Used TVs can give you a lot of good value, especially if you’re picking one up for a spare room. I like to go thrift shopping, and recently, I’ve been looking for TVs to use with my old consoles. I wanted something that had HDMI ports, but something that was also small. I found a decent TV at Goodwill for dirt cheap, and I brought it home. I plugged in an HDMI adapter for my original Xbox, and that’s what I used until I found a cheap 720p Fire TV on Woot.

A lot of TVs you find still have years of life ahead of them, which is expected, since people don’t typically put their TVs in harm’s way. The worst thing that you can do is leave it on all the time, but I have LCD TVs from a decade ago that are still working just fine. I have one of them in my basement right now that I use here and there.

Despite my willingness to pick up used TVs, I’m not open to just any TV. If I ever come across an OLED TV, I’d be very hesitant about picking one up. Yes, these are very good TVs that offer arguably the best picture quality available today. However, there are many warning signs to be aware of, and screen time is a big one. I know I said that wasn’t a big problem for me with other TVs, but it’s a bigger problem with OLED. If you don’t know, OLEDs are prone to burn-in, and while there are ways to combat it, older models you see used might not have the fancy technology that helps the newer ones last longer. On top of that, you won’t know how many hours people put on those screens until you get it. By that time, it might be too late.

Display Size

42, 48, 55, 65, 77, or 83 inches

Operating System

webOS

Display Type

OLED

Display Resolution

4K (2160p)

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

36.6 pounds

Be careful with used OLED TVs

You can run into trouble

If you see a good deal on a used OLED TV, there’s a possibility it might be too good to be true. Whether it’s used or an open-box deal at a store, you have to be careful. Having high hours on an OLED screen isn’t good because that means it’s potentially getting closer and closer to having problems. That would be a shame for anybody spending money on one, and even if you’re getting one used, an OLED screen probably isn’t going to be cheap.

When it comes to open-box store options, you have to try to avoid getting one that was used as a display model. These are left running all the time, and there’s no doubt that hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours have been racked up on them before the store decides to sell them. I’m not saying burn-in is guaranteed with your TV, because it certainly isn’t. I would just rather pick something up that’s fate is in my hands versus something that has been put through the wringer by somebody else. The risk you always run with buying something used is that you don’t know what the previous owner did with it. That’s especially the case with electronics, because everything can look fine and dandy on the outside, only to fail when you take it home.

It’s the same advice I’d give for somebody looking to buy a used receiver. While you’re usually getting a big discount, there are more things to be aware of than money. If you can test the TV beforehand, and hopefully get a look at how many hours it’s been used, then you can get away with a bargain. If you’re spending even $500 on something with thousands of hours on it, I don’t think it’d be worth it. I’d rather save my money and get a new OLED. Prices are coming down, and depending on the screen size you need, you don’t even have to spend $1,000 on an OLED anymore.

Do your homework and save your cash

Don’t take unnecessary risks

Buying a TV is a big investment, especially if it’s a TV you plan to use in your main viewing area. If that were me, I don’t think I’d even be considering a used one. I want my living room TV to last as long as it can, and there’s no sense in me gambling on a used one. I have TVs in a few rooms, and if we’re talking about a spare bedroom, I have no issues with going used there. If that TV ever breaks, it’s not a huge deal, since it’s not my main TV anyway.

I like saving money as much as the next person, but there are just some risks that aren’t worth it. I believe OLED TVs are one of them. If you bought one used and it worked out fine for you, then that’s great. I just don’t think spending my hard-earned money on a used OLED TV is worthwhile, considering the problems I could run into. If I were able to get a good return policy included, then sure, I’d roll the dice. If I’m buying from somebody on Facebook Marketplace, I’d say thanks, but no thanks.