PICTURE QUALITY It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was excellent, so colors, especially flesh tones, looked very natural and lifelike. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were generally good, but quality was compromised by visible display non-uniformity that created brighter cloudy areas on the screen, which was distracting in darker scenes. This TV has no local dimming feature to help mask this issue. Keep in mind that we routinely see this issue with LCDs and severity can vary from model to model. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the model did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This Samsung has a moderate viewing angle overall, decent, but not quite as good as the better-performing TVs we've tested. The optimal seating position for best picture quality is directly in front of this model. When we viewed the TV from the sides, image quality got worse. The picture showed a moderate loss of color, so flesh tones looked a bit washed out, along with a slight color shift. Black levels visibly brightened, reducing contrast especially on dark scenes. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was very good. The picture showed minimal change in color, contrast, and black level.
MOTION BLUR This Samsung TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes Samsung's "LED Clear Motion", a feature that effectively reduces motion blur, we found it introduces too much dimming of the image, so we turned the feature off. The visibility of blurring on typical program content is often subtle and may not bother most people, but keen-eyed viewers may detect some loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some models, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This model has good sound quality; about average among the models we've tested. When watching a movie blockbuster, a concert, or TV show, it delivers decent performance but falls short of the better performers. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding and remained well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass was adequate, which added some fullness to the sound but was a tad boomy, and treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was a bit closed in. The speakers produced a good volume -- so this model should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments without obvious distortion. Most people would find this sound quality acceptable.
EASE OF USE Overall, it was fairly easy to setup and fairly easy to do routine things. The remote's minimalist design off-loads traditional keypad buttons such as numbers, closed-caption, and direct access to menu, to an on-screen collection of icons. On-screen navigation is rather intuitive, but the remote's buttons have little tactility and are not illuminated, so you'll need to get comfortable with its feel when viewing in a darkened environment. The TV can automatically recognize devices connected to its HDMI inputs and is able to control those devices, a convenient feature. On first power up there is an on-screen guide that helps you through setting up the TV. The remote uses Bluetooth, so it doesn't need to be pointed at the TV to operate it.
STAND ASSEMBLY The TV's base does not come pre-attached, so some assembly is required. Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward, as the stand requires the assembly of two parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capabilities via its "Smart Hub" portal with access to a library of applications, and a full Web browser. Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, YouTube, HBO Go.
CONNECTIONS This model has three HDMI inputs--one supports MHL (Mobile High-definition Link), one "component/composite shared" input (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time). It also has two USB ports, an optical digital audio out, an Ethernet port. Wi-Fi wireless networking. DLNA, to access files within your home network. Casting, to control the TV from a smartphone that has the suitable app installed. Screen mirroring, where the image on your smartphone or other compatible device can also appear on the TV. Analog connections are made via special breakout cable adapters (included) that attach to the TV as single plugs. That means you plug your component, composite, or stereo cables into a dangling "pigtail" rather than the back of the TV itself. This is actually a more convenient way to make the connections on slim-profile models, but if you lose that adapter you'll have no way to connect your cables directly to the TV. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX A printed user manual. A quick start guide. An electronic manual in the TV's menu. A remote control with batteries. Breakout cable adapters (one composite/green component with stereo audio, one component with blue and red ).
ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), or USB port, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu, or home button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
