I remember walking through the aisles of Best Buy.
And seeing the Insignia TV brand for the first time.
See, since then, I’ve wondered where they were made.
So I did my research and found 7 fun facts about these TVs.
Continue reading to find out:
- What other TV brand manufactures these TVs.
- Who owns Insignia TVs, and where you can buy them.
- 7 interesting things you need to know about Insignia TVs.
- And much, much more…
Where are Insignia TVs made?
Insignia TVs are made in China. And they’re owned and sold under the American company Best Buy. However, some Insignia TVs are made on other continents. That’s because they’re manufactured by the company Hisense. And Hisense factories are located in different parts of the world.
7 things you need to know about Insignia TVs
#1: Best Buy owns Insignia TVs
Scroll through the TV aisles of Best Buy.
And you’ll most likely spot Insignia TVs on their shelf.
Of course, that isn’t surprising. After all, Best Buy sells TVs from various brands in the world.
However…
Did you know that Best Buy isn’t just selling Insignia?
And it actually owns the brand?
See, it’s easy to think that Insignia is a company’s name.
However, while Insignia is indeed a brand, it doesn’t have its own company.
That’s because it’s under the management of Best Buy itself.
With that said, the first Insignia TVs were released in 2011 by the retailer giant.
And they were advertised as Smart TVs that were:
- Easy to use.
- Easy to find.
- Easy to connect.
On top of that, it’s worth noting that…
Even the 1st models of Smart Insignia TVs already had access to streaming platforms like :
- Netflix.
- Youtube.
- Pandora.
- CinemaNow.
And they were also capable of launching social media applications like:
- Twitter.
- Facebook.
- Photobucket.
Interested in knowing more about the earliest designs of Insignia TVs? Watch this video:
#2: They’re exclusively sold by Best Buy
As you know, you can buy most TV brands from different retail stores.
But that’s not the case for Insignia TVs.
That’s because Best Buy holds the exclusive rights to retail their Insignia brand.
And although you’ll sometimes find a couple of Insignia TVs in other stores like Walmart…
It’ll most likely be just a few TV models and nothing more.
Now, why does Best Buy do this?
It’s simple.
By directly selling their Insignia TVs…
Customers avoid the extra charges placed by other retail stores.
This way, Best Buy ensures that its TVs remain affordable. As they’re always advertised.
With that said, if you want to buy Insignia TV models…
You can only do so by visiting local Best Buy branches near you. Or by ordering them online at their:
Now, you might be wondering…
“Where should I take my Insignia TV if it’s broken or having problems?”
In that case, you can simply bring your TV to local Best Buy stores near you.
However, bear in mind that for TVs that are 42-inches or bigger…
Best Buy recommends scheduling an in-home visit with their certified technicians instead.
That’s because wide TV screens are at high risk of being damaged during transportation.
You might also want to know: Is Insignia TV a Smart TV? 5 Things You Need To Know
#3: Insignia TVs are only sold in 3 countries
You can pretty much buy TVs from Samsung from anywhere in the world.
However, Insignia TVs are only available in these 3 countries:
- Mexico.
- The US.
- Canada.
And if you’re wondering why…
That’s because these are the only countries with Best Buy stores. And as mentioned, Insignia TVs are exclusively sold by the company.
Living in these countries? Then you’re lucky because you have the choice to buy Insignia TVs.
With that said, you’re probably wondering how many Best Buy branches are in your country.
And to answer that question…
Here’s how many Best Buy stores are in the US, Mexico, and Canada
| Country | Number of Best Buy Stores |
| Mexico | <50 |
| Canada | >160 |
| United States | >950 |
However…
Note: Best Buy branches in Mexico are gradually closing down. That’s because the company decided to stop its operation in the country. Due to the low sales caused by the Covid pandemic.
With that said, there’s no saying when Insignia TVs will continue to be available in Mexico.
#4: They’re outsourced from China
Best Buy owns Insignia.
However, Insignia TVs are manufactured and assembled in China.
But of course, this isn’t surprising at all.
That’s because by outsourcing their TVs from China, where the wage is lower…
Best Buy can continue selling its Insignia TVs for affordable prices.
However, it’s worth noting that…
The exact factories, locations, and companies where Insignia TVs are made remain confidential.
Except for the 1 company Best Buy officially announced as its partner: Hisense.
Interested in knowing more?
Let me expand on that in the next section.
