For many people, 4K TVs are a sizable investment. After all, 4K TVs don’t grow on trees –– the most affordable ones will set you back a few hundred dollars.
It’s only reasonable that you want your 4K TV to last as long as possible, but as with all things, television sets fade with age.
The average lifespan of a 4K TV lasts between 40,000 to 60,00 hours. With constant use and maximum brightness, most 4K TVs will last between five to seven years.
When properly maintained, 4K TVs can run for 80,000 to 100,000 hours or up to ten years.
In this article, we will give you five tips on how to extend your 4K TV’s lifespan longer. To help you out, we will also cover how you can identify a dying TV and when it is time to replace your television.
We will also give you some pointers on where you can buy the longest-lasting 4K TVs.
Let’s get started!
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What Is the Average Lifespan of a Modern TV?
Modern television sets will last up to seven to eight years, with plasma TVs in the upper range of the estimate.
Plasma TVs have the highest life expectancy, with an average lifespan of 60,000 hours to 100,000 hours.
However, plasma TVs are becoming less available today with the emergence of 4K LED TVs.
Most TVs today use LED display panels as the backlight (including LCD TVs), and LED backlight is usually the first part to give out in a television set’s many moving components.
The average lifespan of LED display panels at maximum brightness ranges between 40,000 to 60,000 hours, which is around four to seven years.
How Long Will a 4K TV Last?
The majority of 4K TVs sold today have LED or OLED display panels with an average lifespan of around five to seven years.
However, with continuous developments in 4K and LED technology, most 4K TVs have an average lifespan of 80,000 to 100,000 hours or approximately ten years.
These numbers are only estimates. Although they apply to most modern television sets, the actual lifespan of your television will still depend on its usage and maintenance.
Let us elaborate more on this in the following sections.
How Often Should I Replace My TV?
Given the estimate of a five to seven years lifespan for 4K TVs, is it reasonable to replace your TV at a regular interval?
The answer will depend on your household entertainment needs and your personal preference.
If your TV is causing you problems and the repair cost is more than what you need to pay for a replacement, it would be better to get a new TV.
As your TV gets older and gets more outdated, your TV will fall short and become more difficult to handle. You may end up paying for more because of frequent repair needs.
How Can I Know if My TV Is Dying?
If your television is acting a bit wonky, you must recognize these tell-tale signs so you can have it repaired right away.
However, there are times when TVs are beyond repair, and it is time to accept that you need to buy a new one.
Here are some of the symptoms of a broken TV:
Faded Screen
If your TV suddenly shuts down or cuts to a lower resolution, it is a sign that your 4K TV is about to give out. Faded or dulled screens may be concentrated on a single area at first, but it can slowly spread and blackout your TV completely.
There is no need to worry here, though. This issue stems from a faulty backlight, and it can be repaired easily.
Dead Pixels
Dead pixels are usually red, blue, or green lines that could go in any direction. For the most part, though, dead pixels are straight and vertical.
This issue is one of the most difficult to repair, which can be troubling since the dead pixels do not appear until after the manufacturer’s warranty.
Fuzzy or Blurry Screen
Another faulty TV symptom is having difficulty watching movies because the TV appears fuzzy or blurry, and it becomes harder to see small details on your screen.
The issue involves an interrupted receiver, which is tricky to deal with but not impossible to fix.
Screen Burn-in
If a static “ghost” image stays on your screen for a long time after changing the channel or switching to different media, this is another sign that your TV is slowly deteriorating.
To prevent screen burn-in, you can turn down the contrast and brightness of your display. Do not leave your TV turned on the whole day either, since overheating the system will cause images to burn on the screen.
Bars and Lines
Multiple reasons can explain why you see lines on your TV screen, but the most common is that your TV has a problem with the connector. It may be a cable that came loose, disrupting the input/output signals.
Misuse such as dropping the TV or throwing objects at the screen can also cause damaged pixels.
