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Just like anything, if you maintain the product, you are going to be able to enjoy it for a long time, and if you have just purchased a LED, OLED, or QLED Samsung TV, you want it to last for as long as possible.
We have all heard stories about older technology and how things don’t last as long as they used to, and while that is true to an extent, modern technology is far superior to what we used to have. I mean, you couldn’t find an old TV the same size as the newer ones and be able to get it into your home without a crane. And, with the picture quality that your new Samsung TV has, you are going to be able to immerse yourself in sports or movies like never before.
So, let’s find out how long you’ll be able to enjoy your new flat screen Samsung TV.
How Long Does a Samsung LED TV Last?
The main problem with LED TVs is the LEDs themselves. There are numerous components in your TV that could fail, but the LEDs that are used to backlight your screen have a finite shelf-life. Of course, investing in quality is key here, and Samsung have years of experience, so their TVs will last longer than some other lesser-known brands, but they won’t last forever.
At maximum brightness, LEDs will last 40,000 to 60,000 hours. That translates to roughly 4.5-6.5 years. That might not sound like a lot, but that is continuous 24-hour viewing at maximum brightness. You are not going to turn on your Samsung TV when you get it home and leave it on for five years.
If you use your TV in the evenings, don’t have it at maximum brightness, and the other components last, your LEDs can keep going for 10+ years.
It is also recommended to stay on top of updates, as the software updates can make your TV more energy-efficient and keep it compatible with all the latest tech.
Basically, you can treat it like you would your car. Maintain it regularly, use it as instructed, and it will last.
How Long Does a Samsung OLED TV last?
If you don’t already know, OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. And, while you might think that LED and OLED TVs are relatively similar in operation, they are not. LED TVs use LEDs to backlight the screen and they break down over time. OLED TVs use self-illuminating pixels within the screen to create the picture.
Not only does this mean a sharper picture and better contrast than an LED TV, but it also means a longer-lasting TV. OLED panels can last over 50 years before the picture starts to suffer.
Of course, just like LED TVs, it is the other components that might let you down first. So, while the OLED screen might last upward of fifty years, the components will not, and will need to be repaired or replaced before then.
How Long Does a Samsung QLED TV Last?
Samsung QLED TVs are expected to last between 70,000 and 100,000 hours with heavy use. If you don’t use it all day, every day, you can expect your TV to last even longer. Most people will be able to get 10 years or more out of Samsung’s QLED TVs.
Like with LED and OLED TVs, other components, like capacitors or the motherboard will fail sooner than the panels.
How to Make Your Samsung LED Last Longer?
Your Samsung LED TV can last well over ten years, and you can follow these tips to make sure it lasts for as long as possible:
- Turn the TV off when you are not using it. The more you use something, the quicker you wear it out, right? The less you are using your LEDs, the brighter they will remain and the longer they will last.
- Don’t let your TV overheat. Your TV has ventilation openings for a reason, so leave them unblocked. If the LEDs don’t overheat, they will last for a lot longer. That means also leaving enough room around your TV.
- Protect your Samsung TV with a surge protector, especially if you live in an area that regularly experiences power surges. If power surges through your TV, it can damage the LEDs.
- Maintain your TV. Along with having your TV repaired when it needs it, you should also keep your TV clean so dust does not become trapped inside.
- Adjust brightness and contrast. Most TVs are displayed with the contrast and brightness cranked up to near-maximum levels, but you don’t need that at home. Check your levels in your settings menu, and lower the brightness and contrast to increase the longevity of your TV without affecting picture quality. Samsung, like most other modern TVs, has a few eco-friendly (dimmer) settings available by default.
How to Maintain Your Samsung OLED TV?
OLED TVs are a little different from LED TVs, and you don’t need to worry as much about increasing the life of the TV, but you do need to maintain it to decrease burn-in (where an image is permanently burned into the screen). Follow these tips to get the best out of your Samsung OLED TV:
- Don’t have the same image on the screen for a long time. It can take a while for an image to burn into the screen—hundreds or thousands of hours. However, to stay on the safe side, be careful when you have images in the same places for long periods of time (i.e. a health tracker during a long gaming session). Try changing up your viewing patterns if you notice static images on your screen.
- Don’t use your OLED TV as a computer monitor. Not only would it be a waste, but this is one of the leading causes of burn-in.
- Turn off your TV when not in use. Again, this will stop burn-in, and it will also protect the components, increasing the longevity of your TV.
- Allow airflow. OLED TVs can get hotter than LED TVs, and that can damage the components. Allow air to circulate around the TV, and remove dust from the TV regularly.
- Keep the software up to date. Not only is that vital to getting the most out of the TV, but the software usually includes a refresher program that will maintain the pixels across the screen.
Conclusion
LED, OLED, and QLED TVs won’t last forever, but that does not mean that they cannot last for a very long time if you take care of them.
The picture quality you can get from your Samsung TV is fantastic, and with how technology is moving forward, your next TV is probably going to cost you less than your current one and look even better.
But, you don’t have to worry about a new purchase for a long time as long as you follow the tips outlined above. It really is simple to look after your TV, and a lot of it is just regular maintenance and keeping the TV clean.
