank are often presented with custom firmware for smart Android operating systems in the manner of Yandex.TV, Wildred, etc.
Haier
At the dawn of its formation, the Chinese company Haier specialized in refrigeration equipment. With the expansion of the list of manufactured products, the brand portfolio was replenished with relatively inexpensive TVs. Haier appliances do not make claims for leadership qualities and are spinning in the budget echelon of TV panels with support for Smart TV , being a worthy competitor to other popular entry-level models.
| Haier TVs run on a pure Android TV operating system. |
Haier TVs are based on pure Android TV operating system. Out of the box, viewers have access to the main Google branded services, including YouTube, a built-in browser and a rich Play Market app store. Regular software updates and Chromecast support are also guaranteed. The remote control for brand TVs is often equipped with a built-in microphone for voice control and variable work with Google Assistant.
Haier televisions
Third tier brands:
Blaupunkt
The once popular German audio brand Blaupunkt was controlled by Bosch-Siemens until 2008. With the transition under the control of the Aurelius AG investment group, Blaupunkt assembly lines were moved to factories in the Middle Kingdom, which affected the quality of products. Yes, so much so that in 2016 the “shop was closed” – conveyors stopped at the factories, and the staff was dismissed.
| The German brand Blaupunkt originated almost 100 years ago, but modern TVs from it have nothing to do with Germany for a long time. |
Modern Blaupunkt TVs are assembled from cheap Chinese components by various companies – the rights to use the brand are provided by GIP Development SARL. For example, TV sets from the budget Blaupunkt segment come to our market mainly from the Czech Republic. The undeniable positive quality of the brand’s smart TVs is a full-fledged Android TV system with support for voice search and Chromecast broadcasting.
Kivi
Inexpensive smart TVs Kivi systematically capture the TOPs in sales in the budget arena of TV devices. A young company registered in the Netherlands uses the production facilities of China’s Shenzhen MTC Co. Ltd , which manufactures various custom electronics in its factories.
Kivi “tells” quickly broke into the market and firmly established themselves in the TOPs in sales.
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Kivi brand TVs are equipped with simple screens, a clean Android TV system, Google Assistant virtual assistant. The resolution of the brand’s TV displays ranges from modest HD Ready (1366×768 pixels) to highly detailed 4K (3840×2160 pixels). On store shelves, you can find both small “kitchen” Kivi TVs with screen sizes of 24 inches diagonally, and suitable solutions for a bedroom or living room with 55-inch displays.
Kivi TVs
Asano
The assortment of the Asian brand Asano is represented by both simple TV models at an affordable price, and devices with popular Smart TV technology. The “smart” subsystem based on the “OS” Android opens up wide multimedia opportunities for the audience, including access to network content storage and streaming services.
The final assembly of Asano TVs was made from Chinese components at the factories of the Horizont holding in Belarus. A similar situation is developing in the Russian market with a whole armada of other TV brands – in the domestic open spaces there are factories producing TV sets BQ, JVC, HARPER, Hyundai, Polar, Supra, Vekta, Vityas and others.
Grunhelm
Cheap TVs are one of many profits for the Grunhelm brand with industrial sites in China. The company has been able to achieve acceptable product quality without having to raise the price of its televisions excessively. But nothing extraordinary can be expected from the TV panels of the brand – these are quite ordinary models from the initial strata of the smart TV society or TV sets without a Smart TV system at all.
Ergo
The Ergo company comes from Ukraine, although at first it tried to hide it in every possible way. The brand’s products are assembled in China and Turkey, featuring a fairly high quality and affordable pricing. This combination of factors determines the brand’s success among consumer segments. Ergo TVs are armed with screens with a resolution of up to 4K (3840×2160 pixels), practical air guns, and their work is organized under the leadership of the Android smart system.
Liberton
All products of the Ukrainian brand of household appliances Liberton are assembled in China.
TVs of the brand were no exception to the rule – inexpensive smart TVs with an Android shell adapted to work on large screens . How about “big”? The lion’s share of “tells” Liberton is available in a size grid from 32 to 43 inches. Models with a 55-inch display caliber, and even with a 4K frame resolution, are already a rarity for the brand.
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Ceteris paribus, Chinese TVs completely outperform competitors in matters of product cost. There is definitely no need to be afraid of the current “Chinese”. The main thing is to approach the choice of a TV wisely and with the right prioritization. Need an ultra-budget TV with Smart TV? Please, there are a lot of options. Need a flagship TV with a newfangled QLED panel as a screen? And such a model will be selected without problems.
Loewe TV sets “Made in Germany”
12/29/2018
Loewe is well known in Russia as a manufacturer of premium TVs with original design and excellent image quality.
But how many people know that the company worked for the Luftwaffe, made electronics for BMW and released the first commercial television?
We visited the factory located in Kronach, Germany and are ready to share our impressions about the history of this, without a doubt, an outstanding brand, and how Loewe equipment is assembled today.
For starters, a little history.
Loewe (read “Löwe”) is the surname of the founding brothers of the company, but it did not receive such a name right away. It all started back in 1923 in Berlin, when Radiophon was founded, one of the owners of which was the engineer David Ludwig Loewe. The company was engaged in the development and production of electronics related to radio transmission. In March 1923, a device transmitting music and voice was demonstrated to the President of Germany, as a result of which the era of civilian broadcasting began in Germany (until then it was the prerogative of the military) and the first transmission was made in October of the same year.
