Our Verdict
Good TV for mixed usage. Picture quality is good, and so is dark scene performance. No features such as local dimming to improve it further. Picture quality degrades when viewed at an angle. Motion handling is above average for fast paced content.
- High native contrast results in good dark scene performance
- Feels responsive
- Image loses contrast at an angle
- Some dirty screen effect
- Doesn't deal with reflections well
Average for watching movies in a dark room. Picture quality is good, but degrades when viewed at an angle. High native contrast ratio but lacks local dimming feature to improve dark scene performance further. Those sensitive to judder will notice it when watching movies.
Slightly above average for watching TV in a bright room. Average at dealing with reflections. Whole screen can't get bright to fight glare. Picture quality is good, but degrades when viewed from an angle. Smart platform works well for watching media or files on a USB.
Above average for watching sports. Picture quality is good, but degrades when viewed at an angle. Motion blur is slightly better than average. Whole screen can't get bright to combat glare.
Great for console gamers. Input lag is low across all sources, which is great. Picture quality is good. Motion blur is average, which should be ok for most people.
Supports HDR10, but can't really benefit from it. Good picture quality but doesn't support a wide color gamut or high peak brightness to take advantage of HDR content. Lacks local dimming.
Supports HDR10 and can activate game mode for low input lag. Picture quality is good but doesn't benefit from the extra HDR information. Can't display a wider range of colors and can't get very bright highlights.
Good PC monitor. Supports a wide range of resolutions with chroma subsampling for clear text. Feels responsive with low input lag. Picture quality is good and motion handling is average.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 55" (UN55KU6500), version FA01. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the other sizes.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung KU6500 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
| Size | Model |
| 49" | UN49KU6500 |
| 55" | UN55KU6500 |
| 65" | UN65KU6500 |
Popular TV Comparisons
The Samsung KU6500 provides good picture quality, especially in a dark room, but unfortunately it is priced well above the competition. As a result it is up against some higher end TVs, with additional features to improve the picture quality. Keep this in mind when viewing our recommendations below.
We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.
Test Results
Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more
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