Samsung BU8100 85 inch Crystal UHD Smart TV

Samsung BU8100 85 inch Crystal UHD Smart TV

Apart from mobile devices, Samsung is also quite a popular brand when it comes to home appliances. Its TVs in particular have been staples for a lot of homes. In this review, we will be having a closer look at the 85-inch AU8100 Crystal UHD TV, which offers a very slim design, and quite a number of interesting features that at least, on paper, seems to make it a very compelling package, especially for those who have a limited amount of space.

Dynamic Crystal Colour

A different level of UHD with advanced phosphor technology. Immerse yourself in the picture with one billion shades of colour. Dynamic Crystal Colour delivers lifelike variations so you can see every subtlety.

AirSlim

The mind-blowing slim profile of your TV blends seamlessly into the wall like you’ve never seen before.

Crystal Processor 4K

Feel every shade of colour as intended. Powerful 4K upscaling ensures you get up to 4K resolution for the content you love.

Smart Hub

Samsung’s new Smart Hub puts content curation and discovery front and center, so you spend less time searching and more time streaming movies, shows and other content you enjoy.

Contrast Enhancer

Contrast Enhancer ensures that every image appears more natural and is incredibly detailed. This innovative picture technology analyzes regions of each image and dynamically adjusts the contrast, resulting in an enhanced sense of depth and colour.

HDR

High Dynamic Range increases the range of light levels on your TV so you can enjoy an enormous spectrum of colours and all the visual details, in even the darkest scenes.

Motion Xcelerator

Experience clear picture and performance because it automatically estimates and compensates frames for the source of contents.

Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)

Experience smooth gaming in its most impressive form without motion blur and judder. Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) optimizes your screen, so you have more control with barely noticeable input lag.

Object Tracking Sound Lite (OTS Lite)

A 3D surround sound with our virtual top channel audio will fully immerse you in the audio experience.

Q-Symphony

Surround yourself with sound from TV and soundbar orchestrated in harmony. Q-Symphony uniquely allows TV and soundbar speakers to operate simultaneously for better surround effect without muting TV speakers.

Adaptive Sound

Adaptive sound has audio scenic intelligence that optimizes sound based on real time scene analysis by content type.

SolarCell Remote

Say goodbye to disposable batteries with the eco-friendly SolarCell Remote that's equipped with a solar panel on the back. The built-in microphone also facilitates the Voice Assistant function, so it’s innovative in more ways than one.

Adjustable Stand

Adjust height and space in between your TV stand however you want without space constraint. It is also just the right stand to perfectly fit your soundbar.

SmartThings

Relax and let your smart butler do the rest. SmartThings can seamlessly connect to, monitor and control all your smart devices and intuitively control your home. You can control devices directly with remote or voice when watching TV.

Video Call Application

Seamlessly connect with your loved ones on the bigger screen with Google Duo. Use the Samsung Slim Fit Cam or your own smartphone camera to make video calls a lot easier.

Voice Assistance

Choose your favorite voice assistant – Bixby. The built-in voice assistant provides optimal entertainment experience and advanced control for your home.

Workspace

Easily access your PC, Laptop, and mobile seamlessly on your TV.

Content Applications

There's a whole world of entertainment at your fingertips. Enjoy favorites like Netflix and Apple TV+ but also discover new apps in areas like sports, gaming, education, and lifestyle.

Software

The AU8100 runs on TizenOS, which offers a very minimalist and clean look. Setting up the TV is very easy and straightforward, and while I did choose to set it up via the remote, you can also use your smartphone. When scanning for networks, it was able to detect both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and signing in to your accounts can be done on screen, or via your smartphone as well, just by scanning a QR code.

When done, you’ll be greeted with a simple home screen that gives you access to several pre-installed applications like Netflix and YouTube. You’ll be able to find more by going to a dedicated app market. I’m not sure how big the library is, but the apps that I would typically use are either already installed, or is available on the store.

Navigating the user interface was smooth and fluid, and apps open quickly. I just wish that there was a bit of multitasking, like being able to continue playback on Apple Music while searching for apps. There is also no option for Picture in Picture, which would’ve been nice for such a large screen.

Another feature that I like is Ambient Mode, which turns the TV into a huge a digital photo and video frame when not in use. You’ll be able to choose from various images and scenes to show, my favorite being the forest scene, which shows a portion of a tree complete with accompanying sounds of leaves and birds.

If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can use AirPlay to stream your content to the TV. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any of these, but it’s certainly a good added feature to have.

Remote Control

The Remote for the AU8100 is simple and straightforward. There is a dedicated button for giving voice commands, directional buttons, home, back, play and pause, volume adjustment and mute, and for changing the channel. I’m not a fan of such, but it also has buttons launching Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and a web browser. It would’ve been nice if these can be remapped for other functions or if you can select the actual apps to launch.

Performance wise, the response is instantaneous, and the buttons feel sturdy enough that they will probably be able to endure a bit of beating. The entire thing is made of plastic, but doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It’s also a good thing that the batteries for the remote are included in the box.

What’s in the Box

• 1 x Power Cable
• 1 x Antenna Adapter
• 2 x Stand Pieces
• Standard Documentation
• Remote Control
• 2 x AAA Batteries