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Samsung UE40H6200 review

 Review: May 2014  
 

Last updated June 2014

Rating: 4 stars

In a nutshell: An excellent mid-range 40-inch TV with stylish looks, good picture quality, outstanding Smart TV and a host of connectivity options.



 

Introduction

The H6200 range is one of the first of Samsung's 2014 LED TVs to find its way into the shops. It's positioned towards the lower end of the price range and we reckon the 40 inch model will be the one that's the best size for most families. That makes the UE40H6200 a hot TV! Let's take it for a spin and see how it performs.

Design & looks

At first glance the UE40H6200 looks identical to the UE40H6400, but there are subtle differences. Both models feature an ultra-narrow black bezel and a metallic quad stand that allows you to swivel the TV left and right. However, the H6200 is thicker, measuring 63mm in depth without the stand. That's on the chubby side for a modern TV, but at least it's all hidden behind the screen and shouldn't bother most viewers.

We reckon the 6 Series are smart-looking, stylish and contemporary TVs that will look good in any room.

The H6200 comes with a conventional remote control which misses out on the ability to give voice commands to the TV, a feature available on more expensive TVs in the Samsung range. We don't think anyone will really miss that feature. Much more importantly, the TV does include a powerful quadcore processor, ensuring that it responds fluidly to commands and there are no frustrating waits. This is a very welcome addition.

Energy consumption is extremely low, at just 50W in normal use, giving it an A+ rating.

Picture quality

The UE40H6200 has a 40 inch screen that's the ideal size for a medium-sized family TV. It's Full HD, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen is of PSA type, previously used in Samsung's high-end screens and is characterized by good high contrast ratios and wide viewing angles.

That's a good base to start from, and the H6200 is by no means a bad performer, but it's not quite in the same league as the more expensive Samsung models. The reason for that is the slightly slower response rate. The Clear motion Rate of 200Hz is slow enough for some judder to edge in when watching action scenes and sports, especially when the camera pans to the left or right. It's not enough to bother most users, but it's definitely there.

However, when compared with other mid-range screens, we have to say that the Samsung is a good performer, capable of delivering excellent picture quality, with bright, vivid colours and nice dark blacks. It's perfect for use in daytime, but also performs well in darkened rooms. 

Gamers will find this to a responsive screen without much lag, provided that Game mode is selected. There's also a Football Mode, although this seems to be little more than a sales gimmick aimed at the World Cup.

Overall this is a good TV for family viewing with just a couple of issues that may bother connoisseurs.

3D

The 200 CMR motion rate that leads to occasional motion blur in 2D is much more of a problem in 3D. Although this is a 3D-capable TV, it's not one that we'd recommend. Samsung probably realises that too, which is why no 3D glasses are included in the sales package.

Audio quality

The H6200 uses full range downfiring speakers, and max power output is 10W x 2, which is typical for a mid-range TV. There are no dedicated subwoofers here, so the sound tends to be on the weak side. The 3D surround effect can add a little depth, but overall the audio quality is average for a slimline television. A dedicated soundbar or speaker system would be a worthwhile addition if you are serious about enjoying your movies.

Smart TV

Samsung's Smart TV system hasn't changed much since last year, but that's not a problem, as it was already the best system on the market. The interface is very user-friendly, and it runs smoothly thanks to the quadcore processor.

Samsung seems to have covered all bases with their Smart TV apps, including catch-up TV via the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, ITV Player, the 4oD service from Channel 4, and Demand 5 from Channel 5. 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.

The TV guide recommends programmes based on your viewing history.

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.

Connectivity

The connectivity options available in the H6200 are also excellent, with a Freeview HD tuner plus built-in Wi-Fi Direct, a generous 4 HDMI ports (one of which supports ARC for connecting to an audio system), 3 USBs and ethernet. A range of other connections are also included, making it possible to connect to most devices around the home, including wireless streaming of content from compatible tablets and smartphones. You can even stream broadcast TV content to your smartphone, although this seems like the wrong way around - better to stream video and photos from your smartphone to the big screen we think.

Conclusion -  a bargain

The UE40H6200 is a slightly less assured TV than the next model up - the Samsung UE40H6400. Although they look almost the same and have near-identical specs, the H6400 definitely has a more polished picture quality and a slimmer design.

However, since the price of the H6200 has fallen dramatically from around £750 at launch to more like £500 now, that makes it incredibly good value.

The H6200 model will do everything that most families need, delivering a good viewing experience, plenty of connectivity options and simply outstanding Smart TV functionality.


Samsung UE40H6200 features include:

User questions

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

Is the UE40H6200 Panasonic TV 4k capable?

Asked by Katie from England on 31st Dec 2016
I am looking at DVD players to go with this TV and wondering if it is worth buying one that has 4k upscaling?

For the gaming on the TV, wat control do I need?

Asked by Calvin from England on 9th Nov 2016



Samsung UE40H6200 user reviews

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