When it comes to reliability, not all TV brands are made equal. I’ve spent 100+ hours testing and researching televisions to figure out which brands are the most likely to last.
Here are the five brands and TV models that stand out from the rest:Rank Brand Most reliable model Review #1 LG LG C2 OLED Jump to Review #2 Sony Sony X90J Jump to Review #3 Samsung Samsung Crystal UHD Jump to Review #4 Hisense Hisense R6 Series Jump to Review #5 Vizio Vizio M-Series QLED Jump to Review
Click on any of the links above to jump to the review or keep reading to learn more about how the brands were ranked.
Most Reliable TV Brands
The most reliable TV brands tend to be those that produce millions of units every year and have a large service presence, such as LG, Sony, Samsung, Hisense, and Vizio. These brands boast higher build quality, a longer lifespan, and a better-than-average service experience when things do go wrong.
In order to come up with this list, I analyzed the number of consumer complaints about each brand between 2012 and 2022 from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
I also looked at predicted reliability and owner satisfaction for each TV brand on leading professional review sites. And I cross-referenced those findings with thousands of individual customer ratings to come up with a truly comprehensive look at overall reliability.
In total, I analyzed hundreds of TV models and spent over 100 hours reading through warranty documents, repair statistics, and customer experiences.
Each brand received a score across two key factors: overall reliability and service & warranty options.
Overall Reliability
To determine the overall reliability score, I calculated the number of complaints over the last ten years across all the TV brands in the data set. This score accounts for both how frequently the brand receives complaints and how serious those complaints are.
Service & Warranty Options
No one ever wants their TV to experience a problem, but let’s face it — even the most reliable brand can run into the occasional issues. This score takes into account how easy it would be to repair a defective television set, length of the warranty, if extended coverage options are available, and what the repair experience is like.
The Top Five Television Brands Ranked
I then added up all of the scores to create a final ranking and give you an unbiased view of the most reliable TV brands going into 2023.
1. LG
Most Reliable — Overall
Summary
LG secures the top spot as the most reliable TV brand going into 2023 thanks to a generous 2-year standard warranty, a low failure rate, and exceptional build quality.
LG recently passed a major milestone, celebrating over 500 million television sets sold worldwide.
That depth of experience has clearly translated into solid product quality and a best-in-class service network, helping to propel LG to the top of the list of the most reliable TV brands.
Not only did LG receive the highest score in owner satisfaction, it also received the fewest overall number of complaints. The issues that customers did encounter tended to be minor and they were addressed quickly, without the need to escalate the issue in order to get it resolved.
Like most manufacturer’s these days, there were reports of LG being unable to provide service to malfunctioning TVs because of a shortage of parts. However, I gave them high marks for offering full credit to replace the TV with a new unit in these situations.
LG Service & Warranty Options
While most other manufacturers only offer a 1-year standard warranty, LG stands above the rest by offering an additional year of protection at no extra cost. Their customer service in 2022 was highly rated by owners, as was the repair process.
Like most standard warranties, LG’s only covers defects in workmanship. If you want your TV set to be covered against accidental damage or power surges, you have the option of purchasing LG Premium Care, an extended warranty serviced by Asurion that includes accidental damage coverage.
It’s available in 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year periods, and can cost anywhere from $99 to $189 depending on the model and length of coverage. You get access to a simple website to submit claims and can even schedule in-home repairs by selecting a date and time that’s convenient for you.
As an additional benefit, LG also allows you to split the extended warranty cost into three equal payments. This can make it even easier to afford.
I was particularly impressed by the C2 OLED TV. LG took their popular C1 OLED model from 2021 and refined it, which means one thing in particular — the C2 boasts improved reliability thanks to many of the issues being resolved in the previous generation.
It comes in a range of sizes from 42″ to 83″, with middle-of-the-pack 65″ version weighing only 37 pounds with the base. Most comparable TVs weigh 50% more than that.
That’s incredibly light for any TV and it makes the C2 easier to install, easier to move around, and easier to access for troubleshooting or repair. Add to that a fantastic picture quality, depth of color, and a range of premium features, and the C2 OLED is one TV that should definitely be on your list.
It’s not a particularly cheap TV — the 65″ C2 will set you back about $1,696 as of this writing — but if you’re looking for a high-end screen that will last for years to come and provide excellent picture and sound quality to boot, it’s one of the best options available today.
