Why you don't need to break the bank when buying a new TV
I found some hidden value in high-end TVs at Expert Diamond Store, where lesser-known brands like TCL offer competitive 75” UHD smart TVs at prices comparable to major names like Samsung and LG. Picture: David McNew/AFP
Image: David McNew/AFP
We’ve all been there: you walk into the TV section at a big store, and the first screen you see is something like a Samsung or LG, but the best value deals are often the ones that are almost hidden away if you can navigate the corridor of big brand names.
This is exactly what happened to me last weekend, as my wife insisted we make the trek from Centurion to Woodmead to stock up on her spices at Gorimas.
As much as I enjoy her excellent cooking, it doesn’t fill me with joy to loiter in a store filled with different spices.
Instead I decided to explore the Woodmead Retail Park, and I happened upon a store I’d never heard of before.
Expert Diamond Store: A Haven for High-End Samsung, Skyworth, and LG TVs
Expert Diamond Store, with a bright orange sign, instantly caught my attention, and I made a beeline for the shop.
Once inside, the first fancy TVs on your left are the Samsung Serif models. These are novelty TVs as they are housed in a picture frame with long legs that look quite sophisticated. They also come with a fancy price tag as they are well over R10,000 for a 43” screen.
The Samsung TVs were also plentiful near the entrance with a huge selection.
Even the slightly cheaper Skyworth models were prominent.
Beyond those, the LG section had a number of impressive TVs with all the fancy features and sizes you would expect.
TCL’s Competitive 75” UHD Smart TV: A Worthy Contender in South Africa’s Market
However, what really caught my eye were the offerings from TCL. This brand is nowhere close to the market share of LG, Samsung, or Skyworth in South Africa, but it offers a number of competitive models.
There was a 75” UHD smart TV on display for R11,999. Though not that much less than the cheapest 75” from Samsung (R12,499) a few metres away, it was interesting to see how similar the prices are.
Both, of course, are low-end in terms of features like refresh rate, but the fact that you get something just as good from a much lesser-known brand is revealing.
With a bit of hunting online, and employing an AI assistant or two, you can probably find better deals on the same models.
But in the meantime, I can say with authority that the picture quality from TCL seems every bit as good as its pricier competitors.