Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - 50" Class (49-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Average customer rating
4.5
(64 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 64 reviews
5 Stars
42
4 Stars
15
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Star
2
89%of customers recommend this product.
(
54 out of
61)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - 50" Class (49-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Customer Rating
4
"60hz" only drawback
on December 4, 2014
Posted by: vitamintv
Expertise:Expert
I got a Samsung "240hz/480CM" TV three years ago, which I hated -- I'd worked in film and TV for years and couldn't get used to the "soap opera effect." Until I could. Until it died.
I replaced it with this; my htpc has an i7 and a GTX 580 -- everything looked horrible; 720p TV over a networked dvr had looked 1080p+, now suddenly SD -- and my 240res rips stuck knives in my liver.
I pulled up the onboard netflix, signed up for their UHD program, and was blown away -- even though there are very few titles, much fewer 4k-backed. "Breaking Bad" is super-35mm-backed and looks appropriately awful, +/- scratches, hairs and deep running emulsion scratches -- and the 35mm grain looks like golf balls. But "The Blacklist" is 4k-backed, and is like looking through a window with minor flaws in the glass -- exactly what I expected for entry level UHD. The dialog and plotting, unfortunately, remains stupid. Netflix's visual muzak, "Oceans," "Deserts," "Landfills," are amazing with the occasional tiny tearing or ghosting -- I suspect they're heavily processed, but I'll take it. Saw a 4k animated short on M-Go -- not a whole lot of texture in the source but what there is is phenomenal.
Got a dirt cheap gt 730 which outputs 4k30hz over hdmi 1.4, fully expected it not to do anything, but somehow it lets the Samsung's upscaling really kick in. 240 is 240, regardless of what you do with and to codecs (though Samsung's "240hz" interpolating did a lot for them before it died,) but SD becomes near 720p, 720p becomes near 1080p with the occasional 4k hit in some part of the foreground. This gets highlighted on motion, presumably because the Samsung's "240hz Clear Motion" interpolation kicks in near that resolution.
1080 on the onboard Netflix is pretty consistently near UHD, unless a film source is flawed and too much to work with, which is rare. 4k-backed "Three Days to Kill" at 1080 is unevenly, near perfect UHD -- which brings me to my only complaint, though I knew this going in: from what I'd seen at 240hz, a 120hz should pretty much nail the upscaling. If I had the money I'd upgrade well before I buy food. The kids are on board with this plan.
Some hate the soap opera effect; turning on game mode diminishes it, and renaming your input "pc" shuts off all Samsung post-processing. It took me a few months to get used to it three years ago, but Samsung did it so well I now hate not having it at its consistent best. But then I couldn't turn it off on the old Samsung so I had to get used to it.
If like me you can't afford 2x+ the price for 120hz, and I can't swear 120hz will make a significant difference, and as long as you're okay with the onboard Netflix and M-go for 4k content, exclusively, this is a steal. Seventy clams gets you a 4k30 card -- again, no reason it can possibly help, as PCs are not at all upscale-friendly, but it decidedly does. Text is super-sharp and I don't' miss 60hz at all.
I'm not sure why, as of this writing, Netflix won't allow 4k content over Chrome nor IE; I understand Windows 10 will(is) support(ing) HEVC; Netflix in browsers on W8.1x64 shows a high bandwidth of 19 (with fios which is 50+) and Netflix either suggests or demands 25 -- but presumably Netflix doesn't know that when it loads and fails to offer its UHD menu selection. I haven't figured out how to check what the onboard Netflix rates my bandwidth, but I have never had a problem loading and running UHD onboard, 100+' line of sight from the wireless router, two buildings away, on Fios' very shaky "upgraded" router.
It might be worth mentioning I have this mounted on a ceiling pole directly over my kneecaps; the old Samsung was ~3' above eyelevel and ~8' away. If you watch this at a normal distance you probably won't see as much golfball-grain.