Watch CNET’s review below if you want to learn more.
(You can also rest assured that I have a complete guide to resetting your LG TV in case you run into any trouble!)
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
LG secures the top spot as the most reliable TV brand in 2023 thanks to a generous 2-year standard warranty, a low failure rate, and exceptional build quality. The second-generation C2 TV is extremely lightweight and its OLED screen is brighter and more reliable.
2. Sony
Most Reliable — Sports TVs
Summary
Sony’s legendary reliability, color accuracy, and an extensive service network make it an easy choice — especially if you plan to use the TV for watching sports or other fast-moving video.
Sony is well-known for producing outstanding picture quality and resolution. The brand’s long track record along with overall high marks for reliability put it in second place in this list.
Sony has recently switched operating systems and most of their sets now come with Google TV embedded, which could be a plus or a minus depending on where you stand on that particular software.
The most common issues experienced by Sony owners were internet connection issues, main board failures, and the unit randomly turning itself on. These issues most commonly appear around the 8-14 month mark, which may put them outside the standard 1-year warranty.
In my opinion, reports of these issues were common enough to recommend purchasing an extended warranty to ensure that any issues you run into after the first year will get resolved.
Which brings us to…
Sony Service & Warranty Options
Sony actually offers two types of extended warranties, giving a little extra flexibility.
Adding Sony Protect will simply extend the original manufacturer’s warranty. You can choose a 2-year or 4-year coverage period, giving you up to a 5-year total manufacturer’s warranty.
Sony Protect Plus is the more expensive option, but it also includes coverage for accidents and power surges. This is going to be best for households that move around a lot, have children or pets, or who are just good at breaking things (like me).
The extended warranty with accident coverage is also available for either a 2- or 4-year period. (You may be starting to sense a theme here.)
A 2-year extended warranty with Sony Protect Plus—which includes accident coverage—for a typical 65″ Sony TV would cost you about $279.99. Compare that to Sony Protect, which would cost just $189.99 for the same period.
That’s slightly more expensive than rivals like LG or Samsung, but if you plan to use your TV a lot or just want the extra peace of mind, it may be worth the extra cost.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Sony’s legendary reliability, color accuracy, and an extensive service network make it an easy choice — especially if you plan to use the TV for watching sports or other fast-moving video. The X90J finds a nice balance between Sony's XR processor, brilliant brightness and color contrast, and reliability.
3. Samsung
Most Reliable — High-End TVs
Summary
Samsung has been making waves in the premium TV segment, incorporating cutting-edge technology without sacrificing much in the way of reliability.
Samsung is another household brand that routinely receives high marks among both professional reviewers and owners alike.
In particular, Samsung has been focusing on the high-end TV category, rolling out specialty models like the Samsung Frame, which acts as a TV when turned on and an art frame when turned off.
These advancements have made Samsung a very popular brand, but they have also created a number of problems. For example, the first generation Samsung Frame TV suffered from a number of quality control issues.
In fact, inconsistent quality is a top complaint for Samsung in general. That can become an issue when you are paying premium for cutting-edge features, so if you’re willing to invest in a Samsung, I suggest exploring one of their extended warranties.
That said, if you want the absolute best TV with the most advanced features, Samsung should be a very strong contender.
Samsung Service & Warranty Options
Like all other brands on this list with the exception of LG, Samsung offers a standard 1-year warranty that covers parts and labor.
You can purchase an extended warranty as well for either a 2-year or 4-year period. That brings it in line with Sony.
However, unlike Sony, Samsung only offers one warranty service called Samsung Care Plus that includes accident protection.
Brace yoruself, though, because the coverage can get a bit pricey, with most models landing anywhere from $197.99 for two years of protection all the way up to $269.99 for four years of protection.
I’ve also written up a complete guide to resetting your Samsung TV, so if you ever do run into a problem, you know where to go for troubleshooting advice.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
Samsung has been making 4k TVs for over a decade, which translates to great reliability and vibrant picture. The Crystal line is available in a range of sizes at an affordable price.
4. Hisense
Most Reliable — Budget TVs
Summary
Hisense may not be a TV brand you’re as familiar with as LG, Sony, or Samsung, but it boasts high customer satisfaction at extremely affordable prices.
