The Samsung TU7000 is an entry-level 4k TV from Samsung's 2020 lineup. Sold as the Samsung TU700D at Costco and Sam's Club, it's a budget-friendly TV with okay performance overall and a few extra features. It has an excellent contrast ratio and superb black uniformity thanks to its VA panel, so blacks are deep and uniform, making it ideal for dark room viewing. Visibility is an issue in bright rooms, though, as it has sub-par peak brightness in SDR and just alright reflection handling. It has a fantastic low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. However, it has a slow response time, and it doesn't support any advanced gaming features, like HDMI 2.1 or variable refresh rate technology. The TV supports HDR10 and HDR10+ but doesn't get bright enough to make highlights in HDR pop as they should. It also has narrow viewing angles, so the image loses accuracy when viewed from the side.
Our Verdict
The Samsung TU7000 is okay for most uses. It doesn't perform well in bright environments, but it has an excellent contrast and superb black uniformity that makes blacks look deep and uniform, so it's better for watching movies in the dark. The narrow viewing angles are not well-suited for watching TV or sports with friends since the image loses accuracy from the side. It has remarkably low input lag for a responsive gaming experience, but sadly it doesn't have extra features like VRR to reduce screen tearing, and its response time is slow.
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Outstanding black uniformity.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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Fair response time.
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No local dimming.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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No VRR support.
Despite the lack of a local dimming feature, the Samsung TU7000 is decent for watching movies in a dark room. It has an excellent contrast ratio and outstanding black uniformity, so blacks look deep and uniform when watching in the dark. Older movies on Blu-ray or DVD are upscaled well, and it has a huge selection of streaming apps. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve black levels, and it can't remove 24p judder from any source, although not everyone will notice judder.
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Outstanding black uniformity.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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No local dimming.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
The Samsung TU7000 is decent for watching TV in a bright room. It has alright reflection handling, but unfortunately, it doesn't get bright enough to overcome glare in well-lit rooms, so visibility is an issue. It also has disappointing viewing angles, so it's not a good choice for a wide seating arrangement. On the upside, it can upscale lower-resolution content, like cable TV, without issues, and it has a huge selection of streaming apps to choose from, including many free services.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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Upscales lower resolution content without issue.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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Bad viewing angles.
The Samsung TU7000 is an okay TV for watching sports, but it's best suited for dark to moderately-lit rooms because of its disappointing brightness. It upscales lower resolution content well, which is great, as many cable sports channels still broadcast low-resolution signals. Unfortunately, its viewing angles are narrow, so it's not ideal for watching with a group since the image loses accuracy from the side.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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Fair response time.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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Bad viewing angles.
The Samsung TU7000 is a decent TV for gaming. It has fantastic low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. However, there's still some image duplication during fast-moving scenes because of the backlight flicker. On the upside, it has an excellent contrast ratio, which is great if you prefer gaming in the dark. Unfortunately, it doesn't support any advanced gaming features, like variable refresh rates or HDMI 2.1, and it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. It also has a fairly slow response time, so there's a more noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects.
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Low input lag.
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Outstanding black uniformity.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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No VRR support.
The Samsung TU7000 is mediocre for watching HDR movies. It has a high contrast ratio and outstanding black uniformity, which helps with dark room performance. However, it lacks a local dimming feature. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a wide HDR color gamut and doesn't get bright enough to make highlights in HDR content pop.
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Outstanding black uniformity.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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No local dimming.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
The Samsung TU7000 is decent for HDR gaming, but mainly because of its gaming performance. It provides a responsive gaming experience thanks to its low input lag, although the response time is only okay, so there's a bit more blur behind fast-moving objects than on higher-end TVs. However, it doesn't provide a satisfying HDR experience because it can't get bright enough to make highlights pop, and it doesn't have a wide color gamut.
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Low input lag.
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Outstanding black uniformity.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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No local dimming.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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No VRR support.
The Samsung TU7000 is a good TV for use as a PC monitor. It has very low input lag, an okay response time, and it can display proper chroma 4:4:4, so the text looks sharp and legible. There's also no risk of permanent burn-in from constantly displaying a static desktop interface. Unfortunately, it has narrow viewing angles, so the image looks washed out at the edges if you sit close.
