Samsung UE55F8000

Tested at £2500

Rating = 5/5

2013 is looking like a great year for TVs, and Samsung has set the bar high with a brilliant screen that features user-friendly smart improvements and a wonderfully clear and balanced image

For

• Remarkably crisp and clear picture
• Sharp edges
• Natural skin tones
• 3D picture is brighter and smoother
• Smart Hub redesign is slicker, More intuitive
• Smart Touch remote control is responsive and fun to use

Against

• Voice and motion controls have improved, but still not ideal
• Price
• New stand design needs a wide enough rack for rigid support
• Picture settings need tweaking

We first set eyes on the Samsung UE55F8000 – Samsung’s flagship LED TV – at CES 2013, in Las Vegas in January. It shared pride of place on Samsung’s stand alongside its plasma F8500 sibling and the S9000 4K Ultra HD series.
The Samsung UE55F8000, then, is the first of 2013’s new ranges that we’ve got our hands on for review, and we’re excited.

This TV is a 55in LCD/LED Full HD Smart 3D set, and will cost you a not inconsiderable £2500. For that you get a substantial redesign over 2012’s models, and smarter features to entice both tech-lovers and the casual viewer.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Design

At first glance, the screen itself looks elegant and sleek. That could be said about quite a few flatscreen TVs, of course, but the Samsung UE55F8000 really looks the part.
A single piece of aluminium – Samsung is calling this style ‘Magnum’ – frames the 55in screen, with a slim bezel that shows off the full screen for immersive viewing. It feels premium quality as well. Measuring a slim 3.5cm in depth, the set feels rather light for a 55in screen: 17kg for the screen itself, and 18kg including the stand.

Now, the stand…  We need to talk about the stand. The metal arc stand is designed to create a ‘floating display’ – and it does so rather elegantly. It’s certainly a good-looking design, and easy to set up (just a few screws and it slots into place easily), but there is a caveat.
It’s as wide as the screen itself: measuring 120cm, therefore, it’s too big for most standard-issue AV racks. Indeed, the stand hung over the edges of all the racks we use in our testing rooms – which leaves it prone to tilting forward if there’s the slightest push. Even if the support under the stand is wide enough, this is still a less-rigid design than used in 2012.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Tech specs

The Samsung UE55F8000 has an edge-lit LED display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels – standard fare. What’s not standard is that this set features a quad core processor inside – a world first for Smart LED TVs.
It’s the crucial component that drives all the smarter upgrades and performance of the 2013 LED TV range: faster web browsing and multitasking, and clearer picture quality are all on the cards.
Connections are all housed neatly at the back of the TV: there are four HDMI inputs, along with three USB ports (one for recording), as well as component and composite inputs, a digital optical output, a headphone out, and an RGB scart input.
MORE: Samsung buys 3% stake in Sharp
The 55UEF8000 offers an ethernet LAN port for wired connection as well as built-in wireless connectivity. And for its main purpose it has one Freeview HD tuner, and one Freesat tuner with two feeds (a bit like a Sky box).
Samsung is offering a Smart Evolution kit that slots into the back of your new Samsung TV. This will allow you to upgrade the set every year to take in the latest technology in terms of performance, content and features, and is valid for up to four years.
Some of last year’s sets also have this feature, which means you can upgrade the 2012 Samsung Series 7, 8, and 9 sets to this year’s specification – the module will cost you around £280.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Set up

We’d recommend taking time to fine tune the screen to get the best possible picture. When first turned on, it looks overly etched and washed-out – this isn’t the exciting Samsung picture we’ve become accustomed to. We delved into the menus and started to fiddle around with the exhaustive picture settings to get it looking right – it takes quite a long time.
(Top tip: pick a Blu-ray film you’ve seen a couple of times – so you know exactly how the picture should look; we chose J J Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek.)
Samsung has provided its own test patterns in their advanced picture settings, but they’re no match for our trusty THX Optimiser disc. And all our tweaking was worth the effort. Once correctly calibrated, the screen jumped to life.
Notable tweaks included turning down the backlight, contrast and brightness levels, while we turned off the noise filters and motion processing. It’s always worth playing around with all these settings to see what each does, and to fine-tune them to your personal viewing tastes.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Features

One of the first things we spotted on our casual inspection of the UE55F8000 was that the built-in camera is hidden away at the top. Push down on it, and it smoothly pops out of the frame – it’s a nifty little design feature.
Use the 5MP camera for face recognition login into your Samsung account, for Skype, and for activating all the motion controls. Gamers take note: you might find the camera placement a bit impractical when attaching games console peripherals that demand to be placed on top of a TV – it’s an issue for any TV with a built-in camera on top.

