Best Televisions

About Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Televisions Award

Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Televisions Award reveals the television brand that delivers the best consumer satisfaction to its customers.

We ask Kiwi consumers to rate their satisfaction with their TV brands by Overall Satisfaction, as well as important criteria such as Picture and Sound Quality, and Value for Money.

Numbers crunched by Canstar's researchers:

• 833 Customers Surveyed
• 11 Brands Assessed
• 6 Brands Shortlisted
• 1 Award Winner

Read our methodology

The best television brands in NZ

The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

1. Samsung

This is the fifth time in the past eight years that Kiwis have rated Samsung the nation's top TV brand. And Samsung wins its fifth award on the back of a near perfect set of consumer ratings.

Samsung earns top 5-Star scores in each of our ratings categories, except for Value for Money, for which it earns a great 4-Star ratings.

Overall, Samsung earns more 5-Star ratings than the other five brands on our award table combined.

Samsung has a huge range of TVs that incorporates models to fit every lounge room and budget, from basic 32" and 43" full-HD models, through to giant 98" QLED 4K sets.

The full range spans:

• QLED TVs
• Crystal UHD TVs
• OLED TVs
• 8K TVs
• 4K TVs
• Full HD TVs

2. Sony

Sony's Bravia range of televisions are known for their great picture quality and sophisticated styling. The Bravia range features screens from 43" to 77" and covers:

• Mini LED TVs
• OLED TVs
• QLED TVs
• 4K Ultra HD TVs

3. LG

LG is a South Korean electronics brand that produces an extensive range of televisions and soundbars. LG's range features screens from 48" to 98" and covers:

• OLED TVs
• QNED TVs
• UHD 4K TVs
• Ultra big TVs

4. TCL

Chinese brand TCL is one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer electronics. TCL's range features screens from 40" to 115" and covers:

• Mini LED TVs
• QLED Smart TVs
• 4K Smart TVs

5. Veon

Veon televisions are sold exclusively through The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery. Veon's range features screens from 24" to 75" and covers:

• HD TVs
• Full HD TVs
• 4K Ultra HD Smart TVs

6. Panasonic

Panasonic is a brand that has a long history of making quality home appliances and electronic goods. Panasonic's range features screens from 42" to 77" and covers:

• 4K OLED & LED TVs
• Mini LED and Full Array TVs
• Full HD LED TVs

Choosing the right television for you

One of the more surprising findings of Canstar's latest TV Award research is that Picture Quality isn't the most important factor for TV consumers. It sits in third place, behind Value for Money, which is always an important factor cited in our consumer research, and Ease of Use.

Ease of Use is a clear concern, and for good reason. Televisions get daily use and must be easy to use. If you're watching TV, you want to be able to switch to a desired channel easily and make use of your set's full range of functions. Ease of Use is obviously a big concern for Kiwis, and our award-winner Samsung is the only TV brand to earn a top 5-Star rating in that category.

Overall, here's what the consumers in our research cite as the most important factors when rating their TV brands:

• Value for Money: 30%
• Ease of Use: 26%
• Picture Quality: 23%
• Sound Quality: 15%
• Ease of Use: 20%
• Smart Compatibility: 5%

TV resolution: what is FHD, UHD, 4K and 8K?

TV resolution is measured by the number of pixels (tiny dots) that make up a model's display. The greater the number of pixels, the higher the resolution. The pixel count is expressed as width by height (for instance, a display with 1920 x 1080 pixels has a total of 2,073,600 pixels).

Resolutions have evolved in recent years. From SD (standard definition) through to HD (high definition) and beyond, as manufacturers have set about bringing models with ever improved image quality to market.

The following are the resolution types typically found across the current generation of TVs.

FHD

Full high definition (commonly referred to as FHD or 1080p) comprises a display resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This is an extremely common display resolution. However, it has been well and truly superseded in recent years. But, if you're on a budget, it remains a good option.

UHD/4K

Ultra high definition (UHD) and 4K refer to the same resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), with the two terms often used interchangeably. UHD/4K has become the standard display resolution, and many streaming providers offer it as an option.

8K

Takes it to the next level, offering a resolution of 7680 x 4320 (four times that of UHD/4K). As it stands, 8K TVs are by and large significantly more expensive than UHD/4K TVs. It's also important to consider that there is currently a dearth of actual 8K content available. Even if you own an 8K TV, the content you're watching probably won't be broadcast in 8K.

