The TU8000 may be a good value TV that gives an honest performance for the cash , but can’t shake a number of the restrictions of its more humble spec list. Brightness and colour saturation take a knock compared with Samsung’s pricier QLEDs, but its detailed picture, fantastic smart TV system and powerful upscaling performance still offer plenty to love. Get details in Samsung – 43 Class 8 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV Review.
Pros & Cons
FOR
Sharp, detailed 4K picture
Good upscaling
Superb smart TV platform
Solid motion handling
AGAINST
Limited connectivity
Lacks brightness for the simplest HDR
Narrow viewing angles
Annoying design
Two minute review
For the past few years, Samsung’s 8 Series has been an excellent go-to option for TV buyers eager to balance performance and price during a way that when seemed unfathomable.
The TU8000 doesn’t quite represent the highest of that range, but is simply one step down, sharing many the TU8500’s boasts, but with a good more attractive tag .
It uses Samsung’s Crystal LCD UHD panel technology, and promises simple use, a minimalistic design, choice of built-in voice assistant and best-in-class smart TV system. There also are an entire host of screen sizes to settle on from, so you’ll really make it work for your space.
Despite its frame being largely made from plastic, the TU8000 may be a really well-built TV. It’s just a shame Samsung decided to use a difficult-to-accommodate wide-foot stand on this model and also scrimped on the HDMI inputs — especially when one among those becomes unusable if you opt to wall mount it.
Still, there are not any such grumbles to be had on the smart TV system, which features all the on-demand and catch-up apps you’ll want, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Disney Plus. There’s even the arty Ambient Mode included here, appearing outside of the QLED range for the primary time this year.
There’s little question that the image comes with some limitations at its price, but overall the TU8000 impresses with its natural colour handling, crisp, detailed picture, solid motion processing and good upscaling. It needs some settings tweaked to perform to the absolute best of its abilities, though.
As is so often the case, the audio performance within the TU8000 isn’t much to urge excited about, but also isn’t the worst we’ve heard. Overall it’s just on the flat side, with little by way of dynamics and organisation, but offering an honest amount of weight that stops it from sounding too thin. A soundbar wouldn’t go amiss, but the projection it manages and therefore the clarity through the midrange would almost allow you to skip it if your budget is tight.
For the worth , the TU8000 offers an honest performance that needs some managed expectations. Peak brightness is restricted so HDR isn’t at its best and hues don’t have the pop that you’ll see on pricier sets. But detail is astounding , black levels are strong and overall it’s a natural and interesting picture that holds its own against the competition.
It might not be quite as impressive as last year’s RU8000, but pay a touch attention to the image settings on offer and you’ll still create an image performance that gives brilliant value.
Price and availability – Samsung – 43 Class 8 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV Review
- Available in six different screen sizes, from 43 inches to 85 inches
- 55-inch version reviewed here retails for £599/$500/AU$1,299
- Overall cheaper than last year’s RU8000
The Samsung TU8000 is out there within the UK, US and Australia, with the sole difference being the 85-inch variant available within the US – rather than 82-inch within the UK and Australia. aside from that, the road up is that the same across all territories, including 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models.
We reviewed the 55-inch version of the TU8000 (£599/$500/AU$1,299), but otherwise you’ll be paying £429/$350/AU$949 for the 43-inch, £499/$400/AU$1,049 for the 50-inch, £899/$700/AU$1,599 for the 65-inch, £1,299/$1,200/AU$2,499 for the 75-inch and £1,999/$1,800/AU$3,699 for the 82-inch/85-inch.
There are a couple of more screen sizes to settle on from this year compared with last year’s RU8000, and while UK prices are generally an equivalent , the US and Australia have seen some price cuts. for instance , prices for the 55-inch tested here are an equivalent as last year’s RU8000 within the UK, but an equivalent model within the US and Australia comes in $150 and AU$300 cheaper respectively.
Samsung – 43 Class 8 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV Review
Design
Sturdy and classy despite being mostly plastic
Wide stand is awkward to accommodate
Three HDMIs may be a bit stingy
At this price, it’s probably unsurprising that the TU8000’s design is formed up primarily of black plastic, across its back panel, bezels and stand. It still manages to feel well-built despite this, with some reassuring heft when getting it out of the box, and minimal bezels ensuring the set still looks stylish, plastic and every one .
