Our Verdict
The Samsung M4500 doesn't perform well with most usages. Its soft image, narrow viewing angle and relatively low brightness stop it from having many good points. Fortunately, it does at least come with decent smart features.
- Free of image retention
- Screen is not uniform
- Soft image
- Picture quality deteriorates significantly at an angle
Bad TV for watching movies in a dark room. While the M4500 produces deep blacks with its great contrast ratio, they have very little uniformity. Distracting patches causes both blacks and greys to look dirty and uneven. Its low and non-standard native resolution add to the issue, as most content will look quite soft on this TV.
The M4500 doesn't do a good job with TV shows in a bright room. Because its display uses a non-standard resolution, most content looks a little softer on this TV. While it does handle reflections decently, it cannot get bright enough to suit living rooms with lots of windows. It does at least give easy access to online content through its smart platform.
Passable TV for watching Sports. Its low motion blur allows it to show fast content without showing long trails behind moving players. Unfortunately, though, its poor picture quality can often be a distraction.
Most people will find the M4500 to be quite lacking for gaming. While it does have decent motion, its low resolution and soft image can make it difficult to spot smaller targets in shooter games. Its input lag is also a little high which some people might find distracting.
HDR is not supported.
HDR is not supported.
Poor choice for a PC monitor. The M4500's 768p resolution can be properly used when connected to a computer but it is still too low for more productive use. Its high input lag can make moving the mouse a little distracting, and its lack of support for 4:4:4 chroma means text will often look fuzzy.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 12, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Dec 11, 2017: Review published.
- Updated Dec 09, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Dec 09, 2017: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 32" (UN32M4500A) version CB03. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 24" version (UN24M4500A) and 28" version (UN28M4500A).
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung M4500 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
Samsung has released an updated M4500 for 2018 under almost the same model number (M4500B). It is not known what the differences are, but the power consumption is listed to be lower on the 2018 model. This could be due to actual changes in the TV or in the way Samsung reports energy consumption. We will review the B variant if there is enough demand. Suggest a TV for us to review.
| Size | Model |
| 24" | UN24M4500A |
| 28" | UN28M4500A |
| 32" | UN32M4500A |
Popular TV Comparisons
The Samsung M4500 is an inexpensive smart TV, but its lackluster performance makes it a poor choice compared to its competition. See our recommendations for the best TVs under $300.
The Samsung M5300 is better than the Samsung M4500, unless you use it mostly in a dark room. The M5300 has an IPS panel, which is better suited for a wide viewing area in a brighter room. The M4500 has a VA panel, which has a worse viewing angle but much better native contrast. The M5300 also has a higher native resolution and is available in larger sizes, as well as less input lag for gamers.
The TCL S Series/S305 2018 is much better than the Samsung M4500. The S305 has a higher resolution 1080p display and has lower input lag for gaming. The 305 can remove judder from most sources. The Samsung M4500 is a bit brighter than the TCL S305, and has an optional motion interpolation feature that can help motion appear smoother.
The TCL S Series/S405 4k 2018 is much better than the Samsung M4500. The S405 has a native 4k screen and can take advantage of the latest technologies. The S405 has much lower input lag and faster response time, great for fast-action movies or gaming. The TCL has better black uniformity. The Samsung M4500 is a bit brighter and has an optional motion interpolation feature which can smooth out motion on lower frame rate content.
The Sony X900F is significantly better than the Samsung M4500. The X900F has a much higher resolution 4K screen. The Sony is much brighter and supports HDR content. The X900F is much more feature-packed, including a local dimming feature, and it can remove judder from all sources. The Sony has much smoother motion with a higher response time and much better colors.
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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