Hisense doesn’t carry the same street cred as the others we’ve looked at so far, but it’s one worth paying attention to.
This brand has seen its popularity explode in 2023 thanks to its overall affordability and a high rate of owner satisfaction.
The brand received high marks for ease of use and the consistency of quality across its lineup. Unlike the brands we’ve looked at up until now, Hisense tends to avoid a lot of the more advanced options that let you customize picture quality.
That may sound like a downside, but if you’re someone who just wants a good picture with a minimum amount of hassle, it could be a blessing in disguise. It’s almost impossible to mess up the settings and most Hisense TVs will work flawless out of the box for years to come, since there are fewer things that can go wrong.
Hisense Service & Warranty Options
Hisense offers a 1-year standard warranty on its smaller models and a 2-year warranty on televisions 50″ or larger.
My research revealed a pattern of issues happening around the 2-year mark that could be extremely annoying if not fixed. The most common problems reported by owners were with the motion blur (especially noticeable in fast-moving scenes) and unreliable color accuracy.
Hisense was also dinged in the rankings due to multiple reports of spotty warranty service. Some owners complained about being directed to contact a repair technician hours away from their location with no upfront guarantee of a resolution or how long it might take.
Remember what I was saying earlier about the perks of going with a brand that has built out a large service presence? This is where it starts to matter.
That said, Hisense has made strides in recent years and is catching up to better-known rivals like TCL and LG. In the budget category, there’s almost no competition that is as reliable as Hisense or boasts such high satisfaction rates among owners.
If you’re looking for a specific recommendation, I liked what owners had to say about the Hisense 55-inch Class R6 ($309.99 on Amazon as of this writing). It’s one of the best-selling and best-rated TVs on Amazon, receiving an average of 4.5 stars out of 5 from over 1,000 customer reviews.
YouTuber Andrew Robinson has put together a fantastic review of this TV if you’re curious to learn more.
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
The R6 Series is quickly developing a reputation for solid picture quality, user-friendliness, and reliability—all for a surprisingly great value.
5. Vizio
Most Reliable — Gaming TVs
Summary
Last (but certainly not least), Vizio gets high marks for owner satisfaction across its lineup and some models even come with a three-year warranty.
Arriving fashionably late but in just in time to round out this list is Vizio, which earned the final spot based on solid customer satisfaction ratings and slightly higher-than-average reliability scores.
This year Vizio celebrates 20 years of manufacturing and selling TVs in the US. After briefly experimenting with more novel formats, such as the 59” Cinemawide TV, the brand has now consolidated its lineup to just 5 different series.
This gives the brand a distinct advantage, because with simplicity comes reliability. It’s much easier to produce five different models with a high degree of quality control than it is to produce twenty-five different models (and all their accompanying sizes).
Such streamlining of its television line has also helped the brand to rebound somewhat since it lost Consumer Reports’ recommendation over reliability issues (along with our #4 pick, Hisense).
And although Vizio made up just 3% of the US television market in 2022, it’s still a decent pick for anyone looking for a budget-friendly TV with decent reliability, quality control, and color accuracy. This brand can be an especially good choice for people looking for a decent gaming TV at a price that won’t make your eyes water.
Vizio Service & Warranty Options
Vizio’s score in this category was dragged down by a somewhat limited service network and a lack of extended warranty options.
Vizio offers a standard 1-year warranty and even extends that to 3 years for some models. But it’s difficult to determine which model receives that extended coverage, and some customers reported feeling like they had been misled by sales representatives.
Like with Hisense, I recommend adding at least a two-year extended warranty if you’re planning to purchase a Vizio TV. Depending on which retailer you go to, you can purchase extra protection with Geek Squad Protection (available at Best Buy), Asurion (available from Amazon), or a third-party provider like Upsie.
Like the other brands on this list, I have also prepared a complete reset guide for Vizio. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but you know where to find it if you do!
Most Reliable Model
After carefully reviewing the full lineup, this is the model I recommend:
The M-Series gives you access to 4k picture quality, a fast 120-Hz refresh rate, and improved color contrast all at an impressive value.
Conclusion
We live in a golden age of television with nearly endless options and features. But if you’re looking for a TV set that is going to last for years to come, here is your list:
Patrick Ward