Why Samsung has decided to bestow wide feet on this model though — or any TV for that matter — is anyone’s guess. A central stand, as is found on the TU8500 model above this, is such a lot easier to accommodate when it involves placing larger TVs onto furniture. As it is, the UE55TU8000 would require a TV stand of a minimum of 103cm, so do confirm your current setup can accommodate it first.
Of course you’ll prefer to wall mount this TV instead, and there are not any unsightly lumps or bumps on the rear to form this a problem . In fact, at just 6cm thick, it should sit pretty snug to your wall.
However, it’s worth noting that one among the HDMI ports will become unusable during this position thanks to being rear-facing, which may be a shame considering what’s there’s already a reasonably stingy offering.
We’re wont to having four HDMIs to settle on from, even at this price, but the TU8000 only has three. meaning even a reasonably humble setup of a set-top box, Blu-ray player and games console will spend those parts from the off, with one lost if the set is wall-mounted.
Other ports include two USBs, a composite video in, an RF antenna input for terrestrial telly, CI slot and an ethernet port for when wi-fi won’t cut it. There’s also an optical output for pushing the audio to a soundbar.
As is typically the case with Samsung TVs, two remotes are included within the box — a chunkier standard-looking one and a more slender, simplified option. The latter has all the most features you’ll use most frequently , without those you won’t. This includes a ring-shaped D-pad, channel and volume controls, shortcuts to Netflix, Prime Video and Rakuten TV and buttons for activating Samsung’s Ambient Mode (more thereon later), your voice assistant of choice and for general navigation.
This remote also can be found out as a universal control for your other devices, which you’ll be prompted about during the initial setup.
Smart TV (Tizen) – Samsung – 43 Class 8 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV Review
- Easy TV setup via SmartThings app
- Tizen remains one among the simplest smart TV systems out there
- Ambient Mode included
While you’ll get the television receiver up just using the remote if you favor , Samsung prompts you to try to to wnload the Samsung SmartThings app to do it digitally instead.
It works rather well , even automatically adding the wi-fi details it digs out from your device so you don’t need to fiddle with on-screen keyboards, which is usually welcome.
It also prompts you to download any extra on-demand apps you would possibly like on the TV and choose your voice assistant, also as helps you get the OneRemote found out as a universal control for all of your sources.
Once complete, the TU8000 will appear as a tool within the SmartThings app alongside the other compatible devices you would possibly have within the house. you’ll then control your TV via your phone if you’ve misplaced the remotes… or simply can’t be bothered to urge up to urge them.
Samsung has long offered one among the foremost comprehensive smart TV systems through its Tizen platform, and that’s not changed in 2020. It’s had some small design tweaks since last year, but navigation is just about identical and remains even as simple as before.
That means a press of the house button will mention a row of your installed apps, which are now smaller to suit more on screen, and highlighting anybody of them will show up a secondary row of suggested content or actions. This content are going to be customised to your viewing habits if you’re signed in thereto particular app, so Netflix will offer to continue what you were last watching, for instance .
Pretty much every on-demand service you’ll want is present, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, NowTV, YouTube and Disney Plus, also as all of the UK’s catch up services, from BBC iPlayer to My5.
There’s also an app store for adding other apps, including UKTV Play, BBC Sounds and Spotify, with the order of apps you increase your home menu entirely customisable to your preferences — you’ll now fit 14 on the screen at anybody time. Scroll down from this main row of apps and you’ll come to Samsung’s content hub, with rows of TV and film recommendations, albeit from a limited number of providers.
Most options surfaced for us appeared to be from Apple TV, Chili or UKTV Play and while it had been interesting enough, it’s a shame to not see more popular sources included, like Netflix, Amazon or BBC iPlayer. We didn’t find ourselves using it in the least .
You get two options for voice assistance, in Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby (Google Assistant is coming soon). Alexa can add conjunction with any Amazon speakers you would possibly have, and is usually the higher choice of the 2 for generic voice assistance, though Bixby does offer more by way of specific TV controls, like changing input via voice. It still seems like a touch of a clunky inclusion that we rarely found the necessity to use, but it’s there if you would like it.
