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To try to better understand how long a TV should last, we're running 100 TVs through an accelerated longevity test for the next two years. We've just posted our 1-year video update with our latest findings on temporary image retention, burn-in, and more!

Samsung NU7100 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Reviewed May 11, 2018 at 11:27 am
Latest change: Test bench update May 21, 2020 at 08:51 am
Samsung NU7100 Picture
6.7
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.6
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.2
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.4
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.9
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.3
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.6
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.8
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Samsung RU7100

The Samsung NU7100 is a decent 4k LED TV. It has decent picture quality with a good native contrast ratio but lacks more advanced features to improve the dark room performance, such as local dimming. It has extremely low input lag which is excellent for gamers but the response time is only decent so some blur is visible behind fast-moving objects. When viewed at an angle the image also loses accuracy, so the best picture is reserved for those directly in front of the TV.

Our Verdict

6.7 Mixed Usage

Decent TV for mixed usage. The NU7100 is best suited for dark room viewing, as the screen is ineffective at overcoming glare. It has a great low input lag perfect for gaming, but poor color volume and a limited color gamut, so HDR content doesn't pop as it should. Unfortunately, the viewing angles aren't very wide.

Pros
  • Excellent low input lag.
  • Good uniformity.
Cons
  • Limited HDR capabilities.
  • Picture quality degrades when viewed at an angle.
6.6 Movies

The NU7100 is decent for watching movies. It has incredible dark room performance thanks to its amazing contrast ratio and outstanding black uniformity, but unfortunately, there's no local dimming feature to further darken any scenes. The gray uniformity is good too, so fast-moving content looks good, but sadly it can't remove judder from lower frame rate content.

7.2 TV Shows

Okay for watching TV shows. The NU7100 has okay reflection handling and decent peak brightness, so it performs well in average-lit rooms. Unfortunately, the viewing angles are quite poor, so the image loses accuracy when viewed from the side. On the upside, it displays 720p content, such as from a cable box, well with no obvious artifacts.

6.4 Sports

Decent TV for sports. The NU7100 55" has minor dirty screen effect, but it shouldn't be too noticeable. Decent motion handling, but some people might notice some persistence with fast motion.

6.9 Video Games

Great TV for gaming, mainly due to the exceptionally low input lag. The NU7100 has a decent response time, but faster games might suffer from some motion blur.

6.3 HDR Movies

The NU7100 is decent for watching movies in HDR. It isn't very bright and is best suited for dark room viewing. It has a limited color gamut and poor color volume so HDR content won't pop as much as the content creators intended.

6.6 HDR Gaming

The NU7100 is good for HDR gaming. It has excellent low input lag and a decent response time. It isn't very bright and has a limited color gamut and volume so HDR games don't pop as much as they should.

6.8 PC Monitor

The NU7100 is good for use as a PC Monitor. It has exceptionally low input lag and chroma 4:4:4 is properly supported. Unfortunately, the viewing angle isn't very wide.

  • 6.7 Mixed Usage
  • 6.6 Movies
  • 7.2 TV Shows
  • 6.4 Sports
  • 6.9 Video Games
  • 6.3 HDR Movies
  • 6.6 HDR Gaming
  • 6.8 PC Monitor
  1. Updated May 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Feb 21, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  3. Updated Feb 28, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  4. Updated Jun 15, 2018: The TV's picture settings have been reset and the contrast ratio has been remeasured at a higher value of 5397:1. It is likely that the calibration raised black levels slightly, reducing the native contrast ratio. The new measurement is in-line with other Samsung TVs like the NU7300.
  5. Updated May 11, 2018: Review published.
  6. Updated May 09, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated May 09, 2018: Early access published.
  8. Updated May 07, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Apr 04, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 55" (UN55NU7100) version FA01. For the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the other sizes of this model.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung NU7100 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.

