One of Samsung’s most affordable 4K TVs, the AU9000, is the ideal illustration of why the business rules this segment of the market.
It has features found higher up the manufacturer’s range, is economical without looking like a budget model, and delivers great SDR and HDR images.
Review of the Samsung AU9000: What You Should Know
A smart TV with a 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution and screen sizes ranging from 43 to 75 inches is the Samsung AU9000. It is a member of Samsung’s Crystal UHD series, the company’s entry-level line of 4K TVs, which is located beneath its different QLED televisions.
The AU9000, like the other products in Samsung’s Crystal UHD line, the AU7100 and AU8000, is equipped with an edge-lit 60Hz VA-type LCD panel and supports HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+. It is also powered by Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K. The only device in the series with Samsung’s Game Bar and Object Tracking Sound Lite capabilities is the AU9000.
The AU9000, like all of Samsung’s 4K TVs, uses Tizen OS, which gives users access to all of the main content streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney Plus, and numerous others.
Review of the Samsung AU9000: Control, connectors, and design
With its appealing design and sleek, black “AirSlim” chassis, the Samsung AU9000 doesn’t exactly have the appearance of a low-cost TV. The screen is surrounded by a chamfered 7mm wide bezel, a 5mm black border around the image, and a 10mm strip along the bottom. Overall, this TV is attractive.
The 43in version is 966 x 188 x 624mm (WDH), has a chassis depth of just 26mm, and weighs 8.6kg with its feet attached. These slide into grooves at the back and give the image 80mm of clearance. If you wish to fit a soundbar under the screen, you can use a piece of plastic to connect the two feet, which are 640mm apart. However, you should leave this off.
It’s important to note that the AU9000 comes with various stands depending on its size. The 43in and 50in models have the same layout as the larger models, which include a base that is placed immediately beneath the screen’s center. All models feature 200 x 200 VESA mounting points on the back for wall mounting.
As you face the screen, the connectors are on the back right of the panel. The side-facing inputs are just 170mm from the edge, which is unfortunate because there is a chance that unsightly cables would protrude from the side of the screen. There are a combination of rear- and side-facing inputs.
This TV is a good option for gamers because it has three HDMI 2.0 inputs, one of which (HDMI 2) supports eARC and all of which are capable of supporting 4K resolution at 60Hz, CEC, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). A terrestrial tuner, CI slot, optical digital output, two USB 2.0 inputs, two USB 3.0 inputs, and an Ethernet connector for a wired connection are also included. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 connections are both accepted in terms of wireless connections.
AU9000 Samsung review: platform for smart TVs
The Samsung AU9000 comes with the entire Tizen-powered smart platform, which is responsive, natural, and simple to use. A launcher bar runs the length of the bottom of the screen, and a second layer offers quicker access to the different streaming services.
With Netflix, Prime Video, Now TV, Disney+, Apple TV+, Rakuten, YouTube, and all the UK TV catch-up services available for a TV at this price point, there is also an incredible number of apps available. In addition, there is the Universal Guide to help you sort through the wide variety of material.
The SmartThings app, a web browser, and Samsung’s free TV Plus content subscription are also available, which makes the AU9000’s initial setup simple. The AU9000 is particularly well-equipped in terms of smart assistants, as it has Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung’s Bixby.
AU9000 Samsung review: picture caliber
Excellent image quality is delivered by the Samsung AU9000, however it has certain drawbacks. It makes use of a VA panel, which results in a respectable contrast ratio of 4,000:1 and very great shadow detail for an LCD TV. However, it also means that the best viewing angles are somewhat constrained, so when watching TV, you should be directly facing the screen.
When viewing a 5IRE full-field pattern, the edge LED illumination is also highly effective and results in good screen uniformity. With excellent greyscale readings and an average DeltaE (error) of 1.5 that shows accurate greyscale tracking over the full spectrum of brightness levels, the Filmmaker Mode is extremely accurate straight out of the box. The colors are likewise outstanding, with full saturation sweep average errors of just 1.3. The only aspect of the image that is a little ropey is the gamma, which displays a classic s-curve and indicates a tiny loss of clarity in very dark places.
