Samsung BU8500: Two Minute Review
The Samsung BU8500 is designed to offer cutting-edge features, low-profile looks, and rock-solid build quality at a price most of us won't mind. And it absolutely nails it.
Admittedly, it's hard to argue with the Samsung BU4's 8500K HDR spec (albeit without Dolby Vision), a trio of HDMI inputs, voice control, two remotes (count them!), and a Tizen Smart TV interface with all the apps you need. you want. to that kind of money. And when you look at the BU8500 as an object, it's slimmer and more discreet than many flagship TVs from just a few years ago.
In this Samsung BU8500 review, we're looking at the 55-inch model, but it's available in larger and smaller sizes, from 43-inches to 75-inches.
With the right elements to work with, picture performance is more than acceptable, obviously not on par with the best TVs in general, but some serious competition with the best TVs under $1000. In all areas Important parts of filming, Samsung never stops being competitive, and its backlighting is beautifully implemented, contributing to the never-ending impression of quality. And as long as you temper your expectations, even that seems fine... but we think you should still budget for one of the best soundbars around.
As a high-end it certainly has its limits, but it's far from alone in this field, certainly not when it comes to large and (relatively) affordable TVs. And the lack of Dolby Vision HDR is still as annoying here as it is with other more expensive Samsung TVs.
So it's not the first time (and certainly not the last) that Samsung has managed to hit a price point without too many obvious compromises. This is absolutely one of the best budget Samsung TVs available today.
Samsung BU8500 review: Price and release date
- Released in the summer of 2022
- 43in €599 | 50 at €699 | 55 at €799 | 65 at €1,099 | 75 at €1,499
- US release unknown at time of writing
The Samsung BU8500 is currently on sale, although at the time of writing this particular model is available in Europe and a few other countries, but has not been announced for North America or Australia (although it is available in New Zealand).
Many countries get market specific TV variations of course due to differences in broadcast standards etc, so at this time there is no confirmation of what the equivalent Samsung screen will be in other territories. What we can be sure of, though, is that the US and Australia will receive a range of Samsung 4K LED TVs with competitive specs and competitive prices that are more than a little reminiscent of the BU8500 series.
The BU8500 is available in a range of sizes from 43 to 75 inches. The 43-inch model is officially priced at €599, the 50-inch is €699, the 55-inch is €799, the 65-inch is €1,099, and the 75-inch is €1,499.
This perfectly matches the price of the 9000 Samsung AU2021 at launch, and will keep this model competitive with affordable 2022 models like Hisense and TCL.
Samsung BU8500 Review: Features
- 4K LEDs with HDR10+
- Tizen Smart TV Software
- No FreeSync support
It's a 4K LED display, powered by Samsung's 'Crystal 4K' processor and compatible with HDR's HLG and HDR10+ standards (we're used to Samsung refusing to offer Dolby Vision support, but it's never unnerving).
Sound is delivered by a two-channel driver arrangement powered by 20 watts of power - Samsung has included the 'Lite' version of its 'Object Tracking' audio arrangement here, and the BU8500 is also 'Q Symphony' compatible. This means that the TV's speakers can be joined together when a compatible Samsung soundbar is connected for even bigger sound.
The BU8500 has three HDMI 2.0 inputs - there's support for the ALLM and HGiG aspects of the next-gen game console spec, but no support for AMD FreeSync, which is a step down from last year's Samsung AU9000.
One of the HDMI ports supports eARC for use with a sound bar. Other physical inputs include an Ethernet connector, some USB, and an airlink terminal for use with the built-in RF tuner, and there's also a digital optical output. Wireless alternatives work with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi.
As for screen control, the BU8500 is compatible with Samsung's SmartThings control app and comes with some remote controls as well. One is the kind of small, scratchy, cluttered remote control we're all used to seeing on a consumer TV: too many buttons, almost all of them too small and unpleasant to touch. The other, however, is a much sleeker phone that has minimal controls, feels much better in the hand, and is solar powered. There's Amazon Alexa support, Google Assistant is built in, and there's also Bixby voice control (presumably for Samsung employees).
