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Samsung UE48H6400

Samsung UE48H6400 Review – Coming in at just under a grand, this 48-inch mid-range TV is a safe pair of televisual hands. The design is classic Samsung, from the X-shaped pedestal stand to the translucent bezel edging that appears to widen the picture.

Samsung UE48H6400

There’s nothing here to shock or delight, but plenty to admire, from the picture quality to the connections, and Samsung’s growing array of catch-up and on-demand offerings. First, the picture. The H6400’s Wide Colour Enhancer Plus processor ensures images look particularly lush.

There’s no shortage of peak white dynamics, but black levels don’t go quite as deep as Toshiba’s back-lit telly (see p107). The summer of sport may be winding down to a close, but with 400Hz motion handling and no sign of artefacts, you’re all set for the new football season’s action and the very latest games – see p111 for titles that will really test it. The active 3D does suffer from crosstalk, but no more egregiously than other sets.

The one place where a subtle revamp is apparent is Samsung’s Smart Hub. In addition to adding a slow trickle of catch-up and on-demand services – you now get BBC iPlayer, 4OD and ITV Player, as well as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video – there’s also the On TV personalised guide, which suggests shows on now and next that you might enjoy.

The more you use it, the more accurate its smart S-Recommendation system becomes too, which is nice. Multimedia playback support from networked devices and local USB is pleasingly comprehensive, with all key file types supported, while a built-in Freeview HD tuner also gives you plenty of channels without a set-top box. If you want to pause or record you’ll need to invest in one, though. It’s not the cheapest telly on test, nor does it have the most engaging picture or best interface. Instead, this TV does absolutely everything pretty well indeed, and for that it deserves more than polite applause

Pros

Crisp, vibrant HD image quality
Fine motion handling
Good web TV selection

Cons

Limited black levels
3D suffers from crosstalk