In the same year, the company was completely taken over by the Loewe brothers (Sigmund Loewe became the second owner) – the name was changed to Radiofrequenz GmbH. The company became very successful in manufacturing and marketing radios for civilian use. At 19In 25, the company not only produces radio receivers, but also many components: speakers and resistors, radio tubes and other components.
All this is sold under a single brand – Loewe-Radio.
But the company didn’t limit itself to just researching radio transmission technologies—engineers were actively studying TV technologies. In 1929, Fernseh AG was founded, whose goal was to produce commercial televisions. The first televisions were shown at the Berlin exhibition (now called IFA) at 1932 and 1933. For the 1936 Olympic Games, special pavilions were created, where sports events (for the first time in the world!) were shown just on Loewe TVs.
During the heyday of the Nazi Party in Germany, the Loewe brothers, who had Jewish roots, were forced to emigrate.
However, all offers to sell the company were rejected, allowing the property to be returned after the end of the war. The first thing the Nazis did after getting rid of the Loewe brothers was to change the name to Löwe (“lion” in German), and then to Opta Radio. The company began to work for the military industry and during the war produced mainly radios and radars for the Luftwaffe. At 19In 47, the production of radio equipment was resumed, despite the fact that the production was partly located in the western part of Berlin, partly in the east. At the same time, a large factory in Kronach is being built, which becomes the main one for Loewe. In 1949 the rights to the company are returned to Loewe and the name is changed to Loewe Opta AG. Interestingly, when television broadcasting began in Germany in 1952, the company had been producing televisions for three years and regularly demonstrated them at exhibitions. And Kronach itself, where Loewe TVs were made, was outside the signal transmission zone, so Loewe also manufactured the first German repeater, which made it possible to receive a television signal in Kronach.
The world’s first cassette recorder called Optaphon was added to the range of TVs and radios. Later, a video recorder was released, and even flashlights (by the way, very successful and popular), as well as deuces from a radio phonograph.
In 1963, Sigmund Loewe dies and the family sells shares in the notorious Philips company. Radio production for Loewe ended in 1967 and phonograph production in 1979. The company moves entirely to Kronach, where it remains today. The company’s key product is televisions, which it has been actively developing throughout its existence. In 1985, part of the shares was bought out by the automaker BMW, and in the 1990s, part of the shares went to the Japanese company Matsushita (brands Panasonic and Technics). During this time, Loewe produces car electronics, creates the first TV with Internet access (practically the prototype of the first Smart TV), as well as a TV combined with a telephone and many other innovative products. Until 2014, the company’s shares change hands several times, until they are bought by a German investment company, which is a family business.
Today, the majority of the shares are owned by a single German family that maintains Loewe’s heritage and commitment to high quality, premium design products. The factory has a museum displaying the company’s iconic models, including the first commercial TV. Remarkably, many of the exhibits are in working condition and are turned on by visitors. There is also a unique experiment of the company’s engineers – a TV with a transparent screen:
Made in Germany. The production of televisions of all series today is located in the headquarters – Kronach, the German outback, to which you need to drive four hours from any airport along the famous German autobahns. By the way, the production of various spare parts for the automotive industry is also located there.
We were forbidden to shoot at the factory, but no one forbade us to tell 🙂
In the same place at the factory there is an extensive showroom with modern models, where you can see how Loewe TVs and acoustics look and function in an environment close to residential.
Loewe products have always been famous for image quality and now this is given maximum attention. The entire electronic part was developed by Loewe engineers, matrices for OLED TVs are manufactured by LG, which is no secret – the South Korean company has a patent for these components and makes matrices for many well-known TV manufacturers. But these matrices are made strictly to order and are installed only in Loewe TVs. Printed circuit boards are made right there on robotic machines, which apply SMD components to the boards with a machine gun burst. Right there, everything is “baked”, and then automated and manual control passes. All software inside the Loewe TV is self-developed, ranging from image processing algorithms (the image quality on the screen depends on them no less than on the quality of the matrix itself) and ending with applications.
More recently, Loewe engineers have added support for the Russian video service Okko. The automated process of “pouring software” into finished boards looks very funny – they are loaded six at a time into a special device that flashes several chips on all six boards at once, all this is done automatically, the main thing is to install the boards correctly into the device itself. The TVs themselves are assembled by hand, conveyors and pneumatic elevators are installed in the workshops, allowing one person to easily turn large panels. Each (!) TV at the assembly stage is calibrated, as well as tested for strength with a rubber mallet (this is not a joke – at the calibration station they really tap the TV and see if there are changes in the image). Output quality control is very strict – in Bild 3, 3% of the batch is checked, in Bild 5 – 6%, “sevens” and “nines” are individually controlled by each TV.
The company today employs about 500 people, and the assembly in Kronach is dominated by women, as they are considered to be more accurate and accurate.
Made in Germany are not empty words, TVs are really made by the hands of the Germans, who not only put ready-made insides into a beautiful case, but also make the “stuffing” for these TVs with their own hands, excluding, of course, matrices. The design team constantly monitors current trends in the design of living spaces and creates the appearance of new models in accordance with them. Some solutions are gradually abandoned (they go out of fashion), and some new ones are introduced. Our own development department allows us to implement not only generally accepted “chips” such as DLNA support and various video services, but also create unique features, such as the ability to record programs on command from an application from anywhere in the world where the Internet is available. The ability to view on one TV what is recorded on another and much, much more.
Loewe’s modern TV is not only about the sober and elegant design of the modern school, but also about the wide functionality that allows Loewe customers to expand the possibilities of the TV and provide a level of comfort and convenience not available to other brands.