The UE55F8000 also features S-Recommendation, an intelligent technology that learns your preferences based on what you’ve been watching, and recommends similar programmes tailored to you. We’ve seen hints of this in use in the time we’ve had with the TV, but it promises to become more personalised and effective over long periods of watching.
Android users also get the benefit of Dual View and Screen Mirroring features. Download the Samsung Smart View app onto your Android smartphone (we used the Samsung Galaxy S3) and you can instantly get the live TV feed on your portable smartphone, too.

At the time of writing the app wasn't compatible with our Google Nexus 4 (Jelly Bean 4.2.2 OS) nor various older Android phones. We expect device compatibility will improve, however.
Samsung’s AllShare app lets you mirror media to and from your smartphone and TV. Make sure you’ve got the latest Android software update for all the apps to work. There are currently no plans for any iOS support.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Smart Hub

The first thing you’ll see when you turn on your new Samsung UE55F8000 is the Smart Hub. Serving as both the homepage and the hub for all activity, Samsung’s Smart Hub has always been a shiny and colourful display, but the redesign takes it up another level.
It’s a slicker design, with tiles neatly arranged in a grid, and it takes cues from smartphone interfaces – for instance there’s a carousel effect when you swipe from one panel to the other.
Most people are now so used to smartphone touchscreen animations that it makes perfect sense to mimic the interface on to increasingly smarter TVs.

There are five panels for separate categories:
Social: displays all your social networking (Twitter, Facebook, Skype calls) – in one area. You can also pull up your Twitter feed when watching live TV shows, to keep up with the latest snippets of commentary. 
Apps: the library of all the apps available. To name a few: BBCiPlayer, ITV Player, Demand 5, BBC Sport, YouTube, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, LoveFilm, Acetrax, Spotify… 
On TV: Broadcast TV is now integrated into the greater Smart Hub interface. Along with a panel showing the current channel, there are previews of what’s coming up on different channels as windows into current programmes on select few channels. You can access your recorded programmes from this panel, as well as toggling between the electronic programme guide and a timeline guide view. 
Movies & TV Shows: aggregates all the movies and TV shows available across different online services, so you don’t have to log into them separately – a much neater way of displaying the choices available.
Photos, Videos and Music: displays all your stored media files

We really like the revamped Smart Hub interface: it’s a fun and intuitive way to move around the TV, and used in conjunction with the supplied Smart Touch remote (also given a face-lift), it’s smooth and highly responsive. We also like the animation effect of the Apps tiles folding up and down – a little trick that goes a long way when you’re living with the screen.
It makes you want to keep coming back to the home page – well, you have no choice, really, but having both smart features and broadcast TV seamlessly integrate into each other feels more organic: TV and Smart are one and the same.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Smart Touch remote

As mentioned before, the Smart Touch remote control has been given a redesign, and it’s a more polished and responsive remote than last year’s offering. It’s a partially metal design with a touch pad that’s intuitive and easier to use.
Once again, it comes down to people being so accustomed to the touch-screen sensitivity of smartphones, that using one has become second nature – and it makes sense to adapt that design for remote controls.
It serves Samsung well here, as it has great responsiveness when flicking through the Smart Hub panels, and also when moving a cursor using the web browser. You can even trace a channel number on the touchpad to change channels!

Of course, with its minimal button design, certain always-there buttons – like Mute, Menu, Tools etc – have to be accessed on the on-screen keypad via the ‘More’ button. It’s a bit of a bother if you’re used to having all the buttons at your convenience, but it’s not too much of an issue if you have the standard remote or smartphone app at hand – and it’s easy to get used to after a few clicks.
It’s a much more ergonomic design, and we found ourselves reaching for it as the dominant controller (over standard remote or the voice or motion controls.)
If you don’t get along with the Smart Touch remote, Samsung still provides the standard all-button remote. It’s largely the same unit as before, but we’ve been told it has a few changes – we’re still awaiting the new model at the time of writing. 

