The Samsung DU8500 Crystal UHD TV is a basic 4K model that you can buy at an affordable price. This model is part of the entry-level line and offers some improvements over the cheapest model, the Samsung DU7100 . This TV also improves on the aesthetic side with its ultra-thin design.
Samsung DU8500 consists of four models with diagonals from 43 to 65 inches. What distinguishes this TV from more expensive models? What did the manufacturer save on? Is the Samsung UE65DU8500U able to compete with other models in its price range? Is it worth buying the DU8500? In the Samsung UE65DU8500UXRU Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV review, we will try to answer these and other questions.
Design
Aesthetically, this model has significant changes compared to its predecessor. In addition, its thickness has been reduced. The AirSlim design makes it ideal for wall mounting. Samsung also offers a stand placed under the center of the screen. Therefore, even in the case of large dimensions, you will not need a wide piece of furniture to place it on a horizontal surface.
As for the remote control, it has a more compact and rounded design. This remote control has a rechargeable battery instead of batteries. For charging, it has a solar panel located on the back and a USB-C port. With this, the company aims to contribute to a more sustainable environment and reduce waste.
Equipment
As for the operating system, the Samsung UE65DU8500U TV uses Tizen, which in version 8.0 is very easy to use and intuitive. Samsung has agreements with major streaming platforms. Therefore, you can access popular applications such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO, Netflix.
There is also a special panel that offers recommendations for movies and TV series based on the user’s tastes, as well as the most popular content at the moment. The TV also supports AirPlay 2 for sharing content from Apple devices and has a Smart View function for mirroring the screen of a mobile device.
There is a dedicated tab for games in the menu, from which you can access apps like Xbox X
or NVIDIA Geforce Now to play cloud games.
Sound quality
The Samsung 65DU8500 TV has a built-in 2.0 audio system with a power of 20 W, which is standard for such equipment. However, due to the thin design, the speakers cannot have enough depth. As a result, the sound does not have low and high frequencies. To improve the sound quality, it is recommended to purchase an additional sound bar.
Image quality
The Samsung DU8500 TV has a VA panel with 60Hz and 10-bit color (8-bit + FRC). It doesn’t use quantum dot technology like the more expensive QLED models, but it does use Dynamic Crystal Color, which allows for purer whites without color distortion and more vibrant colors than the smaller DU7100 series.
The Samsung DU8500 series delivers high contrast and pure blacks thanks to its VA panel. In dark conditions, it produces deep blacks and shows good detail in dark areas. The contrast ratio is 4200:1, which is quite acceptable.
Unlike high-end models, this TV doesn’t have Local Dimming, which allows you to adjust the lighting by zones. Instead, it uses a strip of LEDs at the bottom of the screen, known as Edge LED . This means it doesn’t have the same uniformity of backlighting as a direct-lit TV. However, this helps maintain a balance between price and picture quality, as well as a slim design.
Considering this is an Edge LED TV, you can sometimes see some blooming when there are subtitles and HDR content. For more uniformity, consumers will have to upgrade to at least a full-array TV like the Q80D . In terms of brightness, the DU8500 is compatible with HDR 10, HLG, and HDR 10+.
However, this brightness is not enough for truly impressive HDR. The peak brightness in HDR reaches around 320 nits, which is a bit disappointing. In this aspect, the DU8500 is not much behind other competitors in this price range. If you watch a lot of HDR content, you may be better off upgrading to the QLED Q60D series , which reaches around 450 nits.
But the price of such a TV will be higher. The DU8500 series has very good color rendering and covers more than 90% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, which is very interesting for a basic range. The color volume is higher than the lower range. This is due to the implementation of the Dynamic Crystal Color system. In terms of sharpness, this TV offers an excellent level of detail in 4K content.
The quality remains good even when viewing HD content, thanks to correct scaling. The processor’s noise reduction has been improved. Now a clean image is achieved with virtually no noise. However, the handling of the moving image could be improved. Sometimes you can see slight unevenness.
We are talking about a 60Hz panel, so it does not have a vibration reduction option. There is only a blur option. The 65DU8500U is a suitable option for video game use, as it has a low input lag, just above 11ms. To achieve this figure, you need to activate the game mode.
However, this series does not support VRR and does not have HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K gaming at 120Hz. So if you want these features, you will have to go for the Q70C series. The VA panel on the 65DU8500 does not have filters to improve the viewing angle on the sides like high-end models. So when viewing from the side, you will see a loss of color and contrast.
Starting at about 30 degrees, the image starts to blur. Blacks become more grayish, and other colors become whiter. The panel has a semi-matte finish. It does not have an anti-glare filter like the OLED series or the Neo QLED 8K.
Connections
The Samsung DU8500 features three HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB ports, an Ethernet connection, an optical digital audio output, and a composite video input. It also features Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) for wireless connectivity. There are also antenna ports and a C+ slot.
Conclusion
For those in search of an economical television that delivers impressive picture quality and supports essential app downloads, the Samsung DU8500 Crystal UHD 2024 is a noteworthy choice within this price segment.
A standout feature of this model is its sleek design, characterized by minimal thickness and ultra-slim bezels, complemented by a remote control equipped with a solar panel and USB-C connectivity. If aesthetics are important to you, the DU8500 is likely to appeal. It offers excellent contrast with deep blacks, thanks to its VA panel technology.
The clarity of various content types is commendable, with color reproduction being its strongest attribute, providing vibrant and accurate hues, although some image adjustments may be necessary to optimize this. Nonetheless, there are areas that could be enhanced, including viewing angles, brightness for improved HDR performance, and particularly the sound quality, which tends to be subpar due to the ultra-slim design.
Despite these drawbacks, the Samsung DU8500 TV delivers solid viewing quality at a reasonable price, making it an excellent option for those seeking clear and detailed visuals without overspending.
The Samsung DU8500 Crystal UHD 2024 TV features a sleek design, a variety of functionalities, and satisfactory picture quality. If sound quality is a concern, which is one of the model’s notable weaknesses, consider enhancing it with the addition of a soundbar.