With proper care, you can maximize your TV’s lifespan and get the maximum amount of mileage out of your purchase.
So how long do LED TVs last with proper care?
The Lifespan of LED TVs.
LED TVs can typically last 5-7 years, but this also depends primarily on your usage. If you take care of it well, your LED TV should last you as long as 13 years. The best way to take care of it is to not turn the brightness all up and to shut it down daily.
What’s the Average Lifespan of an LED TV?
The lifespan of an LED TV depends on how you use it.
Also, cheaper TVs such as Sanyo TVs don’t last as long.
On average, you can get up to seven years of use, or around 60,000 hours of use. But that is with the TV on for 24 hours.
Most people won’t be leaving their TV on all day and night! If you use your LED TV for an average of eight hours per day, you can expect it to last for up to 13 years.
What’s the First Thing that Breaks on LED TVs?
The first thing that breaks on an LED TV is usually the backlight.
Backlight failure is often linked to two causes:
- Power surges, which cause regulator failure often linked to the lack of a stabilizer.
- LED driver failure, wherein the voltage is too much for the driver to handle and does not match the requirements of the LEDs on board.
Do LED TVs Last Longer than Average TVs?
LEDs have lifespans that don’t differ much from other TVs.
The longevity of a TV depends a lot on your viewing and usage habits.
Do you keep the TV on round the clock? Do you crank up the brightness? Remember that the backlights of LED TVs are the first to break, and keeping brightness too high can break the light faster.
How Long Do New Smart TVs Typically Last?
With heavy use, new smart TVs should last you up to seven years, on average.
How Long is the Warranty on LED TVs?
TV manufacturers usually offer one-year warranties on TVs, with some offering extended warranties for an extra fee.
Some dealers offer extended warranty. Each manufacturer and dealer will offer a different warranty, so be sure to check the fine print and ask your dealer!
What Are the Most Popular LED TV Models?
Samsung Q80T
The Samsung Q80T is one of the most popular LED TVs you can get on the market today.
- It features a simple and sturdy design and comes with Samsung’s Ultra Viewing Angle, which helps render consistent images regardless of where you are seated.
- The Q80T can handle different lighting conditions exceptionally. That means you can tame those backlights so you can extend the lifespan of your TV.
- Reflections and glare are not an issue.
- If you are into games, the Q80T also performs with a fast response time and low input lag.
- The Q80T also has good color accuracy out of the box.
- There is also a wide color gamut, which helps highlights pop when watching HDR content.
Vizio P Series
The P Series is a premium offering from Vizio that offers 4k HDR compatibility.
- This smart TV can get quite bright to make HDR content pop.
- It features a wide color gamut and an exceptional contrast ratio.
- The P Series also has an exceptional local dimming for black uniformity so that you don’t stress the backlights out.
- Response time is also remarkable and comes with very little lag.
- Color accuracy can be a problem, which means you need to calibrate to get the best images.
Sony X950H
While Sony leads the pack with OLED TVs, the company still has LED TVs, such as the X950H.
- One of the strongest features of the X950H is the out-of-the-box color accuracy. You won’t have to tweak anything when you take this TV home, as the colors are already spot on.
- The X950H also comes with full-array local dimming, which enhances colors in dim environments, as well as exceptional management of glare and reflections.
- The color gamut is wide, which makes it ideal for watching HDR content.
- The contrast might be mediocre, but it makes up for it with its improved viewing angles.
- Despite being a product of one of the top gaming console manufacturers, this smart TV does not perform quite well for games.
Hisense H8G
If you are on a budget, the Hisense H8G is a reliable option to consider.
- The H8G features deep blacks for dim environments, which is enhanced by full-array local dimming.
- Well-lit environments are not a problem for the H8G, as it can handle glare and reflections quite well.
- You will be surprised that the H8G can handle HDR content remarkably well, especially for a budget device, despite its limited peak brightness.
- Upscaling content from lower resolutions won’t be much of a problem for this TV.
- Gamers will love the H8G for its low input lag and excellent response time.
- Viewing angles can be a problem because of its VA panel.
Are OLED TVs better than LED TVs?
OLED TVs and LED TVs differ in many ways, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
- One major thing to keep in mind is the OLED TV’s risk of burn-in. If an image is left on an OLED TV screen for too long or the same image is onscreen repeatedly (say, a video game interface), the image will burn itself into the screen, and there will always be the faint image onscreen no matter what you’re watching. LEDs do not pose this risk.
- OLEDs are thinner, and each pixel on an OLED TV has independent luminance and power, whereas LED TVs have pixels that must be lit from behind.
- When OLEDs display black, the pixels are shut off completely, giving you perfect pitch black, while LED TVs still have a hint of light because of the backlight.
- For brightness, LED TVs gain an edge over OLED, thanks to their backlights. While OLED TVs can get bright, too much brightness reduces their longevity, and gradually, the TV may take longer to switch to black.
- When it comes to response time, OLED TVs gain an edge by having their light and color inside a single diode. They can switch faster, whereas LED TVs will respond slower to screen changes.
- OLED TVs also have an edge when it comes to refresh rates, which can be up to a thousand times higher than LED TVs. This feature is crucial for gamers since it helps keep up with gameplay.
- OLED TVs also have the advantage of better response time, another important feature when playing video games.
- LED TVs are still cheaper than OLED TVs. While prices of OLED TVs have gone down, LED TVs still dominate the budget options.
When choosing between an OLED and an LED TV, it’s important to consider what you’ll be using it for.
If you plan on using it mostly for gaming, you should definitely think about OLED’s propensity for burn-in. But if you are planning on using it mostly for family-night movies, the OLED might be a great choice.
Can Video Games Destroy LED TVs?
Video games will not harm your LED TV.
TV technology has improved significantly since CRT predecessors. Back then, gaming consoles could damage your TV, but today, that is no longer an issue.
LED TVs are built differently compared to their previous incarnations. They do not use phosphorous displays, often associated with CRT TVs, which result in burn-in.
What Can I Do to Prolong the Lifespan of My TV?
You can buy the best TV that money can buy, but if you don’t properly take care of it, you won’t get the most out of your purchase! That is why it is important to know proper care so that you can extend your LED TV’s life.
Here are some suggestions to prolong the lifespan of your TV.
- Turn off the TV when no one is watching. You can unplug it, too, since standby mode still consumes a small amount of power.
- The placement of your LED TV matters. Putting it near a window exposes it to harmful elements such as the sun’s heat and rays. It would help if you kept it well-ventilated, preferably away from direct sunlight.
- Mounting your LED TV on a wall is preferred. There is less chance of it gathering dust, and you won’t have a problem keeping it ventilated.
- Adjust your brightness levels based on the lighting conditions. Too bright, and you can damage the backlight. TVs come with presets you can use based on lighting conditions. Take advantage of these features.
- Don’t forget to adjust the contrast level. Using a higher contrast level uses more power and reduces its lifespan.
- Use an Automatic Voltage Regulator with your LED TV. These help in protecting the power capacitors of your smart TV in case of power surges.
Final Thoughts
The lifespan of an LED TV relies a lot on how you use it and how you take care of it.
Even the most expensive TV will break down in a few years when not maintained properly. The cheapest LED TV can outlive a state-of-the-art TV in the market when given the right amount of attention!
Sources:
11 Tips to Help Make Your LED TV Last Longer
Do Smart TVs Break Easily? (Solved & Explained!)
The 6 Best LED LCD TVs – Winter 2021 Reviews