Ready for a new TV but unsure which brands to trust with your hard-earned money? With countless options flooding the market, making the wrong choice can leave you stuck with a subpar viewing experience for years. Based on the latest customer satisfaction reports and reliability data, some major TV brands simply aren’t worth the investment in 2025. We’ve ranked the major TV manufacturers from worst to best to help you make an informed decision and get the most value for your dollar.
Hitachi TVs struggle with quality and availability
When shopping for a new television, you might stumble across Hitachi models with seemingly attractive price points. Unfortunately, these savings come at a significant cost to quality. Hitachi consistently ranks at the bottom of customer satisfaction surveys due to persistent issues with production quality. Many consumers report problems with screen uniformity, where certain areas appear brighter than others, creating a distracting viewing experience during dark scenes. The color accuracy also tends to fall short of competitors, with oversaturated reds and washed-out blues that make everything from sports to movies look unnatural.
Another significant drawback is Hitachi’s limited availability in the North American market. This scarcity makes finding replacement parts or qualified service technicians extremely difficult if something goes wrong. The brand’s smart TV interface is also notably outdated compared to competitors, with clunky navigation and fewer supported streaming apps. Many users report frustrating lag when switching between inputs or navigating menus. With so many better options available at similar price points, there’s simply no compelling reason to gamble on a Hitachi television in today’s competitive market.
FFalcon offers cheap TVs with poor performance
When you see an FFalcon TV’s rock-bottom price tag, it might seem like you’ve found an incredible bargain. However, this lesser-known brand demonstrates the painful truth that you typically get what you pay for in the television market. FFalcon models consistently disappoint with their substandard picture quality, particularly when handling fast-moving content like sports or action movies. Many users report frustrating motion blur that makes following the action nearly impossible. The contrast ratio on most models is also remarkably poor, resulting in blacks that appear more dark gray and whites that lack brightness and pop.
The problems extend beyond just picture quality to overall build construction. FFalcon televisions often feature flimsy plastic bodies that feel cheaply made and can develop concerning creaks over time. The remote controls are typically basic with unresponsive buttons that require multiple presses to register. Perhaps most concerning is the brand’s minimal customer support network, with many consumers reporting difficulties getting assistance when problems arise. The smart TV interface is typically sluggish, with frequent freezing during streaming. While the initial price may seem attractive, the frustration and likely early replacement make FFalcon one of the least economical choices in the long run.
RCA delivers basic functionality but poor picture quality
RCA was once a pioneering brand in American television manufacturing, but today’s RCA TVs bear little resemblance to their illustrious predecessors. Now operating primarily as a budget brand, RCA offers basic 4K televisions that technically deliver on resolution claims but fall dramatically short in actual picture quality. The processing power in these TVs struggles with upscaling lower-resolution content, resulting in noticeable pixelation when watching cable TV or older movies. Color accuracy is another persistent issue, with skin tones often appearing unnaturally red or orange and landscapes lacking the vibrant greens found on better displays.
RCA’s implementation of HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology is particularly disappointing, with limited brightness ranges that fail to deliver the dramatic contrast improvements this technology should provide. Most models lack local dimming capabilities, resulting in washed-out dark scenes that leak light in all the wrong places. The audio quality is equally problematic, with thin, tinny sound that makes dialogue difficult to understand without an external soundbar. While RCA TVs will function for basic viewing needs, they consistently underperform compared to similarly priced options from brands like TCL or Hisense. The weak three-year average lifespan reported by many consumers makes these televisions a poor investment despite their attractive initial price point.
Insignia offers budget pricing with limited features
Best Buy’s house brand Insignia presents itself as a wallet-friendly option for budget-conscious shoppers, and to their credit, these TVs do deliver basic functionality at competitive prices. However, serious limitations become apparent once you bring an Insignia home. Most models suffer from narrow viewing angles that cause colors to shift dramatically when you’re not sitting directly in front of the screen—a real problem for family movie nights or when entertaining guests. The refresh rates are typically limited to 60Hz, which results in noticeable motion blur during fast-paced scenes in movies or sporting events.
While Insignia has improved their smart TV platforms by partnering with Roku and Amazon Fire TV, the underlying hardware struggles to keep up. Users frequently report laggy menu navigation and streaming apps that crash unexpectedly. Picture processing capabilities lag far behind the competition, with mediocre upscaling that makes non-4K content look soft and undefined. One significant advantage is Best Buy’s service network, which makes repairs relatively straightforward compared to some other budget brands. However, the typically short lifespan of these TVs (averaging 4-5 years) means you’ll likely be shopping for a replacement sooner than you’d prefer. For occasional viewing in a guest room or kitchen, Insignia might suffice, but your primary living room deserves better.
