The Samsung TU8000 (UN65TU8000FXZA) offers many of the features you would get from the best TVs, at a very attractive price. Yes, this LCD TV may not offer Samsung’s quantum-dot QLED display, but every feature on offer here is poised to match whatever entry-level panel you would find on the market. For under one grand, you can get 4K resolution, HDR support and the excellent Tizen smart TV platform, but the lower price does require a few compromises.
Design
For the modern 4K LCD TV, the Samsung TU8000 surprisingly looks the part. The chassis is made from black plastic, but it’s dressed up with a textured finish that looks nicer than most plain panels. The pair of feet are also made of plastic, but they are strong enough that you won’t worry of the TV wobbling or getting knocked over from the stand.
Measuring 57.1 x 35.7 x 2.4 inches without the stand attached, and weighing 63 pounds, this TV is big and heavy than the likes of the TCL 50S425, meaning you’ll need a second person to help when moving it. If you want to have the TV on a wall, the chassis supports a 400mm x 400mm VESA mount.
Around the back of the monitor, there are grooves that we thought are merely decorative, but they are not. They serve as cable management, letting you run power cables, HDMI and coaxial connection out of sight.
Port selection is excellent on this TV. It comes with 3 HDMI ports (one with ARC for soundbars and other speaker setups), a coaxial port for antenna, RF connections, one composite port and an optical connector.
Performance
The Samsung TU8000 (UN65TU8000FXZA) is an excellent performer, with 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD resolution and support for HDR, including HDR10+the proprietary high-dynamic range format. You will be impressed with how well the TV handles color and contrast, and it deliver decent picture quality for everything you’d need to do on such a TV; from movies and TV shows to gaming in 4K.
When watching a scene from Spider-Man: Homecoming, as the hero in costumes climbs the Washington Monument, the scenery is very clear – blue skies and lush green foliage, with the sparkling monument stone. But while the colors look bright, it doesn’t hit the levels of Samsung’s own quantum dot TVs like the TV that delivers true-to-life colors. Additionally, the TU8000’s 120Hz motion rate is more than adequate for most TV viewing, but in some instances, fast motion may appear choppy.
When connected to an Xbox One X, the Samsung UN65TU8000FXZA supports gaming at 120Hz, making it more than capable enough to run console games. Again, it includes the nicer extras, like HDR support for games and Auto Game Mode (ALLM) which automatically optimizes the screen and minimizes input lag, allowing you to control the action better.
Smart TV -powered by Tizen
The TU8000 uses Samsung’s Smart TV platform that’s considered one of the most comprehensive, and indeed, since 2015, the company’s Smart TV features have been built on the Tizen operating system platform. This platform offers robust ap management and navigation, better than proprietary apps, allowing you to navigate menus and pre-loaded apps easily.
Here you have everything from Smart TV regulars such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten and all the main UK terrestrial broadcaster catch-up apps are joined by Chili (which is promising 8K content) and the Apple TV app. This provides access to the Apple TV+ service, as well as the Apple ‘iTunes’ library of movies and TV shows.
With Tizen Smart TV platform, you can easily rearrange the running order of icons on the TV and keep your favorites at the start. All this can be done via Samsung’s voice control that also lets you issue search terms and operational commands by just talking into your remote. Alternatively, you can use Amazon Alexa, but only if you have an external Alexa listening device.
Bottom Line
The Samsung TU8000 is a good option for anyone looking for a solid 4K smart TV without spending a lot, and the Smart TV platform powered by Tizen makes it an even exciting choice. While it has some flaws like middling viewing angles than its Samsung’s other sets like the 65-inch Samsung Q800T (QN65Q800TAFXZA) that features an 8K resolution and Quantum processor as well Objective Tracking Sound+, but it costs more for the additional features and performance. So, if you want a big screen for less, the Samsung TU800 (UN65TU8000FXZA) is worth a look.