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Low input lag.
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Excellent contrast ratio.
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Displays proper chroma 4:4:4.
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Low SDR and HDR peak brightness.
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Bad viewing angles.
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No VRR support.
- 7.4 Mixed Usage
- 8.2 Movies
- 6.9 TV Shows
- 6.7 Sports
- 7.8 Video Games
- 7.3 HDR Movies
- 7.8 HDR Gaming
- 7.2 PC Monitor
- Updated Jan 11, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.9, modifying our Contrast testing and splitting our local dimming testing into multiple sections covering Blooming, Black Crush, and Lighting Zone Transitions. You can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Oct 11, 2022: Compared the motion handling on this TV to the Vizio V Series 2022.
- Updated Aug 01, 2022: We discovered a flaw with the equipment used to force an HDR signal when measuring color volume and the color gamut. We've switched to a new tool and updated our measurements. The color gamut and volume have changed slightly.
- Updated Jul 28, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.8, adding a new box for PQ EOTF tracking and updating our Color Volume and Color Gamut tests to better reflect real world usage. You can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Jul 25, 2022: Changed the HDR result in the PS5 and Xbox Series X Compatibility sections because there was a mistake that listed it as not supporting HDR.
- Updated Jul 14, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.7 with an updated HDR Brightness test that better reflects real world usage. We've also split the console compatibility boxes into separate PS5 Compatibility and Xbox Series X|S Compatibility tests. You can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Jan 24, 2022: We reprocessed our gradient photo and viewing angle video as they were incorrectly processed.
- Updated Dec 15, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jul 22, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jun 30, 2021: We've added two new videos demonstrating the local dimming feature (or lack thereof in this case) with real content.
- Updated Mar 01, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.6.
- Updated Feb 05, 2021: Retested the EOTF.
- Updated Jan 27, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Nov 05, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Oct 23, 2020: Updated text for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Sep 29, 2020: Listed Auto-Calibration Function as 'Undetermined'.
- Updated Jul 27, 2020: We've retested the viewing angle of the TV.
- Updated Jul 09, 2020: We mistakenly indicated that the TV has a composite input. It doesn't and it has been corrected.
- Updated Jul 03, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 29, 2020: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 55" (UN55TU7000FXZA) variant of the Samsung 7 Series, and for the most part, we expect our review to be valid for the other sizes as well, which are listed below. The Samsung TU700D is a variant sold at Costco and Sam's Club. There's a TU7100 variant in the UK, which is available from 43 to 75 inches, and it seems the only difference compared to the TU7000 is that the color of the back panel is gray. There's also a Black Friday model sold as the 6 Series (UN70TU6980FXZA/UN82TU6980FXZA), and it's available in a 70 inch and 82 inch size.
Note that with Samsung TVs, the four letters after the short model code (FXZA in this case) can vary between regions, and even between different retailers. We expect them all to perform about the same, but there may be some minor differences between them, including the tuners included.
| Size | US Model | Short Model Code |
|---|---|---|
| 43" | UN43TU7000FXZA | UN43TU7000 |
| 50" | UN50TU7000FXZA | UN50TU7000 |
| 55" | UN55TU7000FXZA | UN55TU7000 |
| 58" | UN58TU7000FXZA | UN58TU7000 |
| 60" | UN60TU7000FXZA | UN60TU7000 |
| 65" | UN65TU7000FXZA | UN65TU7000 |
| 70" | UN70TU7000FXZA | UN70TU7000 |
| 75" | UN75TU7000FXZA | UN75TU7000 |
| 82" | UN82TU7000FXZA | UN82TU7000 |
| 85" | UN85TU7000FXZA | UN85TU7000 |
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Samsung TU7000 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review.
Our unit was manufactured in May 2020; you can see the label here.
Compared To Other TVs
The Samsung TU7000 is an entry-level budget TV with okay performance. It performs very similarly to its predecessor, the Samsung RU7100, but there are a few minor improvements on the TU7000. In 2021, it's been replaced by the AU7000 in some regions.