One complaint I'd read is that it has a relatively thick back; my old Samsung was thinner than a postage stamp and I suspect that trapped heat may have killed the power supply.
As of 12/05/14, the only two cards that output hdmi 2.0, which you need to use this as a 4k60hz monitor, are the sell-my-kidneys gtx 970 and 980. Gtxs and many Radeons below that can output 4k60 via displayport, which this TV does not have. All online accounts I've read say, regardless of advertising, passive DP 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 adapters do not work, most only recognize 1080p, and I haven't found a hint of active adapters. Again, I love my dirt-cheap 4k30, zero problems, can't see the halved (real, hardware halved!) refresh rate. W8.1x64 will let you "force" 60hz but I have to think you still get 30, plus some problems; nvidia won't let you see 60hz as an option.
BTW, I don't game, I watch TV, as we're intended to.
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Lightweight, uhd upscaling can be amazing
Cons: i'm betting (hoping) "120hz" takes this to perfect
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great Deal, Great TV
on February 16, 2015
Posted by: Coinhusker
from Omaha, NE, USA
Love it. Why buy HD when you can get UHD? Picture, refresh rate is amazing. Have I said it yet, Love it!!
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color
Cons: smart tv records conversations
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Frustrated
on November 2, 2014
Posted by: Swyiver
from Maine, USA
Expertise:Intermediate
This is my 3rd week trying to lean how to run the smart part of the TV. Not even good a turning it on and off. Why should it be so difficult to learn. Instruction and Videos are poor and hard to set up for picture transfer from I phone -Computer etc.
Why do I have to watch that stupid Icon of a Speaker when on Mute floating around on the screen all the time. Distracting.
Should have not bought the Smart one as the TV Screen Picture is Outstanding would have saved lots of $$$$$ when all I really need is to watch T.V.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Realistic color
Cons: poor instuctions, hard to set up
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
5
Design
2
Value
2
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
1
for 4k gaming this Tv is an absolute failure
on September 27, 2014
Posted by: Dsbsky
Expertise:Expert
Netflix doesn't even list this as a supported TV for UHD in their list.
You can use the smart hub for uhd on netflix but not via hdmi 2.0.
which leads me to believe there is something wrong with the hdmi ports.
You can use the smart hub for uhd on netflix but not via hdmi 2.0.
which leads me to believe there is something wrong with the hdmi ports.
I try to set my PC resolution to any 4k resolution via any hdmi 2.0 port and all I get is timeout detection on a black screen.
I wasted thousands of dollars building this 4k system and this Tv isn't working.
GTX 980 gpu.
Win 7 X64.
I wasted thousands of dollars building this 4k system and this Tv isn't working.
GTX 980 gpu.
Win 7 X64.
It doesn't have any display port inputs? Seriously?
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Realistic color, Lightweight
Cons: Poor quality, Not high def, Did not meet expectations, 4k support on pc is bad blackscreens.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Features
3
Performance
1
Design
1
Value
1
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Very pleased with the new Samsung TV
on February 28, 2015
Posted by: muffer
from Texas, USA
Expertise:Intermediate
The Smart TV is very user friendly and easy to set up. The picture quality is superb. The remote control is amazing and it will take a while for us to fully understand and utilize all of its features. Very happy with the product.
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
The TV looks good and has a great picture
on March 10, 2015
Posted by: Dustynutts23
from At home, Michigan
It has great picture and is great for gaming. The picture is so lifelike and looks real. My son even said when I was playing a video game, is that a real game?
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great smart tv
on January 23, 2015
Posted by: Joef8
from Boston, MA, USA
Expertise:Intermediate
Great picture. Worth the money. Just a problem with remote.
Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: remote loses connection
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Directions
on March 6, 2015
Posted by: Anonymous
from Florida
Expertise:Intermediate
Why should I have to go and download all the features on line ?
Enclose ALL the directions with the TV.
Enclose ALL the directions with the TV.
Pros: Realistic color
Cons: not as sharp picture as i expected .
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US