Samsung UN50H5500 Review (UN50H5500AFXZA)

50 inch 1080p 60Hz LED TV

by , Reviewer

The UN48H5500 sits in the middle of the 5500 series LED TVs for the Samsung 2014 lineup. This value model keeps the excellent Samsung Smart TV platform while foregoing some of the picture quality niceties seen in the 6350 series. The biggest improvemtn to the smart TV platform is the quad core processor to keep things quick and speedy. The full HD display with a Clear Motion Rate of 480 are all you get in the picture quality department. That isn't to say that the resulting picture is bad at all. Samsung's edge-lit LED TVs produce a great picture from front and center viewing angles.

Strengths

  • Powerful edge-lit LED lighting makes bright and colorful images that are best from front and center
  • The Smart Hub apps provide a good mix of paid and free content
  • Super slim 0.3" bezels and two inch depth
  • Quad core processor handles smart TV navigation and app loading without a struggle

    Weaknesses

  • The standard 5-way controls for web browsing are very slow and often frustrating
  • Off center viewing is plagued by color and contrast degradation
  • 60Hz refresh rate doesn't handle judder sports programing and gaming as well as a 120Hz TV
  • Sound quality is flat and hollow sounding, but volume isn't an issue

    Picture Quality Rating: 83/100

    1080p Resolution and 60Hz Refresh Rate

    1080p resolution is an important feature for many buying a new TV. A 55 inch screen will really benefit from a full HD screen at the right viewing distances, so it is nice to have. 1080p content from a blu-ray will look fantastic on this display. A lot of TV broadcasts and video games are still 720p, but we are beginning to see more and more 1080p content. Next generation gaming consoles are a big reason for that. 4K broadcasts and content are still a good bit away, so you can be comfortable with this one if you aren't itching to be an early adopter of that tech. A computer or laptop connected through the HDMI input would take advantage of the resolution, giving you more work space on the screen.

    Samsung U50H5500 LED TV
    Color and Contrast seen in this shot on the H5500 show how great the picture is. Bright whites and deep blacks are reproduced wonderfully

    The 60Hz refresh rate seems a little low, but it surely keeps the cost down on this one. Motion blur and judder are may be a problem on a screen of this size. 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 H5500 perform just as you would expect them to on a low end model. We see contrast and color begin to face at about the 30 degree mark. This is typical for LCD/LED TVs and this one is not plagued by terrible viewing angles.

    Features Rating: 87/100

    Samsung Smart Hub - Smart TV Options

    Samsung UN50H5500 LED TV Smart TV
    Here you can see the newest and extremely useful faeture of the Samsung Smart Hub. Split screen multitasking

    The rehashed Smart Hub platform on the Samsung 2014 lineup is included on the UN50H5500. What's new? Mainly the interface. It has received an upgrade reminiscent of the tiled interface found on tablets and smartphones use. Navigation is the main focus. It is an intuitive upgrade that really makes the whole experience a better one. The H5500 series has been given the quad core processor of the series above it, making it just as fast as some of the best TVs on the market. It also incorporates a slew of recommendation features to help viewers find content they wouldn't find by channel surfing. Samsung has added a new Games page in the Smart Hub as well.

    Quad Core Processor

    Samsung has realized that more power under the hood isn't a bad thing. The H5500 doesn't even have the 4x split screen seen on the higher models. A quad core processor means that TV bootup time, app loading, and app performance are much speedier than before. A very welcome inclusion.

    Appearance


    Samsung UN50H5500 LED TV
    The Samsung U50H5500 has a sleek appearance for a value priced model. The thin bezels give it the look of higher end models.

    The UN50H5500 may have a pretty plain appearance, but it's okay for a value model like this one. The bezels and profile are very thin to give the TV an updated appearance. The bezels measure in at a mere 0.3 inches. We've seen the black square stand plenty of times before, but it is good for those who don't want anything too flashy. This one is a little different since it slopes down toward the front of the TV. Samsung calls it the Hairline design. It's nice to see the low end TVs making an effort to stand out good.

    Value Rating: 93/100

    The UN50H5500 is a terrific value for those who are looking for decent picture quality, lots of smart TV options, and a generally pleasing appearance. The feature set is just a little too similar to the H6350 series for less money. The biggest difference being the 120Hz panel. If you can go without that, the H5500 is a clear winner in the 50-inch category. Low end LED TVs from LG and Sony are going to be the biggest competitors with this TV.

    Overall Rating: 88/100



    Jack Burden 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
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