Samsung UE55F7000 TV review

Samsung’s range of LED-TVs of the seventh series is the pre-top in the Full HD category. Next comes only “eight”. Let’s try to figure out whether Samsung UE55F7000 meets the requirements of a smart TV in 2013, as well as determine the validity of saving about 20 thousand Dollars before the counterparts 8 series.

Samsung UE55F7000 TV

Appearance

The look of Samsung UE55F7000 inspires respect. However, fans of the exotic will hardly like it: there are no extravagant stands in the form of chrome Mebius ribbons and other frills. The exterior of the model under consideration is rather modest, and if it were not for the finishing in rough aluminium it could be called even Spartan. Many customers will find this fact to their taste, because not everybody adheres to the pretentious style, the more conservative look will be to their liking in any interior.

A really thin 55-inch panel with small bezels rests on a rectangular-shaped stand. The body with LED-matrix does not rotate around its axis, so if you want to change the viewing angle, you will have to move the entire TV. At the top is a built-in camera. It cannot be removed, but it is possible to remove it with a light touch of a finger into the TV trim. On the bottom is a semicircular protruding part with the manufacturer’s logo.

All communication tools are hidden on the rear panel. On the one hand it can make quick docking of USB-carrier more difficult in some cases, but it will allow to hide all wires without effort. This time Samsung does not skimp on the number of inputs/outputs: four HDMI 1 ports are available to the user.Four and three USB, which should cover the needs of even the most discerning geeks. Also available on the expansion slot rack are component input, composite input, optical audio output and infrared output.

The means to work with television are presented by the classical antenna input and two inputs for satellite content. Ethernet-connector with the appropriate connection should provide connection to the global network. But it is not necessary to pull the wires to the TV: built-in WiFi-adapter allows you to use all online services and over the air using IEEE 802 connection.11a/b/g/n.

On the back of the TV there is a place to install the Evolution Kit. The proprietary module allows you to update the functions of the TV and always be at the cutting edge of progress. The Samsung UE55F7000 comes with a Smart Touch Control remote control. Visually, it’s quite different from anything we’ve been used to seeing on South Korean models for the previous five years.

There are no hundreds of tightly grouped buttons: there are only a little more than ten. There is a touchpad in the center of the mouse, which is also a five-position key. You will have to get used to such a control system, and to begin with you need to read the instruction manual: not all movements are intuitive.

For example, it is possible to enter television channel numbers by hand. But after a few hours, you get so used to this remote control that you don’t want to go back to the usual one.

Picture at

The viewer has a great view of the glossy 55-inch panel with 1920 x 1080 pixels. The manufacturer assures us in the presence of anti-reflective coating, but in the reflection of the “kinescope” perfectly visible all light sources, so when choosing a place to install the TV it is necessary to remember about it. The UE55F7000 is announced to have 800 Hz Clear Motion Rate, Micro Dimming, Mega Contrast, Wide Color Enhancer Plus and 3D HyperReal Engine. In summary, this means that the model represents the most advanced development of Samsung in the pre-top segment. The video picture pleases us with vivid colors and good matrix response time.

However, the participant of our testing is not deprived of weaknesses. Despite the presence of Micro Dimming system, which is supposed to dim certain blocks of backlighting in the dark areas of the frame, black is not always obtained very deep. Besides the standard settings “out of the box” can not please every discerning eye. Samsung craftsmen have installed the software in such a way that it tries by all means to give us the brightest and sharpest picture. Sometimes this desire leads to an overestimation of the level of backlighting and sharpness: as if the novice user has overdone filters in the graphics editor.

Nevertheless it does not always happen that signal post-processing fails. If the frame is devoid of contrast scenes, the picture turns out very good, and black is really black. On the dark background, you can also sometimes observe the traces of uneven side LED-backlight. However, this is if you’re really picky. Viewing angles UE55F7000 is the maximum. The official specs are almost about 180 degrees. In fact the picture is stable from any position, but with a significant deviation from the center line the color scheme spoils a bit.

In 2013, Samsung engineers are sticking to the shutter technology to build a 3D image. In the box with the TV you can find four pairs of compatible glasses. They’re based on active LED technology, which makes them weighty, but just as comfortable. The result will not keep you waiting: when you watch stereo content you will constantly dodge flying sabers and admire volumetric surroundings. The new Seventh Series guarantees a fully immersive 3D experience.

Smart or not Smart?

Like any of today’s worthy representatives of Samsung TVs, UE55F7000 has a rich set of Smart features. As we are faced with the device of the seventh series, the demands for it are high. However, the device easily copes with any task.

Smart hub is represented by three main sections: social networks, applications and access to storage of photos, videos and music. In the first point, the TV prompts us to watch the most suitable, in its opinion, clips from the network. The selection is based on your YouTube account, as well as your Facebook and Twitter feeds. The TV set comes with a standard set of programs, additional applications can be downloaded from the Samsung Apps store. You can find a lot of interesting little things, but the practical value can be found only in online video services. Although at your leisure you can play Angry Birds or check the weather forecast.

The built-in browser left only positive emotions: powerful hardware and software optimization allowed to bring the experience of web surfing to perfection. Modern technology allows you to watch streaming video directly on the pages of the global network. After 55 inches you don’t want to sit down for a laptop anymore.

Another not the most important, but nice feature – Skype calls. The camera can also be used for gesture control and switching profiles by face recognition. At this point, it’s more of a dabble than a really important and needed feature. Nevertheless, with the proper persistence the device does recognize waving of hands and understand where you send it. You can also command the TV by voice commands. To communicate with the American-assembled representative of South Korea is offered in American. Warning: switching the TV set on by a set phrase can plunge the impressionable housewives into shock.

The built-in player

Built-in video player promises excellent flexibility in the choice of formats and codecs: this Samsung knows not only popular, but also rare containers. The manufacturer has added 3GP, AVI, ASF, FLV, M2TS, MKV, MOV, MP4, MPG, MTS, SVI, TS, TP, TRP, VOB, VRO, WEBM, WMV to the list. The tests have shown that the multimedia combine really is omnivorous. A powerful processor can handle even those videos in which the bitrate goes over 50 Mbps. Playback of such files is as smooth as possible, without dropouts. Only one nut is left uncracked – Ultra HD. However, the territory of 2160p resolution is the preference of Samsung TVs of the ninth series.

Note one interesting feature: rewind works only when playing video from a connected USB-drive. It is not possible to use this function when watching videos over the network.

Sound

Revelations in audio Samsung UE55F7000 promises no revelations, but the two speakers with output power of 10 watts is enough to play simple scenes. Movie sound is at a high level for such a thin TV.

Conclusion

In reviewing the 55-inch novelty of 2013, we never had the feeling that we are dealing with an overdue product. In all disciplines Samsung UE55F7000 proved to be an excellent fighter. High image quality, excellent 3D and good sound is a solid foundation of the considered representative of the seventh series. Powerful stuffing at any stage of the test did not make you wait a second: all menus turn on quickly, and smooth animation is not jerked even once.

In addition, built-in video codecs allow you to run video content of any complexity. No need to speak about Smart functions: this TV set can handicap any other desktop computer. We have not managed to find any obvious weaknesses in the UE55F7000. Besides the difference from the older eighth family cannot be called essential. Today, this model can really be considered a state of the art.