Unreliable TV Brands To Avoid At All Costs (And Better Alternatives To Consider)
When you have been looking forward to your favorite television show all week, your attention is on preparing snacks and setting up the throw pillows on the couch just right. You assume the TV will work. However, if your unreliable television blinks out during the opening credits, you'll figure out quickly that seeing the tears during the rose ceremony is tough when you're squinting while watching it on your smartphone.
When it's time for a new model, one of the mistakes that everyone makes when buying TVs includes becoming lost in the sea of numbers and specifications for new sets. Instead of trying to decipher all the information right away, start your search by focusing on the most reliable TV brands, so you can avoid a breakdown at the worst time. When buying home appliances, most people want to stick with the most trustworthy appliance brands, and buying a TV should be no different.
If you haven't bought a TV in a while, several of the brand names may have you scratching your head because you aren't familiar with them. Technological advancements in the manufacturing of televisions have driven competition and allowed new companies to enter the market. Additionally, some of the most trusted older brand names might be made by third-party manufacturers now because the original company sold the license to the TV brand name. With all that in mind, we selected three of the most unreliable TV brands that you'll want to avoid — RCA, Insignia, and Philips.
Avoid these unreliable television brands, even if you can find them at a cheap price
RCA may have made the first color televisions in 1954, but the modern version of this brand is not considered reliable. Consumers complain about a lack of durability with RCA televisions, as they don't last very long or might not work straight out of the box. RCA televisions are known for a low price, but if the product malfunctions right away, the low price doesn't help. Amazon reviewer Becky says an RCA TV arrived broken. "When I plugged it in, the inside of the screen was damaged." The cost to repair a cracked TV screen negates some of the money you save by going with a cheap brand like RCA.
Insignia TVs, which are available at Best Buy, also have well-publicized reliability issues. Customers frequently report problems with the television's lifespan and audio when discussing the Insignia brand. On Reddit, reviewers mention that Insignia TVs seem like they tend to break just after surpassing the end of the warranty period, leaving owners with little recourse.
Philips is another TV brand that struggles because of technical flaws. Customer reviewers often blame the software for the smart television and its inability to handle software updates and new apps. Screen flickering is a common problem customers mention with Philips TVs, leading to poor long-term reliability. Philips is another traditional TV manufacturer that sold its TV brand name to a third-party manufacturer.
More reliable TV brands you should consider instead
One of the top TV brands to consider is Samsung, which ranks highly among consumers for reliability. Thanks to the brand's high rankings in product quality and warranty protection, consumers rely on Samsung to deliver high-quality televisions that are made to last. If anything goes wrong, consumers trust this brand to make the situation right. It's not unusual for Samsung TVs to last 10 years or longer — they might last so long that you'll want to replace them to take advantage of new technology well before the set breaks down. You'll probably pay a little more for a Samsung-branded TV than some other brands, but they deliver reliable picture quality for years.
Sony is another trustworthy brand that ranks highly in customer satisfaction. In terms of reliability ratings among consumers, it often sits just behind Samsung. Sony televisions nearly always last at least five years, and many people operate these models for 10 years or more. Sony delivers excellent picture quality, so you can enjoy your favorite shows without worrying about color accuracy. Customers can count on bright screens from Sony, but they'll pay a little more than average for the Sony brand. You'll find reliable results from the software running on the Sony television, thanks to the high-end processors used in these models. Ultimately, Sony manufactures its televisions with premium materials and has controls in place to ensure a build quality that you can count on for years.