As far as big purchases go, TVs are relatively reliable. With a bit of luck, a new TV will last you several years — especially if it’s one of the best TVs on the market.
But TV hardware doesn’t last forever, and depending on your viewing habits, there comes a point where replacing your TV makes sense.
Make no mistake: You should feel empowered to wring every ounce of use out of your TV before you upgrade — there’s enough e-waste in the world without you tossing out your perfectly good TV. However, if you’re seeing these signs, then the time to upgrade is nigh.
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1. The software is slowing down
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Like any computer, stuff just gets sluggish after a while.
Your TV’s software is one of the primary canaries in the proverbial coal mine. For better or worse, TVs have more in common with computers today than at any other point in their history. And, like any computer, stuff just gets sluggish after a while.
This is especially true given the influx of regularly doled-out software updates from big-name brands like LG, Samsung and Sony. These updates are essential in keeping your TV up to date (not to mention secure), but over time, they can bog down its hardware.
Unfortunately, while you can upgrade your PC’s processor, but you won’t be able to swap your TV processor out when it starts to slow down.
You’re far more likely to notice that it’s lost a step if you rely on its built-in streaming features, since all of those apps are getting updates on the regular, too.
The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to replace the whole kit and caboodle if everything else about the TV is perfectly fine. My solution? Just offload streaming duties onto a dedicated streaming device with its own internal hardware.
We’ve painstakingly tested and reviewed all of the best streaming devices on the market, but my personal favorite is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
It’s not the most affordable streamer you can buy, but if I’m going to lose an HDMI port to a streaming device, I want it to support Dolby Vision. Roku’s simple, clean interface is another massive point in its favor.
Of course, if your TV’s hardware is straight up failing, it has ways of letting you know about it.
2. You’ve got dead pixels
You don’t have to be a precocious child actor in an influential psychological thriller from 1999 to see dead pixels. These dark spots on your display are exactly what the name suggests: individual pixels that have given up the ghost.
Your TV doesn’t have to be old for one or more of its pixels to be dead. Heck, I’ve seen them on TVs that have just come out of the box. At the worst of times, they cluster together, creating blotches of darkness in an otherwise normal picture.
If you’ve clocked a dead pixel on a relatively new set, there’s a good chance it can be replaced, per a manufacturer’s (or retailer’s) warranty.
Unfortunately, if your TV is a bit older, it won’t be addressed without a paid panel replacement. Depending on the make and model, it might be more cost efficient to upgrade to a new TV that fits within your budget.
3. The picture’s getting funky
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Of all the ways your TV’s picture can visually degrade, the most likely candidate is an overall dimming of the picture. An LED TV’s backlight — often an array of individual LEDs — can’t last forever. This is known as the circle of light. (Sorry.)
If it’s getting tougher to make out details without the lights off, your TV’s backlight might be reaching the end of its lifespan.
Panels degrade in strange ways over time, too. I’ve seen backlight bleed on the edges and corners of a panel become increasingly more noticeable as a TV ages.
And, while visual banding is often a product of poor upscaling or picture processing, hardware-related banding is tougher to ignore, as it remains static from one scene to the next.
Think you’re immune because you’ve got an OLED? Think again. OLED TVs are susceptible to many of these issues too. They leverage organic materials, after all.
4. Your OLED TV has burn-in
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey for Tom’s Guide)
You’ve probably heard of the dreaded issue of OLED burn-in, but if not, I recommend taking a spin through our guide on how to prevent OLED burn-in for the full scoop.
OLED TVs are uniquely susceptible to burn-in due to the nature of their display technology. Due to the materials used and a relative lack of preventative measures, this is especially true of older OLED models from 2016 to 2020 that are just now coming into old age.
If you notice any of the following on your OLED TV, it might be saddled with burn-in: a ghostly, static outline, strong discoloration or permanent lines.
Many new OLED TVs come with a limited warranty, some exclusively for issues of burn-in. As mentioned, newer OLED TVs also arrive with an array of software- and hardware-based preventative measures. From what I’ve seen over the course of my career, OLED TV-makers have gotten really good at preventing burn-in.
And, for what it’s worth, there are a number of bizarre, OLED-related visual artifacts that might rear their head throughout its lifespan. I recently did a deep-dive into common OLED TV issues and whether or not they’re worth worrying about.
5. New movies and shows no longer look good
(Image credit: HBO)
Have you recently found yourself wondering, why are TV shows so dark?
You’re not going crazy.
The era of dark, hard-to-see content can be explained with a number of factors, but the biggest reason that folks often squint at their favorite TV series is due to how this content is shot and mastered.
Most big-budget shows are produced from the top down for High Dynamic Range (also known as HDR). Most new TVs support HDR on paper, but they lack the capability to create a meaningful HDR picture.
When you combine this with cinematic trends that lean into darker aesthetics, your ultra-affordable, six-year-old LED TV is bound to deliver a lackluster experience — especially if its backlight is already starting to degrade.
Fortunately, in 2025, even some budget-friendly TVs are bright enough to overcome this.
A TV like the TCL QM6K is what I recommend to folks who want to upgrade to a set that will make it more fun to watch new, HDR-mastered movies and shows, but who’d rather not spend upwards of a thousand bucks for the privilege.
Don’t feel guilty about upgrading your TV when it’s technically still usable. If watching your favorite stuff is starting to feel like a chore, there are ways to improve your viewing experience without spending more than you’re comfortable with and there are plenty of good ways to re-home your old TV, including donating it.
When you’re ready to part ways with your TV, check out our guide to recycling electronics for tips on how to send it on its way safely.
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