Whichever method you decide to employ, you'll be navigating a slightly stripped-down version of Samsung's Tizen-based Smart TV interface. It's as clean and logical as ever here (though less responsive here than other apps), and it has a pretty extensive selection of top-tier apps. All the UK catch-up services, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Disney+ are of course making the headlines, but if Hipstr or KetchupTV (for example) are more to your taste, dive right in.
Samsung BU8500 review: Image quality
- Good level of detail, strong contrast.
- Not the best climber
- Achieving a convincing color balance takes time
Getting a picture balance to your satisfaction with the Samsung BU8500 is a bit trickier than it should be, especially given the relative lack of configuration options available here, but persistence will be well rewarded. With a couple of minor caveats, the Samsung BU8500 does very well for its asking price.
The contrasts, for example, are quite strong. The BU8500 can't achieve 'true' black, but the dark tones it generates are very deep, yet retain a lot of detail and variation within them. In contrast, the white tones are respectably white, nice and clean, and just as informative. The Samsung can cope with both in the same scene without an alarm, helped a bit by very even backlighting, which you don't always get on cheaper TVs.
When setting up, adjusting the color balance is a bit tricky - you'll go from "just a little understated" to "too vivid" in no time. But play around a bit to find the optimal balance and the color palette is naturalistic, attractive and varied. Skin tones, in particular, are detailed and varied.
Edge definition is good, as is depth of field, and Samsung has little trouble controlling even intricate or tight patterns, outlining (for example) checkered fabric without sheen or drag. Stability is solid overall, in fact only the most tested on-screen movements cause uncertainty. By today's standards, the BU8500 is a complete TV when it's receiving the best 4K HDR content, such as UHD Blu-ray.
Of course, not all of us live on a diet of completely new, cutting-edge content, and when it comes to scaling, Samsung (for the most part) keeps up the good work. Of course, an HD broadcast of some elite tennis suffers little: colors are reliably rendered, on-screen movement is stable under almost all circumstances, and detail levels remain high. There's a bit of skin-tone boosting and a hint of jaggedness at the hardest edges, but overall the BU8500 is still eminently watchable.
Anything less information-rich than that can suffer a bit, mind you. Stick to old content from daytime TV shows and you'll be greeted with smooth, blur-free definition, clear detail, and even lighter motion control. Samsung is far from the only one to sag a bit when faced with this amount of scaling, but that doesn't make it any more comfortable to watch.
While it lacks the ability to take advantage of many of the flagship features of a next-gen gaming console, the BU8500 is nonetheless a perfectly respectable way to enjoy gaming. Its ease with contrasts and motion control is particularly interesting, and while Samsung is loath to reveal the BU8500's input lag measurements, they're certainly not a deal breaker.
Samsung BU8500 review: Sound quality
- Acceptable sound scale
- The mid-range projects well
- Hard and spit with high frequencies
Slim chassis, great specs, and very nice picture performance are all very well, but when it comes to audio performance, the Samsung BU8500 sounds like an old-school affordable flat-panel TV. And that's not necessarily a good thing.
Low-frequency presence is modest, but the bass activity generated by the Samsung is at least adequately controlled and polished. There's no such thing as the kind of extension that will make a plastic chassis resonate, but there's a reasonable amount of detail about what passes for 'low-end'.
It's quite distinct in the mid-range and, again, at fairly decent levels of detail. The vocals project forward well, and are actually quite well balanced, until they start to move into the upper frequency range. Once you hit the high frequencies, the BU8500 becomes quite harsh and twitchy, bringing sibilance and even a hint of harshness to the treble. It is a trait that is only exacerbated by volume.
The "object tracking" aspect of the sound is sweet in the extreme here, but the Samsung does it in...