To test the Samsung BU8500 we used Portrait Displays Calman colour calibration software. Samsung BU8500 review: Sound quality The Samsung BU8500's ports are largely easy to access. (Image credit: Future) Samsung BU8500 review: Features The smart hub is divided into sections accessible on the left-hand side. The main hub is an entertainment one, while the Gaming Hub, Universal Guide (basically, search function) and Settings are the other three sections (the BU8000 doesn’t support the Ambient mode that shows images when the TV is in its “sleep” mode). The UE43BU8000 doesn’t benefit from any Quantum Dot colour technology, but its screen does get what Samsung calls Crystal Colour; a combination of a relatively wide gamut LCD panel and potent colour processing that’s claimed to serve up a billion different colour shades.

The obvious progression comes with the UE43BU8000’s superior brightness and more vibrant colours. Peak brightness is perhaps only a little up on the UE43AU7100, but the newer TV enjoys a clear brightness boost with full-screen content. Colours look more vibrant yet also more natural, with the extra brightness increasing colour ‘volume’ while Samsung’s latest Dynamic Crystal processor seemingly does a better job of ensuring there’s still lots of subtlety in the UE43BU8000’s colour rendering, despite the extra punch. Transform movie nights with this exceptional quality TV from Korean company Samsung, one of the world's leading tech providers. This TV comes prepared with 4K resolution capabilities, providing four times the full pixels of a standard Full-HD television. Whether watching an engaging animated movie or an educational documentary, the Ultra HD colour palatte the picture is brought to vivid and vibrant life. Sleeker and Slimmer than Ever The Samsung BU8500 is on sale now, though at the time of writing this particular model is available in Europe and some other countries, but hasn't been announced for North America or Australia (though it is available in New Zealand).We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency.What's more, all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference. Subtitles and audio description information displayed on electronic programme guide more info panel Picture noise is kept under control, though, and edges are still confidently described. Motion, too, will remain smooth and convincing - just as soon as you’ve dived into the set-up menus and finessed the ‘Judder Reduction’ and ‘LED Clear Motion’ settings. Anything less information-rich than this can look somewhat rough, though. Picture noise gains confidence, edges get a little, well, edgy and on-screen movement begins to look hesitant and unnatural. Fans of vintage daytime TV broadcasts already know they can look antiquated, but the AU7100 proves less tolerant of them (or less capable with them) than some other ‘affordable’ alternatives. If you’re sitting the correct distance from your TV, you’ll see lots of detail, good edge definition and smooth, clean motion, but if you’re sitting too close to the screen, then you’re going to see more picture noise and artefacts.

While inevitably for its money it’s not without its limitations, the UE43AU7100 delivers an impressively balanced, consistent and immersive picture.

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Overall, the C2 is quite comfortably the best TV available at the size, particularly if you combine it with a soundbar. But do stay tuned for our review of the new C3. Having said that, there’s every reason you might be tempted to buy a Samsung 8K TV. That’s because Samsung has done a better job than its rivals of making its 8K TVs excellent performers with the content you already watch, and pricing them so aggressively that they don’t cost vastly more than their 4K equivalents. So not for the first time (and almost certainly not for the last), Samsung has managed to hit a price-point without too many obvious compromises. It's absolutely one of the best Samsung TVs available today for those on a budget. Samsung BU8500 review: Price and release date I should also mention that the BU8000 came with a slight panel defect with a green strip running vertically down the screen that would appear every now again, mainly when streaming content. Sound Quality