Size Model US UK Europe
40" UN40NU7100 UN40NU7100FXZA UE40NU7120KXXU UE40NU7190UXZG
43" UN43NU7100 UN43NU7100FXZA UE43NU7120KXXU UE43NU7190UXZG
49" UN49NU7100 N/A UE49NU7100KXXU UE49NU7170UXZG
50" UN50NU7100 UN50NU7100FXZA N/A N/A
55" UN55NU7100 UN55NU7100FXZA UE55NU7100KXXU UE55NU7170UXZG
65" UN65NU7100 UN65NU7100FXZA UE65NU7100KXXU UE65NU7170UXZG
75" UN75NU7100 UN75NU7100FXZA UE75NU7100KXXU UE75NU7170UXZG

Update 09/24/2018: We found the TV under a different model name, NU7200, at Walmart. We expect the TV to perform the same. If someone comes across any differences, let us know and we'll update the review.

Update 01/03/2019: We have received a report that at least one of the 43" variants is available in VA and IPS variants. At least version 03 of the UE43NU7120 has an IPS panel, as shown by this user-submitted image.

Update 01/25/2019: We have received a second confirmation of a 43" NU7170 with an IPS panel. The unit was purchased in Russia, and the panel is listed as version BC07.

Compared To Other TVs

Comparison picture

Top left: Sony X690E (KD60X690E). Bottom left: Samsung MU8000 (UN55MU8000). Middle: Samsung NU7100 (UN55NU7100). Top right: Samsung MU6300 (UN55MU6300). Bottom right: Samsung NU8000 (UN55NU8000). 

The Samsung NU7100 is a versatile entry-level 4k TV with decent picture quality. There are better TVs out there in the same price range. Check our recommendations for the best smart TVs and the best cheap TVs.

Samsung MU6300
40" 43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 and Samsung MU6300 deliver nearly identical performance; there is no significant difference between them. The MU6300 is a bit brighter. If you're looking for a 43" model, the UN43MU6300 has an IPS panel, which will have worse dark room performance, but wider viewing angles.

Samsung NU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung NU8000 is much better than the Samsung NU7100. The NU8000 is much brighter with all types of content. Motion is smoother as it can remove 24p judder from almost all sources, and the faster response time means less motion blur. The NU8000 also has some advanced gaming features, including automatic low latency mode and support for a variable refresh rate.

Samsung RU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung RU8000 is better than the Samsung NU7100. The Samsung RU8000 can get brighter and it's more suitable for a bright room. It can display judder-free movies and motion is crisper thanks to the faster response time. Finally, the RU8000 has support for the FreeSync variable refresh rate technology and low input lag with motion interpolation, which is great for demanding gamers.

Samsung RU7100
43" 50" 55" 58" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 and the Samsung RU7100 both have very similar performance. The RU7100 has a slightly faster response time which is great if you watch sports, and a much lower input lag which is great for those who play video games. The NU7100, on the other hand, can deliver more uniform blacks.

Sony X750F
55" 65"

If you have a room with wide seating arrangement, the Sony X750F is a better choice than the Samsung NU7100 as it has better viewing angles. But if you have a dark room with seating directly right in front, then the Samsung NU7100 is better. The Samsung has deeper blacks, and you'll enjoy watching movies more. The Samsung also has lower input lag, and this is great if you play video games. On the other hand, the Sony can remove 24p judder from older content.

Samsung NU6900
43" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 and the Samsung NU6900 both have very similar performance. The Samsung NU7100 has better input lag that is important if you play video games, or, specifically, HDR video games. Also, the low input lag makes the NU7100 a slightly better choice for use as a PC monitor. On the other hand, the NU6900 has a marginally better response time, so fast action has less blur.

Samsung MU6290
40" 43" 49" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 4k TV is slightly better than the Samsung MU6290. The NU7100 has better gray uniformity and better reflection handling, good for sports fans watching the big game on a Sunday afternoon. The NU7100 also has better input lag for gamers or use as a PC monitor. The Samsung MU6290 is a bit brighter with SDR content.

