Samsung UN55FH6030 Review (UN55FH6030F)

55 inch 1080p 120Hz 3D LED TV

by Robert Wiley, Senior Editor

The UN55FH6030 is a unique LED TV from Samsung tucked in between the F6300 and the F5500 series. The biggest difference is the full array LED backlighting versus the edge lighting of the other series. The benefits in picture quality are debatable as edge lighting technology is getting better. The real benefit comes in cost. It is much better suited to those looking to get a value on their next LED TV. The cabinet also adds a few inches of depth to make room for the direct LED lighting.

Picture Quality Rating: 8.6/10

The full array LED backlighting does make an impact on the picture quality, but it may not necessarily be the answer the typical LED problems like side angle viewing and screen uniformity. From what we have seen in edge-lit LED TVs this year, they are dealing with those problems in a good way. A full array LED TV like the FH6030 is going to be plenty bright though. That is one major plus. Keeping the setting of the backlight in check is important and I'll go into more detail in the Color section further on. There is no micro dimming so it's missing that extra boost in conrtast and black levels. Side viewing angle quality is compromised by degrading contrast and fading colors from extreme side angles. At the 20 degrees off center point, color and contrast begin to fade.

Realistic looking color and good black level performance are seen in this shot of the FH6030

120Hz Refresh Rate

The 120Hz refresh rate is a welcome addition to the feature set on the FH6030. Fast action judder is significantly lessened with a high refresh rate panel like this one. Benefits are best seen in sports programming and scenes that have slow panning camera movement. Video games also benefit from the 120Hz panel since there is usually a lot of fast camera movement and action on screen. This really makes the TV a great value.

Color

Color performance on the UN55FH6030 is strong, both realistic and accurate. The bright backlighting can wash out colors if it is set at too bright of a level. Keep the backlight dialed back in the picture menu if you prefer more realistic colors. Fans of either look can be satisfied by the FH6030. Blacks are less saturated than many models tested this year, flesh tones look natural but flat. One of the areas you really improve in by purchasing the higher end models is color rendition.

This shot provides a good example of contrast and bright whites

Features Rating: 8.4/10

Active 3D Performance

The quality of Samsung's active 3D has always been good in the past, and it is no different on the UN55FH6030. 3D content produces a lot of depth without losing picture quality. Side angle viewing for 3D content is where some marks are lost. Color and contrast begin to degrade much worse than some of the passive 3D examples we have tested out this year. Make sure you try out different picture modes once 3D is enabled because the preset picture modes change a good bit from their 2D settings.

3D Glasses

The active 3D glasses are very light and comfortable this year. Sadly, the FH6030 does not include any glasses in the box. The compatible glasses have to be purchased seperately. To make the deal sting a little less, they can be purchased for around $20 a pair. The model number is SSG-5100GB.

Appearance

The appearance of the FH6030 is very similar to the EH6000 from last year. It is very basic with glossy black plastic bezels and a square stand. The bezels are an attractive 0.7 inches thin and are the best part of the appearance. Since this is a direct LED backlit TV, there is a little more depth compared to the models with a lone 'F' in their number. The FH6030 has a depth of 3.7 inches versus the thinner models with 2 inches in depth.

Value Rating: 9/10

The UN55FH6030 really shines when it comes to value with a price tag of around $1000. The F6300 model adds about $200 to that price. Some similarly priced options are the LG 55LN5400, the Sharp LC-60LE650U, and the Vizio E551i.

Overall Rating: 8.7/10

Having reviewed and written about Television Technology for over 10 years, Wiley never tires of researching the newest qualitative trends related to the technology. Most people do not get excited about possibilities behind the latest video engine...Wiley does. Read more about Robert