Samsung UE43U8000F

A little goes a long way with this mostly impressive all-rounder

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Once upon a time, not so long ago, Samsung absolutely dominated the affordable TV world, with generation after generation of cut-price TV bangers. But then, two or three years ago, a slight drop off in Samsung's budget TV quality awkwardly coincided with the irresistible rise of some relatively new value-focused brands, particularly TCL and Hisense. So, can Samsung's latest feature-rich 43-inch budget TV begin the South Korean brand's return to its former cheap and cheerful TV glories?

The UE43U8000F's screen sits within a neatly trim and attractively matte-finished black frame that is also strikingly slim around the back. Build quality feels quite lightweight by Samsung's usually high standards - even though the U8000F's so-called MetalStream design is apparently created from a single sheet of metal to create a “seamless and modern aesthetic”.

The U8000F is an LCD TV illuminated by direct LED backlighting. There's no local dimming or Mini LED lighting in play here, which is unsurprising, given the price.

The panel is a VA type, though. These traditionally deliver better contrast (but slightly reduced viewing angles) than the IPS alternative. It doesn't use Quantum Dots to produce its colours, as its more premium siblings do, but the PurColor system driven by Samsung's Crystal processor is still claimed to deliver a wider gamut than most budget TVs.

Smart features are provided by Samsung's own Tizen platform, with a comprehensive range of streaming and catch-up TV apps, as well as Samsung's dedicated Gaming Hub screen. Cramming so many Tizen features into the hands of the U8000F's quad-core processor does cause quite a bit of sluggishness to creep into proceedings as you try to zip around the menus and fire up different apps.