Samsung UE43BU8000 review

 

A few years ago, paying a moderate price for a well-spec'd 4K TV from a reputable brand was considered a good deal. However, with the current market offering 50-inch TVs for less and 55-inch TVs for even cheaper, the UE43BU8000 from Samsung no longer stands out as much as it used to. Despite this, you are still getting a Samsung TV with their well-known Crystal Colour technology and a smart system that supports a wide range of streaming services. The 43-inch BU8000 model, also known as UA43BU8000, is not available in the US, where Samsung is primarily focusing on their premium QLED, OLED and Mini LED lines.

The UE43BU8000 from Samsung stands out from other budget TVs with its unique "AirSlim" design, which features a 26mm-deep rear that gives it an almost OLED-like appearance and is perfect for wall-mounting. The build quality is also impressive, with a sturdy and heavy-duty construction that belies the TV's affordable price point.

Additionally, the UE43BU8000 comes with two remote controls: a standard button-packed remote that works well despite its plastic feel, and a minimalist "Smart" remote that is powered by a solar cell, eliminating the need for batteries.

For users who prefer to place the TV on a piece of furniture rather than mounting it on the wall, the UE43BU8000 features adjustable feet with separate wide and narrow attachment positions to accommodate different sizes of soundbars or narrow furniture. Speaking of soundbars, the UE43BU8000 may benefit from the addition of one due to its audio performance.

The UE43BU8000 from Samsung does not feature Quantum Dot technology, but it does have Crystal Colour, which is a blend of an extensive gamut LCD panel and advanced color processing, capable of producing a billion different color shades. The LCD panel is a VA type, but it's edge-lit by LEDs, which can affect contrast and black level. The TV also lacks local dimming and has a 50Hz panel, so it doesn't support 4K/120Hz gaming or VRR on any of its three HDMI ports, with ALLM being the only advanced gaming feature available. However, the set's Game mode does provide an impressively low input lag of 9.7ms and a Motion Xcelerator feature that reduces judder and blur for gaming sources. Gamers will also appreciate Samsung's Gaming Hub and support for the HGiG system, which allows the TV to take HDR tone mapping cues from your console or PC. The UE43BU8000's smart system runs on Samsung's Tizen-based Eden platform, which has evolved from a simple content link overlay to a full-screen interface with more content showcasing options.

The UE43BU8000 is a standout budget TV with its sleek and unique AirSlim design that is perfect for wall-mounting. The build quality is also noteworthy, with its sturdy and heavy-duty materials that are a departure from the usual lightweight plastics found in this price range. The TV comes with two remote controls - a standard button-packed one and a smart remote with a solar cell that eliminates the need for battery replacement. The TV also has separate wide and narrow attachment positions for the supporting feet to accommodate various types of soundbars.

One downside is that the TV does not feature Quantum Dot technology, but it does have Crystal Colour which is a combination of a wide gamut LCD panel and powerful color processing that can display a billion different color shades. The LCD panel is a VA type and is edge-lit, which can affect contrast and black level. Additionally, there is no local dimming and the panel is only 50Hz, so it does not support 4K/120Hz gaming or VRR. However, the TV's Game mode has an outstanding low input lag of 9.7ms and a Motion Xcelerator feature that reduces judder and blur. It also has Samsung's Gaming Hub and support for the HGiG system for HDR tone mapping.

The smart system is the latest version of Samsung's Tizen-based Eden platform, which has a wide range of apps and video streaming content. However, it can be frustratingly unintuitive to navigate and does not support Freeview Play. The TV's audio features include a light version of Samsung's Object Tracking Sound (OTS) system and an Adaptive Sound element that optimizes the sound's profile to different content types. It also supports Samsung's Q-Symphony system which can partner the TV's speakers with a Samsung soundbar to create a larger soundstage. However, the effectiveness of this feature on this particular TV is questionable.

The Samsung UE43BU8000 and the UE43AU7100 are two televisions that have been compared by experts. The UE43BU8000 boasts superior brightness and more vibrant colors than its predecessor, with peak brightness being slightly up and colors appearing more natural and vibrant. The newer TV also offers sharper and more detailed 4K sources, as well as better upscaled HD. However, the UE43BU8000 has some drawbacks in comparison to the UE43AU7100, such as more backlight clouding and more prone to crushing subtle details in dark areas. Despite these shortcomings, the extra brightness and color punch may outweigh the issues for some buyers. Additionally, when compared to the Xiaomi F2 TV, the Samsung UE43BU8000 offers more subtlety in its colors, reduces motion blur, suffers less with clipping in bright HDR areas, and endures less shadow detail crushing in dark scenes.

The UE43BU8000 may impress with its visually striking images, but its audio falls short. The sound is thin, lacking impact and forward projection, making it feel as though the audio is coming from a distant movie world. The mid-range is underpowered and unable to expand during intense action scenes. The sound also collapses under any form of stress. The only positive aspect is that the sound is pushed beyond the left and right sides of the screen, and the minimal bass present does not produce any crackling or buzzing interference. Adding a soundbar to this TV may be a necessity, however, it is important to note that the speakers are not strong enough to produce convincing sound when paired with a Samsung soundbar in Q-Symphony mode. It is recommended to select a separate, high-quality soundbar.

The UE43BU8000, the new model of Samsung's TV, may have some drawbacks in its audio quality but it excels in its picture quality. With superior brightness and more vibrant colors, it offers a clear brightness boost with full-screen content. The Dynamic Crystal processor also ensures that there's still a lot of subtlety in the UE43BU8000's color rendering. However, it also has some drawbacks such as backlight clouding in dark scenes and lack of detail in dark areas. Although this TV may be a good option for budget-conscious buyers, other TVs of similar price may offer better performance.