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 are excellent, with help from Samsung's "Smart LED", a local dimming feature, delivering very deep blacks that enhance contrast in dark scenes. 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. There was slight display non-uniformity that created brighter cloudy areas most noticeable on very dark scenes (or in the black bars of a letterboxed movie). We routinely see this issue with LCDs and severity can vary from model to model. Check your model and see if you find it a problem. 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.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE Overall, excellent. This Samsung UHD TV delivers full 4K picture detail, along with excellent HD-to-UHD upconversion. All native 4K content we played on this model, including movies and test videos was presented in full detail with excellent image fidelity when played back via the TV's HDMI input. It supports the playback of content mastered with HDR (High Dynamic Range) via its HDMI and USB ports. This TV's HDR processing and image brightness helped enhance the realism of 4K content that was mastered with HDR, and the ability to reproduce extended colors was apparent. This model also supports video streaming of 4K programs via both Netflix and YouTube (among other sources), and again, images were clean and finely detailed. Using the TV's USB port, we were able to play back 4K videos stored on a flash drive which were encoded in both the HEVC and VP9 formats, as well as MP4. High-resolution photos were displayed in full 4K detail, and like the videos, revealed great clarity, taking full advantage of UHD's extra resolution. With regular HD content, the TV's HD-to-UHD upconversion processing was generally excellent with the edges along diagonals of image content looking very smooth with minimal jaggies. All four of the TV's HDMI inputs comply with the latest HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 specifications that support play back for 4K video at 60Hz, and copy protection, a requirement for compatibility with 4K movie play back devices such as a 4K Blu-ray player.
MOTION BLUR This Samsung TV has very good motion performance, with minimal blurring on our motion tests, thanks to Samsung's "Auto Motion Plus". This feature is designed to reduce motion blur, a shortcoming of most LCD displays.
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 very good sound quality, better than most models we've tested. Whether you're watching a movie blockbuster, a concert, or TV show, it is able to deliver a satisfying listening experience. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding and remained well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass was deep, providing satisfying fullness to the sound, though a tad boomy, and treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was and a bit closed in. The speakers produced a good volume -- so this model should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments and without obvious distortion. Unlike most of our tested models, this model's sound should satisfy the more discerning listeners, so an external sound bar is optional.
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, though the stand requires the assembly of one part before mounting. The TV rests on a pair of feet which can be centrally mounted or placed at the far ends of the display, so you have some flexibility on the width of your table top.
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, Vudu, YouTube, HBO Go.
CONNECTIONS This model has four HDMI inputs--one supports MHL (Mobile High-definition Link), no component input, and no composite input. It also has 3 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. 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. Mini "One Connect" box.
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.