For other options, check out our recommendations for the best TVs, the best budget TVs, and the best 4k gaming TVs.
The Samsung AU8000 is a bit better overall than the Samsung TU7000. They have similar features, but the AU8000 is better in a few areas. The AU8000 gets brighter and has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms. It also has an upgraded version of Tizen OS, which feels smoother to use, and it comes with a mic for voice control in the remote, which the TU7000 doesn't have. On the other hand, the TU7000 supports 1440p, which the TU8000 doesn't.
Overall, the Vizio V Series 2020 and the Samsung TU7000 are very similar TVs, but there are a few differences. The Vizio has much better reflection handling, and it can remove judder from 24p sources and native apps. On the other hand, the Samsung has a faster response time and gets a bit brighter.
The Samsung TU8000 performs a bit better overall than the Samsung TU7000, as it has a slightly higher contrast ratio, gets a little brighter, and can remove 24p judder from any source, unlike the TU7000, which can't remove judder at all. The only area where the TU7000 significantly outperforms the TU8000 is gradient handling, as it has much less banding.
The Samsung TU7000 and the TCL 4 Series/S446 2021 are okay TVs, and the units we tested have different panel types. The Samsung has a VA panel with high contrast, while the TCL we tested has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, but there are variants with a VA panel instead. Although neither gets bright, the TCL is a better choice for rooms with a few lights around because it has better reflection handling. Both TVs flicker their backlight, which isn't ideal, but the Samsung flickers at 120Hz while the TCL flickers at 150Hz, which results in image duplication. The TCL also removes judder from 24p sources, which the Samsung can't do.
The Samsung TU7000 and the LG UP7000 are both okay TVs with different panel types. The Samsung has a VA panel with a higher native contrast ratio, while the LG that we tested has an IPS-like panel with wider viewing angles, but there are some sizes with a VA panel, too. The LG is better to use in a well-lit room because it gets brighter and has better reflection handling. Other than that, they have similar basic features, and both come with simple remotes that don't even have voice control.
The Samsung TU6980 and the Samsung TU7000 perform quite similarly overall, but they come in different sizes. The TU6890 is only available in 70 and 82 inch sizes, so it's better if you prefer a large TV. The TU7000 comes in a wider range of sizes and it has a better contrast ratio and better gradient handling, but it also has a significantly worse response time.
The Samsung TU7000 and the Samsung NU6900 perform very similarly overall. The NU6900 gets a little brighter, but the TU7000 has a significantly lower input lag, making it a better option if you plan on using your TV for video games.
The Samsung TU7000 and the Hisense A6G use different panel technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. The Samsung is a better choice for a dark room, as its VA panel has better contrast and better black uniformity. The Hisense, on the other hand, is a better choice for a wide seating arrangement, as the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle.
The Hisense U6GR is a better all-around TV than the Samsung TU7000. The Hisense delivers better picture quality because it gets brighter in SDR and HDR, and it has a decent full-array local dimming feature, which the Samsung doesn't have. The Hisense also has more gaming features like VRR support, and it has much better reflection handling. On the other hand, the Samsung doesn't have trouble upscaling 480p content like the Hisense.
For most uses, the Sony X750H is marginally better than the Samsung TU7000. The Sony has a much higher peak brightness, better color gamut, and faster response time, resulting in less motion blur. Also, the Sony can remove judder from 24p sources and it has a flicker-free backlight. The Samsung has an optional black frame insertion feature to reduce motion blur and it has better screen uniformity, although the latter can vary per unit.
Overall, the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED is much better than the Samsung TU7000. The Q60T has a higher contrast ratio to deliver deeper blacks, it gets brighter, and it can display a wide color gamut with better color accuracy. However, the TU7000 has a faster response time, and its superior gradient handling results in less banding.
The Samsung RU7100 and the Samsung TU7000 are very similarly performing TVs, since the TU7000 is the 2020 replacement for the RU7100. The TU7000 has a slightly better response time and its input lag is better outside of 'Game' mode, so it's marginally better for gaming. The TU7000 also feels a little better built. On the other hand, the RU7100 has better accuracy out-of-the-box, although this can vary between units.
