TV Model Numbers and SKUs: What You Need to Know

TV model and SKU numbers are a combination of numbers and sometimes letters that provide information about the TV they are labeled on. These are helpful to producers and sales people so they can quickly know the important specifications of the TV. It can also be helpful to anyone buying a TV to understand, as you can get other information than what might be labeled more prominently on the box.

What Do TV Model Numbers Mean?

There is no standard way to create a TV model or SKU number, so depending on the TV's manufacturer, the number may look different and will have to be decoded differently. However, there are a few pieces of information you're likely to find within most TV model numbers, such as:

• Screen size
• Screen type
• Series/Generation
• Year made
• Manufacturing region.

There's more criteria likely to be included on model numbers, but these are the most common. If you're looking at TV's and want to find more information on it, or want to decode your own TV's model number, you'll just have to note what company made the TV. Here are a couple examples of popular TV manufacturer's model numbers:

Samsung QLED TV: QN55Q60RAFXZA

• Q: This refers to the screen type, which is QLED.
• N: The region this TV was made, in this case America or Korea. You could also have A for Asia, Australia, or Africa. Or E for Europe.
• 55: This is the screen size.
• Q60: The QLED series. You can have Q6, which is standard, Q60 and Q70, which are 4K, or Q80, Q90, Q950, or Q900, which are 8K.
• R: Year made. F is 2017, N is 2018, R is 2019, T is 2020, and A is 2021.
• A: Release generation. A is 1st, B is 2nd, C is 3rd, etc.
• F: TV tuner type. K means the TV is tuned for broadcasts in Asia, F is USA and Canada, G is South America and Central America, U is Europe, and W is Australia.
• X: Design. X is the flat-screen design.
• ZA: This is the manufacturing country. RU is Russia, UA is Ukraine, XL is India, XU is the UK, XY is Australia, ZA is the USA, and ZC is Canada.

Sony TV: XBR 75X950G

• XBR: This is the region code and product number. XR and XBR denote higher-quality models, while KD and KDL are lower.
• 75: This is the screen size.
• X: This is the screen type/quality. Z or X is LED, A is OLED.
• 9: Series number. Higher is better quality.
• 5: Model number within the series.
• G: This is the model year. G is 2019, H is 2020, and J is 2021.

The main importance of knowing what these model numbers mean is to understand if, when you are guying a TV, you're getting a high-quality model or not. So, pay special attention to the numbers/letters that indicate product quality.

How Do I Find Out What Model My TV Is?

Finding your own TV's model number is pretty easy, and depending on the TV can be done in one of two ways.

First, you can check the back of your TV and locate the information sticker there. It's usually white with black text. The TV model number is labeled here.

Alternatively, with most newer TVs you can check the model number by going into the settings. You can usually find it under support or about options.

How Do You Tell What Year Your TV Is?

When you find your TV's model number, one of the numbers or letters may indicate what year the TV was manufactured in. Or, if your TV is part of a certain series of products that was only made within a specific time frame, this can also clue you into what year your TV was made in.