Samsung 65-Inch 4K Crystal Smart TV BU8000: Review

by Jhon Lennon 51 views

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into the Samsung 65-Inch 4K Crystal Smart TV BU8000. If you're in the market for a new TV that balances price and performance, this model might be on your radar. We'll break down everything from picture quality to smart features, design, and overall value to help you decide if it's the right fit for your home. So, let's get started!

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

First off, the unboxing experience is pretty straightforward. Inside the box, you'll find the TV itself, the remote control, a power cable, and the usual documentation. The design of the BU8000 is sleek and modern, with slim bezels that give it a premium look. It’s lightweight enough to handle without too much hassle, but definitely grab a friend to help with mounting or placing it on its stand. The stand itself is easy to attach and feels sturdy once everything is set up.

Picture Quality: Crystal Clear or Cloudy?

The picture quality is where the Samsung BU8000 aims to shine with its 4K Crystal Display. Colors are generally vibrant and punchy, which is great for watching movies and shows with lots of visual flair. The contrast is decent, providing good differentiation between dark and light scenes, although it's not quite at the level of higher-end QLED or OLED TVs. One of the standout features is the Crystal Processor 4K, which does a solid job of upscaling lower-resolution content to near-4K quality. This means your older DVDs and non-4K streaming content will still look pretty good on this screen. However, if you're a videophile or someone who demands the absolute best in picture quality, you might notice some limitations. The black levels aren't the deepest, and there can be some backlight bleed in very dark scenes, especially if you're watching in a completely dark room. Also, the viewing angles aren't the widest, so the picture quality can degrade a bit when viewed from the side. But for most viewers, the picture quality is more than satisfactory, offering a clear and enjoyable viewing experience.

Smart Features: Tizen OS and Beyond

Samsung's Tizen OS is one of the best smart TV platforms out there, and the BU8000 is no exception. The interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. You'll find all the popular streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and more pre-installed, and you can easily download additional apps from the Samsung app store. The BU8000 also supports voice control via Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant. You can use voice commands to change channels, adjust the volume, search for content, and even control other smart home devices. The TV also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, giving you even more flexibility in how you control your entertainment experience. Another cool feature is the ability to mirror your smartphone or tablet screen to the TV, making it easy to share photos, videos, and other content with friends and family. Overall, the smart features on the BU8000 are comprehensive and user-friendly, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a seamless and connected entertainment experience.

Sound Quality: Does It Measure Up?

Let's be real, the sound quality on most TVs isn't the greatest, and the BU8000 is no exception. The built-in speakers are decent enough for casual viewing, but they lack the punch and depth to really immerse you in your favorite movies and shows. The sound is clear and dialogue is easy to understand, but you'll probably want to invest in a soundbar or external speaker system to get the most out of your viewing experience. The BU8000 does support HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which makes it easy to connect a soundbar and control it with the TV's remote. It also supports Bluetooth, so you can wirelessly connect headphones or speakers. While the built-in sound isn't amazing, it's perfectly adequate for everyday use, and you can always upgrade your audio setup to take your entertainment experience to the next level.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the Samsung BU8000 is one of its strong points. The slim bezels and clean lines give it a modern and premium look that will complement any living room. The TV is also relatively thin, making it a good choice for wall mounting. The build quality feels solid, although the plastic materials don't quite match the premium feel of higher-end TVs. The stand is sturdy and easy to attach, and it provides good support for the TV. The remote control is slim and ergonomic, with a minimal button layout that's easy to learn. Overall, the design and build quality of the BU8000 are excellent for its price range, offering a stylish and well-built TV that will look great in your home.

Connectivity: Ports and Options

The Samsung BU8000 comes with a decent selection of ports to connect all your devices. You'll find three HDMI ports, which should be enough for most people to connect their game consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices. One of the HDMI ports supports HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which makes it easy to connect a soundbar and control it with the TV's remote. There are also two USB ports for connecting external storage devices, such as hard drives or flash drives. You'll also find an Ethernet port for wired internet connectivity, as well as built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. The BU8000 also supports Bluetooth, so you can wirelessly connect headphones or speakers. Overall, the connectivity options on the BU8000 are solid, providing enough ports and options to connect all your favorite devices.

Gaming Performance: Is It Ready to Play?

If you're a gamer, you'll want to know how the Samsung BU8000 performs with games. The TV has a decent input lag, which means there's not much delay between your controller inputs and what you see on the screen. This is important for fast-paced games where every millisecond counts. The BU8000 also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically switches the TV to its lowest latency mode when you start playing a game. However, the BU8000 doesn't have some of the advanced gaming features found on higher-end TVs, such as HDMI 2.1 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). This means it won't be able to take full advantage of the features offered by the latest game consoles, such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. However, for casual gamers, the BU8000 is perfectly adequate, offering a smooth and responsive gaming experience. Just don't expect it to compete with dedicated gaming TVs.

Pros and Cons

To sum things up, let's break down the pros and cons of the Samsung 65-Inch 4K Crystal Smart TV BU8000:

Pros:

  • Vibrant picture quality with 4K Crystal Display
  • Excellent smart features with Tizen OS
  • Sleek and modern design
  • Decent input lag for gaming
  • Good value for the price

Cons:

  • Black levels could be better
  • Limited viewing angles
  • Built-in sound quality is average
  • Lacks advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 and VRR

Final Verdict: Is the BU8000 Worth It?

So, is the Samsung 65-Inch 4K Crystal Smart TV BU8000 worth buying? If you're looking for a TV that offers a good balance of picture quality, smart features, and design at an affordable price, the answer is yes. The BU8000 is a great choice for casual viewers who want a clear and vibrant picture, a user-friendly smart TV platform, and a sleek design that will look great in their home. However, if you're a videophile or a hardcore gamer, you might want to consider spending a bit more on a higher-end TV with better black levels, wider viewing angles, and advanced gaming features. But for most people, the Samsung BU8000 is an excellent choice that offers a lot of value for the money.

Alternatives to Consider

If the Samsung BU8000 isn't quite what you're looking for, here are a few alternatives to consider:

  • TCL 6-Series: Offers excellent picture quality with mini-LED backlighting and QLED technology, as well as advanced gaming features like HDMI 2.1 and VRR.
  • Sony X80J: Provides a more natural and accurate picture quality, as well as excellent upscaling and motion handling.
  • LG NanoCell 85 Series: Delivers vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, as well as HDMI 2.1 and VRR for gaming.

Where to Buy

You can find the Samsung 65-Inch 4K Crystal Smart TV BU8000 at most major electronics retailers, both online and in-store. Be sure to shop around to compare prices and find the best deal. You can also check Samsung's website for promotions and discounts.