LG B8 OLED
55" 65"

The LG B8 is significantly better than the Samsung NU7100 except for those who worry about burn-in. The LG B8 has perfect blacks, just like all OLEDs, that enhance the picture quality in a dark room. The LG has better reflection handling and a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail when you watch fast-action content like sports. The LG B8 also has better image accuracy when viewed from the side. The Samsung NU7100 has a lower input lag that makes it very responsive if you play video games.

TCL 5 Series 2018
43" 49" 55" 65"

The TCL S517 and the Samsung NU7100 both have very similar performance. The Samsung NU7100 has better black uniformity and a lower input lag, which is great if you play video games. The NU7100 also has a better gray uniformity, which is great if you watch a lot of sports. The TCL S517 can remove 24p judder from older content and has a wide color gamut that helps it display vivid colors.

Samsung Q6FN/Q6/Q6F QLED 2018
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung Q6FN is significantly better than the Samsung NU7100. The Samsung Q6FN can display a wider color gamut, which is great for HDR, and has a faster response time, thus displaying a crisper image with less blur in fast motion. Finally, the Samsung Q6FN supports FreeSync VRR, which is great for gaming.

Vizio M Series 2018
55" 65" 70"

The Vizio M Series 2018 is better than the Samsung NU7100. The Vizio has a local dimming feature to enhance dark room performance, can get brighter in SDR, and can handle the reflections of a bright room better. Motion is crisper on the Vizio, thanks to the faster response time. The Samsung NU7100 has deep, uniform blacks but lacks the local dimming to improve the dark room performance. The NU7100 has a motion interpolation feature to enhance motion, and a lower input lag, which is great for video games.

Vizio P Series 2018
55" 65" 75"

The Vizio P Series 2018 is significantly better than the Samsung NU7100. The Vizio P Series 2018 has a local dimming feature to enhance dark room performance. The Vizio can display vivid colors thanks to the wide color gamut and has a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail behind fast-moving objects. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, has better gray uniformity and a lower input lag, which is great for video games.

Vizio E Series 2018
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"

The Vizio E Series 2018 is somewhat better than the Samsung NU7100.  The Vizio E has better reflection handling, and supports local dimming, even though it isn't very effective. The Vizio produces clearer motion with less blur thanks to the faster response time, and it's more effective at removing judder from 24p sources. The Samsung NU7100 has an optional motion interpolation feature, which is great if you enjoy the soap opera effect.

LG UK7700
55" 65"

The LG UK7700 is a better TV than the Samsung NU7100. The LG has better reflection handling, better response time, and wider viewing angles due to its IPS panel, so watching sports and TV shows on the LG is a very good experience. On the other hand, the Samsung NU7100 will offer a better experience in HDR movies due to the much better contrast ratio that can produce deep blacks in a dark room.

Toshiba Amazon Fire TV 2018
43" 50" 55"

The Samsung NU7100 is better than the Toshiba Fire TV 2018. The Samsung NU7100 has a lower input lag, which is great if you play video games or use the TV as a PC monitor. The Samsung NU7100 also has better black and gray uniformity that improve picture quality and better reflection handling, which allows you to place the TV in a room with many small windows. On the other hand, the Toshiba Fire TV 2018 can get brighter so it can fight the glare of bright rooms better, and it has better handling of fast motion due to the faster response time.

Vizio D Series 4k 2018
43" 55" 60" 65" 70"

The Samsung NU7100 and the Vizio D Series 4k 2018 have very similar performance. The Vizio D Series 4k 2018 has a faster response time which is great for fast action. It can get slightly brighter and can handle reflections better which is great for watching TV shows. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, has lower input lag for gaming and better motion interpolation for those who like the soap opera effect. It also has slightly better 720p upscaling that is better if you watch a lot of cable TV.

LG UK6570
70" 75" 86"

These are two different types of TVs, so if you have a room with wide seating arrangement, then the LG UK6570 might be better due to the wide viewing angles. On the other hand, in a darker room, the blacks of the Samsung NU7100 are deeper and enhance the picture quality provided you sit straight in front. In terms of less critical differences, the LG UK6570 can handle reflections better and has a crisper image due to the faster response time.

