Toshiba vs Samsung TV: Which Is Better? [2023 Guide]

Buying a new TV can be confusing with so many different brands out there.

Definitely, 2 good TV manufacturers are Toshiba and Samsung.

However, 1 of them is better than the other.

And to know which of the 2 it is…

Continue reading to find out:

Why Toshiba is cheaper than Samsung.
What TV Operating System is created by Samsung.
Which companies collaborated with Toshiba to make TVs.
And that’s only the beginning…

Toshiba or Samsung TV, which is better?

Samsung TVs are better than Toshiba TVs. With a Samsung TV, you get a solid-built TV with high-end specifications for an excellent image. Plus, it can be easily used as a gaming TV. Toshiba has lower image quality and is noticeably cheaper.

Toshiba vs Samsung TVs: 5 biggest differences

#1: Partnerships

Toshiba and Samsung both make more than just only TVs.

They produce air conditioners, laptops, refrigerators, etc.

You name it. They make it.

To this day, Toshiba and Samsung are two of the largest producers of electronic devices in the world.

But when it comes to manufacturing TVs, there’s a small difference between these brands.

Samsung keeps its entire TV production in its own ‘ecosystem.’

Meaning they manufacture their TVs from A to Z.

Toshiba, on the other hand, is known to partner up with other companies.

For example, Hisense and Compal have been licensed to make Toshiba TVs.

In other words, they produce the TVs and put the Toshiba logo on them.

By partnering up with these companies, they can lower the cost of producing TVs.

As a result, Toshiba TVs are being sold TV cheaper.

Samsung is doing a better job here.

Keeping the whole TV production in their ‘ecosystem’ can be advantageous.

It gives them a better overview of the process.

This will ultimately reduce confusion and fewer errors.

#2: Toshiba is cheaper

Samsung is known for expensive TVs.

Now here’s the thing, they spend a lot of money on marketing.

In 2020 alone, they spent around 9.7 billion USD on advertisements.

But it paid off. Samsung reported that year 200 billion USD in revenue.

Also, Samsung is very innovative and brings excellent quality to the table.

For example, their pride is Quantum LED (QLED) TVs.

This technology lets every pixel on display produce its light.

In other words, it creates an intense color-accurate image on the screen.

But no lunch is for free.

See, a Samsung TV with QLED technology and 32-inch (2021) costs around 430 USD.

That’s a lot of money for a small 32-inch TV.

Toshiba, on the other hand, is a bit cheaper.

A Toshiba Fire TV with 32 inches and 720p (2021) is being sold for under 130 USD.

That’s a price difference worth mentioning.

But keep in mind, the quality and the specifications are also lower.

Continue reading: (1) Why Is Samsung TV Expensive? Top 9 Reasons

#3: Tizen OS and Fire OS

Nowadays, every TV is smart and comes with an operating system (OS).

This lets you access all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Disney +, HBO Max, etc.

Tizen OS

Samsung OS for their smart TVs is called Tizen OS.

And according to a recent study, 27% of US broadband subscribers use Tizen.

Pretty impressive, right?

Also, Samsung didn’t put Tizen only in their smart TVs.

They put it in other smart devices as well, like:

Fridges.
Monitors.
Cameras.
Airconditioners.
Washing machines.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers.

Plus, Tizen comes with a lot of handy features. To name a few:

Voice assistance.
Big selection of apps.
Easy navigation through the menus.
Access to Samsung’s free streaming TV and video platform: Samsung TV Plus.
Effortlessly synchronize different devices, especially with other Samsung devices.

Fire OS

Where Samsung uses Tizen as its primary OS, Toshiba has several.

The most known OS on a Toshiba smart TV is Fire OS.

You might recognize the name from Amazon.

See, Amazon created Fire OS for their devices, and it’s based on Android’s Open Source Project.

Meaning, it’s easily compatible with other Android devices.

Apparently, it’s so good that Toshiba decided to put it on their TVs.

By doing so, you don’t need to buy a separate streaming device, like the Amazon Fire TV stick.

The built-in Fire OS already does the job.

Plus, if you own an Alexa Speaker, you can connect your Toshiba Fire TV and voice-control your TV.

Overall, Tizen OS and Fire OS are both good operating systems.

They give access to all the necessary apps and are easy to navigate.

However, the main differences are worth mentioning.

Tizen OS is more in demand than Fire OS.

Plus, Tizen OS is made by Samsung, whereas Fire OS is created by Amazon.

#4: Flagship comparison

I compared their flagship models to get a good idea about the two brands.

Toshiba M5550 Series (2021)

A high-end Toshiba TV is the M5550 Series (2021), 4K UHD Fire TV.

Here’s a list of specifications:

Fire TV.
4K resolution.
Voice control.
4 HDMI ports.
120 Hz refresh rate.
Auto low latency game mode.
Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+.

These specifications are quite impressive for the given price.

A Toshiba M5550 Series with 65 inches is being sold for under 430 USD.

Samsung Neo QLED (2021)

Samsung, on the other hand, is a bit more expensive.

A Samsung Neo QLED 4K UHD TV (2021) with 65 inches comes at just under 1600 USD.

Then you’ll get a TV with the following specifications:

Tizen OS.
4K resolution.
4 HDMI ports.
QLED technology.
120 Hz refresh rate.
FreeSync Premium Pro.
Auto Low Latency Mode.
HDR10, HDR10+, and Hybrid Log Gamma.

See, on paper, they both look almost the same.

And Toshiba comes with all the necessary specs to get you going while watching TV.

But keep in mind that the quality of the Samsung TV is a lot better.

It’s excellent for watching your favorite movies without any holdups.

The QLED technology from Samsung creates remarkable brightness levels and amazing color accuracy.

Plus, with the FreeSync Premium Pro, you play the latest fast-paced games without any delay.

A full breakdown of the Samsung TV Neo QLED 4K UHD TV (2021) with 65 inches, you can check out here:

#5 Research and development

Companies need to be innovative to stay ahead of the competition in the TV sector.

Samsung does this very well and they have an impressive list of innovations.

To name a few, in 2009, they created the first edge-lit LED TV.

Because of the innovative LED edge lighting, they offered ultra-high contrast ratios.

Plus, it was the world’s thinnest TV back then.

In 2010, they created the first Full HD TV with 3D capabilities.

And in 2014, they created the first curved UHD TV.

Even recently, they have kept investing a lot in research and development.

For example, in 2020 alone, they spent around 18.6 billion USD on R&D.

Yes, you read that correctly! 18.6 billion USD.

No wonder they’re considered one of the leading TV brands in the United States.

In 2020, Toshiba spent around 1 billion USD on R&D.

That’s a lot lower than Samsung.

And yes, Toshiba is also innovative. For example, they’re known for the invention of the flash drive.

But when it comes to the latest TV display technology, Toshiba is a bit behind Samsung.

Overall, Samsung TVs are better than Toshiba TVs.

Samsung TVs are solidly built and have a cool design.

Moreover, they come with the latest high-end specifications for an excellent image.

So, if you want the best viewer experience and even use it for gaming, you should consider Samsung TV.

Toshiba is a lot cheaper but doesn’t meet the quality of Samsung TVs.

Therefore, if you’re on a budget, Toshiba TV is a good choice.