Your Galaxy phone can tell you how many hours your TV screen's been on

As much as we love our Samsung smart TVs, they, too, have a limited life, much like any other consumer electronics. Samsung doesn't offer official numbers, but the general consensus is that modern TV panels should be good for about 40,000-100,000 hours of usage. It depends on factors like the quality of the panel, the panel technology, brightness levels, and so on.

Given these variables, it's virtually impossible to say with certainty how much time your Samsung TV panel will last. However, you can easily verify how many hours your Samsung TV panel has been in use since it was first turned on. And you don't have to access the elusive service menu. You can do this from your Galaxy phone or tablet.

You can check how many hours your TV screen has been on through the SmartThings app on your mobile device.

The information panel will show your TV's model name, serial number, warranty expiration date information, app version, and, of course, the TV Panel Display Time in hours.

Depending on how long you may want your Samsung TV to last, you can try to prolong its life by avoiding things like maximum brightness and/or using the TV in Ambient or Art modes.

However, there is no right answer in this case. It all depends on your expectations, your budget, and your usage patterns. But by following our guide, you can at least check your TV's runtime through SmartThings if you want to keep a closer eye on things.