PICTURE QUALITY This model had very good high-definition picture quality. It generally did a very good job displaying fine detail (see performance quirk). Color accuracy was excellent, so colors looked very natural and life-like. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images showed some depth and dimension. In this respect, the TV was similar to most of the models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were only fair -- black areas of the image were too bright, and darker scenes looked unnaturally illuminated, and got brighter when viewed from the sides (see viewing angle comments). Dark scenes, in particular, were lacking in contrast. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did an excellent job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. Image texture, especially on skin, was slightly lacking in detail. There was a noticeably uneven brightness effect that created cloudy areas that were distracting in dark scenes. We routinely see this type of issue with many brands of LCD TVs, regardless of the type of backlight (CCFL or LED) used. Though it's generally not a significant problem, it can vary in degree from TV to TV. 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 content. Performance Quirk: We noticed that Samsung's "Digital Clean View," a feature designed to reduce noise in the image, defaults to the "on" setting even after we set the feature to "off." When we navigated to that feature in the menu and let the cursor hover over the other selections, we could see the feature become inactive as grain was suddenly restored to the image. We were also able to deactivate the feature by switching the TV to a different "picture mode" and then back again. However, when we turned off TV power and turned it back on, the feature was again active, though it was still set to "off" in the menu. Though this is most likely a bug that can be fixed with a firmware update, the otherwise excellent picture quality rating does reflect a slight reduction in picture performance with the feature turned on. "Digital Clean View" reduces the visibility of noise on overly grainy images, but it also reduces the clarity of fine surface texture on faces and objects, and eliminates the natural film grain from movie content, thereby reducing the fidelity of the input video.
VIEWING ANGLE This Samsung has a moderate viewing angle overall, decent, but not quite as good as the better-performing LCD sets we've tested. The optimal seating position for best picture quality is directly in front of the TV. If your family is seated in chairs off to the side of the TV, they'll see decent but compromised image quality.
When we moved off to the sides the horizontal viewing angle was good; the picture showed a slight loss of color so flesh tones looked a bit washed out, along with a moderate color shift. Black levels brightened significantly, making dark scenes look hazy. Even when viewed from right in front of the screen, dark scenes were brighter at the sides due to the limited horizontal sweet spot. 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 excellent motion performance, with no visible 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 TVs. With the feature turned off, motion performance was only fair, with significant blurring on our motion tests.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY The screen surface on this LCD TV has one of the shinier, mirror-like surfaces we've seen, which makes it very 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.
3D PERFORMANCE The overall 3D effect was very good, on par with the better 3D displays. 3D images showed effective depth, with minimal levels of ghosting (left eye/right eye crosstalk) on our 3D test patterns and on a wide variety of 3D program content. In 3D, there was a slight increase in ghosting when we viewed images from the sides. In 3D mode, the display presented full 1080p resolution to each eye, showing all the detail from the best 3D content from Blu-ray disc. In 3D mode, the picture was brighter than some other sets, a plus.
SOUND QUALITY This TV's sound is good, fine for typical TV programming, but it won't reproduce the full range of movie soundtracks and music. It has a good volume range. At more typical listening volume levels the TV's sound has only decent bass but with good impact, and it's bright sounding. All told, none of these issues are overly distracting and most viewers will find this sound quality acceptable.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was very easy, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is satisfactory, and the on-screen menu is very easy to navigate.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. For 2013, Samsung Smart TVs sport a new Smart Hub interface that organizes content into five separate panels--for live TV, movies and TV shows from streaming services, personal content (photos, videos and music), social networks, and apps--while the current live TV show plays in a small window. You can search live TV, movies, and streaming services for content, and even get recommendations about TV shows or movies the TV thinks you'll like. When used with the included IR blaster, the TV remote control can double as a universal remote for other gear connected to the TV via its HDMI inputs. Features include a full Web browser with support for Flash, which allows access to a wider selection of websites. Access to a library of applications is provided via "Samsung Apps." Movie streaming services include: Amazon Instant Video, Blockbuster, CinemaNow, Hulu Plus, Media Hub, Netflix, Vudu. It also supports an optional Web cam for access to video conferencing applications such as Skype.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes four HDMI inputs, one shared component/composite connection (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, and built-in Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing, and Bluetooth audio connection. HDMI and analog cable connections made to the rear-facing panel will protrude beyond the panel's slim depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, a remote with batteries, four sets of 3D glasses, and an IR extender. 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 of firmware. 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), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu 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.