With pictures that are well-defined and colors that look realistic, SDR picture performance is quite good. The overall composition feels balanced, with strong highlights, good gradation in the shadows, and great blacks in the absence of any local dimming. The AU9000 can produce lower resolution content with clear, detailed images that are free of undesirable artifacts thanks to some efficient processing and upscaling.
Despite being confined to a 60Hz refresh rate, the AU9000 manages challenging content like sports with a degree of competence. The motion performance is very impressive for an LCD TV. Additionally, it reproduces 24p content without adding judder, guaranteeing that movies maintain a cinematic quality. While the frame interpolation options available in the Picture Clarity settings are useful for watching programming like sports, they should be avoided when watching movies and TV dramas.
Review of the Samsung AU9000’s HDR performance
When handling HDR video, particularly when it comes to peak brightness, the Samsung AU9000 makes clear that it is a budget model. In Dynamic mode, the TV can reach a brightness of about 300cd/m2 on a 10% window and a full-field pattern, while in Filmmaker mode, this luminance falls to about 250cd/m2 on a 10% window and a full-field pattern.
Despite the lack of quantum dot technology, the AU9000 able to cover 94% of the larger DCI-P3 color gamut in Filmmaker Mode and 100% of the BT.709 color gamut without any problems. Although the color tone-mapping could be improved and the displayed colors have an average DeltaE of 6, they nevertheless noticeably deviate from the original color standard. It tracks these colors reasonably well across various saturation points.
Having said that, HDR content appears natural enough overall, with crisp, appropriately saturated visuals. This is a commendable HDR effort for a TV at this price point, albeit the black level isn’t as deep as on more capable screens and the specular highlights lack a certain amount of pop.
HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+ are supported by the AU9000, but Dolby Vision is not. The latter, though, isn’t absent because the TV is a mid-range model from Samsung; instead, the business chose to offer HDR10+, which is a royalty-free format. While not as popular as Dolby Vision, HDR10+ has good performance in testing and is a format that is used by Prime Video and select 4K Blu-rays.
Review of the Samsung AU9000: Gaming
Gamers will find the Samsung AU9000 to be a wise pick because it has many practical gaming functions. It cannot support 4K resolution at 120Hz due to the 60Hz panel and the absence of an HDMI 2.1 connector, however it can play games at 4K resolution at 60Hz with HDR enabled. Additionally, FreeSync and an Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) provide compatibility for VRR.
The latter does so automatically and chooses the Game Mode, which results in an input latency of just 9ms, which is exceptionally low. The TV also supports the ultra-wide 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, as well as Samsung’s Motion Xcelerator Turbo feature, which simulates a faster refresh rate of 120Hz at 1080p.
Review of the Samsung AU9000: Sound quality
The Samsung AU9000’s thin body and high price point both contribute to the device’s audio shortcomings. The truth is that it would be extremely difficult and expensive to fit a respectable pair of speakers into a chassis that is only 26mm deep.
You do receive a pair of downward-firing drivers with 10W of internal amplification in each. Samsung has also included its Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite immersive audio algorithm and AI Adaptive Sound acoustic processing to improve the AU9000’s audio output.
Verdict on the Samsung AU9000 review.
The Samsung AU9000 is a skilled 4K TV that effectively offers features and performance that are comparable to devices farther up the company’s range. Impressive SDR picture clarity, good upscaling, and respectable contrast ratios for an LCD TV are all present. Although HDR10+ support is not as widespread as Dolby Vision, it is nevertheless a wonderful addition. HDR tone-mapping is also effective.
Despite lacking HDMI 2.1 connections, it still makes a respectable pick for gamers because to its low input lag and Samsung’s useful Game Bar. Samsung’s Tizen OS also ensures that it is adequately smart, offering three built-in voice assistants and a wide range of streaming options.
