Samsung 55" TU8000 HDR Smart 4K TV with Tizen OS Black

Product Information

They're all comfortable at the more budget end of the spectrum, then – coming in a few hundred cheaper at each size than the Samsung Q60T (the cheapest QLED model) or the Panasonic HX800. But pay attention to the picture settings on offer from the TU8000, and you can still create a picture performance that offers brilliant value. You get two options for voice assistance, in Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby ( Google Assistant is coming soon).

Samsung UA55TU8000 review | What Hi-Fi? Samsung UA55TU8000 review | What Hi-Fi?

Details are occasionally a little soft, but don’t be tempted to use the image sharpener too much otherwise noise is quick to creep in.To have top levels of shading and punch in the same TV is beyond the capability of most mid-range TVs – and it’s the kind of performance you’d pay a lot more for with QLED and OLED technology. On the other hand, the VA panel on the Samsung delivers a much better dark room performance with an excellent contrast ratio and incredible black uniformity.

Samsung UE55TU8000 Review (UE55TU8000KXXU) - Personal Reviews Samsung UE55TU8000 Review (UE55TU8000KXXU) - Personal Reviews

The Samsung The Sero and the Samsung TU8000 score similarly overall; however, they're very different TVs.It uses Samsung’s Crystal LCD UHD panel technology, and promises ease of use, a minimalistic design, choice of built-in voice assistant and best-in-class smart TV system. This TV uses pulse width modulation to dim its backlight, causing noticeable flicker at any backlight setting below 45. It’s had some small design tweaks since last year, but navigation is pretty much identical and is still just as simple as before. Unfortunately, neither TV is good for HDR because they can't display a wide color gamut and don't get very bright in HDR. The Hisense gets much brighter and has slightly better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for bright room viewing.

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However, the LED panel of the entry-level Samsung doesn't have the risk of permanent burn-in like the LG. It’s hard to beat the speed of a good remote control, and Samsung has one of the best around in the One Remote. It displays 1080p content like Blu-rays without issue, and it plays movies from 24p sources, like a Blu-ray player, without judder.In some respects, the TCL even rivals the more expensive Samsung TU8000 with this level of source material. On the other hand, the budget-friendly Samsung has an improved contrast ratio, but this can vary between units. Even then, they struggle to impress, as the screen tries to balance the dark and light parts of the scene.

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The set benefits from two tuners, one terrestrial (which is regular Freeview HD), the other generic HD satellite. On the upside, it has an outstanding contrast ratio, resulting in deep blacks, but it lacks local dimming. Unfortunately, the image degrades when viewed from the side, so it's not ideal if you have a wide seating arrangement or if you like to move around with the TV on. With SDR content you can probably keep it switched on low, but with HDR content, you’ll get more impact, albeit with less subtlety, set at high. The TU8000 performs a touch better in dark rooms because it has a slightly higher contrast and better black uniformity, but the RU8000 has VRR supportand a much faster response time, so it's much more suited to gaming and offers similar or better performance in other uses as well.Taking a step down to SDR with The Amazing Spider-man 2 on Blu-ray, there’s a lot more for this set to get its teeth into, colour-wise. Some settings tweaks can help make it that bit more impactful, but the true benefit of HDR won’t shine through here. It also features Samsung’s Ambient Mode, with access to artwork, background themes and other visual niceties, all designed to turn your telly into something more stylish than a black rectangle when not in use. The Samsung has a significantly higher contrast ratio due to its VA panel,its black uniformity is much better, and it has a Black Frame Insertion feature. Colours are just as well-handled here as they are in HDR, so the red and gold of Iron Man’s suit are suitably striking without being over the top, while the contrast in darker scenes remains impressive with a helping hand from the extra processing.