Exploring the vast world of televisions, we often find ourselves mesmerized by the high-end marvels such as Samsung's Neo QLED and QD-OLED TVs. Yet, it's equally important to shine a spotlight on the more budget-friendly options that Samsung offers, particularly their LCD TVs. These models strike a perfect balance, offering cost-effective solutions while still delivering a viewing experience that can make movie nights special. A prime example of affordability meeting quality is the 2021 AU7100, a stellar offering that proves great entertainment doesn't have to empty your wallet.

Carrying forward the anticipation generated by its predecessor's success, we eagerly tuned into the next model in line, hopeful for another budget-friendly gem. However, the excitement took a slight detour upon reviewing the Samsung UE50BU8000. Despite its tempting price tag, this model didn't quite live up to the expectations set by its forerunner.

The Ultimate Guide to Affordable Big-Screen TVs

Remember the days when snagging a big-screen TV for less than a fortune seemed like a dream? Fast forward to today, and the UE50BU8000's price tag of £469 / AU$995 (around £575) mirrors just how far we've journeyed into the realm of affordability. Yet, the landscape of budget-friendly 50-inch TVs is bustling with competition. Brands like Toshiba, Hisense, and TCL are stepping up, making the UE50BU8000's price seem not as low as one might think at first glance. However, if Samsung's tradition of outperforming its rivals holds true, this TV might still emerge as the top value pick.

Interestingly, Samsung's UE50BU8000 and its sibling, the UE50BU8500, sport the same price tag. The differentiation lies in their design - one flaunts a central pedestal stand, while the other opts for chic blade-style feet. Minor price variations do occur across different sizes but always seem to favor the BU8000 model.

An intriguing competitor to note is the TCL 55C735K. Available at £549 (around $674 / AU$975) in January 2023, this alternative not only offers an extra five inches of screen real estate but also comes fully equipped with the latest gaming features. This only adds to the dynamics of choosing the best budget-friendly, yet feature-rich TV in the current market.

Design

On first touch, the UE50BU8000 might feel a tad light, almost featherweight, as you start piecing it together. It's a realm where plastic reigns supreme, and minimalism is the word, without much else adding weight.

The bezels might scream 'economical' at first glance, bearing that slightly hefty look paired with a brushed appearance. While it aims to mimic the allure of brushed metal, it conveys its reality: plastic adorned with fine lines.

However, its 'AirSlim' design adds a sleek edge to its profile, showcasing that budget doesn't mean bulky. This makes it a surprisingly attractive option for those looking to mount it on the wall. The brushed texture finds its true calling on the back panel, offering a bit more sophistication there than on the screen's border. And let's be honest, once everything is hooked up, the back of the TV rarely gets a moment in the spotlight.

Standing on modest, blade-like feet situated at its corners, the BU8000 opts for simplicity over the more elaborate central pedestal base featured in models like the BU8500.

It's important to mention that, unlike its sibling the BU8500 and Samsung’s more premium offerings, the BU8000 doesn’t include the Ambient Mode feature. This function transforms inactive screens into vibrant displays of personal photos, digital art, or immersive videos, rather than leaving a void of blackness. An omission that might lead you to explore what treasures lie in Samsung’s higher-tier models.

Unveiling the Highlights

Let's dive into what sets the BU8000 apart, shedding light on the fine line it walks alongside its sibling, the BU8500. The difference? The BU8000 swaps the central stand of the BU8500 for a sleek pair of feet. For those who've explored our recent take on the 55-inch BU8500, feel free to leap ahead. Yet, for the newcomers, here's a distilled essence of what awaits.

The UE50BU8000 steps into the limelight as a native 4K TV, embracing HDR across HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+. While it plays coy with Dolby Vision, its rich palette still captivates audiences far and wide.

Boasting a VA panel, the UE50BU8000 promises contrast that dares to dream. Yet, a word to the wise: venturing too far to the side may see colours and contrast gently fade from view. This panel, lit from the edges, not only carves out the TV's AirSlim silhouette but challenges the norms of light control compared to its directly backlit brethren.

