Don’t ignore these retail TV red flags

A disclaimer right up front: the points I’m going to cover don’t automatically doom a smart TV. Even if a TV is cheaply made, it might still beat the longevity odds, or at least survive long enough that you’ll be ready to upgrade by then. The odds may actually be better than ever, since low-end TVs have benefited from decades of evolution at the high end. A $300 QLED from 2026 can wipe the floor with a $2,000 model from 2016.