Samsung’s Ambient Mode is now included as standard on the TU8000, with the feature expanding its horizons beyond the QLED range for the primary time this year. It’s a feature that’s been adapted from the Art Mode initially launched on the Samsung Frame, and allows you to possess a variety of arty pictures, patterns or your own snaps appear on screen when you’re not watching TV.
The TVs sensor will detect the brightness of an area and adjust the image accordingly, so it’s more sort of a picture than a TV that’s just been left on, which successively saves power. you’ll set a timer too, to make sure it switches off after a period of your time .
It’s not as convincing as Samsung’s The Frame as an artwork, mostly because the TU8000’s screen is more reflective, but it’s nice to ascertain the feature trickle down the range all an equivalent .
Picture quality
Sharp, detailed picture
Panel isn’t the brightest, so HDR can struggle
Decent upscaling
This UE55TU8000 is capable of a really good picture for its price, but the out-of-the-box settings do need a touch of labor to urge the foremost out of it, particularly with HDR content.
That’s because the height brightness of this set is on the low side. Even with brightness turned up high in settings, you’ll likely end up wanting more, especially with dark scenes in well-lit rooms.
So before we mention the image , let’s mention the way to catch on looking its best. the primary thing to regulate here is that the picture mode, which is most accurate under Movie. Many will prefer the attractive cooler tones of ordinary , which is additionally slightly brighter, but if you’re trying to find the foremost accurate picture and colour palette, Movie is that the choice to choose .
Movie mode has its brightness and contrast knocked down slightly from the utmost , and we’d recommend keeping them there. It’s a way subtler picture if you are doing , though you’ll push brightness up slightly if you are feeling you would like it.
Colour tone may be a toss up between Warm1 and Warm2 and we’d ensure sharpness is usually at 0 to avoid added noise. you’ll leave colour and tint settings where they’re .
We’d usually recommend turning all added picture processing off for the purest picture, but during this case, Samsung’s Contrast Enhancer works wonders for giving this picture the added oomph it needs, particularly in darker scenes. With SDR content you’ll probably keep it switched on low, but with HDR content, you’ll get more impact, albeit with less subtlety, set at high.
The TU8000 will recognise whenever you’re playing compatible HDR content, and switch to an HDR mode automatically, so any settings you modify at now will remain in situ for HDR content only.
Finally, motion settings fall into an option called Picture Clarity. choose custom and you’ll set the judder settings yourself. Something around 3 or 4 appeared to work best for many content we watched, and motion is, for the foremost part, admirably stable.
With the image where we would like it to be, we calm down with a 4K stream of Joker on Sky Q. Outlines are wonderfully crisp and there’s stacks of detail to travel at, from the feel of the makeup on Joaquin Phoenix’s face to the detail within the buildings of Gotham within the opening scenes. More capable sets (read: more expensive) will offer a touch more by way of depth and additional fine detail, except for a mid-range TV, there’s little or no to grumble about here.
Colours are well judged too, and there’s enough natural punch here to stay the image engaging. The TU8000 even does an excellent job with skin tones, a difficult balance that TVs at this level can’t always manage.
The lack of wide colour gamut for HDR within the TU8000 means you’re unlikely to be blown away by the out-and-out vibrancy of the TU8000 when watching HDR, but the subtler way it handles its colour palette and shading remains beautifully done. While colours probably wouldn’t be described as vivid, they’re also faraway from washed out.
If there’s an Achilles’ heel here, it’s dark scenes, when watched in anything but a really dark room. Even then, they struggle to impress, because the screen tries to balance the dark and lightweight parts of the scene. There’s little question that blacks can go far , but shadow detail and highlights lose call at the method .
As an edge-lit set with no local dimming, the TU8000 was always getting to struggle in these situations, but with Samsung’s Contrast Enhancer switched on, you’ll quickly improve the balance and provides these scenes far more distinction.
This is particularly helpful with HDR content. When streaming Ozark from Netflix, we were ready to transform previously dull dark scenes when viewed in daylight into something far more punchy and enjoyable. Even the viewing experience during a dark room is far improved.
With the Contrast Enhancer set to high, highlight details are presented far more brightly alongside those deep blacks, and with little or no blooming. It even helps to bring out some detail which may have otherwise been lost within the shadows.
