More than a year ago I wrote a popular article that's becoming increasingly irrelevant: "I want my dumb TV." My argument was that Smart TVs make no economic sense because you can get the same or better functionality from an add-on box for cheaper.
TVs like Samsung's UNF5000 and UNF5500 series are the reason behind its increasing irrelevance. The major difference between the two is that the F5500 has Samsung's Smart TV suite, and the F5000 does not. Currently, the price differences between the same sizes in each series are $31 (32-inch), $83 (40-inch), $51 (46-inch), and $83 (50-inch). That's not much money when add-on boxes start at $50 for the excellent Roku LT.
With its relatively cheap Smart TV suite Samsung makes it abundantly clear it wants you to get the UNF5500 instead. In case you needed extra incentive to step up, it also has a different, arguably nicer stand, and an extra HDMI input.
On the other hand, if you already own an external device for streaming -- whether a Roku or an Apple TV, a game console or a disc player -- you really don't need Smart TV. If that's the case, you'll probably be happy to note that the F5000, according to Samsung's specifications, will likely offer identical picture quality to its slightly more expensive, significantly smarter brother. That picture is pretty darn good for its class, if not quite at the level of what you see on TVs like the Panasonic E60 and Vizio E series. All told the F5000 is a solid value among dumb TVs, as long as you don't mind its sparse connectivity.
Series information:I performed a hands-on evaluation of the 40-inch Samsung UN40F5000, but this review also applies to the other screen sizes in the series. All sizes have identical specs and according to the manufacturer should provide very similar picture quality.
| Models in series (details) | |
| Samsung UN22F5000 | 22 inches |
| Samsung UN32F5000 | 32 inches |
| Samsung UN40F5000 (reviewed) | 40 inches |
| Samsung UN46F5000 | 46 inches |
| Samsung UN50F5000 | 50 inchesView Full Gallery (13 Photos) |
Design
Samsung's well-known minimalist design chops extend even as far down as the UNF5000 series. The frame around the screen is a uniform five-eighths-inch in width and glossy black in color, and the cabinet is nice and thin. The latter is due to the TV's edge-lit LED backlight -- making unnecessary the thicker cabinets imparted by the direct LEDs of sets like the Vizio E series and LG LA6200. The only hint of panache is the angular Samsung logo jutting forward from the bottom like a defiant chin.
Samsung's well-known minimalist design chops extend even as far down as the UNF5000 series. The frame around the screen is a uniform five-eighths-inch in width and glossy black in color, and the cabinet is nice and thin. The latter is due to the TV's edge-lit LED backlight -- making unnecessary the thicker cabinets imparted by the direct LEDs of sets like the Vizio E series and LG LA6200. The only hint of panache is the angular Samsung logo jutting forward from the bottom like a defiant chin.
View Full Gallery (13 Photos)
One miscue is the stand, which seemed way too large chunky for our 40-inch review sample -- although its proportions might improve on other sizes. I still like it better than the four-legged spider stand found on the F5500 models, but unlike those sets, the F5000 doesn't swivel.
View Full Gallery (13 Photos)
