Those looking for a more-affordable alternative to Samsung’s very fine quantum-dot-based 2018 QLED 4K Ultra HDTV series, will be pleased to know that the company’s more affordably priced NU8 and NU7 series models have started to appear at retail and on e-commerce sites.
The arrivals of the select NU8 model series, which stress gaming-friendly refresh rates and picture quality, synchronized with the E3 video gaming convention underway in Los Angeles this week, as Microsoft unveiled a slate of new games for the Xbox One X and Xbox One S consoles, which match up well with some of Samsung’s 2018 televisions.
Models in the NU7 (NU7300 and NU7100) series lack the added gaming capability.
Among the added bonuses found in NU8500 and NU8000 series models for gaming display enthusiast are new Verible Refresh Rate (VRR) and Freesync technologies that first appeared as supported features in the QLED models.
The Game Mode VRR feature, which is a benefit coming through the forthcoming HDMI 2.1 interface but supported ahead of schedule in the Samsung NU and Q series models, is designed to reduce input lag while removing or reducing jutter and image tearing artifacts in 4K Ultra HD and HDR gaming.
The Freesync technology is AMD’s version of VRR and is currently supported on Xbox One X and Xbox One S consoles. When one of the consoles is paired with a new Samsung Q or NU series television or another supporting display or monitor, the aforementioned artifacts caused by the difference in sync timing from rendering of a game by the console to when it is displayed on the display’s screen. This will help the display and video card work together at an optimal frame rate.
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None of the NU8 or NU7 series models have full-array LED backlighting, like the Q9FN and Q8FN models. This means purchasers will get edge-lit LED displays that lose some of the black level and shadow detail produced by large-zone full-array LED approaches and 4K OLED displays, which of course, cost more.
4K Ultra HD and HDR will also lose some of the three-dimensional qualities produced by the better backlighting and direct-emitting display technologies.
All of the new NU series LCD TVs have 4K Ultra HD resolution and will support both HDR10 and the Samsung-developed HDR10+ with dynamic metadata HDR profiles. They do not support Dolby Vision.
All models feature Samsung’s Tizen OS/Smart Hub platform, and this year include support and control for Samsung’s SmarThings home automation devices (requires use of a SmartThings mobile app with the two lower model lines), as well as Samsung Bixby intelligent voice assistant technology for voice-powered operation and multi-device control in the NU8500 and NU8000 series models.
The mid-range NU8 and NU7 4K TV tier includes both flat and curved screen models, with screen sizes ranging from 43 to 82 inches.
The mid-range NU8 model tier include the NU8500 and NU8000, and the NU7 series include the NU7300 and NU7100.
A breakdown of the four model series follows:
NU8500 Series
The Samsung NU8500 (curved screen) and NU8000 (flat screen) 4K Ultra HD LED-LCD TV series, are the highest performing of the NU series group.
3 Bezel-less slim design
240 Motion Rate (120 Hz native refresh rate)
Auto Motion Plus
HDR10, HDR+ support
UHD Picture Engine
Supreme UHD Dimming
Auto Game Mode, Game Motion Plus
Tizen-based Smart Hub platform
SmartThings compatible
InstaPort S HDMI quick switch
Inputs: 4 HDMI (1 ARC); 2 USB; 1 shared component/composite input; RS-232; Ethernet, digital audio output
Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung OneRemote
Bixby voice assistant
SteamLink built-in
Clean Cable Solution
65” UN65NU8500 – $1497.99
55” UN55NU8500 – $1097.99
NU8000 Series
The Samsung NU8000 (flat screen) 4K Ultra HD LED-LCD TVs series are the have most of the same features in a slightly different design.
Flat screen edge-lit LED-LCD
3 Bezel-less slim design
240 Motion Rate (120 Hz native refresh rate)
Auto Motion Plus
HDR10, HDR+ support
UHD Picture Engine
Supreme UHD Dimming
Auto Game Mode, Game Motion Plus
Tizen-based Smart Hub platform
10-bit support
SmartThings compatible
InstaPort S HDMI quick switch
Inputs: 4 HDMI (1 ARC); 2 USB; 1 shared component/composite input; RS-232; Ethernet, digital audio output
Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung OneRemote
Bixby voice assistant
SteamLink built-in
Clean Cable Solution
65” UN65NU8500 – $1397.99
55” UN55NU8500 – $997.99
NU7300 Series
The Samsung 55-inch 55NU7300 is a curved-screen 4K Ultra HD LED-LCD TV model with dual-footed Simple Luminus stand design and the following features:
Curved-screen slim design with Simple Luminus stand
120 Motion Rate (60 Hz native refresh rate)
HDR10 support
UHD Remaster Engine
UHD Dimming
Game Mode
Tizen-based Smart Hub platform
10-bit support
InstaPort S HDMI quick switch
Inputs: 3 HDMI (1 ARC); 2 USB; 1 shared component/composite input; RS-232; Ethernet, digital audio output
Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung Simple Remote
SmartThings app compatible
SteamLink built-in
NU7100 Series
The Samsung NU7100 (flat screen) 4K Ultra HD LED-LCD TV series of a similar feature set including he following:
Flat screen edge-lit LED-LCD
“New Edge” skinny bezel design
120 Motion Rate (60 Hz native refresh rate)
UHD Dimming
HDR 10 support
10-bit panel
Game Mode
Tizen-based Smart Hub platform
InstaPort S HDMI quick switch
Inputs: 3 HDMI (2 ARC); 2 USB; 1 shared component/composite input; RS-232; Ethernet, digital audio output.
Built-in Wi-Fi
Samsung Simple Remote
SmartThings app compatible
SteamLink built-in
By Greg Tarr
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