Best-rated Televisions

Compare Televisions in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. LG, Sony, Samsung, Veon, TCL and Panasonic were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Ease of Use, Picture Quality, Sound Quality, Smart Compatibility and Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | LG

Kiwi consumers are switched on to LG’s televisions, rated No.1 for consumer satisfaction.

lg_logo

 

How we rate televisions

Our review compares televisions on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared television brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which television brand they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 847 Kiwis who had bought a new television to use at home in the past 2 years and asked for their feedback on the television they bought.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their television brands from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall Satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a television brand as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Value for Money: the cost is low for the quality and performance of the television.
  • Ease of Use: the television is straightforward to navigate and use.
  • Picture Quality: images on screen are of a high quality.
  • Sound Quality: audio is of a high quality.
  • Smart Compatibility: connects to the internet for easy streaming.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • LG
  • Sony
  • Samsung
  • Veon
  • TCL
  • Panasonic


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

Best televisions in New Zealand

  1. LG
  2. Sony
  3. Samsung
  4. Veon
  5. TCL
  6. Panasonic

lg_logo

LG

Ratings Results

This year’s Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customers | Televisions Award winner, LG is the only TV brand in our ratings to achieve a perfect 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction from consumers.

It’s a score LG also earns for Sound Quality, Smart Compatibility and Picture Quality, placing it well ahead of its rival TV brands on our award table. For Value for Money and Ease of Use it has great 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

The South Korean electronics brand 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

Sony logo

Sony

Ratings Results

Sony is a constant high performer in our TV awards ratings, and this year is no exception. Sony places second on our awards table, and has two 5-Star ratings, for Smart Compatibility and Picture Quality.

For Overall Satisfaction, Ease of Use, Sound Quality and Value for Money Sony’s TV customers reward the brand with great 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

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

Samsung

Ratings Results

Over the past six years, Samsung has won our TV Award four times, including twice in the past three years. This year, however, it places third on our awards table, albeit with another set of great ratings. It earns 4-Star ratings across all categories except one, Ease of Use, for which it has a top 5-Star rating. Clearly, despite Samsung not winning this year’s award, the brand’s customers are very satisfied with their televisions.

Editor’s Notes

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


Veon logo

Veon

The Veon brand, sold exclusively through The Warehouse, markets itself as a brand that delivers on value, as well as quality. So it’s no surprise that Kiwi consumers rate Veon’s TVs 5 Stars for Value for Money. It’s a top mark that Veon also earns for Ease of Use. Across all other categories, the brand earns 3-Star ratings.

It’s worth noting that 3 Stars is by no means a measure of dissatisfaction, rather it indicates that Veon’s customers are happy with the levels of satisfaction the brand delivers.

Editor’s Notes

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

TCL

Ratings Results

Despite scoring a 4-Star rating for Value for Money, TCL earns a 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. The brand also scores highly for Ease of Use and Smart Compatibility, plus 3-Star ratings across the remaining categories.

Editor’s Notes

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

panasonic_logo

Panasonic

Ratings Results

Panasonic’s customers are clearly satisfied when it comes to their television purchases. The brand receives a 3-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, plus 4-Star ratings in four out of six categories.

Editor’s Notes

Panasonic is a brand that has a long history of making quality home appliances and electronic goods. It has a television for every home, no matter the room size. 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 Blue’s latest TV Award research is that Picture Quality isn’t the most important factor for TV consumers. It’s of least concern, placing below Smart Compatibility, which was the most important factor for just 14% of those in our survey.

However, these two results aren’t as surprising as they first seem. Modern HD and 4K TVs deliver fantastic picture quality, and even cheap models have comprehensive smart capabilities. So, as these qualities have become standard across all new TV models, they’ve become less of a concern for consumers.

In comparison, Sound Quality is of far more importance, and a major concern cited by over a quarter of those in our survey (26%). Indeed, poor sound is one of the major factors behind the popularity of TV sound bars, which can greatly improve home viewing.

Overall, Sound Quality is just as important as Value for Money for consumers when rating their TV brands:

  • Value for Money: 26%
  • Sound Quality: 26%
  • Ease of Use: 20%
  • Smart Compatibility: 14%
  • Picture Quality: 13%

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 with an 8K TV, the content you’re watching may not be 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.

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. Just how we like it!

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 are 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 however, maintenance can only work for so long. Unfortunately, you’ll eventually have to purchase a new TV.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.

More Information

TV purchased

4K LED: 42%

HD LED: 25%

OLED: 13%

8K: 4%

(UNSURE 15%)

Key statistics

Owns a smart TV and uses the smart TV functions: 66%

Use TV for streaming content more than watching free to air TV: 59%

Watching TV together is a family activity: 50%

The TV is the lounge’s focal point: 48%

Pay for more than one streaming service: 39%

Purchased the biggest TV they could afford: 32%

Has a surround sound or speaker system for TV: 30%

Regularly updates TV to the latest technology: 17%

 

Canstar Blue surveyed 2575 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who had purchased and used an air fryer in the past three months. In this case, 847 New Zealanders.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s TV ratings:

  • 2023: Samsung
  • 2022: Samsung
  • 2021: Sony
  • 2020: Panasonic
  • 2019: Samsung
  • 2018: Samsung
  • 2017: Panasonic

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