As mentioned, the additional processing does away with some subtlety in search of higher contrast, particularly noticeable in brighter scenes, and also adds in some noise. However at this price, it’s a trade off we’re willing to form .
The result isn’t as precise or dynamic as HDR are often at its absolute best , but you won’t find many TVs at this level doing far better . Just remember that, as is that the case with all Samsung TVs, there’s no Dolby Vision support here, just HDR10 and therefore the lesser-spotted HDR10+, plus HLG for broadcast.
Carrying over to HD/SDR content with an Amazon Prime stream of Iron Man 2 and therefore the TU8000 manages admirably. Its upscaling is pretty good, and while it can’t pass for native 4K, there’s still an honest level of detail to urge your teeth into, with no noticeable added noise.
Colours are even as well-handled here as they’re in HDR, therefore the red and gold of Iron Man’s suit are suitably striking without being over the highest , while the contrast in darker scenes remains impressive with a hand from the additional processing.
Even SD terrestrial TV content looks decent. It’s a touch crazy detail, as you’d expect, but even with the further noise that creeps in, it’s a solid picture with an honest colour balance that’s wholly watchable.
The only downside to all or any of this is often the viewing angles, which are annoyingly tight. Sit too faraway axis and you’ll lose a good little bit of contrast and colour saturation, which takes faraway from the general picture performance. If this is often the TV for you, just make certain to bag the central seating position for movie night.
Audio performance
20W stereo speakers
Three settings to settle on from
Not terrible, but nothing to write down home about
The TU8000 offers three audio settings to settle on from within the main settings menu. It’ll accompany Standard selected out of the box, but you’ll also choose the Adaptive or Amplified settings.
We just like the added whallop from Adaptive, which strikes an honest balance of adding some weight to the low end without losing out on an excessive amount of clarity through the midrange.
That low end still lacks the facility and depth you’d get from a soundbar, but does a minimum of help to offer some presence to a soundtrack and ensure it doesn’t sound too thin. The treble remains a touch on the sharp side but not such a lot that it becomes uncomfortable to concentrate to.
Organisation isn’t the simplest so dialogue can get a touch lost within the busiest scenes, but overall it’s fine, if lacking a touch detail.
As is typically the case with TV sound, particularly at this level, it’s just a touch flat, and lacks the dynamic wherewithal to shift between the subtlety required for quieter scenes and oomph required for the large ones. You’ll want to take a position during a soundbar for that.
It does do an honest job of projecting the sound though, so you don’t need to push the quantity out of its temperature , which is welcome at this level.
Should I buy the Samsung UE55TU8000?
Buy it if…
You want an honest value TV
Samsung’s 8 Series has always been an excellent middle ground for those wanting an honest TV without spending the cash on the QLED range. That’s absolutely what you get with the TU8000, and while there are some areas we’d wish to see improvements in, there’s no denying the worth of a 55-inch TV at £600/$500/AU$1,299.
You make use of on-demand apps
Samsung’s Tizen is one among the simplest smart TV systems you’ll get, and comes with the foremost impressive app line-up on the market. If you subscribe a video on demand service, it’ll be here, as are all the united kingdom catch up services too. nevermore will you mutter the sentence “there’s nothing on TV…”
You want an honest choice of screen sizes
You can tell this is often a well-liked TV for Samsung, by the quantity of screen sizes on offer. meaning that whether you’re trying to find a main TV or a secondary set, there’s a screen size (and budget) for you.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to ascertain the simplest of HDR
The low overall brightness and lack of wide colour gamut on the TU8000, to not mention the very fact that Samsung doesn’t support Dolby Vision, does limit how well this TV can boast HDR content. Some settings tweaks can help make it that bit more impactful, but truth advantage of HDR won’t shine through here.
You have a good viewing area
Viewing angles aren’t this TV’s specialty . If you’ve got a lounge where people are going to be viewing this TV from a good sort of seating positions, they’re going to get a really different experience from someone sitting directly ahead of it.
You have alittle TV stand
Those wide feet make this TV a touch difficult to accommodate on more compact stands. If you’re tight on space and wish your TV to be a touch more understanding of that, the TU8000 might not be the TV for you.
