Are RCA TVs Reliable? (Explained For Beginners)

Are you planning on buying an RCA TV? Given that it’s on the more affordable side of the market, it would be good to know what to expect from it, especially when it comes to reliability.

Are there any problems with RCA TVs?

Are RCA TVs reliable? 

About the Reliability of RCA TVs.

RCA TVs do not have any unique issues among smart TVs. They will last as long as most smart TVs on the market which is 5-8 years. They will be a reliable option as long as they are allowed to cool off at least twice a day. This is important to preserve the screen and light components.

Do RCA TVs Last As Long As Other Brands?

For the most part, RCA TVs will last as long as their competitors when they are taken care of.

That means calibrating the settings and not exposing the TV to harsh conditions, such as excessive heat or damage, which can harm or affect the TV’s overall performance.

Are RCA TVs Worth Buying?

RCA TVs are considered low-tier TV when it comes to price and quality. But are they worth the money?

There are a lot of TVs that cost a little more than RCA but have better features.

That said, if you can’t push your budget any higher, RCA would be a good choice.

But if you can spend a little more, consider other brands, such as Hisense or TCL. Check out our articles Are Hisense TVs Reliable? and Are TCL TVs Reliable? for more information.

Do People Generally Have Problems With RCA TVs?

People don’t generally have problems with RCA TVs.

There may be occasional problems that come up, but not everyone experiences them.

What Are the Most Common Issues With RCA TVs?

Common issues that some RCA TV users encounter are:

• Unable to connect to Wi-Fi
• The screen goes black but has sound
• No sound, which is often caused by a broken chip in the amplifier
• Screen flickering, rooted in worn-out jumper connections with the power supply.

It’s worth noting that these issues are also very common with nearly all other TV brands. Check problems with Onn TVs (same issues).

How Reliable Are The Cable Ports?

The cable ports of RCA TVs are generally robust.

As long as you don’t use too much force when unplugging cables, these will last.

You can get better mileage from cable ports if you can refrain from unplugging often or add a switch or hub for peripheral cables.

How Many Years Should I Expect It To Last?

Under heavy use, RCA TVs can last up to seven years before it starts showing signs of degradation.

With moderate use and proper settings, RCA TVs can last even longer.

How Long Is the Warranty On These?

RCA TVs have warranty coverage of 12 months.

What’s the First Thing that Breaks in a TV?

The first thing that usually breaks in modern TVs is the backlights.

• Many people make the mistake of setting the backlight at its peak or 100 percent at all times, which is okay if you are in a very bright environment.
• But you generally don’t need to set the backlight too high, especially when watching at night or in a dim room.
• Backlights at the highest level will break easily, hence the need to control their levels.
• You also get improved image quality when the backlight is set at the proper levels.

What Operating System does RCA use?

RCA TVs mostly use Roku for their operating system.

This platform is generally robust and has wide app support for popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube.

You may also like to read our article that talks about Are RCA TVs Good For Gaming?

What Are the Best RCA TVs?

If you find yourself convinced to go for an RCA, here are the top three TVs you can buy from the brand.

RCA QLED Smart TV

For those who want a 4k QLED TV, RCA’s QLED smart TV fits the bill.

• It features the Smart Cast system, which gives you access to popular apps like Netflix, and YouTube.
• Since this is a QLED TV, the RCA QLED will work under any lighting conditions. Whether you’re relaxing on a sunny afternoon or playing late-night games, the TV won’t have any issues adapting.
• The RCA QLED only has a 60 Hz refresh rate, which isn’t bad since you can always lower gaming settings. But you’ll be pleased to know that this TV boasts an 8ms input lag.
• This TV, unfortunately, does not have HDR support, which can be a deal-breaker for many. But for the price you pay versus other QLED options, you can view it as a compromise.

RCA RTRU Series

Another good choice for RCA TVs is the RTRU series.

• Now, this TV might not have a QLED panel, but it makes up for its lacking with a lot of powerful features.
• First of all, the RTRU features the Roku Streaming Platform for its operating system. Since this system is widely used, you can expect strong app support from this TV. That also means having popular apps like Netflix and Hulu available on this TV.
• Like other devices that use Roku, the RTRU comes with a user-friendly interface, and its remote is easy to use. You can search titles, and Roku will pull up which streaming platforms have it. Add to that the option for voice search through the Roku app.
• The RTRU comes with 4k resolutions and comes with decent upscaling of lower resolution content. It also has a premium design that makes it stand out.
• There’s also HDR10 on board, which gives it an edge over its QLED counterpart. You get to experience rich colors and deep blacks whenever you watch HDR content.
• With the Roku mobile app, you can also cast content to the RTRU from your Android or iPhone. You may also link this TV with Google Assistant.

RCA RTU Series

The first thing to note is that this TV isn’t a smart TV. But, with the features it packs, it makes a good platform for devices such as the Roku Streaming Stick, Fire TV Stick, or the NVIDIA Shield.

• The RTU series comes with 4k resolution and features a wide spectrum of colors that make images pop.
• This TV also boasts wide viewing angles that let you sit anywhere in the room and still get a decent picture.
• The refresh rate is only at 60 Hz, but you can always adjust the settings of your console games.
• The response time is rather decent, but for the price you pay for a 4k TV, this isn’t bad at all.

Five Ways to Care for Your TV

Given that RCA TVs are cheaper than the bigger name brands, it might be tempting to think that you can just buy another one when your TV breaks. While they are cheap, it isn’t practical to keep buying new TVs when they break down!

Throwing away a broken TV adds to electronic waste, and you only need to do basic, proper maintenance to prevent it from breaking earlier.

Here are some ways to care for your TV.

1. Turn off the TV when not in use

Keeping the TV on when not in use decreases its lifespan.

• Remember that the backlights of the TV burn out over time and are the first thing that breaks in a TV.
• Thus, you only expose your TV to further degradation when you keep it on for prolonged periods when not in use.
• Turning off the TV when not in use delays degradation and also helps you save on electricity.

2. Dust off the TV

Dust might seem harmless, but it can damage your screen.

• Accumulated dust can also affect the ventilation of the TV.
• Make it a habit to dust off the TV daily with a microfiber cloth.
• Do not use any other cleaning agent with it, as it can damage the TV, especially the screen.

3. Lower the Brightness

People think that cranking up the brightness levels is a necessity to improve picture quality. However, that is not true.

• Higher brightness levels mean more electricity is used, and the faster the backlight gets stressed.
• The backlight will emit more heat, which is not good for any electronic device.
• So you need to adjust the brightness of your TV to match the lighting condition of the room.

4. Keep the TV Well-ventilated

Remember that a TV emits heat during use, which, as pointed out, can damage any electronic device in the long run. That is why you need to provide enough space for ventilation for your TV.

• You should put at least two inches of space between the TV and the wall and at least four inches of space on the sides of the TV.
• If you plan to put your TV in a cabinet-type console, make sure it has enough space to breathe.
• You may also put cooling fans to help keep it cool.

5. Keep your firmware updated

Make it a habit to keep the firmware of your TV updated.

• It ensures protection from security bugs and risks and maintains compatibility with the apps.
• You can always set your TV to automatically update, but if you’re preventing excess data usage, you can manually check for updates.

Final Thoughts

RCA TVs are reliable, but they can only go so far without proper care.

That’s why you need to take care of it in order to get your money’s worth. They may be cheap, but they need care too! For better reliability, you need to do your part to take care of them.

 

Sources:

Best RCA TVs: Are they any good? Where are the best Black Friday deals?

How Long Do LED TVs Last? (Explained)