TCL 4 Series 2019
43" 49" 50" 55" 65" 75"

The Samsung NU7100 is a bit better than the TCL 4 Series S425. The Samsung NU7100 can get brighter and is more suitable for a bright room. The NU7100 has slightly better gray uniformity, which can be important to sports fans, and a motion interpolation feature to please the soap opera effect fans. The TCL S425 has a faster response time that delivers crisper motion and handles reflections slightly better, which can be important when you watch TV shows in a brighter room.

LG UM7300
43" 49" 50" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 and the LG UM7300 use different panels, and the best one depends on your usage. The NU7100 is better-suited for dark-room viewing, sitting directly in front. The LG UM7300 is better suited for watching with the lights on and is a better choice for a wide seating area. The UM7300 has better motion handling overall, with a much faster response time, which is better for gaming or other 60p content.

TCL 6 Series 2018
55" 65" 75"

The TCL R617 6 Series is much better than the Samsung NU7100. The TCL R617 can deliver deeper blacks with its local dimming support, and this is great for watching movies in a dark room. The TCL 6 Series also has a faster response time and thus a smaller blur trail, and better HDR performance with highlights that pop. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, has a lower input lag which is great for fans of video games and better gray uniformity for an image without clouding.

LeEco Super4
43" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 is a bit better than the LeEco Super4. The NU7100 has better black uniformity that makes dark room viewing more enjoyable. Motion looks clearer on the NU7100 due to the much better optional black frame insertion feature, and the NU7100 has less input lag. The LeEco Super4 has slightly better reflection handling and a faster response time.

LG SK8000
49" 55" 65"

These are two different types of TVs, so if you have a brighter room with wide seating arrangement, the LG SK8000 is a better choice as the image remains accurate when viewed from the side. The LG SK8000 has a faster response time that leaves only a small blur trail behind fast-moving objects and can remove 24p judder. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, is a better choice if you watch movies in a dark room, as it has a high native contrast ratio and can deliver deeper and more uniform blacks.

Samsung NU7300
55" 65"

The Samsung NU7300 is marginally better than the Samsung NU7100. The NU7300 is a touch brighter and has a slightly faster response time but this may be just due to small variances between panels. Overall, there is no major difference between the two, though. The NU7100 is available in a wider variety of sizes.

LG UK6300
43" 49" 50" 55" 65"

If you've got a bright room with wide seating, then the LG UK6300 is a better choice due to the better viewing angles. But for a dark room with seating directly in front, then the Samsung NU7100 is better due to its higher contrast ratio and better black uniformity. The LG UK6300 also has better reflection handling, and you can place it in a room with many light sources, whereas the Samsung NU7100 can get brighter to fight glare in a bright room.

LG C8 OLED
55" 65" 77"

The LG C8 is much better than the Samsung NU7100. The LG C8 is an OLED TV with perfect blacks and good viewing angles that make it a better choice for most usages but especially for watching movies in a dark room. Also, the C8 has better reflection handling and a much faster response time that allows only a small blur trail to be visible in fast content. The Samsung NU7100, on the other hand, has a VA panel that shows no signs of permanent burn-in risk and a lower input lag both in SDR and in HDR, and this great if you play video games.

Sony X850F
65" 75" 85"

These two TVs have different panels, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The Sony X850F has an IPS panel and is more suitable if you have a room with a wide seating arrangement. The Sony X850F can also handle reflections better if your room has many light sources, and is flicker-free for those who are sensitive to flicker. Finally, it has a wider color gamut and better color volume for HDR enthusiasts. The Samsung NU7100 is more suitable for a dark room thanks to its VA panel and higher contrast ratio. Also, the Samsung NU7100 has marginally lower input lag, which is great for casual gaming.

Samsung MU6100
58"

The Samsung NU7100 is slightly better than the Samsung MU6100. The Samsung NU7100 has somewhat better black uniformity which is great for watching HDR movies, and marginally better input lag which is great for playing video games. The Samsung NU7100 has better inputs, which you'll appreciate if you plan to use your TV as a PC monitor, and finally, it has better gray uniformity that is good for sports. The Samsung MU6100 has better reflection handling and SDR peak brightness, which is good if you watch TV shows in a bright room.