The LG UN7300 and the Samsung TU7000 perform similarly overall; however, they use different panel types with different advantages and disadvantages. The LG uses an IPS panel that has better viewing angles at the expense of a lower contrast ratio. The Samsung, on the hand, uses a VA panel, which has a much better contrast ratio but narrower viewing angles.
The Samsung TU7000 is better overall than the LG UN7000, but they use different panel types. The Samsung has a VA panel, so the contrast ratio is much better. The Samsung also displays 4k content properly, while the LG uses a sub-pixel layout that can't display a perfect 4k image. However, the IPS panel on the LG has wider viewing angles, and the LG has better reflection handling, which is great for well-lit rooms.
For most uses, the LG UM7300 is marginally better than the Samsung TU7000, but they use different panel types. The LG's IPS panel has wider viewing angles, better reflection handling, and faster response time. On the other hand, the Samsung can produce deeper blacks due to its higher contrast ratio, and it has a Black Frame Insertion feature to help reduce motion blur.
The LG UN6950 is slightly better than the Samsung TU7000. The LG we reviewed has a VA panel, although it's also available with an IPS panel. The LG gets brighter and has a quicker response time. However, the Samsung has better color accuracy, better black uniformity, and a better contrast ratio, which is more well-suited to dark room viewing.
The Samsung TU7000 is slightly better than the Hisense A6H for most users. The Samsung has a much higher contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks in a dark room and better uniformity. On the other hand, the Hisense has a wider viewing angle, so it's a slightly better choice if you always watch TV with lights on and have a wide seating arrangement.
The TCL 4 Series/S455 2022 and the Samsung TU7000 are very similar overall. The TCL is a bit more versatile, as it has more HDMI inputs than the Samsung, meaning you can connect more devices. Both TVs deliver similar picture quality and motion handling, but the TCL can remove judder from 24p sources, like a Blu-ray player, so it's a bit better for movie lovers. On the other hand, the Samsung sounds better, so if you want to watch shows without a soundbar or separate speaker system, the Samsung is a bit better.
The Samsung TU7000 is better than the LG UQ9000. The Samsung delivers much better picture quality, with a much higher contrast ratio and better black uniformity. The Samsung also has a faster response time, so there's less blur behind fast-moving objects. The only real advantage of the LG is that the image remains accurate at a moderate angle, whereas the Samsung is best enjoyed from directly in front.
The Vizio V Series 2022 and the Samsung TU7000 are both okay TVs. The Vizio is better in a few areas, like its peak brightness, reflection handling, color accuracy, and motion handling, and it has VRR support, so it's the better choice for gaming or using it in a well-lit room. However, the Samsung TV has better upscaling, which is important if you watch a lot of low-resolution content like DVDs.
The TCL 5 Series/S535 2020 QLED is much better than the Samsung TU7000. The TCL has better picture quality, mainly because its full-array local dimming feature allows it to display deep blacks. It also gets a bit brighter and displays a wide color gamut for HDR content, which the Samsung can't do. Lastly, the TCL has a much quicker response time, so motion looks smoother.
The Vizio V5 Series 2021 and the Samsung TU7000 are both okay TVs. The Vizio has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms, but it still doesn't get very bright. The Vizio also removes judder from 24p sources, which the Samsung can't do, which helps motion in movies. However, the Samsung's built-in Tizen is better overall than the Vizio's OS as it comes with an app store, and the Samsung does a better job at upscaling lower-resolution content.
The Insignia F50 QLED is slightly better than the Samsung TU7000. The Insignia is brighter, meaning it can handle more glare in a bright viewing environment. The Insignia also has a faster response time, resulting in smoother motion. Finally, the Insignia has a much wider color gamut and better accuracy out of the box. On the other hand, the Samsung TV is better at upscaling DVDs, and it has much better black uniformity.
The Samsung TU7000 is a bit better than the TCL 4 Series/S435 2020. The Samsung gets brighter, has a quicker response time, and much lower input lag, so it's a better choice for gaming. However, the TCL removes judder from native 24p sources, has significantly better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and has better reflection handling.
