Samsung UN60ES7500 Review

60" LED 3D HDTV 1080p Smart TV

by Robert Wiley, Senior Editor

Picture Quality

Clear Coat Screen

This edge lit LED's picture is characterized by the clear coat screen which allows for much better transparency than many of the other manufacturers LED models that have a hazier, more opaque anti-glare screen. The clear coat screen technology from Samsung is one of the reasons for increased depth perception, better black levels and better contrast.

Color

Color information from the UN60ES7500 is not as spectacular as contrast, brightness and black levels – but is satisfactory. Colors can be muted post calibration partly due to the extreme side angles of the edge lit LED backlighting.

The ES75000 model is new for 2012 and has lots of the left over features from last years D7000 series. It has built in Wifi and all of Samsung's new Smart Hub, Smart TV features with 3D active matrix technology with a couple of pairs of active shutter 3D glasses included in the box. Since the Ultra Clear coat traps much of the in-room light inside the twisting crystals in the panel - you get great 2 dimensional depth appearance without a lot of glare. These TVs are just very impressive to us as they are so different from anything else in the market at the present time in terms of both contrast and depth appearance.

Micro Dimming Plus

The UN60ES7000 has Samsung's Micro Dimming Plus (Samsung's word for Edge Lit local dimming) separates the picture into hundreds of pieces to optimize the LED backlighting. This is accomplished by creating a video signal for each area or piece in real time, by increasing whites in areas of lower gradation. The effects are a much brighter more 3 dimensional image even in 2D.

Back Light

Background light in scene images from the sun or other sources present an excellent contrast in the ES7500 due to the great light throughput caused by the LED backlighting combined with Samsung's newer LCD panel overlays. This is also assisted by the clear coat screen. One of the side benefits of this is incredible picture quality in older 480p type signals (standard definition TV or DVD). In some scenes you would think you were watching a 720p high definition signal.

Black Level

Contrast and Black levels are one of the primary strengths of this 2012 offering. The predecessor to this model measured incredible readings no matter which light meter reader we used. A quick view of this model verifies that it will have similar success in the contrast area with deep rich blacks and incredible peak brightness.

The ES7500 shows stunning detail and clarity in this night desert scene

3D Viewing Quality

As 3D becomes more ubiquitous in TV models (as prices come down) more content will be developed and more people will give the technology a try. You will not be disappointed by the 3D performance on the UN60ES7500. Clarity, depth perception, and contrast are all clear strengths of this TV regarding 3D viewing. All Samsung TVs use active shutter 3D technology with so-called active shutter glasses which allows for battery powered "shutter" glasses. The flicker caused by crosstalk in previous 3D models is not present at all on the ES7500. As well, there is little if any blur in the corners of the screen.

Smart TV

In the TV world, Samsung is making great strides in enhancing family home entertainment with the Smart TV line. The Smart TV possesses a dual-core processor for speedy web searching and video streaming. No longer do users have to wait for one program to close and another to close—the Smart TV allows users to multitask and search the web while other programs load. Multiple programs are kept open with tabs and a clean, pleasing interface.

Samsung is also increasing its app collection, which already includes over 1,400 to choose from. New apps for 2012 include Angry Birds, Bravo, M-GO from Technicolor, The Daily and VH1's 'I Love the 80's Trivia'. With so many apps and programs to choose from, families will never run out of entertainment options. Parents will be glad to know they can monitor and control what their children access, and kids will be happy with the wide selection of children-friendly entertainment fare. The Smart TV also impresses with its incredibly smart technology, such as its ability to start up via voice control, motion control, and face recognition.

Web Browser

The included full Internet web browser in the UN60ES7500 allows for search the way you would on your computer. You can easily dial in free television programming from Hulu, Vudu or similar or check out videos from Bloomberg or any other site you want. It gives you a lot of flexibility.

Dual Core Processor for Multiple Apps

The UN55ES7500 has a Dual Core Processor which allows users the ability to watch TV programming and pull up Apps at the same time using a split screen. It makes chatting via the TVs social Apps very easy and users can chat while searching other Apps or watching programming on the other half of the TV.

Skype

Has a front facing camera built in at the top of the screen which enables Skype although it does not included the premium Smart Interactive Feature which allows for facial and voice recognition.

Smart Interaction

The UN60ES7500 Samsung's latest and greatest feature in Smart Interaction. This feature incredibly allows for facial, voice and hand control recognition. "Control," may be a stretch but it's an interesting feature and fun to play with. You can say, "Hi TV" to turn the TV on, wave your hand in front of the TV to prompt it to display lots of menu choices at the bottom of the screen and squeeze your hand to choose one. All this is enabled by the small built in front facing camera on the top of the TV.

Appearance

This super slim TV features a black front .5" wide bezel frame with shiny chrome side edges. The entire panel is a mere 1" deep and the 4-legged chrome stand is included.

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