Sony X690E
50" 60" 70"

The Samsung NU7100 and the Sony X690E have very similar performance. The Sony X690E has a faster response time and thus a smaller blur trail in fast-action sports. The Samsung, on the other hand, has lower input lag and is very responsive when you play video games or use the TV as a PC monitor. The Samsung NU7100 also has better blacks due to the higher native contrast ratio and better black uniformity, and this matters if you watch movies in a dark room. Finally, the Samsung NU7100 is brighter, which is great if you watch TV shows in a bright room.

Sony X720E
43" 49" 55"

The Samsung NU7100 is a bit better than the Sony X720E, unless you have a wide seating area. The NU7100 uses a VA panel, and is better for a direct seating arrangement but has better dark performance due to the better contrast and better black uniformity. The X720E uses an IPS panel which has much wider viewing angles but isn't recommended for a dark room.

Samsung MU6500
49" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 is a slightly better TV than the Samsung MU6500. The Samsung NU7100 has better input lag for video games, and a marginally better input lag when sent 4k @ 60Hz + HDR signal for HDR gaming. The Samsung NU7100 also has a slightly better black uniformity which becomes apparent in a dark room when you watch HDR movies. On the contrary, the Samsung MU6500 is slightly better for use as a PC monitor due to its curved profile and has a marginally better response time which is great for video games.

Samsung MU7600
49" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 is marginally better than the Samsung MU7600. The Samsung NU7100 has lower input lag in SDR and 4k @ 60Hz + HDR, which is great for gaming. It also has slightly better black uniformity which makes blacks look better in a dark room. On the other hand, the Samsung MU7600 is curved and has a better brightness that is good for brighter rooms, and a wider color gamut and color volume that makes HDR content look better.

TCL S Series/S405 4k 2018
43" 49" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 is a bit better than the TCL S405. The Samsung NU7100 has a motion interpolation feature that will please the soap opera effect fans. The NU7100 also has a slightly high native contrast ratio that is great for movies and can get a little brighter. The TCL S405 can remove 24p judder has a marginally faster response time that leaves a smaller blur trail in fast-moving content, like sports.

Samsung MU7000
40" 49" 55" 65"

The Samsung NU7100 is marginally better than the Samsung MU7000. The NU7100 has better black uniformity and slightly better reflection handling. The MU7000 has excellent low input lag, but the NU7100 is even better. The MU7000 is a bit brighter in SDR and HDR.

Samsung MU8000
49" 55" 65" 75" 82"

The Samsung MU8000 is a better TV than the Samsung NU7100. The Samsung MU8000 has much better motion handling as it has a judder removal feature and better response time which is great for movies and video games and has better local dimming which improves blacks and picture quality when you watch a movie in a dark room. On the other hand, the Samsung NU7100 has somewhat better black uniformity which is good when watching HDR movies and a bit better input lag when sent 4k @ 60Hz + HDR signal for HDR gaming.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

Design
8.5
Design
Style
Curved No

The NU7100 has a fantastic style, similar to the higher-end Samsung NU8000, although it uses the same legs as the Samsung Q8FN/Q8/Q8F QLED 2018. It has a simple, modern design with a flat back so it doesn't stick out too much when wall-mounted.

Design
Stand

The stand is modern and sturdy. It's wide enough to fit a soundbar in front.

Footprint of the 55" TV stand: 37.2" x 10.3"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 200x200

The back of the TV has the same textured finish found on the NU8000. There are a few cable management tracks that span the entire width of the back of the TV. The TV comes with two clips that attach to the stand legs to also assist with cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.55" (1.4 cm)

The borders of the NU7100 55" are simple, with a textured plastic finish, and have average thickness.

Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.24" (5.7 cm)

This TV is thin, similar to the NU8000. It won't stick out too much when wall-mounted, but it won't be flush to the wall either.

