Curved TVs only had a short cycle on the market, which makes one wonder why they were discontinued quickly. There was so much hype, and then—they were gone.
One might wonder what exactly the issue was, and if they are a good choice for your TV.
Are curved TVs reliable?
About the Reliability of Curved TVs.
Curved TVs are reliable and there have been very few recalls of curved TV models across the bigger Smart TV brands. The LED screens can be slightly bent without losing lifespan which means you can expect a curved smart TV to last up to 9 years when it has time to cool completely off at least twice per day.
Do Curved TVs Last As Long As Other Brands?
Curved TVs pretty much have the same lifespans as other LED TVs in the market.
While they may have the same lifespans, you can count on curved TVs to have lesser chances of breaking before reaching the average half-life of TVs, which is around seven years. Reaching its half-life means that the TV will become dimmer.
For more information, check out our article How Long Do Curved TVs Last?.
Are Curved TVs Worth Buying?
Curved TVs have good image quality, but you will really only enjoy the benefits of the curved-screen if you have a very large screen.
- A curved TV emulates the eye’s natural movement in peripheral vision. This was intended to result in a more immersive TV-watching experience with less eye strain.
- The inspiration for curved TVs was taken from the IMAX Theaters.
- Unfortunately, the designers of curved TVs failed to account for the massive screen size of the theater. That is why the overall effect is barely comparable to IMAX Theaters cinematic quality.
So, if you plan to buy a curved TV, consider that you will want to have a large screen in a large room.
Do People Generally Have Problems With Curved TVs?
There are not many technical problems specific to curved TVs, at least not enough to merit a product recall.
For more information on problems with curved TVs, check out our article 6 Most Common Problems With Curved TVs.
What Are the Most Common Issues With Curved TVs?
The most common issues of curved TV have to do with the screen.
While the screen is the main and strongest feature, it is also a weakness.
So, what are these issues? The first issue with curved TVs is their sensitivity to reflections.
- Because of the screen’s shape, curved TVs are more likely to pick up reflections in the room.
- You may fix this by adding bias lighting behind the TV or adjusting the screen angle.
Curved TVs are also prone to glare.
- Lights cause glare, and the best way to reduce glare is by turning off unnecessary lights or adjust the screen settings, such as brightness.
- You will need to find the right angle to get the best results.
- There are also anti-glare screen films you can attach to your TV, although installing them on a curved screen may be a challenge.
Lastly, curved TVs make finding the ideal viewing angle a struggle.
- The optimum seating position for any curved TV is front and center.
- If you’re watching the TV offset from anywhere but the ideal seating position, you don’t get the best image quality.
- This makes viewing with a group a problem, and, unfortunately, there is no solution to this issue.
How Reliable Are The Cable Ports?
The cable ports of curved TVs are generally reliable.
Since Samsung is the pioneer for curved TVs, you won’t have many problems, as the brand is known for its overall quality build.
How Reliable is the Screen of Curved TVs?
Durability-wise, curved TVs have the same weaknesses as any other LED TV on the market.
When it comes to image quality, curved TVs have a good performance, but they can be limited due to the seating angles issue.
How Many Years Should I Expect It To Last?
Under the right settings and proper care, you can expect a curved TV to last up to seven years before it reaches its half-life.
Once it reaches half-life, the TV is likely to work, but the image quality won’t be as good. You can expect it to lose some of its brightness, and the color might not be as accurate.
How Long Is the Warranty On These?
Samsung, the makers of the curved TV, offers a one-year warranty for their curved TVs.
What’s the First Thing that Breaks in a Curved TV?
The first thing likely to have a problem with a curved TV is its screen, which is true of all LED TVs.
Like any other LED TV, curved TV faces the same problems with over-usage.
You can expect the backlights or power supply to fail as time passes. That’s why you need to know how to properly care for and maintain your TV to reduce the risks.
Can You Use Curved TVs for Video Games?
Curved TVs are good for gaming but function better for single-player games due to limited viewing angles.
You can read more about it in our article Are Curved TVs Good For Gaming?.
Are Curved TVs Better than Ordinary LED TVs?
Given the hype around curved TVs during their release, you’d think they were far and away better than LED TVs.
But the reviews were mixed, and curved TVs were discontinued in recent years.
Given all the hype, why did it phase out faster than usual?
For what it’s worth, curved TVs are a little better than a regular LED TV when it comes to providing an immersive, more 3D-like viewing experience.
However, there were a lot of issues with curved TVs.
- To get that immersive experience, you must be far enough from the TV, which must have a huge screen, and you must be viewing it from the dead-center.
- Curved TVs over-emphasize reflections on the screen.
- Curved TVs have very limiting viewing angles because of the arc of the screen that reduces image quality for TVs with screen sizes smaller than 65 inches. That’s why Curved TVs are better when bigger.
- You can only get ideal picture quality when sitting in the center. And watching 4k videos when at an angle won’t be as good as watching on a regular, flat-screen LED TV.
- And during their heyday, Curved TVs cost way more than their flatscreen counterparts. Consumer electronics observers noted that the cost was not worth the difference.
It’s most likely because of these flaws that curved TVs didn’t take off.
Four Ways to care for your Curved TV
Knowing how to care for your curved TV goes a long way. It means saving yourself trips to the service center and that you won’t have to replace your TV as soon.
Here are a few tips that won’t cost much but can help extend the life of your curved TV—or any TV.
1. Turn off when not in use
If no one is using the TV, switch it off to preserve the screen’s backlights. You also get to save on electricity in the process.
2. Dust off the TV
Dust can damage the screen and clog the ventilation slots of your TV.
To clean your TV, dust it off regularly with a dry microfiber cloth. You should not use cleaning agents with it, as it can damage the TV.
3. Lower the Brightness
Higher brightness does not mean better image quality—it means more electricity used and, in some cases, faster degradation of the display panel.
You don’t need to keep the brightness too high. You should set it based on the lighting conditions of the room.
4. Keep the TV well-ventilated
TVs emit heat during use, and excessive temperatures will damage your TV. That’s why there should be enough space for your TV to circulate air for cooling.
You need two inches of space between the TV and the wall and at least four inches of space on each side.
For TVs stored in cabinet-type consoles, there should be enough space to circulate air in them. You may also add cooling fans to dissipate heat.
You may also consider wall mounting for better ventilation.
Final Thoughts
Curved TVs are reliable but are not as good when compared to the flatscreen LED TV.
If you’re mostly g0ing to be alone when using the TV, curved TVs might work out, but in the long run, they’re rather impractical.
However, if you already own a curved TV, you need not worry about its durability, as it is just as durable as any other LED TV on the market.
Sources:
What Happened to the Curved TVs Anyway?
6 Most Common Problems With Curved TVs (Explained)