If you haven’t heard of Westinghouse, you’re not alone.
It’s an old brand.
Really, really old.
In fact, the first patent for a CRT TV was from someone working in Westinghouse.
That was 1923…
And today, Westinghouse has entered the smart TV landscape.
Question is, where do they stack up against the competition?
Keep reading to discover:
- 3 reasons why you should buy a Westinghouse TV.
- Why Westinghouse has the best TV OS in the market.
- What other options you have except Westinghouse at its price range.
- 4 common Westinghouse TV problems that you should know before buying.
- And so much more…
Is Westinghouse a good TV brand?
Westinghouse is not a good TV brand. Despite its price tag and other hardware features, it still can’t compete with other manufacturers. While Roku is a good OS, it can sometimes cause the TV to be slow and unresponsive. They also have bad durability and customer service.
3 reasons why Westinghouse is a good TV brand
#1: Roku TV
When you’re looking for a new TV, which factors do you consider?
Price, display, audio…
The list goes on.
But if good software is what you need, look no further than Westinghouse.
With Roku as its operating system, it’s hard not to be happy with it.
Why?
Roku OS offers the following features:
- Voice control.
- Customizability.
- On-time updates.
- Wide choice of apps.
Not to mention that it’s also compatible with most smart home hubs, like:
- Apple Airplay.
- Google Assistant.
- Amazon Echo Dot.
Want a more in-depth look at Roku for Westinghouse? Check out this video:
#2: It’s cheap
When we buy something, we want the best.
But we also want the best for our wallets.
And Westinghouse is budget-friendly.
In the table below, I compared a Westinghouse 55” TV against its closest competition.
| Brand | Westinghouse | Samsung | Sony | LG |
| Model | WR55UX4210 | Q80A | XR-55A80J | 55NANO75UPA |
| HDR | HDR10 | HDR12x, Dolby Vision | HDR10+, Dolby Vision | HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Resolution | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 4K UHD | 4K UHD |
| Price | $379.99 | $899.99 | $1199.99 | $596.99 |
As you can see, the differences in price are night and day.
#3: Jack-of-all-trades
What do you do with your TVs?
Watch shows, play games?
If that’s all you’re looking for in a new TV…
Then Westinghouse is your affordable answer.
For watching, its Roku OS takes care of any streaming service you need, like:
- Hulu.
- Netflix.
- Apple TV.
- HBO Max.
- Disney Plus.
- Amazon Prime Video.
And many more.
Not only that…
With Westinghouse, you’ll also get access to the following ports:
- USB.
- HDMI.
- Ethernet.
Which ensures that you’ll get everything that you need despite its price tag.
4 common Westinghouse TV problems
#1: Fragile and doesn’t last long
You get what you pay for.
Since Westinghouse is a bargain TV…
They had to cut corners and settle for a less durable device.
My first thought after browsing customer reviews of Westinghouse TVs?
“This brand is a nightmare.”
All over forums dedicated to Westinghouse, you can spot complaints on:
- Flickering.
- Audio issues.
- Faulty remote.
- Backlight failure.
- Lost Wi-Fi connection.
Now, you might say:
“It’s cheap, I’ll just get a warranty so that I could get it fixed for free.”
Oh, my sweet summer child.
That’s not the case at all.
This brings us to…
#2: Bad customer service
Another complaint that that’s all over the internet about Westinghouse? Their customer service.
Many users have complained about emailing Westinghouse and getting no follow-up.
So some have tried calling.
And what did they find?
Westinghouse was asking for money to ship the broken TV to their repair centers.
Even for those who still have their warranty.
Now, as if this wasn’t enough, the process is also…
#3: Slow
Here’s the truth.
When you have bad hardware, your software will also be affected. And that’s why Roku can be bad on bargain TVs like Westinghouse.
Their outdated and cheap hardware can’t keep up with the cutting-edge technology of Roku.
Which often results in a laggy and stuttering navigation.
Some users also note that it takes them minutes before Westinghouse boots up.
#4: Better choices at its price point
As previously mentioned, Westinghouse is cheap.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the best budget TV.
Do you want to know what’s the biggest reason I won’t get a Westinghouse?
It’s because I can get something better at their price.
If you’re wary of Westinghouse for the reasons I’ve said…
You can take a look at these 2 alternatives:
- TCL 50″ Class 4-Series 4K – Roku TV.
- Hisense ULED 4K Premium – Android TV.
But to compare them, you’ll also need a reference.
Which is going to be the Westinghouse 50-Inch-Class UX Series 4K.
Westinghouse
The UX Series boasts a 4K display with a standard HD LED.
It’s smart home capable, has voice control, and has Dolby audio.
And it’s priced at only $399.99 on their website.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Most of its bad reviews on Amazon are people saying that it only lasted them a few weeks before dying.
Others have also pointed out the bad input lag when playing and that it has a bad display.
TCL
The TCL 4-Series is highly recommended by 4K TV users on various forums.
On paper, it’s barely better than Westinghouse.
It has a 4K Ultra HD display and HDR10+.
Since it also runs on Roku, their software is on par with each other.
On the other hand, the TV’s biggest strengths are its deep contrasts and upscaling.
But it doesn’t get enough brightness and has narrow viewing angles.
The TV is listed at $449.99 on TCL’s website.
Hisense
The last one, Hisense U6G, is named by RTINGS as its best budget TV.
And for good reason.
It has 4K ULED with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
Since it runs on Android TV, it has a wide range of apps available.
The U6G has great contrasts, great upscaling, and low input lag.
And the biggest complaint about the TV are the ads throughout your system.
But all of that for $419.99? I’ll gladly take the ads.
Frequently asked questions:
How long do Westinghouse TVs last?
Westinghouse TVs should last for up to 10 years.
That is if you take really good care of yours.
However, according to users, Westinghouse smart TVs rarely last more than a year.
This is due to the company cutting costs in exchange for cheaper prices.
Who makes Westinghouse TV?
Westinghouse TVs are made by Tsinghua Tongfang.
Yes, that’s right: Westinghouse doesn’t make their own TVs.
In fact, the original Westinghouse doesn’t exist anymore.
Tsinghua Tongfang is a state-owned company based in Beijing, China.
When Westinghouse officially closed in 1999, it spun off into multiple companies.
One of which is a licensing company.
You might ask:
“What’s a licensing company?”
It’s a company that allows other corporations to use its name and brand.
And that’s how Tsinghua Tongfang produces TVs under the Westinghouse name.
Fun fact: Tsinghua Tongfang also owns TVs from Seiki Digital and Element.
Is Westinghouse a major TV brand?
Westinghouse isn’t a major TV brand.
Digital Trends lists 4 major brands only, which are:
- LG.
- Vizio.
- Sony.
- Samsung.
And, below that, are brands like TCL, Hisense, Philips, Toshiba, etc.
But people rarely list Westinghouse.
In fact, there are a lot of people who haven’t heard of Westinghouse.
And those that have heard of them, know Westinghouse for their kitchen appliances.
Nevertheless, they’re looking to expand their reach.
As they’ve recently entered the Indian market with their smart TVs.
Do they still make Westinghouse TVs?
They still make Westinghouse TVs.
But not the real ones.
Instead, their new TVs are made by another company that licensed their Westinghouse name.