If January’s CES show taught us anything, it’s that 2013 will be the year of the smart TV. The Samsung F8000 Smart LED TV is the company's flagship Full HD model and one of the first released, with more features squeezed inside than ever before - including a redesigned interface that puts catch-up services, on-demand movies and web shortcuts on the same screen as your broadcast TV.
This in-depth review covers all the features you'll find in the UE55F8000, but if you just want to know what we thought about picture quality, be sure to check out page four.
SAMSUNG F8000 SMART TV FEATURES
When you turn on the set, the first thing you see is the new five-screen Smart Hub interface. It has a large, icon-based layout that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of information in easy reach thanks to the redesigned touchpad remote control. The main screen displays the currently playing TV channel, along with upcoming shows and recommended programs based on what you regularly watch. Samsung’s S-Recommend algorithms work quickly to discover your viewing habits, and after a week’s worth of viewing should have built up a fairly accurate idea of what you like to watch.
When you turn on the set, the first thing you see is the new five-screen Smart Hub interface. It has a large, icon-based layout that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of information in easy reach thanks to the redesigned touchpad remote control. The main screen displays the currently playing TV channel, along with upcoming shows and recommended programs based on what you regularly watch. Samsung’s S-Recommend algorithms work quickly to discover your viewing habits, and after a week’s worth of viewing should have built up a fairly accurate idea of what you like to watch.
The Movies & TV Shows tab combines all the installed on-demand video services in one place, letting you search by film title, genre or actors. AceTrax, PictureBox and Samsung’s own Video Hub are all included, with subscription-based services LoveFilm and NetFlix built into the set as well.
The Friends tab collects recommendations from your Twitter and Facebook friends, letting you jump straight into YouTube videos or view pictures right on the TV. It also stores your Skype contacts, so you can use the the pop-up webcam to make video calls while sat on your sofa. It uses a higher resolution sensor than last year’s model, and adjusts gamma dynamically based on ambient light in the room. This means you can always be seen by the person you’re talking to, even when there’s no light in the room. We extinguished the lights in our test room and could still see ourselves.
Finally, the Apps tab contains miscellaneous apps, including catch-up TV. Samsung’s 2013 TV range is the first we’ve seen to come with ITV player, the catch-up service for the UK’s third TV channel. It also has BBC iPlayer preinstalled, with promises of 4oD and Demand 5 coming in the summer. There’s also a web browser, Spotify music streaming, Facebook and Twitter clients and a store from which you can download more. With so many on-demand, catch-up services and apps, you’ll never be stuck for something to do or watch.
The F8000 is equally pretty when switched off. The set has an incredibly slim stand that’s finished in silver. The stand’s curved design arcs backwards, which gives you the impression the screen is floating above it.
SAMSUNG F8000 CONNECTIVITY
The F8000 is equally pretty when switched off. The set has an incredibly slim stand that’s finished in silver. The stand’s curved design arcs backwards, which gives you the impression the screen is floating above it.
The F8000 has all the connections you’d want, including four HDMI inputs, component and composite video via adaptors, twin satellite and Freeview HD inputs, digital optical and 3.5mm audio outputs, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, integrated Wi-Fi and a Common Interface slot. There’s also an IR blaster output and a hole for the Samsung Evolution Kit upgrade, which will let you upgrade your TV in years to come, so you can keep up with the latest features.