On the connectivity front, three HDMIs and two USBs stand ready. However, gamers looking for 4K/120Hz graphics and VRR will need to look elsewhere, as the BU8000 dances to a different tune, potentially steering the gaming enthusiastic towards alternatives like the TCL 55C735K. Nonetheless, the inclusion of an auto-switching Game preset, triggered by HDMI's ALLM functionality, catapults reaction times to near instantaneous, a boon for the avid gamer.

Drenched in Samsung's Dynamic Crystal Colour brilliance, the BU8000 spins a kaleidoscope of colours, claiming a billion shades drawn from the very essence of nature. Here, technology and poetry intertwine, promising a visual feast for the eyes.

Samsung’s knack for weaving its flagship smart interface into even its most economically priced offerings shines brightly with the BU8000. This year's interface, while overflowing with content from globally adored streaming services, invites a mixed response. Its full-screen home menu, while ambitious, occasionally stumbles in spotlighting the most engaging content and navigating the set-up feels less intuitive than its predecessor.

Enhancing Your Viewing Experience

If you're in the market for a television that promises to elevate your viewing experience without breaking the bank, the UE50BU8000 might have caught your eye. While it shares similarities with its sibling, the UE55BU8500, in terms of panel setup and picture quality features, it doesn't quite hit the mark due to one notable setback: backlight clouding.

This challenge becomes more pronounced when indulging in high dynamic range (HDR) content, where bright and dark scenes unfold. The clouding tends to overshadow the detailed shadows with additional greyness and slightly alters the hues of dark colors, which might distract you from the immersive experience you crave.

Despite this, the UE50BU8000 shines in its native black levels, offering a stark contrast that's commendable for its price point. However, it's this very quality that makes the backlight clouding more noticeable, putting a damper on what could have been a superior HDR viewing experience.

Interestingly, when switching to standard dynamic range (SDR) content, the television displays impressive contrast—making it a worthwhile consideration for SDR lovers. Yet, for a brand like Samsung, known for its HDR prowess, the UE50BU8000 doesn't quite live up to expectations, especially when compared to similarly priced contenders such as the Toshiba 50UK4D63DB and TCL 55C735K.

In direct comparison, the UE50BU8000 tends to appear a tad dull in its HDR performance, lacking the vibrancy and dynamism necessary to make HDR content truly pop. This observation extends to both full-screen bright HDR visuals and its presentation of brightness peaks, which seem understated.

On a positive note, the UE50BU8000 does manage to offer a glimpse into the HDR experience with its Movie picture preset, delivering a warm, nuanced, and refined visual experience. Samsung's motion handling also deserves mention, maintaining its reputation by minimizing unwanted processing side effects, a common pitfall for budget-friendly options.

Despite these strengths, transitioning from SDR to HDR on the UE50BU8000 often highlights more issues than improvements, somewhat muddling the HDR promise. Additionally, the TV's sharpness with native 4K content doesn't quite reach the expected clarity, especially noticeable when compared to rivals.

In summary, while the UE50BU8000 from Samsung presents a good value proposition in some respects, potential buyers should be aware of its backlight clouding issue and somewhat muted HDR performance. Shopping around and considering alternatives might help ensure you find the TV that fits your exact viewing preferences.

Sound Quality Unveiled

When placed side by side with its budget-friendly counterparts, the Samsung BU8000's audio capabilities seem to fall short. Its speakers struggle with both volume and range, especially when compared to options like the Toshiba 50UK4D63DB. The soundscape it offers for mid-range tones is significantly less vibrant, turning what should be impactful action scenes into experiences that lack depth and authenticity, sounding thin and not quite there.

In the realm of high-intensity movie audio, the 50BU8000 might find itself with a modest rating of two out of five. However, Samsung manages to reclaim some ground with its cleaner, more pleasant sound when dealing with the everyday audio that fills our lives, from podcasts to morning news, proving that simplicity can sometimes lead to satisfaction.

Verdict

In a sea of fierce competition, it seems that Samsung's latest budget LCD offerings, notably the UE50BU8000 and UE55BU8500 models, are struggling to keep pace. With both picture and sound quality not quite hitting the mark, and pressure mounting from cost-effective alternatives, there's a sense that Samsung may need to revisit the drawing board. The market is evolving, and standing out requires not just keeping up but setting the pace.