Review: Samsung UE48H5500

Introduction and features

The 48-inch Edge LED Samsung UE48H5500 has the most comprehensive smart TV app platform of all alongside a Full HD panel and a Freeview HD tuner, all for around £500.

But it is missing one thing: 3D. Oh, the horror! Though it's become almost a standard feature on TVs, the active vision 3D system that Samsung favours means battery-powered 3D specs, so perhaps it won't be missed.

Design

The UE48H5500 suffers from an entirely plastic build quality, a trend that's noticeably creeping up the TV food-chain to encompass even so-called high-end TVs.

However, the UE48H5500 does remain reasonably lightweight despite its monster-big screen; I had no problem constructing the two-piece desktop stand, which requires eight small screws.

Although the desktop stand is basically a slab of cheap-looking black plastic, it's reasonably low profile, while the TV itself has a slim frame around the screen that measures a mere 8mm on the top and sides, and 18mm on the undercarriage. There's a slim plastic rim at the bottom, though not on the sides.

Features

It's easy to think that all mid-range TVs are essentially the same, but while Samsung clearly thinks its brilliant Smart Hub apps will be enough to secure your cash, there's actually quite a few features missing from the UE48H5500 that might be on your shopping list.

It's a Full HD TV with a 100Hz Edge LED-backlit panel, built-in Wi-Fi and a Freeview HD tuner. Powered by a quad core processor, it also plays video files from a USB stick or HDD and makes a stab at voice recognition, too.

So what doesn't it do? There's no Freesat HD tuner, the 100Hz panel is perhaps slightly under-spec, and it possesses just three HDMI slots and a couple of USBs. If none of that bothers you, the UE48H5500 could be a real bargain.

Apps

The simple one-page grid of apps that graces the UE48H5500 is actually the least inspiring of the entire Smart Hub, but it's also its greatest achievement. The apps page is utterly comprehensive (unless you're after Sky's Now TV, that is) in terms of streaming media.

Grabbing the headlines are the likes of Netflix, Amazon Instant and the BBC iPlayer, but there are plenty more in the 40-strong collection including ITV Player, 4 On Demand, Demand Five, Curzon Home Cinema, Wuaki.tv, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, Spotify, YouTube, DailyMotion, KnowHow Movies, AccuWeather, vTuner, BFI Player, TuneIn radio, Skype… the list goes on.

Ins and outs

As always on Samsung TVs there are ins and outs aplenty. A rear-facing panel on the back of the UE48H5500 sports a HDMI input alongside an RGB Scart and a set of component video inputs (one of which doubles as a composite video input). There's also stereo phonos, an optical digital audio output for taking everything (even Freeview HD sounds) into a home cinema system, a wired LAN slot, an IR out and an audio out.

Happily the UE48H5500 does have Wi-Fi, but for anyone with a flaky router or thick walls it's more reliable to use a wired connection if streaming video apps like the BBC iPlayer, Netflix or YouTube (all of which the UE48H5500 offers) are on the menu.

However, its side-panel is graced by all the key connections, housing two more HDMI inputs, two USB slots and a feed for the built-in Freeview HD tuner. Unlike TVs further up the Samsung food-chain there's no integrated Freesat HD satellite TV tuner, though that's really only a selling point if you're in a rural area troubled by dodgy Freeview HD signals.

Overall I'm happy with the ins and outs, though I'm conscious that anyone with a Blu-ray player, a set-top box and a games console – hardly a particularly high-end haul of AV gear – will be maxing-out those three HDMI inputs. Ditto those USB slots, too; the UE48H5500 is reasonably well connected, but there are much better endowed models just above it in Samsung's vast range of TVs.

Hardware

There are no 3D specs nor the second 'smart' touch-pad remote supplied with all Samsung TVs above the UE48H5500's spec. Picture processing circuitry marks it down as a mid-range TV, most notably its 100Hz panel, which Samsung calls ClearMotionRate 100.

Also available

The UE48H5500 is joined in Samsung's Series 5 by the 32-inch UE32H5500 and the 40-inch UE40H5500. Both run on a quad core processor and offer Samsung's Smart Hub of apps and its S-Recommendation services, too.

Picture quality, usability, sound and value

The UE48H5500 excels with Blu-ray. Using its Full HD panel to the extreme, our test disc Gravity was displayed with enough detail to give immense depth. Who needs 3D?

Detail & colour

Close-ups are delivered with skill, with fine detail visible and a finely graded, subtle colour palette. The former is down to a well-used Full HD panel, while the UE48H5500's built-in Wide Color Enhancer Plus circuity comes is doing a fine job, too.

Black levels & noise

To get those cinematic colours – and certainly if you want believable black levels, it's advisable to switch-on the movie mode picture preset and take the brightness down considerably. The latter rids standard definition images of distractingly visible picture noise, and helps keep them well contrasted.

The tricky mixed brightness images in Gravity are handled really well by the UE48H5500, which manages to offer a convincing rendition of the vastness of space alongside brightly lit astronauts and space hardware.

