Samsung UE55TU8500, An In-Depth Review of a Budget-Friendly 4K TV
by Samuel Kalenga on Oct 06, 2024
Picture Quality: A Visual Feast for the Eyes
At the heart of the Samsung UE55TU8500 is its 4K UHD panel, whose 3840 x 2160 resolution, paired with HDR10 support, results in a richer colour palette and increased contrast and black levels for an altogether more immersive and realistic viewing experience. Settings for Sports, Beauty, Filmmaker, Animal and DAE mode on the Samsung UE55TU8500’s preloaded Smart View app Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K also performs a clever upscaling process when lower-resolution material is displayed on screen, helping it to appear as near to 4K resolution as the panel will allow.
Thanks to the greater number of pixels, a lower-resolution broadcast will receive a boost to the clarity and detail on screen. The wider range of colours, the higher contrast of the Samsung UE55TU8500 thanks to HDR10 technology make a visible difference to visual impact. Colours are brighter and more vibrant, and the difference between light and dark areas of the image snap into sharper relief so that the image looks three dimensional instead of flat.
I particularly noticed this effect with 4K content – whether a movie or documentary, the enhanced picture quality is palpable. The ability of the TV to upsample lower-resolution content to near-4K levels is also valuable. If you, like me, watch a lot of standard-definition broadcasts, this will make them look much crisper and clearer than they do on a standard high-definition TV, and help to reduce the big difference in visual quality between different types of content.
Smart Features: A World of Entertainment at Your Fingertips
The Samsung UE55TU8500 is connected to your wider home entertainment ecosystem and operating (Tizen) system Your relationship with the Samsung UE55TU8500 is nurtured by the operating (Tizen) system. Tizen is the operating system embedded in the TV, akin to the operating system you have for your smartphone, and gives you an intuitive and elegant way to navigate through menus to access a variety of different streaming services, apps and online content.
The platform allows you to get first-hand access to the popular online entertainment apps and services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and much more, or you can access exclusive streaming channels for sport, news, kids and other themes and interests. Its exceptionally smart Tizen OS includes an easy-to-use interface that provides quick access to an enormous library of content options, allowing you to discover and launch your favorite app or streaming service at a moment’s notice. Thanks to a diverse range of content options, this TV can also satisfy all cultural appetites and preferences.
Whether you’re in the mood for the latest cinematic masterpiece, want to catch up with your favorite cable TV shows, or simply relax with some old-school music or a quick news update or sports update, the Samsung UE55TU8500 delivers an abundance of entertaining options that put you in complete control of your leisure time.
Design and Aesthetics: A Sleek and Modern Presence
The Samsung UE55TU8500 is not only about performance but also a good-looking addition to your living room. The TV comes with a minimalist ultra-slim design and thin bezels, making it not only look visually appealing but also offer a distraction-free and immersive viewing experience. The screen is the main attraction. It fits various home décor styles. You can easily integrate the TV setup into your living room. These narrow panels frame the action, giving the impression of being immersed in a spacious screen and allowing all of your attention to be focused on the action.
This is possible because the Samsung UE55TU8500 has a very sleek design, something that gives it a more desirable look overall. This makes it For someone looking to complement a living room with a new TV, it goes without saying that they’ll want to get a device that has a similar look and feel to their living space. Whether it’s a contemporary living space, or traditional, this product does offer that a certain level of versatility in the sense that it will not create an aesthetic clash with the surroundings.
Sound Performance: A Solid Foundation for Audio
The UE55TU8500 is equipped with 20 x 2-channel (2 x 10W) speakers which put out good audio for an up-front experience. It’s not going to be immersive like dedicated soundbars or setups for a full home theatre, but more than sufficient to begin enjoying the screen without any audio jumpouts or bass issues. The sound is crisp and clear; more than enough for most living environments. Connected to external sound systems and soundbars or surround sound systems using HDMI connections, on the supported ports, the UE55TU8500 is a delight to watch from an audio perspective.