The Samsung TU7000 is a bit better overall than the TCL 4 Series/S434 Android 2020. The Samsung is better for gaming because it has a lower input lag, and it's better for watching TV shows and sports because it gets brighter. However, the TCL has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, and even though this can vary between units, you may not need to get it calibrated to enjoy it to the fullest.
The Samsung TU7000 is better than the Hisense H6570G. The Samsung has much lower input lag, a BFI feature to reduce motion blur, better gradient handling, and it upscales native 4k content properly. However, the Hisense has a slightly quicker response time, has better reflection handling, and removes judder from native 24p sources.
The Samsung TU7000 and the Hisense H6510G are similarly performing TVs. The Samsung has much lower input lag, better color accuracy, and it gets a bit brighter. However, the Hisense has better reflection handling and better gradient handling.
The LG CX OLED is significantly better than the Samsung TU7000 thanks to its OLED panel. The LG delivers much better picture quality, as it can produce perfect blacks and can display a wide color gamut. It also has near-instantaneous response time, higher peak brightness, and wider viewing angles. That said, if you need a TV to use as a monitor, the Samsung has lower input lag, and its VA panel is immune to permanent burn-in.
The Samsung TU7000 and the LG UN6970 are similar-performing TVs, but they have different panel types. The Samsung has a VA panel with a much better contrast ratio and significantly better black uniformity. It also has better gradient handling and a Black Frame Insertion feature. However, the LG has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, it gets brighter, has better reflection handling, and has a quicker response time.
The Sony X800H performs better for most uses than the Samsung TU7000, but they use different panel types with different advantages and disadvantages. The Sony has significantly better viewing angles thanks to its IPS panel, it gets brighter, and it has a faster response time. However, the Samsung's VA panel has a better contrast ratio, resulting in deeper blacks, so it's better suited for watching movies in the dark.
The LG GX OLED is much better than the Samsung TU7000, mainly because they use different panel types. The LG is a premium TV with an OLED panel and infinite contrast ratio for perfect black levels. It also has much wider viewing angles, more gaming features like HDMI 2.1 and VRR support, and it displays a wide color gamut for HDR content. The Samsung is an entry-level TV with an LED panel, and it doesn't have the burn-in risk like the LG.
Video
Test Results
The Samsung TU7000 has a surprisingly modern and clean design for a budget model. The bezels are extremely thin on all four sides and aren't at all distracting. On the other hand, the stand is very basic and doesn't prevent the TV from wobbling.
The stand is plastic and feels pretty cheap. It doesn't support the TV very well, as it wobbles quite a bit. Instead of being screwed on, the stand is simply inserted into the TV, which makes the installation process a bit easier, but possibly contributes to the lack of stability.
Footprint of the 55 inch TV stand: 39.8" x 10.1"
The back of the TV is plastic and has the same etched horizontal texture as other recent Samsung TVs, like the Samsung TU8000. The inputs are side-facing, but they're set into the back of the TV, so they're tough to access when wall-mounted. There are tracks on the back of the TV for cable management, and clips on the feet to hold them in place.
The bezels are surprisingly thin for a budget model and aren't distracting at all.
The Samsung TU7000 seems decently built, similar to the Samsung TU8000 and the Samsung Q60/Q60T QLED. There are no significant issues, but it wobbles a bit when nudged.
The Samsung TU7000 has an excellent contrast ratio, resulting in deep blacks in a dark room. The exact contrast ratio can vary a bit between units, but these results are in line with other VA panels we've tested. Unfortunately, there's no local dimming feature to improve contrast.
This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The videos are still filmed, so you can see how the backlight on this display performs and compare it to a similar product with local dimming.
This TV has sub-par peak brightness in SDR. It's best-suited for a dark to moderately-lit room, as it doesn't get bright enough to overcome glare in well-lit environments. There's very little variation in brightness with different content, except for the 2% window, which is dimmer due to the TV's CE dimming (frame dimming). If you want something that gets brighter, then check out the Hisense U6G.