#5: Some Insignia TV models are manufactured by Hisense
First of all, let’s talk about Hisense.
See, it’s a Chinese company founded in 1969. And it focuses on making electronic products like:
- TVs.
- Cellphones.
- Refrigerator.
And with its decades of experience in the industry…
It has remained to be 1 of the best TV brands in China, South Africa, and even the US.
However, Hisense doesn’t only create its own products. As it also manufactures TVs for other companies like Best Buy.
Now, how is 1 company capable of manufacturing not only their own TVs but others’ as well?
The answer is simple.
It’s because Hisense has factories on these 4 continents:
- Asia.
- Africa.
- Europe.
- South America.
So they can manufacture thousands of TVs with ease.
With that said, it’s safe to assume that some Insignia TVs aren’t necessarily produced in China.
Because if they’re from Hisense, they were most likely made from the 4 continents mentioned.
It’s worth noting, however, that Hisense only makes the high-end TVs of Insignia.
And if you’re wondering what kind of TVs are those…
It’s the TVs that run on the Amazon Fire TV OS.
Interested in knowing more about these TVs? Read on to the next section.
#6: Insignia TVs have the Fire TV OS
You’ve probably heard about Fire TV.
See, it’s a built-in Operating System (OS) crafted by Amazon.
And really…
You can think of this as the computer that processes all the commands and apps on your TV.
Think of iOS or Android, for example.
As you know, those are the OS of mobile devices from Apple and Android phones.
With that said, TVs also have OS like these.
And Insignia TVs have the Fire TV OS.
Now, why am I mentioning this?
That’s because it’s a common misconception that Insignia TVs can’t keep up with the more expensive brands.
But really, this isn’t always the case.
See, Insignia TVs with the Fire TV OS can also:
- Use Alexa.
- Launch streaming platforms and online games.
- Integrate smoothly with other Amazon products.
That’s why if you’re considering getting an affordable Smart TV that can keep up with other brands on the market. Then you can simply get an Insignia TV.
By doing so, not only will you get high-quality software with Fire TV.
But you’ll also get sturdy firmware that the Hisense company makes.
You might also want to know: 7 Ways To Know If You Have A Smart TV
#7: Some Insignia TV screens are from Samsung and LG
I mentioned that Insignia TVs with Fire TV have sturdy firmware.
And to further add to that…
Note that some Insignia TV screens are outsourced from Samsung and LG.
And, of course, the brands themselves need no introduction. As their names alone prove how competent they are.
So if you ever wonder where Insignia TVs are made again…
Just remember that:
- They’re manufactured in China.
- Their screens are from Samsung and LG.
- The Fire TV models are made by Hisense.
- They’re owned by the American company Best Buy.
Are Insignia TVs reliable?
Insignia TVs are reliable.
See, although they generally cost hundreds of dollars cheaper than other brands…
Insignia TVs can last up to 7 years with proper care.
And, of course, their durability isn’t the only feature that makes Insignia TVs reliable.
That’s because…
Insignia TVs have high-quality software
As I mentioned earlier, Insignia TVs have the Fire TV system.
But if you haven’t known yet, some also have Roku TVs.
With that said, comparable to more expensive brands, Insignia TVs can also:
- Be controlled with the Alexa AI.
- Support online and offline games.
- Launch streaming platforms with ease.
So really, Insignia TV’s software is on the reliable side.
On top of that…
Insignia TVs have loud speakers
Don’t let their affordable price fool you.
See, Insignia TV speakers are as loud as those from Samsung TVs.
That’s because most Insignia TV models have a 20 watts speaker output.
And that’s similar to the speakers of more-expensive TVs from popular brands.
Their TVs come in all types and sizes
Want a 4K TV?
Or maybe you’re interested in just a 1080p screen.
Either way, there are Insignia TVs that can suit your needs.
Furthermore, if you want a specific TV size…
You’ll have a lot of TV choices with Insignia as well.
That’s because Insignia TVs range from 19” to 75” long.
So really, you can pick a model that suits you best.
However, as expected…
Insignia TVs have some drawbacks as well
See, it’s been noted that some Insignia TVS have:
- Limited viewing angles.
- Unresponsive remote controls.
- Visible pixelation when watched from a close distance.
But really, I say these cons are pretty reasonable considering the price of Insignia TVs.
So balance out the pros and cons of this TV brand.
And decide whether it fits your lifestyle and needs.