6.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is okay. It feels solid even though it's almost entirely made from plastic.

Picture Quality
8.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
5,397 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

The contrast on the TV is great and in-line with other Samsung TVs like the NU7300. This is good for producing deep dark scenes.

Update 06/15/2018: We've reset the TV and retested the native contrast ratio, and it's a bit higher. The calibration likely raised the black levels slightly, lowering the previously measured contrast ratio.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

The NU7100 doesn't have a local dimming feature. The above video is provided for reference only.

6.1
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
261 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
160 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
294 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
292 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
291 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
291 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
292 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
292 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
291 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
291 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.040

Decent peak brightness, good enough for a dimly lit room, but this TV can't get bright enough to overcome glare. It isn't as bright as similar models from 2017, like the MU6100 or MU6500.

5.0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
261 cd/m²
HDR Peak 2% Window
165 cd/m²
HDR Peak 10% Window
309 cd/m²
HDR Peak 25% Window
307 cd/m²
HDR Peak 50% Window
307 cd/m²
HDR Peak 100% Window
304 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
164 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
303 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
302 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
302 cd/m²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
302 cd/m²
HDR ABL
0.042

Disappointing HDR peak brightness. It has trouble making small highlights bright, as seen in the 'HDR Peak 2% Window' test. Besides that, it remains fairly consistent across different content, although it's not very bright. This TV struggles to make highlights pop and display vivid colors. An IPS TV with similar HDR peak brightness is the LG UK6300.

7.6
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.538%
50% DSE
0.153%
5% Std. Dev.
1.131%
5% DSE
0.133%

The NU7100 55" has good gray uniformity. It's visibly darker around the edges of the screen but is a lot less dark in the center. This means there's no dirty screen effect, which will please most sports fans. The screen is much more uniform in darker scenes.

5.3
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
25°
Color Shift
18°
Brightness Loss
36°
Black Level Raise
17°
Gamma Shift
18°

This TV has a poor viewing angle, but it's better than 2017's MU6300. The black levels shift dramatically when viewing even slightly off-center.

9.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.519%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The NU7100 has excellent black uniformity, similar to the 2017 MU6300 and is one of the best among the LED TVs we've tested. There aren't any clouding issues, and black looks very uniform. As a result, dark scenes in movies look great.

7.1
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
5.8%
Indirect Reflections
0.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
5.2%

The TV has good reflection handling, but the semi-gloss finish can't overcome glare in a brightly-lit room. It has a similar finish to the MU6300 and MU6500.

7.2
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.98
Color dE
3.80
Gamma
2.02
Color Temperature
6,313 K
Picture Mode
Movie
Color Temp Setting
Warm 2
Gamma Setting
BT.1886 +2, Brightness +2

The NU7100 has okay out-of-box color accuracy, although some people may notice that most colors are still inaccurate. The gamma curve doesn't follow the target well and scenes will appear brighter than they should. The color temperature is slightly warmer than the target of 6500K, so most colors will have a red/yellow tint to them.

Update 04/12/2019: This TV was incorrectly measured with Brightness +2 instead of at 0. This only has a small impact on the results (slightly dimmer dark scenes below about 30 IRE), so we don't plan to retest it.

9.3
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.20
Color dE
1.65
Gamma
2.19
Color Temperature
6,565 K
White Balance Calibration
20 point
Color Calibration
Yes
Auto-Calibration Function
No

The color accuracy post-calibration is nearly perfect. The white balance dE and color dE both significantly improved from pre-calibration, so most colors appear as they should. The gamma curve follows the target well, although some dark scenes will be brighter than normal. The color temperature is only slightly off the target, but most people won't notice any red/yellow tint.

See our recommended settings here.

8.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

This TV displays older 480p content well, without any issues or obvious artifacts.

