I bought this TV about 8 months ago and now the HDMI port is making bad contact. The picture keeps flickering when I connect my gaming console or cable box to it. I've already tried cleaning it with compressed air but it keeps happening. Could it be a factory defect? Is it worth getting it repaired or should I just replace it?
The HDMI port has pretty fragile contacts, and 8 months is enough time for oxidation or wear if you're plugging and unplugging cables frequently. It's worth trying to clean the contacts on both the cable and the port with isopropyl alcohol (not just compressed air) - sometimes dirt builds up in there. If it keeps flickering after that, then it's pretty likely the port itself is the problem and you should check if it's still under warranty, because panel repair gets way too expensive to be worth it on an 8-month-old TV.
Before sending it in for repairs, try switching to a different HDMI cable - often the problem is with the cable itself and not the port, especially if it's still under warranty. If you swap cables and it keeps flickering, take a photo of the inside of the port with a flashlight to see if there are any loose or damaged pins, because that's usually a sign of a manufacturing defect. Since it's only 8 months old, it's really worth contacting Samsung to file a warranty claim instead of paying for repairs yourself; if they refuse and the technician says it's just the port, a repair usually costs between 50 to 100 euros, which is a lot cheaper than replacing the whole TV.
the problem could be the cable, but I wouldn't rush to that conclusion. since the image flickers with two different devices (gaming console and cable box), it'd be weird if it was just the cable - it's probably the port itself. try connecting and disconnecting it a few times carefully, see if the contact improves. sometimes the contact is just a bit loose and shifts position. if it keeps flickering even with different cables, then yeah, the port's the problem.
as for repair versus replacement: at 8 months you're very likely still under Samsung's warranty. get in touch with their technical support or wherever you bought it and ask them to assess it - if it's a factory defect (and it probably is, considering it's new), they'll fix it at no cost. don't spend your money on a private repair right off the bat, contact warranty first.
and honestly, a faulty HDMI port on a new TV is way more common than it seems, so don't get frustrated about it. Samsung usually honors the warranty on these things. replacement usually only happens if the repair costs way too much or doesn't make sense, so let the support team evaluate first.
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