Color Distortion
The best thing about 4K TVs is that it offers stunningly vibrant images. Over time, the color bulbs of your TV will start to deteriorate, causing a duller screen.
But there is no need to worry, though, because this issue usually occurs gradually over many years.
However, there are times when discoloration or phantom colors appear on your screen. But the good news is that if this happens, the issue can be easily fixed by a professional.
Five Tips to Make Your 4K TV Last Longer
While getting a 4K TV is exciting, you must understand television maintenance and incorporate them into your routine so you can extend its lifespan.
To get your money’s worth, make sure to review the warranty guidelines of your TV as well.
Here are the five tips for taking care of your television:
Don’t Leave Your TV On
Turning off your television when it is not in use is the simplest yet most effective way to make your TV last longer.
Since most 4K TVs today use LED backlight, you won’t have to worry about your electricity bills. However, leaving your TV on will cause it to wear out much faster.
Extended use can cause the system to overheat, or your screen can get an image burn.
While some people enjoy having the TV as background noise, remember that the main reason for damaging a TV is that the backlight has given out. Overheating causes permanent damage to LED backlights.
If you watch TV multiple times within the day, leaving your TV on for three hours already adds a thousand hours of usage per year. However, constantly plugging and unplugging the device can strain the power adapter or transformer.
If you use your TV on a daily basis, you can leave it on standby mode, which uses less energy than running programs 24/7. However, keep in mind that a screensaver can cause image burn on the screen.
For longer periods, shut off your TV and unplug it from the wall to save energy and to protect your TV from overheating.
So even if you are tempted to have movie marathons every night, we advise giving your TV time to rest by turning it off or leaving it in standby mode.
Adjust Contrast and Brightness
Keeping a close eye on contrast and brightness levels is another factor that will help your 4K TV last longer.
Remember that the higher you set contrast and brightness, the faster your screen will dim and fade, eventually becoming unusable. The reason behind this is that if your 4K TV is at its maximum brightness and contrast, it is more demanding on the components of the screen.
A great practice to keep your 4K TV healthy is to set it up according to the room lighting and how you plan to use it.
Your TV does not need to be of showroom quality around the clock! What looks good at the mall may not necessarily look great at home.
You can make the most out of preset picture modes, labeled as Cinema, Standard, Vivid, Bright, or Dynamic on most TV sets.
For Samsung 4K TVs, they have four Preset Picture modes:
- Dynamic: This setting uses elevated brightness, contrast, and sharpness levels. This setting is ideal for rooms exposed to natural light or ultra-bright artificial light, like mall showrooms. Keep in mind that using this picture mode for extended periods will shorten the lifespan of your TV.
- Standard: This setting is appropriate for most viewing environments.
- Natural: This mode uses lower levels of brightness and contrast. It is ideal if you want your 4K TV to last longer.
- Movie: If you are viewing movies in a dark room or your home theater , the Movie mode will provide the appropriate contrast, brightness, and color temperature similar to what you see in the cinema. This setting also disables additional post-processing, so you get a truly cinematic experience.
Remove Dust and Clean Regularly
Dust and first does not just make your home entertainment set-up look shabby and grimy. Collecting dust on your 4K TV can become a real problem if it interferes with the ports and ventilation.
Because of this, we do not advise that you set up your TV on a surface where dust is likely to settle. Keep it away from open windows if you live in the city to prevent fine dust from accumulating on your TV set.
Setting up your 4K TV near a fireplace or a wood stove is not a good idea. Harmful elements including ash, heat, and dust will likely shorten the lifespan of your TV.
Make it a habit to regularly wipe down your 4k TV with a microfibre cloth . You can also use mild dish soap or a TV screen cleaner for a more thorough cleaning.
Install a Surge Protector or Voltage Regulator
Getting damaged by a random power spike is one scary thing that can happen to your brand-new 4K TV.
While most people prefer plugging their TV into a power strip to protect it from electrical issues, this is not a 100% full-proof way to protect your expensive electronic devices.