Motion blur & viewing angles

For pondering images and close-ups, the UE48H5500 really shines, but fast-moving fare does cause a little trouble for this 100Hz panel. Even with the LED Clear Motion feature toggled on, when the going gets tough in near-Earth orbit and the debris starts flying, the quick pans and fast-moving action does cause a few blurs and judders. It's never serious, and many viewers won't even notice it.

Sadly, there's no chance to try a cure because Samsung's Motion Plus frame interpolation circuity isn't included in the UE48H5500's spec. Some will cheer its absence, but I think it's a missed opportunity to bring frame interpolation's more fluid images to a new audience.

The other low-point of the UE48H5500 is its restrictive viewing angles; try to watch it from the sides and all you're get is washed-out images devoid of contrast and with rapidly drained, grey-like black levels.

While the UE48H5500 is hardly a bad picture performer, those after a serious AV performer has better head to Samsung's Series 6 tellies such as the UE48H6500.

Usability

While the regular picture/sound/settings menus are a breeze to use and navigation is speedy the Smart Hub pages are what the UE48H5500 ought to be judged on. The comprehensive apps page, though bearing an unimaginative grid design, is easy to use, with icons for the most used apps lined-up across the top. That apps page is sandwiched between colourful, dynamic pages including On TV, Movies & TV Shows, Multimedia and Games.

On TV is probably the most interesting, presenting now/next information complete with thumbnail images. This is part of Samsung's S-Recommendation system that monitors what you're watching, though another part of this system is the voice commands, a review of which you'll find here.

Multimedia

Digital file playback comes in three forms; via media software direct from a networked PC, a USB stick inserted into the UE48H5500's side, or from a tablet or smartphone equipped with Samsung's free 'second screen' SmartView 2.0 app.

File compatibility from the first two options is pleasingly exhaustive, while SmartView 2.0 can stream JPEG photos and both MOV and MP4 videos from a mobile device to the UE48H5500. It also ports live TV from the UE48H5500 – about five seconds delayed – but not external sources like Blu-ray.

Sound

While its dual 10W speakers do their best, audio on the UE48H5500 is another problem. Treble detail is predictably excellent, without any audible hiss even at high volumes, but there's not enough mid-range or low-end, and consequently music really suffers. Samsung sells soundbars for a reason, though buying one to partner a TV that already measures a pretty substantial 65mm depth might cause problems; considering its depth, the UE48H5500 should have better native speakers.

Value

If you can bag a UE48H5500 for a discount price – say, £500 – it's hard to argue with. The list-price of £629 is ambitious, for sure, but since it appears to be selling for a lot, lot less, I'm confident no-one will feel hard done by once it's set-up.

That said, there are a few reasons why it's cheaper than other Samsung TVs, most notably the more basic panel and a lack of accessories, such as the second Smart Touch remote control and 3D glasses, which are included in the box for all pricier Samsung TVs in 2014. You get what you pay for in terms of looks, but in almost all other areas the UE48H5500 is a veritable bargain.

Verdict

The UE48H5500 may be all about value, but at its core there's a capable LED panel that's not the last word in AV quality, but is hugely versatile. Add the best smart TV shenanigans in the business and this 48-incher is a lesson in how Edge LED TVs are coming on in quality.

We liked

The colours are natural, and both HD and standard definition footage handled extremely well. The Freeview HD software is first class, as is the choice of apps and the general navigation screens. However, the UE48H5500 is all about value, with its super-low price making it one of the bargain bigscreens of 2014.

We disliked

Though just about quick enough at navigation, the goalposts have shifted and with so much to deal with a quad core is now the de facto minimum required. In short, Samsung's beefed-up quad core+ TVs do handle app loading and menu navigation a tad quicker than the UE48H5500.

The three HDMI ins and two USB slots are a little disappointing, as is the UE48H5500's glossy black plastic look, though of most concern are its tight viewing angles and a trace of judder and motion blur. Still, those latter two issues are minimal and won't bother most people.

As for voice interaction, it doesn't work very well even when there's a microphone-mounted Smart Touch remote control in the mix, as found on Samsung's high-end TVs; being bereft of that means the UE48H5500 is not a good listener. It's no loss. Likewise, the lack of 3D probably won't harm the UE48H5500's chances.

Final verdict

One of the few TVs around that manages to be both great value and feel like a real treat, the UE48H5500 is perhaps the best 48-inch TV for the price-conscious living room. Its pictures do have tiny flaws if you look for them, but it impresses with both HD and standard definition, delivers great colour and good contrast, and – perhaps most importantly – brings the entire suite of on-demand TV apps to a living room.

Meanwhile its simple gloss black styling won't appeal to all, but it's a design that's easy to live with. Low points include a trace of motion blur, thin sound and a paltry three HDMI inputs; it's not perfect, but at this price, who cares?

Also consider

If you want a slice of Samsung's best picture quality, head for its 48-inch UE48H6700, which adds micro dimming and a 3D mode. Smart TV takes a back seat, but those not after apps should take a look at the great value Philips 48PFT5509, which is both cheaper and better looking than this Samsung. If you don't mind extending the screen size by two-inches in the diagonal. Sony's 50-inch KDL-50W829 boasts superb motion handling and a powerful content discovery engine.

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