Display tech: LCD or OLED?

While manufacturers apply all manner of acronyms to their TV displays, it typically boils down to a choice of either an LCD or OLED screen.

While LCD displays have dominated the wider market to this point, higher-end OLED displays are becoming an increasingly popular option.

LCD

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. And this technology is used by a broad range of manufacturers, so there are plenty of options to choose from. As the name indicates, an LCD display harnesses liquid crystal technology to produce images.

The terms LCD and LED (light-emitting diode) are often used interchangeably. However, it's important to note that LED TVs are simply a specific type of LCD TV. They simply use LED technology to provide the backlighting.

OLED

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode. It's a comparatively new technology that has carved out a niche at the higher end of the TV market.

Unlike LCD displays, OLED displays do not require a backlight. This paves the way for thinner displays, as the display itself emits light. In terms of picture quality, OLEDs consistently rank as the better of the two display types.

Expect to pay significantly more for an OLED display, as higher quality typically comes with a higher price tag.

What size TV should you buy?

When working out what size TV to buy, first measure how far away from it you'll be sitting. The general rules are:

• High Definition (HD) TVs: sit 1.5-2.5 times the screen's diagonal measurement away from the screen. For a 50" TV, that's approx 1.9m-3.1m.
• 4K TVs: sit 1.5 times the screen's diagonal measurement away from the screen. For a 50" TV, that's approx 1.3m-1.9m.

Viewing distance for 1080p HDTVs:

Viewing distance for 4K HDTVs:

For 4K TVs, you should sit closer, to appreciate the clarity of the picture:

The above figures are in line with industry guidelines for the most immersive viewing experience, which recommend that 40% of your field of vision is taken up by your TV screen. But that's only if you're sitting watching devotedly, as in a cinema.

How high should you hang a TV screen?

For the optimum viewing experience, the middle of your TV screen should be at eye level when you're sitting down. Of course, this depends on the height of your furniture, but a general rule of thumb is about 106cm off the floor.

As you'll notice, most TV cabinets are low to accommodate this. However, wall-mounted screens tend to be fixed higher, especially when they're hung above furniture or existing room fittings, such as fireplaces.

If you're fixing to a wall with limited height options, such as above a fireplace or sideboard, and are uncomfortable with the viewing angle, the answer could be to install a wall-mounted bracket, which will allow you to pull down the TV to an optimum viewing angle when in use.

How to clean your television

Cleaning your television regularly will help to extend its lifespan and ensure you get to watch your favourite shows without dust, fingerprints or streaks getting in the way. Thankfully, compared to other items around the house, cleaning a TV requires the least amount of products, if any, and involves minimal elbow grease.

How often should I clean my TV?

You should clean your television, speaker system and remote every week to avoid a monstrous buildup of dust and greasy marks that can make it more difficult to clean later on. Fortunately, the cleaning process is simple and shouldn’t take up too much of your time.

How to clean a TV screen

1. Unplug the TV and wait until it has completely cooled down.
2. Clean the frame with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth.
3. Wipe the TV screen with a microfibre cloth. For marks that won't budge, spray a small amount of screen cleaning onto the cloth and gently go over the area again. Be careful, streaks are caused by applying too much liquid onto your cloth.
4. Wait a few minutes for the TV screen to air dry before plugging the cables back in.

How to clean a TV remote

1. Remove the remote's batteries.
2. Lightly tap the remote to remove any debris stuck between the keys. If you own a pressurised air duster, give the remote a spray to lift any additional fluff.
3. Gently clean the outer shell with a disinfectant wipe or lint-free cloth that's been slightly dampened with a suitable cleaning solution.
4. Swipe a cotton bud, either dry or dampened with a suitable cleaning solution.
5. Dislodge stubborn dirt in crevices with a toothpick.
6. Air dry the remote before re-inserting the batteries.

How to clean TV speakers

1. Unplug your speaker system before attempting to clean anything.
2. Vacuum around the speaker to remove any large bits of debris.
3. Wipe down the speaker and grille with a microfibre cloth – ensure that you're gentle when doing this.
4. Air dry the speaker system before plugging it in.

Is it worth cleaning your TV?

Cleaning your television regularly will not only improve your watching experience but will also extend its lifespan. A simple clean once a week is all you will need to reap these life prolonging benefits.