Is Hitachi A Good TV Brand? (read this before buying)

We have been hearing a lot of fuss about Hitachi TVs for some time now so we decided to take a closer look at Hitachi TVs. What we found might surprise you, but then again you might have had an experience with Hitachi yourself and know better than us. Let us know in the comments about your experience with Hitachi TVs.

What to see our list of best TVs for 2024? Check out our guide here (includes great value for money TVs)

Where Are Hitachi TVs Made?

Hitachi TVs have been made in Japan since 1956 but by 2010 they were outsourcing all of their manufacture to foreign companies and nowadays all Hitachi TVs sold in Europe are made by the Turkish company Vestel. They are supported by the company named Hitachi Digital Media Group and are responsible for television sets throughout Europe, Turkey and Russia.

In Japan, Hitachi stopped selling Hitachi TVs in 2018 switching to only selling Sony TVs through it’s Japanese stores. The fact that all parts and manufacturing is outsourced is not unusual in the electronics world, many companies just trade on their brand name. However should we see the fact that they no longer sell their own branded goods as telling?

How Do Hitachi TVs Do On Review Sites?

In an effort to ascertain just how good a brand Hitachi is nowadays, we started searching the review sites. One of the largest suppliers of Hitachi televisions online has a 63% 5 star review rating, 11% 4 star rating, 11% 3 star rating and a 15% 1 star rating.

It seems that the majority of bad reviews are recent, which would imply that the newest Hitachi TVs are more likely to be problematic. However, switching to another major online supplier that sells plenty of Hitachi TVs, we find contradictory reviews compared to certain other sites.

It would seem that the Hitachi brand TVs that are available as of now in the UK appear to be good value for money. As for reliability, only time will tell.

TV Remote

How Long Do Hitachi TVs Last On Average?

Hitachi TVs appear to have a similar lifespan to other comparable TVs on the market. If there are any problems it seems to be with TVs that are left on continuously 24 hours a day. The average lifespan of a Hitachi TV is around 60,000 hours or 7 years in constant continuous use.

But who uses any TV 24 hours a day? According to a recent survey, most TVs are used for an average of 8 hours a day. This gives a lifespan of around 13 years for a Hitachi TV, which is all inline with the average lifespan of televisions in general. Interestingly, the settings you select on your TV can affect its lifespan.

What’s The Most Common Fault With Hitachi TVs?

The most common fault with a Hitachi TV is also the most common fault with all TVs irrespective of brand. That is, the backlight, and backlight failure has 2 common causes which are;

  1. Power Surges
    If your TV suffers from a power surge it is likely to cause the regulator to fail. The main reason for this is not having surge protection.
  2. LED Driver Failure
    This is where the driver receives too much voltage, which in turn causes problems with the motherboard.

The main reason backlights fail on TVs is due to the brightness being set too high.

Do Video Games Damage Hitachi TVs?

Older TVs could and often did get damaged by playing video games, but all modern TVs are designed and built in such a way that video games don’t affect them at all. It was the use of phosphorous displays that used to cause problems. These are not used any more so it’s not an issue in modern Hitachi TVs.

What Warranty Is Available On Hitachi TVs?

The warranty on a Hitachi TV for home use is usually for 12 months. With the warranty for a commercially used Hitachi TV being 3 months (90 days).

Watching TV

Tips For Prolonging The Life Of Any TV

It doesn’t matter if your TV costs thousands of pounds or a hundred pounds if you don’t take care of it, it won’t last long. Looking after your TV not only means it will last longer, but it will also give you its best performance too. To help prolong the lifespan of your TV do the following;

Turn The Power Off When Not In Use

When the TV is not being used, turn it off and unplug it from the mains socket. Leaving a TV on standby still uses power and allows power to run through the TV which will shorten its lifespan to some degree.

Position The TV Away From Windows

Sunlight, rain and other weather related elements including dust etc can all have an adverse effect on your TV. To prolong the lifespan of your TV situate it away from windows.

Mount Your TV On A Wall

If it’s possible, mount your TV on a wall fairly high up. This will help to prevent dust and other environmental particles from getting into your TV. 

Regularly Update Your TVs Firmware

Allowing your TV to update its firmware will help protect your TV from bugs and also ensure all apps are running smoothly.

Keep The TV Well Ventilated

Allowing a good air flow around your TV is essential for prolonging the lifespan of your TV.

Install A Surge Protector

You have absolutely no control over power surges and they’re more common than you might think. Protect your TV by installing a surge protector to prevent any damage to your set.

Watch Brightness Levels

Setting the brightness level too high on your TV can damage the backlight (the most common fault in TVs). Your TV will have come with various factory presets depending on lighting conditions. Take advantage of these presets.

Watch Contrast Levels

If you set your TVs contrast level at a higher than necessary point it will use more power and reduce the lifespan of your TV.

Need help choosing the best TV in 2024? Read our article here!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Hitachi products good?

Even though Hitachi does not make TVs themselves any more, Hitachi TVs are as good as any other TV of a similar price.

Who makes Hitachi TV’s?

Hitachi TVs are now made by the Turkish company Vestel.

Is Hitachi TV worth buying?

Hitachi TVs are as good as any of their contemporaries of similarly priced TVs.

How long is the Hitachi TV warranty?

The Hitachi TV warranty is for 12 months.

Is Hitachi made in Japan?

Hitachi has not been made in Japan since 2012, and are currently made in Turkey for the European market by the Vestel company.

One comment on “Is Hitachi A Good TV Brand? (read this before buying)

  1. I have this brand TV that I purchased prior to 1998 and it is still going strong. Only problem is that it has always made poping noises the first hour or so. warming up.

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