Samsung CU7100: 55 Inch Samsung - Review 🏆

The Samsung 55 Inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV is one of Samsung's latest 4K TV models for 2023. This mid-range 4K LED TV features a 55-inch screen size and 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD resolution powered by Samsung's Crystal 4K processor.

Key features and specs of the CU7100 include:

• 55-inch screen size
• 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 resolution
• High Dynamic Range (HDR10, HDR10+, HLG)
• Crystal 4K Processor for upscaling
• PurColor for wider color gamut
• Adaptive Sound audio
• Built-in apps for streaming and gaming
• Slim, minimalist design

With its combination of 4K picture quality, HDR support, smart TV capabilities, and sleek design, the Samsung CU7100 aims to deliver an immersive viewing experience and great value. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the various features and performance of this 2023 Samsung 4K TV model.

Design

The Samsung 55-inch CU7100 has an elegant and minimalist design that looks great in any living room. It has an ultra-slim profile, with a depth of just 2.25 inches, so it doesn't stick out far from the wall when wall-mounted. The bezels around the screen are slim and uniform on all sides.

The TV has a simple black plastic back with a brushed metal finish. The stand has a wide, curved shape with metal accents, giving it a premium look. Overall, the design looks clean, modern, and streamlined.

The build quality feels very sturdy, with the metal stand providing stability and preventing wobble. The plastic back panel feels solid and durable. The TV isn't the thinnest on the market, but still looks sleek from the front.

The bottom bezel is slightly thicker than the side bezels to accommodate the Samsung logo. The back panel has a discreet Samsung logo as well. The inputs are neatly arranged on the back for a tidy appearance.

Overall, the design and build quality of the Samsung CU7100 are very good for the price. It looks elegant and doesn't come across as cheaply made. The minimalist aesthetics help it blend into both traditional and contemporary living spaces.

If you're considering a slightly smaller screen with similar design aesthetics, the Samsung CU7110: 50 Inch is worth a look. This model shares many features with the CU7100, including the sleek, modern design and sturdy build quality. It offers a great viewing experience and can easily fit into a variety of room sizes and layouts, making it a versatile choice for different living spaces.

Display Quality

The Samsung 55-Inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV features an impressive 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, providing stunning clarity and detail in every image. The Ultra HD resolution is 4 times that of regular Full HD, delivering over 8 million pixels for a lifelike viewing experience. Even up close, images remain crisp and clear.

With High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, the TV can display a wider range of colors and contrast. HDR10+ compatibility optimizes each scene by adjusting brightness levels frame-by-frame. This brings out fine details and textures, making images more realistic. The TV supports 100% Color Volume with Quantum Dot technology, producing over a billion shades of color. You'll enjoy rich, accurate and vivid colors from every viewing angle.

The Crystal 4K Processor enhances lower resolution content up to near 4K picture quality. This upscaling engine uses machine learning to analyze and improve every scene based on its characteristics. With PurColor technology, the processor fine-tunes color, contrast and HDR effects to optimize picture performance. Overall, the display delivers fantastic clarity, vibrant colors, deep contrast and impressive 4K upscaling.

For those looking for an upgraded experience, the Samsung CU8500: 65 Inch is an excellent choice. It features enhanced picture quality with its Quantum Processor 4K and Quantum HDR, ensuring even better color accuracy and depth. The larger screen size provides a more immersive viewing experience, while the sleek and modern design effortlessly fits into any living room decor. Additionally, the CU8500 offers advanced smart features and improved connectivity options for a seamless entertainment experience.

Sound Quality

The Samsung CU7100 comes equipped with Adaptive Sound, which analyzes the content you're watching and automatically optimizes the audio settings to deliver the best sound quality.

The built-in speakers provide clear and balanced sound, though as expected with slim TVs, they lack the full bass of dedicated external speakers. Still, the audio is significantly better than average for a flat panel TV.

Adaptive Sound supports various audio formats including Dolby Digital Plus for immersive surround sound. It works well for TV shows, movies, sports, and gaming, analyzing each scene to provide the ideal soundscape.

You'll get clear dialogue and vocals that really stand out. The TV can decode Dolby Atmos soundtracks to add height and spatial effects. Explosions and action scenes have decent impact.

While external speakers can take it further, the Samsung CU7100 delivers very capable onboard audio performance right out of the box, thanks to Adaptive Sound. It's great for everyday TV viewing without needing added speakers.

Smart TV Features

The Samsung CU7100 comes with the company's Tizen smart TV platform, which provides access to a wide variety of streaming apps and smart home controls. The interface is smooth and intuitive, with apps laid out in a simple ribbon at the bottom of the screen.

For streaming, the CU7100 includes apps for popular services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, and more. The TV also supports voice controls through Samsung's Bixby assistant, allowing you to launch apps, search for content, control TV settings, and even connect with compatible smart home devices using just your voice.

One handy feature is Tap View, which lets you mirror your smartphone screen to the TV by simply tapping the devices together. This makes it easy to view photos, videos, and other content from your phone right on the big screen. You can also use your phone as a remote control.