The stock speakers on the Samsung UE55TU8500 will handle most everyday use situations adequately and should satisfy most requirements for casual viewing, with adequate volume for most living room environments and adequate sound quality to go with it. However, if the aim is to make any element of the viewing experience more immersive, particularly for watching films with a musical soundtrack, then connecting an external audio device such as a sound system or a soundbar will make that easier. The Samsung UE55TU8500 sports a good selection of connections including HDMI ports that will enable you to hook the set up to an external sound system.
Pros and Cons: Weighing the Strengths and Weaknesses
As with all products, the Samsung UE55TU8500 has its strengths and weaknesses. Here's the pro and console.Pros
- Ultra HD-Ready Visual Quality: With the 4K UHD resolution, the set supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) 10, which produces vibrant colours and deep blacks, while the onboard Crystal Processor 4K positively changes the picture quality by upscaling the picture and imagery from low-resolution content to near-4K quality.
- Sleek Design: Samsung UE55TU8500 The TV has a modern-style design with very thin bezels, making it attractive to the eye and aesthetically pleasing to modern taste; its thin design means it would be suitable for many living-room set-ups regardless of orientation.
- User-friendly smart TV: Tizen offers a very user-friendly, simple interface, and a variety of apps and streaming services available.
- Value for Money: The Samsung UE55TU8500 is reasonably priced compared to its features and performance, making it appealing for those shopping with their eyes on the wallet.
- Real connection: You won’t lack for connection options with 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
Cons
- Limited viewing angles: The VA panel common to the Samsung UE55TU8500 has terrible viewing angles. Picture quality can deteriorate considerably when viewed from the sides.
- Average Sound Quality: The 20W speakers will be fine for sound.With average specs and decent reviews, I was quite impressed with the product. Not too pricey, not too special.
- No Dolby Vision Support: the Samsung UE55TU8500 is not compatible with Dolby Vision, a Dynamic Range-Extended format for HDR that is more vibrant and colourful than standard HDR10.
- Limited Motion Clarity: The Samsung UE55TU8500 is capable of handling movement onscreen better than most cheaper TVs, but it can still cause some blur in fast-moving content.
Is the Samsung UE55TU8500 Worth It?
The Samsung UE55TU8500 is a great option at a great price for buyers looking for one of the best picture qualities and smart features in a 55-inch 4K TV available. For a little over $500 (at the time of this writing) money would be hard pressed to find a better combination of picture quality and features.
It sports a native 4K UHD resolution for stunning Ultra HD display with HDR10 and Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K. Its Tizen operating system allows for the use of a wide variety of over-the-air and outside content on a very user friendly platform. Things like viewing angles, sound quality and lack of support for Dolby Vision might make this model the wrong set for some. ultimate immersive TV experience? Then connecting the sound of the Samsung UE55TU8500 to an outside sound system or soundbar might be your best approach to this product.
Who Should Consider the Samsung UE55TU8500?
The Samsung UE55TU8500 is an excellent option for individuals and families who:
- Value for Money: Are looking for a 4K TV with a competitive price point.
- Casual Viewing: Primarily use their TV for watching movies, TV shows, and streaming content.
- Smart TV Features: Get all the benefit of a smart TV experience with access to a wide variety of streaming and app options.
- Modern Aesthetics: Value a sleek and stylish design that complements their living room décor.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
The Samsung UE55TU8500 might not be the best choice for individuals who:
- Viewing angles: You need a TV with wide viewing angles if you want to be able to place viewers at several different viewing positions at once.
- High-Fidelity Audio: Prioritize immersive audio and prefer dedicated sound systems or soundbars.
- Dolby Vision Support: You value greater dynamic range and colour accuracy. Bargain hunters, for example, might often want an LED TV, while younger buyers tend to prefer an OLED where price is no object.
- Gamers want a TV with very little input lag and fast response times, while sports fans desire a large screen.
