Our Verdict
Below average TV for mixed usage. Movie performance is bad due to poor black uniformity and low native contrast ratio. Decent for sports and TV shows in a bright room as reflection handling is fine and image remains quite accurate when viewed at an angle.
- Image remains accurate when viewed at an angle
- Picture quality is below average
- Blacks appear gray and blotchy in a dark room
Poor choice for watching movies in a dark room. Low native contrast ratio results in blacks that appear gray, and uniformity is poor. Can't play movies without some minor judder.
Decent for watching TV in a bright room. Picture quality is below average but reflection handling is decent and image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. The smart features are good for casual watching too.
Decent TV for sports. Motion blur is quite low which is good and fast action is handled well. Unfortunately, the picture quality is below average, but the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle.
Slightly below average for gaming. Motion blur is good so fast-paced games are handled well. Input lag is good enough for most people but may disappoint competitive gamers. Only supports basic resolutions and picture quality is below average.
The Samsung M5300 doesn't support HDR, and can't produce a wide color gamut or produce bright highlights.
Doesn't support HDR gaming.
Below average choice as PC monitor. Motion handling is good, and input lag is good but may not feel as responsive as some other TVs. Picture quality is below average but the image remains accurate when viewed from up close.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 25, 2019: We have received a report that larger sizes have a VA panel, but we are not sure. The review remains valid, but we expect VA panels to have better contrast ratio at the expense of worse viewing angles.
- Updated Mar 12, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 23, 2017: Review published.
- Updated Oct 21, 2017: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 32" (UN32M5300) version XA01. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the 40" version (UN40M5300), 43" version (UN43M5300), 49" version (UN49M5300) and 50" version (UN50M5300).
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung M5300 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.
| Size | Model | Warehouse | Panel* |
| 32" | UN32M5300 | UN32M530D | IPS |
| 40" | UN40M5300 | UN40M530D | VA |
| 43" | UN43M5300 | UN43M530D | VA |
| 49'' | UN49M5300 | UN49M530D | VA |
| 50'' | UN50M5300 | UN50M530D | VA |
*Update 1/25/2019: We have received reports that the larger models have a VA panel but we are not sure. The models with VA panel should have better contrast ratio but narrower viewing angles.
Popular TV Comparisons
The Samsung M5300 is a budget 1080p TV, however, it faces tough competition which is often available at a lower price. See our recommendations for the best TVs under $300 and the best budget TVs.
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 Samsung MU6300 is much better than the Samsung M5300. The MU6300 has a VA type panel (except the 43" model) and has much better dark room performance thanks to the higher contrast ratio and much better black uniformity. The Samsung M5300 has an IPS display which is better for bright room performance and has wider viewing angles. The MU6300 supports HDR and has a higher resolution 4k display as well as lower input lag for games.
The Samsung M5300 is somewhat better than the TCL 1 Series/D100 and is more suitable for a wide room as it has an IPS Panel with better viewing angles. The TCL D100 has a VA panel and thus better contrast and better black uniformity, so it can display better blacks is a dark room. The Samsung M5300 is a smart TV, whereas the TCL D100 has no smart platform, and you need to use an external device to get smart features. Finally, the Samsung M5300 has a motion interpolation feature for the fans of the soap opera effect.
The Samsung M5300 is better than the LG LJ5500. The Samsung M5300 has better reflection handling and a wider viewing angle, so it will better suit a wider variety of rooms. The M5300 also has an optional motion interpolation feature which the LJ5500 lacks. This optional feature can clear up motion but introduces some artifacts. The LG LJ5500 is better able to remove judder from 24p sources, which the M5300 can't do.
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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