Samsung thinks a 7-year-old TV might be too old, but users disagree
Samsung says you might be missing out on features that come with a new TV, but users are pushing back: “Where am I supposed to put a perfectly fine TV?”
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Samsung says TVs older than about 7 years may still work, but they often lag behind newer models in image, sound, and performance quality.
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Some users disagree with Samsung’s upgrade push, arguing that a working TV does not need to be replaced just because it is old.
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There is also skepticism about newer smart TVs because of privacy and trust concerns.
Samsung suggests that if you own a TV that’s 7 years old or older, it might be time to replace it with a new one.
While Samsung releases new TVs every year, on average, consumers tend to replace their devices every 7 to 10 years.
Considering this, the company provided an explanation for why users might want to upgrade their TVs even though their old ones are still working.
“Models from 7 years ago and older have limited HDR brightness, lower contrast, slower matrices, and a lack of AI algorithms,” noted the company via Sam Mobile.
In reality, it means that older devices provide “poorer image quality, less sharp streaming, less detail clarity in sports, washed-out blacks, slower app performance, and limited connectivity with other devices.”
4K became the standard in television between 2017 and 2020, and is still to this day, even though 8K technology already exists.
Users aren’t in a hurry to replace their TVs
The company notes that older TVs lack AI-powered features that are supposed to improve image, motion, and sound quality.
For example, the company’s AI Pro Motion Smoother feature smooths fast-paced action, reduces blur, and tracks quickly moving objects. Its Adaptive Audio Pro feature separates dialogues to help you hear them better.
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However, not all users find these features necessary, suggesting that a TV should be replaced when it no longer works.
“I'll replace my giant TV when it shits the bed. Where am I supposed to put a perfectly fine 70" TV?” wrote one X user.
“[...] Our main lounge TV is a 7-year-old Samsung! They get replaced when they stop working,” added another user.
Justified mistrust over smart TVs?
“Translation: new TVs are equipped with more privacy-invasive technology, which we can use to make additional money from selling you the new TV,” shared another netizen on X.
Last year, Samsung, together with Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technology Group, was sued by the State of Texas for illegally collecting personal data via users’ smart TVs.
This was done using Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which captures screenshots of the content users are watching. The company collected this information without users' knowledge, and the data was sold to target users with relevant ads.
Both parties reached an agreement in which Samsung agreed to “halt any collection or processing of ACR viewing data without obtaining Texas consumers’ express consent,” according to the website of Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas.
Recently, the company was also sued by singer Dua Lipa for using her image without her permission to promote its smart TVs.
Samsung used Lipa’s image on its smart TV cardboard boxes, leading to accusations of “copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and violation.”
The singer sued the company for $15 million in damages. However, the company denied any wrongdoing, stating that the image was obtained from a third-party content partner.
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