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Samsung UE32H5500 review

 Review: July 2014  
 

Rating: 5 stars

In a nutshell: The Samsung UE32H5500 is an outstanding 32 inch TV. Priced at the budget level, it delivers good picture quality, outstanding Smart TV and plenty of connectivity.



 

Review

When looking for a 32 inch TV, a good place to start is always Samsung's Series 5 range, and this year's H5500 model is particularly attractive. It gives you pretty well everything you might want in a nice-looking package and at a keenly competitive price.

Design & looks

The H5500 doesn't look like a budget model. The ultra narrow bezel around the screen gives it a contemporary, airy feel and the rectangular base is both smart and practical. The discreet Samsung logo below the screen adds a designer feel to the overall look.

Energy consumption is astonishingly low, at just 30W in normal use or a minuscule 18W in energy saving mode, giving it an A+ rating.

A standard remote control is included in the sales package.

Picture quality

Picture quality is fairly typical for a 32 inch TV - perhaps better than most. It's a full HD 1080p screen with LED backlighting and generates sharp, well-illuminated images with a good contrast ratio. Viewing angles are reasonably wide too.

Motion performance is good, so even though the screen is rated at just 100Hz, in practice there's little sign of judder or motion problems.

For a budget TV, this performs at least as well as most rivals. 

Audio quality

Audio quality is also good for a compact TV. The TV is equipped with twin full-range downfiring speakers, delivering a maximum power output of 10W x 2. If you want to improve audio quality, we'd recommend pairing the TV with some kind of external sound system - a soundbar, subwoofer or hifi system.

Smart TV

Smart TV is rapidly becoming a must-have feature, and if you want the best, choose Samsung. Despite this being an entry-level model, it's fully equipped with a huge range of catch-up TV services via the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, ITV Player, the 4oD service from Channel 4, and Demand 5 from Channel 5. As well as a 7-day electronic programme guide, the TV guide will recommend programmes based on your viewing history.

You'll also find staples like Netflix, Amazon/LoveFilm, Skype, Twitter, Facebook and others. The new Games Panel offers casual gaming access to categories including racing, sports, action and family games.

Social media are fully integrated into the Smart TV system, so you can keep up with your facebook and twitter feeds and watch your friends' videos.

The system uses a fast quadcore processor, previously seen only on high-end models. This makes a real difference to Smart TV operation, ensuring quick responses and eliminating frustrating lags.

Connectivity

Perhaps surprisingly for such a cheap TV, there are no compromises when it comes to connectivity, which means that you can hook up just about anything. Not only does it come with built-in Wi-Fi and an ethernet connection, but there are 3 HDMI ports (one with Audio Return Channel support), 2 USB connections and a host of legacy audiovisual connectors, including SCART, digital audio out, component and composite. There's also a built-in Freeview HD tuner.

Conclusion - a recommended bargain buy

The UE32H5500 makes cuts in just the right places to save you money without compromising significantly on quality. This is one of the best "added value" TVs we've reviewed in 2014. For a very reasonable price of less than £350 you'll get yourself a smart-looking 32 inch television with decent picture quality, outstanding Smart TV functionality and all the connectivity options you could want. It's one of the few compact TVs that truly deserves a 5 star rating.


Samsung UE32H5500 features include:

User questions

Sorry - questions and comments on this page are now closed.

Hi, What's the difference between the UE32H5500 as above and the UE32K5500 that I've also been looking at?

Asked by sheila from england on 16th Nov 2016
Don't understand the different models.

Reply by S21 from UK on 16th Nov 2016
They are broadly similar in terms of picture quality. The design is different, and the K series uses Samsung's new Smart TV operating system.

How can I remove the boxes that appear in the corner of the TV? Advice welcomed.

Asked by Anne Grady from Belgium on 11th Aug 2016
These boxes give name of TV, FullHD, wide color enhancer etc. The boxes move around each corner of the TV when switched on.

About BBC iPlayer?

Asked by Alan from UK on 14th Jun 2016
Some reviewers on other websites say they have problems connecting to BBC iPlayer even though it says that this TV is compatible. Also Jean - see below - comments on this, or is it that you need to use a different setting on the TV. Does anyone have any more information about this??

Thanks

See all 4 questions

Samsung UE32H5500 user reviews

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