We measured the SDR peak brightness after calibration, using the 'Movie' mode. Brightness was set to max, Gamma was set to 2.2, and Contrast was left at its default value. This is about as bright as the TV can get, as other picture modes have approximately the same peak brightness.
Unfortunately, the Samsung TU7000 2020 has bad peak brightness in HDR. Small highlights don't stand out at all, and it doesn't deliver anything close to a cinematic HDR experience. It can't display an accurate image, either, as everything is darker than it should be, even in dark scenes. It tone maps well near the TVs peak brightness, resulting in a slow roll-off, with no loss of fine details in bright scenes.
We measured the HDR peak brightness before calibration, using the 'Movie HDR' mode. Brightness and Contrast were set to max, and ST. 2084 was left at '0'.
If you want a slightly brighter HDR image, we achieved a peak brightness of 282 nits in the 10% window in the 'Movie HDR' Picture Mode with Contrast Enhancer set to 'High', ST.2048 to '+3' and Brightness and Contrast at their max. This results in a brighter HDR image for darker content, as shown in this EOTF, but brighter content isn't any brighter, due to the TV's low peak brightness and early roll off.
There's a very slight difference in HDR peak brightness in Game Mode. Most scenes are a bit brighter than out of Game Mode, although this isn't really a noticeable difference.
Update 01/24/2021: We reprocessed the gradient photo, as it was framed and cropped incorrectly.
This TV has great gradient handling overall, but there's some banding in darker shades of gray and green. There's a Noise Reduction feature intended to reduce banding, but it doesn't do much to reduce banding in our test pattern. Note that we don't recommend leaving this feature enabled, as it can cause a loss of fine details in high-quality content.
The Samsung TU7000 we bought has okay gray uniformity. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, though, and there's some dirty screen effect, which can be distracting when watching sports. Near dark scenes look much better, but there are still some noticeable issues. Note that gray uniformity can vary between individual units.
Our unit has superb black uniformity, but this can vary between individual units. There's only some faint clouding throughout the screen, as well as some slight blooming around the test cross, but it's otherwise very uniform. It doesn't have a local dimming feature, so it can't remove the remaining cloudiness or reduce blooming.
Update 01/24/2021: We reprocessed our viewing angle video from the original footage, as the processed file was incorrectly scaled.
Like most VA panels, the Samsung TU7000 has narrow viewing angles. The image quickly loses accuracy and washes out as you move off-center, so it's not a good choice for a wide seating arrangement. If you want a similar TV with better viewing angles, a TV with an IPS panel, like the LG UP8000, is a better choice overall.
This TV has just alright reflection handling. It's not very bright, either, so it looks best in a moderately-lit or dark room. It's best to avoid placing it in direct sunlight or opposite a bright source of light. If reflection handling is important to you, look into the LG UN7000.
This TV has decent out-of-the-box accuracy, but this may vary between units. Most colors and shades of gray are slightly inaccurate, and the warm color temperature results in a red/yellow tint. Gamma follows the 2.2 target we use for a dark room fairly well, but dark scenes are too dark, and other scenes are slightly over-brightened. If you don't plan on getting your TV calibrated and want amazing color accuracy, check out the TCL 4 Series/S434 Android 2020.
After calibration, the color accuracy is outstanding. There are still some inaccuracies with reds and blues, but white balance is nearly perfect, and so is the gamma, though dark scenes are still too dark. The color temperature is much closer to our target of 6500K.
You can see our recommended settings here.
1080p content looks good, and there aren't any signs of upscaling artifacts.
This TV uses a BGR subpixel layout, which can affect the way text is rendered when using the TV as a PC monitor, but otherwise isn't an issue. You can read about it here.
The Samsung TU7000 has an okay color gamut. A wide color gamut is important for saturated, vibrant colors in HDR, but sadly, this TV can't display a wide color gamut. It has decent coverage of the DCI P3 color space used by most current HDR content, but its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is poor.
The Samsung 7 Series has mediocre color volume. It's mostly limited by the lack of a wide color gamut, but it can display dark colors well, thanks to its excellent contrast ratio. Like almost all LCDs on the market, blues aren't as bright as pure white or most other colors, but this isn't very noticeable with regular content.