8.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

720p input is displayed properly without any obvious scaling artifacts.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

1080p content, like from a non-4k Blu-ray or game console, is displayed well and looks almost as good as native 4k content.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

Native 4k content is displayed well on the TV.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

This is a 4k TV that doesn't support 8k content.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA
6.7
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
74.05%
DCI P3 uv
80.85%
Rec 2020 xy
53.25%
Rec 2020 uv
59.49%

The NU7100 only supports a standard color gamut and is best suited for SDR content. Like the 2017 MU6500, red and green fall quite short of their HDR targets.

The 'Movie' Picture mode is the most accurate, but it doesn't follow our PQ curve. The brightness rolls off gradually as the TV gets closer to its peak brightness. The PC and Game EOTFs are very similar to 'Movie', but also don't follow our target very closely.

5.6
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
62.9%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
21.7%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
48.9%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
16.9%

Disappointing color volume, mainly due to the limited color gamut of the TV. It's unable to produce deep, dark colors, and it's limited in its ability to produce bright, saturated colors like those in a sunset or bright outdoor scene.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.110
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.127
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.096
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.100

The TV displays our test pattern well, but in real-world tests, there are small points of banding in large areas of similar color.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

There's no temporary image retention on the NU7100.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

We don't expect the TV to experience burn-in, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

Motion
4.2
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
9.5 ms
100% Response Time
24.1 ms

Decent response time. In dark scenes like our 20% test slide, the 100% transition is very slow and there's some motion trail.

It's slightly worse than the MU6300, and similar to the MU7000. While it isn't bad, competing TVs from other brands like the LG UK6300 offer better motion performance.

Most of the blur in the above photo is due to duplications caused by the backlight flicker.

Similar to the Q8FN, the flicker varies depending on settings.

6.0
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
240 Hz

This TV uses PWM to dim the backlight except when at 100%. It flickers at a high frequency (240Hz), but due to pwm at lower brightness levels, the flicker becomes more noticeable. It's an improvement over the MU6300 with its 120Hz flicker, but it's still not as good as the Sony X850F.

When Auto Motion Plus is enabled with the slider set to 0, the backlight flickers at 120Hz, as seen here. This creates a duplicated motion trail similar to when motion interpolation is enabled.

Similar to the Q8FN, the flicker varies depending on settings. There's almost no flicker in 'Movie' mode with the backlight at 100% and 'Auto Motion Plus' set to Custom.

9.1
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
Yes
Min Flicker for 60 fps
60 Hz
60 Hz for 60 fps
Yes
120 Hz for 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
120 Hz

There's an excellent black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur, which reduces flicker to 60Hz. To turn it on, you need to set Auto Motion Plus to 'Custom' and enable LED Clear Motion. The NU7100 can keep the flicker at 120Hz when in Game Mode, which can help with the appearance of motion. This is automatically enabled when in Game Mode.

Like the Q8FN, the flicker changes according to the settings.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
Yes
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The NU7100 can interpolate 30 fps content up to 60 fps. Known as the 'Soap Opera Effect,' this helps smooth out motion, but not everyone enjoys it.

By setting Auto Motion Plus to 'Custom' and adjusting the Judder Reduction to your liking, you can interpolate lower frame rate content. The frequency of the flicker depends on its settings.

8.8
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
17.6 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
0.0 ms

The NU7100 is great at displaying content without stutter, even for low frame rate movies. The higher response time helps the transition between frames appear smoother.

0
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
No
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
No

The TV can't remove judder from 24 fps content played through a 60p/i cable box, or from native 24 fps content played from a Blu-ray. Most people aren't very sensitive to judder and won't see it.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
VRR Supported Connectors
No VRR support

The NU7100 doesn't support any of the variable refresh rate technologies like AMD's FreeSync. This was tested with an Xbox One S and with a Radeon RX 580.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60 Hz
13.7 ms
1080p @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
76.6 ms
1440p @ 60 Hz
N/A
4k @ 60 Hz
13.4 ms
4k @ 60 Hz + 10 bit HDR
13.4 ms
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
15.1 ms
4k @ 60 Hz Outside Game Mode
76.5 ms
4k @ 60 Hz With Interpolation
76.4 ms
8k @ 60 Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120 Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120 Hz
N/A
4k @ 120 Hz
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1440p with VRR
N/A
4k with VRR
N/A
8k with VRR
N/A
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
No

Excellent low input lag. When Game mode is activated, the TV bypasses all processing. This is among the best input lags of any TV, better than the MU6300, and almost as good as the LG UK6300.

