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Samsung JS8500 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31 am
Samsung JS8500 Picture
7.9
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.9
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.7
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
8.1
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.0
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Samsung KS8000

The Samsung JS8500 is currently our second-best rated LED TV in 2015, thanks to its overall great picture quality. It's only real issue is the degradation of quality at an angle.

Our Verdict

7.9 Mixed Usage

Thanks to its good gray uniformity, the Samsung JS8500 SUHD TV has the second best overall picture quality that we tested in 2015 for an LED. It doesn't have a local dimming as effective as the pricier JS9500, but it has a better uniformity. If this TV is in your price range, look no further. This is the TV to buy.

Pros
  • Good gray uniformity
  • Great picture quality in both dark and bright rooms
  • Low amount of motion blur
  • Wider color gamut
Cons
  • Color loss at an angle
  • 7.9 Mixed Usage
  • 7.9 Movies
  • 7.7 TV Shows
  • 7.7 Sports
  • 8.1 Video Games
  • 8.1 HDR Movies
  • 8.1 HDR Gaming
  • 7.0 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
  2. Updated Jun 28, 2015: Our testers have started testing this product.
  3. Updated Apr 10, 2015: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Test Results

Design
9.0
Design
Style
Curved No

The Samsung JS8500 feels higher-end than the cheaper JU7100. It is thinner, but the borders around the screen are thicker.

The stand is nice and stable, and not too wide relative to the screen. Most people shouldn't have a difficult time fitting this TV into an existing setup.

Design
Stand

Dimensions for 55" stand: 33.75" by 9".

Design
Borders
Borders 0.71" (1.8 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 1.18" (3 cm)
Picture Quality
8.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
3,560 : 1

The native contrast ratio is good. Because we use a checkboard pattern, the local dimming didn't affect our measurement.

3.5
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

The LEDs are on both sides of the TV, which in conjunction to turning on 'Smart LED', creates horizontal blooming. The zones are quite big, but at least it is useful to darken the letterbox in movies (feature called 'Cinema Black').

7.0
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Peak 2% Window
527 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
365 cd/m²

The maximum luminosity of a 2% white window is 526.9 cd/m2, which is, of course, less bright than on the JS9500. You can also see a lot more blooming due to the edge lit local dimming.

8.1
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.454%
50% DSE
0.147%

The JS8500 has the least dirty screen effect of any LED TV we've reviewed this year. We measured it at 0.147%. Of course, there are still some darker areas (it has a standard deviation of 2.454%), but it is one step above every TV we reviewed in 2015.

This is thanks to Samsung's good implementation of an edge-lighting backlight. Last year's H7150 had a similar backlight, and uniformity, too.

4.2
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
LCD Type
VA
Color Shift
20°
Brightness
30°
Black Level
16°

The picture quality degrades if you watch it from an angle. The colors desaturate and the blacks become gray. Of course, you can still see the picture, but it won't be as good as in front.

Update 01/06/2017: We have changed the methodology of testing. Since this is an old TV which we don't have anymore, we extrapolated the results from 2016 TVs.

8.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.147%

Our unit had a little bit of clouding and flashlighting, but nothing that was obvious when watching a dark scene.

9.0
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
9.1
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
1.98
Color dE
1.3677
Gamma
2.23

The default calibration settings are excellent under Movie mode.

9.8
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.42
Color dE
0.5642
Gamma
2.2

It didn't take too long to reach a great color calibration.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

DVDs and SD channels don't look too soft.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p content like cable TV also looks good on this TV.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content upscaled to 4k looks good, the same as on all Samsung UHD TVs.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

To take full advantage of this TV's 4k UHD resolution, be sure to watch genuine 4k content.

8.3
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
91.73%
DCI P3 uv
96.22%
Rec 2020 xy
68.51%
Rec 2020 uv
75.65%

If you set 'Colorspace' to 'Native', the color gamut covers 13% more of Rec. 2020 than the JU7100.

9.0
Picture Quality
Reflections
Reflection
0.7%
Screen Finish
Glossy

It is excellent at keeping the ambient reflections under control. Keep in mind that it has a glossy finish though, so direct reflections are a bit worse, with a little bit of glare around them.
It can get very bright, which is great with a room full of windows. However, due to its glossy finish, it isn't ideal for situations where the window is directly facing the TV.

9.0
Picture Quality
3D
3D
Yes
3D Type
Active

The 3D is good, with little to no crosstalk.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Motion
8.9
Motion
Motion Blur
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Response Time
11.9 ms
Overshoot
0.3 ms

The response time is very fast. We measured it at 11.9 ms on our Samsung UN55JS8500. Motion blur is not a problem on this TV.

4.8
Motion
Image Flicker
PWM Dimming Frequency
120 Hz
BFI
Yes
BFI Frequency
60 Hz
BFI In Game Mode
No
7.1
Motion
24p Playback
Judder-free 24p
Yes
Judder-free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-free 24p via 60i
No

There is no judder in movies when using a 24p source (like a Blu-ray player). Sometimes it can do the reverse 3:2 pulldown, but not always, so you might notice a little bit of judder in movies when watching over a 60p or 60i source (like on cable). You can get rid of it when using 'Auto Motion Plus', but this adds the soap opera effect, which not everyone likes.

10
Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
Yes
Inputs
7.1
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
36.9 ms
1080p With Interpolation
110 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
117 ms
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
37.7 ms

The input lag in game mode is 36.9ms, which is average-good. You won't notice it in video games.

8.0
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes

Like all Samsung TVs, the JS8500 doesn't support 1080p @ 120 fps. It does however display 4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4, when setting the 'Device Type' of the input to PC and turning on UHD Color.

Inputs
Side Inputs
Inputs
Rear Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 4
USB 3
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (incl. adapter)
Composite In 1 (incl. adapter)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
Yes
5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth Yes
ARC Yes (HDMI 4)
USB 3 Yes (1)
HDCP 2.2 Yes
CEC Yes
MHL Yes (HDMI 3)
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Sound Quality
7.1
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.32 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ 80
4.1 dB SPL
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.5 dB SPL
Max
91.2 dB SPL
Low-end Cutoff
95 Hz

The bass extension is good for a TV and so is the frequency response at lower volumes. But at higher volumes the frequency response suffers due to the compression and pumping artifacts. It does however get relatively loud.

6.0
Sound Quality
Total Harmonic Distortion
Distortion @ 70
0.025
Distortion @ 80
0.032
Distortion @ Max
0.147

Minimal amounts of distortion at lower volumes, but as the volume increases the distortion increases too. There might be some "hiss" and "clicks" present when the TV is pushed to its limits.

Smart Features
Smart Features
Apps

Major Apps Available

  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Vudu
  • Hulu Plus
  • Crackle
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Video
  • Pandora

    Check out our full review of Samsung's smart features.

  • 8.5
    Smart Features
    Interface
    Smart OS Tizen

    Overall, Samsung's Tizen OS is a good smart TV interface, and the voice and motion control on the remote make browsing the web (and your app collection) a breeze.

    It would be nice if the remote had a keypad on it, just so that manually changing channels could be a bit quicker. The guide function works well, though, so a quick setup of that feature will have OTA watchers all set.

    0
    Smart Features
    Ads
    Ad-free
    No
    Opt-out
    No
    Smart Features
    Remote
    Remote Smart

    The included remote is great to control the on-screen mouse pointer when browsing the web.

    Smart Features
    Misc
    Power Consumption 86 W
    Power Consumption (Max) 182 W
    Firmware 1219