While white tones hardly pop from the screen, they’re clean and equally detailed – so while contrasts are far from the widest you’ve ever seen (even at this unremarkable price-point), they’re convincing nevertheless. Gamers may hanker after full HDMI 2.1 capability to really maximise the potential of their new PS5 or Xbox Series X – but, then again, gamers really ought to know that’ it’s going to cost them a wee bit more than this. The new consumer MicroLED TV will be available in four sizes: 76 inches, 88 inches, 99 inches and a huge 110 inches. Each model comes pre-assembled as a complete flatscreen TV, unlike commercial MicroLEDs, which come as smaller modules that can be assembled in various configurations.

It’s going to come as no great surprise to learn that the Samsung does its verybest work when given the very best content to work with. And, in light of its specification, the very best content turns out to be some native 4K material with HDR10+ as the cherry on top. After watching all sorts of content, I noticed that edge definition is also handled well, so edges are drawn confidently and with real positivity. Only when combined with properly testing on-screen motion are edges anything less than smooth, and only when on-screen motion gets properly complex does the Samsung do anything except grip movement with real determination. Only in extremis does the AU9000’s Crystal Processor 4K give the slightest hint of how hard it’s working. Game Bar // FPS Counter // HDR // FreeSync // Aspect Ratio // Screen Position for Ultra Wide Aspect RatiosThis is the top 4K Samsung TV for 2021. We understand that it's identical to the UK-exclusive QN94A, which means it's the same as the QN95A but without the One Connect box. What it does do quite comprehensively, though, is make the source point of sound vague and hazy. And while there are worse-sounding TVs out there, there aren’t that many that sound as resolutely matter of fact and unengaged as the 50AU9000. Interestingly, Samsung is also promising support for 4K@120Hz on its AU8000 and AU9000 LCD models, even though they feature 60Hz panels. The company's calling this technology 'Motion Xcelerator Turbo', but it's not yet clear how it works beyond Samsung saying that it allows the models to refresh twice as fast. These models are getting AMD FreeSync certification, too – that's apparently a first for a 60Hz TV. Samsung is also extending its Multi-View feature, which allows you to display multiple sources at once in a split-screen format. It's going to be available on all models from the AU9000 upwards, with 4K models supporting two windows and 8K models supporting four. In our QN95A review we noted disappointing limitations to this feature, though – of the two windows, one has to be an external source and the other has to be an app, but currently only two apps (YouTube and wellness app called Calm) are supported, severely hampering its usefulness. Here's hoping more apps are made compatible in the near future.

To give the Samsung 50AU9000 some credit, at least it doesn’t become unlistenable at serious volumes – which is a trait that afflicts plenty of its rivals. It just gets louder. But the tonal quality of its sound is nothing to write home about.Interestingly, given the huge sizes and next-gen credentials we're talking about, this new consumer MicroLED TV boasts 'only' a 4K resolution. That's because the size of the individual MicroLEDs (each of which represents a single pixel, remember) means there are physical limitations to pixel density (how many pixels can be crammed into each inch of screen). In other words, MicroLEDs will have to get even smaller before MicroLED TVs become available at smaller sizes and higher resolutions. While MicroLED remains the preserve of the super-rich for now, Samsung is bringing Mini LED tech to its premium QLEDs, which it refers to as 'Neo QLEDs'. Set-up menus are similarly logical, and strike a nice balance between brevity and comprehensiveness. Achieving a picture that scrolls smoothly, defines edges confidently, and is decently bright and detailed, shouldn’t take long. Getting a colour balance you’re convinced by may take just a little longer.

We were worried about the future of Samsung's One Connect system, which sees all connections (and even power) routed through an external processing box that can be placed out of sight, but Samsung has in fact launched a new version of One Connect for 2021. The big news is that the new One Connect box is significantly smaller and slimmer than the one it replaces, to the extent that it can be attached to the rear of the stand if required. The bezel across the bottom is a little wider, and stands proud of the screen just a little, but I wouldn’t call it unsightly. ‘Inoffensive’ is sometimes a put-down, but not in this instance. Look directly at it when the TV isn’t switched on, and this Samsung is the best sort of inoffensive.

The Samsung AU9000 reveals its budget nature most obviously when handling HDR content, especially when it comes to peak brightness. The TV can hit around 300cd/m² on both a 10% window and full-field pattern in Dynamic mode, but in Filmmaker Mode this luminance drops to around 250cd/m² on both a 10% and a full-field pattern. The soundstage is cast way beyond the TV’s sides, for instance, creating an expansive, immersive and detailed audio environment. Sounds that are supposed to remain attached to the onscreen action, though, aren’t just kept there, but are positioned with accuracy. So, for instance, if people on the left and right of the screen are having a conversation, you will clearly hear the voices of each speaker coming from the correct side of the screen. Elsewhere, the 4K HDR10+ news is equally good. Detail levels are high across the board, and the amount of information the Samsung loads into skin-tones in particular is impressive. Colours are natural and convincing, with a degree of vibrancy when required but never over-driven. Plus, they’re wide-ranging enough to give expression to even subtle differences in shade or tone.

It’s fair to say this last part is a red herring. The point-source of sound from the Samsung is hazy, certainly, but that’s not the same as delivering an impression of height – not at all. And as far as tonality goes, the 50AU9000 sounds tentative and rather flat. It’s game, certainly – wind the volume upwards and it resists hardening or coarsening quite commendably. But really, it’s as far removed from the standard of the images the Samsung produces as these things ever are. the end result is an impressive gaming performance at the price point, which will likely appeal to many console and PC gamers out thereThere’s slight resolution loss, too, during camera pans even after you’ve optimised the TV’s motion processing (by choosing Custom in the Picture Clarity menu and setting judder reduction to level four).