TV Life Spans

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ChristineNZL

242 posts

Master Geek

#310644 8-Nov-2023 17:23

We have a 50 inch LG Super UHD 4K television. It’s 6 years old and had been a great TV until several months ago. The picture is still great, but it won’t stay connected to the internet via wifi or Ethernet. We’re also having issues with the HDMI connections. Googled TV lifespans and 6 years seems in the middle. I was surprised to read this. I must be rather old school…remembering the Philips K9 that lasted forever.

So my question is, does it matter what brand you buy when it comes to lifespan? Is 6 years all I can reasonably expect?

I’d also love some advice on what to replace it with. We can’t really go any bigger than a 55 inch. I was stubbornly refusing to look at LGs as I’m so annoyed with our current TV, but maybe I need to move on from that. We don’t use the TV for gaming, we have a good sound bar and I was happy with the UHD picture, so we probably don’t need top of the line. I just want a good picture and a bit of longevity.

Thanks.

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72 posts

Master Geek

#3157350 8-Nov-2023 17:43

In general, as with most consumer electronics, it can be a bit hit or miss. As you have alluded to the picture hasn't had any problem but sounds like some component on one of the circuit boards has had an issue. Potentially software or hardware related.
6 years isn't a long time but it is if you consider a single piece failure that could have gone at any time causing these issues.
You can probably get these fixed relatively easily for a couple of hundred dollars if you so wished.

In terms of preferential brands its always a tough one as by going with certain "Brands" you are only slightly reduces your odds of an issue, not removing them. Any device at anytime could have the issues you have had above, on the off chance, so generally i would tell people that "Brand loyalty" only goes so far.
Brand loyalty over many products over much period of time is significant, but one offs for product that typically last a long time can generally be excluded from concern.

LG is a good brand, as with Samsung, Sony, Panasonic etc etc. The likelihood of issues with any of those is relatively the same (especially given many of the electronics are produced by elements of the same people etc)

As long as its a locally supported brand and reputable you should be fine in most cases, Consumer Guarantees is also there to support you if you need a little help.

mattwnz

20173 posts

Uber Geek

#3157351 8-Nov-2023 17:56

The smart features in a smart tv are likely to eventually fail overtime due to software upgrades and built in obsolesce of the hardware being able to support newer software. Just buy a google tv chromecast, or fire tv, and plug it in, and you will get that functionary back again.

ChristineNZL

242 posts

Master Geek

#3157352 8-Nov-2023 18:00

We’ve bought a Chromecast and that helped for a while, but now we’re having issues switching from Live TV to the HDMI port that it’s attached to. I’d switch the HDMI port, but most of them have connection issues.

Handsomedan

7303 posts

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#3157357 8-Nov-2023 18:33

Our Smart TV's modem just stopped working after about 6 years. Most of the apps had stopped working before that anyway

We have had an Apple TV for a long time anyway, so it's never really bothered us that much.

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alasta

6707 posts

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#3157406 8-Nov-2023 18:40

My LG 42" LCD purchased in 2012 recently failed due to what appeared to be a faulty HDMI interface. I bought another LG as I felt that I had got a good run out of the last one.

At the time when I bought the original TV I also bought an LG fridge and microwave which are still going strong so I consider it to be a good quality brand.

timmmay

20591 posts

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#3157415 8-Nov-2023 19:08

My 55" 1080p Samsung is ten years old or more and working well. The smart features stopped working after a year or three, we use an external box to supply smarts. HDMI ports failing after 6 years is pretty poor. My older 40" 720p Samsung is at least 15 years old and works fine, though it's barely been used. Samsung seems like a good bet for TVs.

ChristineNZL

242 posts

Master Geek

#3157416 8-Nov-2023 19:09

I’ll add LG to the list and keep my eyes open for a good deal and try not to get sucked in by the salesperson showing me the super expensive model that always looks amazing in the shop haha!

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ChristineNZL

242 posts

Master Geek

#3157417 8-Nov-2023 19:11

ChristineNZL: I’ll add LG to the list and keep my eyes open for a good deal and try not to get sucked in by the salesperson showing me the super expensive model that always looks amazing in the shop haha!

I’d been looking at Samsung. One of their models often rates highly. Of course it’s one of their more expensive models.

mattwnz

20173 posts

Uber Geek

#3157421 8-Nov-2023 20:11

Personally I always stick with Sony. Mine was purchased about 12 years ago and still works fine apart from the smart features dying

CYaBro

4589 posts

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#3157425 8-Nov-2023 20:39

timmmay:
My 55" 1080p Samsung is ten years old or more and working well. The smart features stopped working after a year or three, we use an external box to supply smarts. HDMI ports failing after 6 years is pretty poor. My older 40" 720p Samsung is at least 15 years old and works fine, though it's barely been used. Samsung seems like a good bet for TVs.

Ditto. 55” Samsung about 12 years old.
Still works fine but it’s only used as a display.
Apple TV and sound bar audio system attached.

It’s been used heavily too. It was a display in my store for a few years so was on all day every day and now used at home and seems it’s on almost 24/7 with everyone taking their turn to watch something!

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

tweake

2394 posts

Uber Geek

#3157426 8-Nov-2023 20:40

i wonder how many of these fail because lack of updating. pays to check manufactures site for updates and get the built in updater working.

ChristineNZL

242 posts

Master Geek

#3157428 8-Nov-2023 20:45

tweake:
i wonder how many of these fail because lack of updating. pays to check manufactures site for updates and get the built in updater working.

Not the problem for us. Always updated. Did everything recommended I could find online, but always just a temporary fix or did nothing.

langi27

677 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3157493 9-Nov-2023 08:48

I Purposely brought a limited/dumb TV and added the smarts by way of firestick/xbox. As mentioned by another user the software support will usually run out before the TV decides to give up. The 40" Smart Sony TV we had everything stopped working, YouTube, Netflix etc.

Maybe the newer TV are better but its a gamble.

cddt

1565 posts

Uber Geek

#3157524 9-Nov-2023 10:42

Our TV is 17 years old, Toshiba (manufactured 2006), and still gets used daily.

Of course it is not a "smart" TV though.

caffynz

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#3157526 9-Nov-2023 10:57

Bought a "dumb" 40" Samsung in 2011, still works really well. Played our PS5 on it and Apple TV.
Have recently upgraded to a 65" smartTV, and moved the 40" into another room which still gets used regularly, with the Nintendo Switch and Apple TV on that.

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