Samsung UN46F5000 Review (UN46F5000AFXZA)

46 inch 1080p 60Hz LED TV

by Jack Burden, Reviewer

The 46 inch Samsung UN46F5000 LED TV is a great example of the budget TV category. It has a nice appearance and a much better than budget picture quality. You are going to miss out on 3D functionality and any sort of smart TV options, but if you are looking at this TV those are not on the top of the list. The 60Hz refresh rate is probably to only deal breaker for those looking for a TV that will be playing sports programming or video games most of the time. The direct LED backlighting gives this one the edge in terms of picture quality. A price of under $800.00 makes the UN46F5000AF even more appealing.

Picture Quality

LED Backlighting

The UN40F5000AFXZA uses LED backlighting instead of edge-lighting. This increases the depth of the TV by a little, but not enough to really make a difference. Because of the backlighting, picture quality is increased. Light throughput is strong but the picture remains dimmer than some of the larger top end LED TVs from Samsung. Areas of the screen where content sunlight hits a picture background or image are brighter and more saturated than with LCD CCFL TVs. The black levels are also quite good on this value model and another thing to be impressed with. Color is an area in which this backlight does not excel. Saturation compared to plasma and other LED manufacturers is lacking. The backlight can wash them out so we recommend a moderated backlight setting which can be found in the picture controls menu.

1080p Resolution and 60Hz Refresh Rate

1080p resolution is an important feature for many buying a new TV. It will make a difference on a 46 inch screen, even if it is hard to notice. Plus, it serves as a sort of future proofing. Most broadcasts and video games are still 720p, but that will change down the line. 4K broadcasts and content are still a good bit away, so you can be comfortable with this one. Native 1080p content is found few and far in-between, but it looks fantastic on this display. The 1080p spec also makes this a nice TV to hook a computer or laptop up to to take advantage of the resolution.

The 60Hz refresh rate seems a little low, but it surely keeps the cost down on this one. Motion blur and judder are not going to be highly noticeable on a screen this size as well. Those who are looking will see it, but only the most sensitive to the issue will be bothered by it.

Side Viewing Angles

Side viewing angles on the UN46F5000 perform at what you would expect. Contrast and color begin to degrade at about the 30 degree mark. This is typical for LCD/LED TVs and this one is not plagued by terrible viewing angles.

Appearance

The UN46F5000 looks just like the F5500. For a value model like this one, the look is pretty good. Bezels measure in at .75 inches thin to give the TV an updated appearance. The square stand is nothing new. Everything is a glossy black plastic. It's nice to see the low end TVs looking so good.

Jack Burden has been reviewing and writing reviews in the consumer electronics category for 7 years with CEAG. He considers grayscale gradation, film patterned retarders, and focus field drives to be fun topics. Read more about Jack