Japanese-designed TV has fallen way behind South Korea (LG, Samsung) on quality and features, and Chinese brands on price.
It's too bad. Sony and Panasonic used to be fountains of innovation when it came to TV tech.
this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026
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Sony TVs are still really solid imo
Sony partnered with/sold their TV division to TCL as well.
Strange for this news to come so soon after that.
Holy shit. I did not see that. Well damn.
Aaand another one bites the dust. So who's left that still makes non-PRC TVs? Just the Koreans I think. When I last shopped TVs I looked for non-PRC options and the only ones available in Canada were LG, Samsung and Sony. Sony already bit the dust a short while ago.
PRC? Sorry looking it up didn't give me a good result.
"People's Republic of China"
Thank you!
Sony bit the dust? I bought a Sony OLED 8 months ago and it’s fantastic
You're good, but Sony recently announced that going forward their TVs will be made by TCL. It'll still be branded Sony but it's not, really.
Yup, that's what I was referring to.
Can't compete with lower wages, it's similar to when Sony and Panasonic etc. took over from GE etc.
Any particular reason why you don't want a TV made in China?
I used to be on the China-bad bandwagon when I bought our current Sony. I didn't understand nearly as well how production worked as I do now. The next time I have to buy one I'd evaluate on the basis of quality regardless of origin. I'd also avoid high amount of custom software to avoid annoyance and security holes, just like I did when I purchased our current one.
Almost every brand name product is made by some random factory. Brand names mean nothing anymore. You can literally find the same item with multiple brand names plastered on it, and a range of prices for the exact same object.
I miss my old plasma, that TV was fantastic. Such a shame that movers broke it.
I still have a 12 year old panasonic plasma, 50 inch, absolutely zero problems with it. Value for money has been incredible.
Except the crazy amount of heat and electricity it consumes. I know. I also have one.
Yes but now the fire place chanel is just that more emersive. Also I keep our plasma in the bedroom. On cold winter nights it makes things cozy.
I still have the plasma in the bedroom, but I switched to OLED and have been pretty happy with it.
Panasonic, once revered for its plasma TV
I know them from their VCRs and batteries, not their plasma TVs. But I guess that's just showing my age.
They always made very good TVs, tube, plasma, LCD.
But I guess that's just showing my age.
Its also showing when they were last one of the biggest consumer electronics manufacturers.
Plasma TV's while desired were not popular. I'm still using mine, but I was the only one who had one.
I thought Panasonic makes those infrared ovens still. They’re still around!
Their Inverter microwaves are still the best working micros around.
Those are the best, though I wish they’d improve the controls.
Yeah... me too.
Kinda sad, Panasonic TVs were a safe bet in the mid-pricing range.
If you want to know why I refused to buy another Panasonic, search 'Panasonic rising blacks'.
They created their own destruction.