Overall, Tizen provides a robust smart TV experience that should satisfy most users' needs. The platform is responsive, uncluttered, and offers a wide range of apps and voice control functionality. It's a solid offering compared to other smart TV systems on the market today.

Gaming

The Samsung CU7100 is a great option for gamers thanks to the built-in gaming hub and strong performance. The gaming hub provides quick access to gaming services like Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Google Stadia, and more.

Gaming on the CU7100 is very responsive due to the low input lag. Input lag measures how long it takes for a command on your controller to display on the screen, and lower numbers are better. The CU7100 has an impressively low input lag of around 10ms, which should satisfy most gamers.

The 4K resolution and HDR capabilities make games look incredible with vibrant colors and sharp detail. Fast motion in racing or first-person shooters appears smooth without ghosting or blurring.

For console gaming, the CU7100 has an Auto Low Latency Mode that automatically switches to game mode when it detects a console connected. This reduces input lag for a more responsive experience.

Overall, the stellar low input lag, gaming hub, 4K resolution, and HDR support make the Samsung CU7100 one of the best gaming TVs available today. Gamers who want great performance without having to purchase additional gaming devices will be very satisfied with this model.

Connectivity

The Samsung 55 Inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV offers excellent connectivity options. It has 3 HDMI ports, so you can connect multiple devices like a Blu-ray player, gaming console, or cable box. The HDMI ports support the latest specs, including HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2, and 4K at 60Hz.

For USB connectivity, there are 2 USB ports. You can plug in USB drives to play media files or record live TV to external storage. The USB ports are USB 2.0.

For wireless connectivity, the TV has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi supports the latest standards - 802.11ac for fast and reliable wireless performance. Bluetooth allows you to pair wireless speakers, headphones, game controllers and more.

With the abundant HDMI and USB ports, along with wireless capabilities, the Samsung 55 Inch CU7100 makes it easy to connect all your devices and access content from multiple sources. The connectivity options are versatile for both entertainment and productivity needs.

Ease of Use

The Samsung 55 Inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV is designed to be very user-friendly and intuitive to operate. The user interface is clean and simple to navigate, with a few main menu options like Smart Hub, Sources, and Settings.

The included Samsung OneRemote has a minimalist design with just a few essential buttons, making it easy to control the TV and navigate menus. It works via Bluetooth so you don't need to directly point it at the TV. The remote can also control compatible external devices like soundbars and Blu-ray players that are connected via HDMI.

The initial setup process is straightforward with on-screen prompts to connect to your wifi network and link accounts like Samsung and streaming apps. The TV auto-detects connected devices to make setup seamless. Within minutes you can have the TV fully set up with your preferences and connected to the internet.

Overall, Samsung has focused on simplicity and intuitiveness with the CU7100. Even less tech-savvy users should find the interface, remote, and setup procedure easy to understand and manage. The experience is streamlined and hassle-free.

Pros and Cons

The Samsung 55 Inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV has several pros and cons worth considering:

Pros

• Excellent 4K UHD picture quality with vibrant colors and sharp detail
• Impressive HDR support for enhanced contrast and brightness
• Sleek, slim design that looks great in any room
• Built-in gaming hub with low input lag
• Intuitive smart TV platform with many apps
• Adaptive sound adjusts audio settings automatically
• Easy to set up and use with minimal calibration needed

Cons

• Limited viewing angles compared to LED TVs
• Mediocre built-in speakers lacking bass
• Few HDMI ports compared to some competitors
• No support for Dolby Vision HDR format
• Some motion blur in fast action scenes
• Smart remote lacks microphone for voice control

The stellar 4K picture performance and gaming features make this a great option for media enthusiasts and gamers. But the audio and connectivity limitations may be an issue for some. Overall, the CU7100 provides outstanding visuals that make up for its minor shortcomings in other areas.

Conclusion

Samsung's 55-inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV is an excellent option for those looking for a high-quality 4K TV with great features. The sleek and modern design will look good in any living room. The Crystal 4K Processor and PurColour technology produce vibrant colors and sharp detail on the large 55-inch screen.

For audio, the Adaptive Sound adjusts settings based on what you're watching to optimize sound quality. The smart TV platform is intuitive and gives you access to plenty of streaming apps and content. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag and Game Enhancer mode.

Connectivity is solid with 3 HDMI ports and 2 USB ports. Controlling the TV is easy with the included remote or using your voice. Overall, this 2023 Samsung 4K TV delivers excellent picture quality, great smart features, and solid performance for gaming.

In terms of downsides, the audio could be better and more immersive but it gets the job done fine for most. There is no local dimming so contrast could improve with that feature. Still, for the price, the CU7100 Series provides amazing value given all it can do.

If you want a future-proof 4K TV that looks great, has smart capabilities, and can handle gaming, the Samsung 55-inch CU7100 UHD HDR Smart TV is a fantastic choice. The picture quality and features make this an easy TV to recommend for most homes and budgets. It's a great overall package that showcases the strengths of Samsung's display technology and smart platform.