When the input label is set to PC, the input lag is automatically the lowest possible. There's no benefit to activating Game mode within PC mode.

7.5
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120 Hz
No
1440p @ 60 Hz
No
1440p @ 120 Hz
No
4k @ 60 Hz
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120 Hz
No
8k @ 30 Hz or 24 Hz
No
8k @ 60 Hz
No

It supports most of the common resolutions without any issues. It doesn't support 1440p.

4k @ 60Hz with 4:4:4 or 4:2:2 chroma is only supported when HDMI UHD Color is enabled from the External Device Manager settings menu.

Inputs
Input Photos
Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 2
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 0
Component In 1 (incl. adapter, shared)
Composite In 1 (incl. adapter, shared)
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0

The TV includes breakout adapters for a composite or component connection. There's a shared connection on these and as such, it's impossible to connect a component and composite connection at the same time.

Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
Yes
Dolby Vision
No
HLG
Yes
3D
No
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
HDMI 2.1
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out No
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz)

Like other 2018 Samsung TVs, this TV doesn't support DTS passthrough. This shouldn't be an issue as most content has both. For the audio return channel to work, Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) must be enabled from the settings menu.

The NU7100 doesn't support 5 GHz wifi.

Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 3)
eARC support
No
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
No
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
No
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
No
Sound Quality
6.4
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
80.00 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
4.08 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
4.29 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
6.41 dB
Max
85.5 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
3.81 dB

The frequency response is about average. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 80Hz, which is above average. This means this TV won't produce any thump or rumble but will have a decent amount of punch to its bass. The response above the LFE is quite flat and well-balanced, which results in clear and understandable dialogue. However, since it doesn't have a room correction system, it wasn't able to remove the modes of our test room around 200Hz. Additionally, this TV gets decently loud, but may not be loud enough for large and noisy environments.

6.6
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.459
Weighted THD @ Max
0.927
IMD @ 80
2.67%
IMD @ Max
6.58%

There's a decent amount of distortion on the speakers of this TV. There's some noticeable total harmonic distortion (THD) at moderate listening levels, and it really increases when the TV is at its max volume.

Smart Features
7.5
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS Tizen
Version 2018 with reduced features
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Average
Time Taken to Select YouTube
2 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
6 s
Advanced Options
Many

The interface is similar to that of the NU8000 but lacks some of the more advanced features, including the Bixby voice assistance. It's easy to navigate, with a simplistic but modern design.

On the NU7100, there are very few animations. The interface is generally smooth, without much lag. When using an external device, the interface remains fluid, but when accessing the menus from within an app it would lag at times.

0
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
Yes
Opt-out
No
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

Like all Samsung TVs, there are ads. There's no option to disable them or to opt-out of ad tracking. During our testing there were ads, but we were unable to take a picture of them. They appear similar to the ads seen on the NU8000

8.5
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

Fantastic apps and features on the Samsung NU7100. There are a ton of apps available on Samsung's App Store, with a few common ones already downloaded on the TV. Unfortunately, navigating through the menus isn't very smooth.

6.0
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Medium
Voice Control
No
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
No
Remote App Samsung SmartThings

This Samsung comes with a very basic remote. The buttons cover most of the basic functions, including inputs, quick access to the settings menu, and a picture size button to control the upscaling options for lower-resolution content.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There's a single button located underneath the TV, similar to the NU8000. Pressing the button brings up a menu that can power cycle the TV, control volume, channels, and change inputs.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote
  • Batteries
  • Quick Setup Guide
  • User Manual
  • Composite breakout cable
  • Component breakout cable
  • VESA spacers
Not Shown:
  • Power cable: 61.5"

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 48 W
Power Consumption (Max) 115 W
Firmware 1051