Need to know
- Aldi is selling a 50-inch TV for $379 and a 32-inch TV for $189 in its Special Buy sales this weekend
- We've tested Aldi Bauhn TVs in our labs and they haven't performed well
- Our experts test TVs, heaphones and speakers from popular brands including LG, Sony, Bose, Samsung, Hisense, TCL and more
It's TV time again in the Aldi Special Buys sales: on Saturday 20 April, you can pick up a 50-inch 4K Ultra HD TV for $379 or a 32-inch HD TV for $189 alongside your groceries.
They're significantly cheaper than similarly specced models from other brands.
The TVs are from Aldi's house label Bauhn, and they're powered by LG's webOS, and preinstalled with streaming apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.
At such low prices, they're certainly tempting deals. But how do these Aldi bargains really rate for quality – and are they worth buying?
Spoiler alert! Bauhn's track record on tech doesn't paint a pretty picture
Our TV experts haven't reviewed these particular models, as Aldi products pop up at short notice and usually sell out quickly. (We'll be getting the latest models in for testing through the year, though.)
However, we have tested other Aldi TVs in our labs and – spoiler alert! – Bauhn's track record on tech doesn't paint a pretty picture.
We spoke to our in-house TV expert Denis Gallagher about their patchy performance and what you need to know before queuing up outside Aldi at sunrise.
On this page:
- Aldi's track record for TVs
- Is Aldi's 50-inch Special Buy TV any good?
- Is Aldi's 32-inch Special Buy TV any good?
- Special Buys tips
Bauhn to be bad?
There's no arguing Aldi does some products really well. Cheap ski gear and grocery staples, for sure. Electronics, not so much.
Our experts have lab tested a range of Bauhn TVs over recent years, and one thing's been consistent – they've all received pretty average scores. Unfortunately, in this case, it seems you get what you pay for.
So far we haven't really seen a Bauhn TV that's performed especially well
Denis Gallagher, CHOICE tech expert
"So far we haven't really seen a Bauhn TV that's performed especially well," says Denis.
"Of course, that can change with new models – we've seen that with other brands – but despite the undeniably low prices, shoppers should be careful when considering these bargain models based on what we've seen."
LG style without the LG substance: The $599 Aldi Bauhn ATV58UHDW-0322.
Aldi's track record for TVs
"Previous test results have ranged from mediocre to poor, so there's a lot of room for improvement," says Denis.
Previous Special Buys have included a 65-inch Bauhn TV priced at $699 that boasted a decent range of features, but fell flat in our lab tests with a CHOICE Expert Rating of just 62% overall.
More recently, a $599 58-inch Bauhn TV that uses LG's WebOS operating system featured in our list of TVs our experts recommend you avoid buying due to its low score of 68%.
The 55-inch Aldi TV we've tested is similar to this weekend's offering.
Is Aldi's 50-inch Special Buy TV any good?
The 50-inch TV on sale for $379 this weekend might be a slightly brighter spark than its predecessors, Denis says.
"This version may be OK for the money as it's similar to a 55-inch Aldi TV we tested that performed better than other Aldi models we've seen," he says.
This version may be OK for the money as it's similar to a 55-inch Aldi TV that performed better than other Aldi models
Denis Gallagher, CHOICE TV expert
Even though our experts rated it as just "OK" for its high- and standard-definition picture quality and sound quality, its overall score wasn't bad, mostly thanks to its user interface and remote, and its smart TV, 4K and Filmmaker Mode performance.
"The best things about this TV are its operating system, which is the previous generation of LG's WebOS, and its remote control, which is the previous generation LG remote control," says Denis.
"We think this version of the remote is actually better than the current version: it's easier to use and more logically laid out. The older version scores slightly higher than the newer version in our testing for these reasons."
Small size, small price, small score: the last 32-inch Aldi TV we tested failed to impress.
Is Aldi's 32-inch Special Buy TV any good?
If the tiny pricetag ($189) of the 32-inch TV has you elbowing other shoppers out of the way as you race for the middle aisle, we suggest you pause for a minute before loading it into your trolley.
We haven't tested the model that's on sale this weekend, but we have tested another 32-inch Aldi TV and it wasn't great.
If the tiny pricetag has you elbowing other shoppers out of the way, we suggest you pause before loading it into your trolley
Our experts rated the $249 Bauhn ATV32HDG-0121 at just 63%, and were unimpressed with its remote, electronic program guide (EPG) and narrow viewing angle. Its HD and SD picture quality didn't blow us away either.
But its sound quality was its worst attribute: our testers described it as "sounds like a megaphone, not fit for purpose, retrenched, harsh, distorted". Ouch. That's a review nearly as harsh as the sound quality itself!
Of course, this iteration of the 32-inch Bauhn TV may be an improvement on the previous version, but based on Aldi's past offerings (and the fact that this one is even cheaper) we suggest you proceed with caution.
Special Buys tips
- Stocks of all Special Buys are limited, and popular products can sell out quickly.
- You can check stock availability for Special Buys on the Aldi website.
- A limited quantity of products are also now available to buy online – with added delivery costs.
- If you're heading instore, make sure you check the weight and size of the item you're buying so you can transport it home.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