Toshiba provides decent mid-range value
Toshiba occupies a middle ground in the television marketplace, offering reasonably priced models that perform adequately for everyday viewing. While not competing with premium brands for picture quality, Toshiba TVs deliver respectable performance for their price point. Their implementation of Fire TV on many models provides a comprehensive smart platform with access to virtually all major streaming services. Picture quality on mid-tier models features decent contrast ratios that handle most content acceptably, though you’ll notice limitations during very dark scenes in movies where blacks appear more dark gray than true black.
Toshiba’s reliability has improved in recent years, with most models lasting 5-7 years with regular use—a decent lifespan for the price point. Their remote controls are thoughtfully designed with quick-access buttons for popular streaming services and voice control capabilities through Alexa integration. Where Toshiba falls short is in premium features like local dimming, high refresh rates, and advanced gaming capabilities, making them less suitable for serious movie enthusiasts or gamers. The brand’s limited U.S. market presence also means fewer model options compared to more dominant competitors. For budget-conscious shoppers who want a step up from the lowest-tier brands without breaking the bank, Toshiba offers a reasonable compromise between performance and price.
Sony delivers stunning image quality at premium prices
Sony has built a well-deserved reputation for exceptional picture quality, particularly with their high-end OLED and LED models. What sets Sony apart is their superior image processing technology, with the X1 and newer XR processors delivering remarkable upscaling that makes even lower-resolution content look crisp and natural. Their Triluminos display technology produces some of the most accurate colors in the industry, with skin tones that look realistic rather than artificial. Sony’s implementation of HDR is among the best available, with precise brightness control that makes highlights pop while maintaining detail in shadows.
The primary drawback with Sony is their premium pricing, with models typically costing 15-30% more than comparable offerings from competitors like Samsung or LG. Their BRAVIA XR OLED TVs deliver stunning picture quality but at prices that can exceed $3,000 for larger screen sizes. Sony’s Google TV interface provides excellent smart capabilities with intuitive navigation and comprehensive app support. The brand also excels in audio quality, with many models featuring innovative speaker designs that produce surprisingly rich sound without external equipment. For discerning viewers who prioritize image quality and are willing to pay a premium for it, Sony represents one of the best options available—just be prepared for the significant investment their top models require.
Samsung combines quality with cutting-edge technology
Samsung has established itself as a powerhouse in the television market, consistently delivering models that combine excellent picture quality with innovative features. Their QLED technology offers a compelling alternative to OLED, with exceptional brightness levels that perform particularly well in brightly lit rooms where other premium TVs might struggle with glare. The color volume on Samsung’s higher-end models is truly impressive, maintaining vibrant, accurate colors even during extremely bright scenes where other TVs tend to wash out. Their premium models feature exceptional anti-glare technology that makes them ideal for living rooms with large windows or significant ambient light.
Samsung’s Tizen-based smart TV platform provides one of the most intuitive user experiences available, with smooth navigation and comprehensive app support. The brand’s Neo QLED models with mini-LED backlighting deliver exceptional contrast that approaches OLED quality while offering superior brightness. Samsung also leads in gaming features, with their premium models supporting variable refresh rates, auto low latency mode, and 4K gaming at 120Hz. Their build quality is consistently excellent, with sturdy construction and attention to design details that competitors often overlook. While premium Samsung models command high prices, their mid-range offerings deliver excellent value, making them a strong choice for most households.
LG dominates with unmatched OLED quality
LG has established itself as the undisputed leader in OLED television technology, manufacturing panels that deliver perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratios, and breathtaking picture quality. What makes LG OLEDs special is their pixel-level light control, where each pixel generates its own light and can turn completely off for true blacks that other display technologies simply cannot match. This creates stunning contrast in dark scenes where details remain visible against inky blacks without any of the blooming or halo effects seen on LED displays. Their color accuracy is exceptional, with vibrant yet natural hues that don’t require extensive calibration out of the box.
Beyond picture quality, LG offers one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly smart TV platforms with their webOS system. The interface is intuitive and responsive, with smooth navigation and support for virtually all major streaming services. LG has also established itself as the premier choice for gamers, with their C2 and C3 OLED models offering comprehensive HDMI 2.1 support, variable refresh rates, and extremely low input lag. While OLED technology does carry a small risk of burn-in with static images, LG has implemented multiple features to mitigate this concern. Their mid-range NanoCell models also offer excellent value for those who can’t stretch to OLED pricing, making LG a brand that delivers quality across various price points.
When investing in a new television, the brand you choose significantly impacts your viewing experience for years to come. While budget options like Hitachi and FFalcon might tempt with their low prices, their performance shortcomings make them poor investments. Instead, consider saving a bit longer for brands like TCL or Hisense if budget is tight, or invest in the superior quality of Samsung, Sony, or LG for a television that will deliver years of enjoyable viewing.