What we can recommend is to use a surge protector instead. A surge protector can block high levels of voltage spikes. Check its joules protection rating and if it has an auto-shutoff capability for added protection.
If you live in an area where the voltage supply is unstable, a voltage regulator will help stabilize the incoming AC voltage. Since Voltage regulators work well with video and audio devices, they are also a popular choice for most home entertainment systems.
Don’t Cover the Ventilation System
Covering the ventilation system of your 4K TVs can cause overheating that will ultimately damage your TV components.
To keep your television from overheating, invest in a TV stand that encourages good ventilation. You can also get a TV mount , but make sure that your TV is approximately 4 inches from the walls on all sides.
Top Two TV Brands: Which 4K TV Lasts the Longest?
Shopping for a new 4K TV is exciting, but it can be overwhelming at the same time! To get the best deal, you need to consider the display size, the design, and the sound quality –– and they should all be within your budget.
While there are several budget 4K TVs available today, you should always consider the quality of the product. The problem with cheap 4K TVs is that these products have a shorter lifespan as compared to 4K TVs from top manufacturers.
To ensure the durability and reliability of your 4K TV, we recommend getting one from these top TV brands:
Samsung
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Backed by innovative and high-end technology, Samsung has always released some of the most durable electronic devices in the market today.
And when it comes to 4K TV, Samsung does not disappoint.
Aside from releasing some of the largest 4K TVs today, Samsung also boasts excellent upscaling capabilities. It also uses QLED technology, which guarantees brighter and more vibrant displays.
The Samsung AU8000 is top on our list as the most durable Samsung 4K TV. This 50-inch beauty is integrated with Alexa to make streaming as user-friendly as possible. It runs on an ultra-fast crystal processor of 4K to deliver optimized 4K content. The Samsung AU8000 UHD also delivers dynamic true-to-life colors thanks to HDR and its Dynamic Crystal Color Technology.
If you need to leave your TV on standby, Samsung’s The Frame series will transform how you see 4K TV.
Instead of leaving your TV on standby with a shabby screensaver, the 2021 LSO3A, the 50-inch frame will turn into a work of art when it is not in use.
A built-in motion sensor activates to display your favorite selections in Art Mode when you walk into the room. Now, when you are watching TV, the frame also boasts next-level processing speed for a truly immersive viewing experience.
Sony
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When we talk about TV brands, Sony remains to be the most influential manufacturing giant. Even when it comes to 4K technology, Sony continues to dominate by releasing some of the most reliable 4K TVs in the market today.
Most of Sony’s 4K TVs are backed by self-emitting OLED panel technology. Many consumers agree that Sony offers much sharper and more natural colors than Samsung’s QLED TVs.
The X90J 65-inch BRAVIA XR is on top of our list if you’re looking for the best 4K TV by Sony. Instead of OLED technology, this model features a full-array LED, which delivers precisely controlled backlighting for true-to-life depth, detail, contrast, and high peak brightness. It also features Google TV and is built-in with Alexa for your convenience.
Conclusion
Most 4K TVs today have an average lifespan of five to seven years. However, if well-taken care of, 4K TVs can last up to ten years.
By following these five rules, you can extend the lifespan of your 4K TV:
- Don’t leave your TV on
- Adjust contrast and brightness
- Clean your TV regularly
- Consider installing a surge protector or voltage regulator
- Keep the ventilation system open
Aside from proper use and maintenance, it is also helpful if you can quickly recognize the tell-tale signs of a failing 4K TV so that you can get it repaired or replaced right away under warranty. The warning signs of a failing TV include a faded or fuzzy screen, dead pixels, image burn, bars and lines, and color distortion.
While they cost more initially, investing in a 4K TV from top manufacturers like Samsung and Sony will ensure that you get a set that lasts for ten years or more.
When shopping for a 4K TV, make sure that you consider manufacturer reliability and product longevity.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.