Unfortunately, this TV has a fairly slow response time, so it's not ideal for fast-paced action or gaming. This results in more noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects. Like most VA panels, dark scenes have significantly slower response times, which causes a black smearing behind dark objects. Unfortunately, this TV's backlight flicker causes duplications in motion. If you want a TV with better motion handling, consider the Vizio V Series 2022.
Unfortunately, this TV uses pulse width modulation (PWM) to dim its backlight. It flickers at 120Hz on all modes unless you set the Brightness to its max in the 'Game' or 'Movie' Picture Mode, at which point it becomes flicker-free. It's also flicker-free if you're in 'PC' mode with the Picture Mode set to 'Dynamic' and Brightness at its max.
The Samsung TU7000 has a backlight-strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion, to help improve the appearance of motion, but it doesn't perform well. The backlight flickers at 60Hz when LED Clear Motion is enabled, but the bad crosstalk results in visible image duplication. It always flickers at 120Hz in 'Game' mode with the backlight set to any level below its maximum, and once again, image duplication is noticeable due to the TV's 60Hz refresh rate.
This TV can interpolate lower-frame rate content up to 60fps. It looks bad on our test pattern because of the backlight's 120Hz flicker; however, it's not as distracting in regular content. There are some minor artifacts, but it works well overall with most content.
See here for the settings that control the motion interpolation feature.
Thanks to this TV's relatively slow response time, there's very little stutter when watching movies or other low frame rate content.
Unfortunately, this TV can't remove judder from any source. If you want a TV that does, consider the Vizio V5 Series 2021.
Unfortunately, the Samsung TU7000 doesn't support any variable refresh rate technologies and has a limited 60Hz refresh rate. For better gaming performance, check out the Hisense U6G.
This TV has fantastic low input lag. It's extremely low when in 'Game' mode, and it's only slightly higher outside of 'Game' mode. To get the lowest input lag when using a PC, the input in use must be labeled 'PC', and you must be in 'Game' mode, as well.
This TV supports most common resolutions and can display proper chroma 4:4:4 at all supported resolutions, which helps with text clarity when using the TV as a PC monitor. To ensure proper chroma 4:4:4 support, the input in use must be labeled 'PC', and for full bandwidth signals like 4k @60Hz + 10-bit HDR, Input Signal Plus must be enabled as well.
As this TV doesn't support any advanced gaming features, it can't take full advantage of the Xbox Series X or PS5. There's an 'Auto Low Latency Mode' mode, though, which triggers 'Game' mode when the TV detects a game being launched from a compatible device.
Unfortunately, this TV has limited connectivity. With no component or composite inputs, users with older devices will need to use an external HDMI converter to use them with this TV.
Even though it doesn't have an HDMI 2.1 input, this TV has eARC support, which is a nice addition to an entry-level TV. This lets you send high-quality audio to a compatible receiver using an HDMI connection.
This TV has a decent frequency response. It's well-balanced overall; however, some may find the bass to be a bit on the lighter side, especially for watching movies or for gaming. It doesn't get that loud, so it's better suited for small and quiet environments.
The distortion performance is okay. It sounds fairly clean at moderate volume levels, but it does distort a bit at max volume. Surprisingly, there's less distortion in the higher frequencies when playing at max volume than at a moderate volume level. That said, distortion depends on content, and not everyone may hear it.
Like all other Samsung TVs, the Samsung TU7000 runs on Tizen OS. As an entry-level model with a slower processor, Samsung has reduced the number of animations in the OS to improve overall performance. The interface is well-organized and easy to use, and we didn't notice any bugs or issues with it during testing.
Like most TVs on the market, there are ads on the home screen and within the app store, and unfortunately, they can't be disabled.
The Samsung app store has most of the popular streaming services available, and they run smoothly for the most part.
The remote control is similar to previous entry-level models, with just a few minor tweaks. Shortcuts to streaming services have been added, but otherwise, it remains unchanged, and there's still no voice control.
