Samsung TU 7100 Review

First, its picture quality is far better than what you'd expect from a TV in its price range.

But on top of that, the TU7100 also has a number of features that may seem surprising for any budget TV at all. So all in all, the Samsung TU 7100 ended up becoming the best option in its market segment - which is a great accomplishment in a sector as dense as this one.

Of course, this is still a budget TV - or an affordable one, if you prefer to put things mildly. So you won't necessarily get the extra features you'll never need. Especially so, if you want to have a top-notch gaming TV with all the features designed for the next generation consoles, like PS5, Xbox Series X, and their likes. But honestly, what did you expect looking at the price tag?

When it comes to the technical specs, the Samsung TU7100 is the smaller sibling of the Samsung TU8500.

Not just smaller in size, but also a cheaper way to get the same Crystal UHD screen that makes the TU8500 stand out.

It also means that there are no fancy additions, just the basics done well, and combined with a streamlined user experience.

The clip docking system that connects the stand and the device are familiar from other Samsung TV sets.

Once you have the TV up, you just need to plug it in and follow the setup instructions that are simple and easy.

You can, of course, complicate it a bit by copying your apps from other Samsung SmartThings gadgets, but that's optional.

There's not much to look at when it comes to the Samsung TU7100's design. But the bezel is slim enough, and the TV is compact enough to have it as a second device in one of the smaller rooms of the house.

If you want to improve your audio experience you may want to add a soundbar to your purchase - thanks to the relatively high stands, you will be able to easily put them under the TV.

The remote control is nothing remarkable. Standard look, standard features. And while it has way too many buttons you are unlikely to use, like, ever, it is not messy, and you'll find your way around it quickly and easily.

One thing to note is that the Samsung TU7100 can only connect to one device at a time, which might be an important info, especially if you plan to use your TV with a soundbar.

The variety of ports is not surprising at all: two HDMI ports (one of them featuring an eARC), an optical audio out, an Ethernet, and a USB. Well, the two HDMI port is not exactly generous, but it is what it is. Three would be better.

Because (back to the one device at a time), if you are using the TV's Doby Digital Plus support with a soundbar, you are left with only one other option. Which does not seem like a lot, considering how many gadgets and gears households have nowadays.

Wifi tops at WiFi 5, Bluetooth at BT 4.2. Both these are normal deals for the price.

The Tizen operating system, that is the engine of this Samsung TU7100 is okay. It has some built-in smart home functionality, as well as a wide range of supported apps.

Alongside a user-friendly, well-designed user interface. The carousel is easy to set up and easy to use. The pros also include the streaming service library - it's usable, streamlined and flexible. The streaming services included are Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and a few others. Apple Music is also in there.

A great add-on is an easy ability to stream your phone's content on the big screen with the help of a great app. So it solves the problem of all the other apps you might want but cannot find in the TV's library.

On top of your phone, it will be able to connect to other gadgets in the Samsung SmartThings universe, should you have any. So while the OS might not be among the faster ones out there, it is rich in features, and works well. The slow speed is most spectacular when doing simple, everyday things, like scrolling among menu items. Or loading apps from the library.

Aside from this sluggish response of the OS, the TV's performance meets all expectations. Mind you, this is not a LED panel, so adjust your expectations accordingly when watching HDR-quality videos.

But the Crystal UHD display we mentioned before is the best in its own league and at its own price range.

The blacks are far better than that of any other LED panel. Just check the 4K footage of the International Space Station to discover details where other, similar-priced devices have none. And never try to compare the Samsung TU7100's screen quality to a QLED or an OLED TV, that costs multiple times more, as it makes no sense.

The color temperatures of the TV are fine. Not the oversaturated colors of many cheap Samsung devices. It seems like this TV was more optimized for watching than for being sold with its vivid colors popping out on the store's screen-wall.

The standard setting's tones are pleasantly neutral, and if you are into more saturated or lively presets, you will have the dynamic or movie configurations to choose from.

Decreasing the picture clarity slider will make the whole picture a lot more natural. The setting is supposed to reduce visual noise, but only ends up adding the loathed soap opera effect to everything on screen

I told you before that this wasn't a hardcore gaming TV, but for having some fun with your console, it does the trick more than enough. One thing to keep in mind that the refresh rate tops at 60fps, so don't expect a variable refresh rate accompanying your console games.

This is completely normal considering Samsung TU7100's price. Although I am pretty sure that the variable refresh rate functionality will soon appear in this price range, too.

Despite the cap in the refresh rate, the TV's Game Mode preset does a decent job. And what more, it activates automatically, when the Samsung TU7100 detects a console to be connected. This setting reduces the input lag, and it does so very well.

The sound quality is not great, though. Of course, for a TV in this price range, you cannot have extremely high expectations, but even within its own competition, the TU7100 is not the best in the pack.

Don't get me wrong, for watching TV, it's fine. But an affordable, and high-quality soundbar just adds so much to the experience. It will increase the range of the volume, and hopefully you will get rid of the distortion that sometimes come with the built-in speakers.