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Voice and Motion Controls

Using hand gestures and voice commands to control your TV set might seem a step towards the future, but its full usefulness and employment remains in the realms of sci-fi.
Samsung introduced voice and motion controls in its 2012 range of TVs – and it met with mixed success.
On one hand, it’s an attention-grabbing and exciting feature that lets us marvel at how intelligent TVs are becoming; in practice though, it can be downright frustrating to make it work as smoothly as they do in sci-fi shows and films – but it does work. Both voice and motion have been given tweaks and improvements for the 2013 range, and it shows.
In contrast to last year, we found the motion controls to be much friendlier than the voice commands. For a start, it’s more responsive, with reduced lag between your hand movement being recognised on the TV, and movements are smooth, with fewer trailing or delay effects. The camera has to be popped on for motion controls to work, and it does get a bit confused if you’ve got more than one person waving frantically at it.
Patience is the key here (and steady hands), and it does get used to (and recognise) individual hands. You can also use two hands – yes, it really works! – to rotate and zoom in and out of pictures on the screen, as well as lazily flick your hand to the side to swipe across the Smart Hub panels – which we quite liked.

After the initial novelty and giddiness of it actually working, we still feel a bit daft waving at the TV and clenching our fist to select items, and ours arms ached after a while.
Switching to voice control, and the Smart Touch remote encourages you to speak directly to the remote (rather than shout at the TV hoping for the best) and it is more responsive than before.
However, the technology is still a bit hit-and-miss – it liked ‘Arsenal’ but not ‘Top Gear’ – and you’ll still feel self-conscious as you end up over-enunciating words to make it work. An on-screen guide pops up to give prompts on which command phrases to use – which is helpful, but still not ideal and certainly not as intuitive as using the Smart Touch remote.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Sound

We’ve always been hard on the sound quality from any flat screen TV, and with good reason as it’s always hard, thin and uninspiring. Sony’s HX8 series marginally won the sound battle last year with its plinth stand that housed a speaker system – it took the edge off the thinness.
But Samsung has risen to the challenge and responded by packing in two 10W woofers alongside the two standard drivers that cover most of the frequency range – a total of 40W outputting from the UE55F8000.
And the effect is instant. By flatscreen standards, it’s a much more powerful, meatier and solid sound: it’s actually listenable on its own! There was noticeable (and comparatively weighty) bass, and voices sounded warm; there was little hint of brightness and overall it was comfortable and pleasant to listen to.
For a proper sonic experience, we’d still recommend pairing up your TV with a home cinema system or a soundbar – the recently launched Sonos Playbar (5 stars at £600) would be perfect for the UE55F8000.

Samsung UE55F8000 review: Picture

Of course, what it all boils down to is this: what’s the picture quality like? In short, the UE55F8000 is a fantastic screen. But as we noted earlier, it didn’t start out that way.
The picture performance is quite a departure from last year’s range: the 2012 Samsung screens aimed to delivered punchy colour, exciting contrasts and an overall impressive and eye-popping performance.
In contrast, this new 2013 screen is a much more grown-up affair: it’s calmed down that burst of exuberance, and might seem subdued at first glance. But look deeper, and the UE55F8000 serves up a more natural palette and composed performance.

The picture is remarkably clear and crisp – play The Amazing Spider-Man and the city skyscrapers are etched out in sharp lines, each building nicely distinguished from each other despite the shadows.
Close-up shots of the actors show off the UE55F8000’s deftness with natural tones: cheeks look ruddy and skin tones look natural and rounded. If we were being cruel, we could mention that every spot and blemish is displayed with clarity – which goes to show the depth of subtlety on show.
Samsung’s Micro Dimming Ultimate technology is claimed to offer greater contrast and deeper black levels – and it seems to work: the Samsung UE55F8000 has black levels that are inky deep, and there’s enough shadow definition for details to peek through.

When the Samsung is compared with rival Sony KDL-55HX853 (last year’s Award-winner at £1440), the Sony may have a more subtle touch in digging out shadow detail, but the Samsung’s black levels go deeper.
It’s with sharp detail, minimal noise levels and stunning clarity that the Samsung edges things over the Sony: in absolute picture performance, it’s a better screen, and one that instantly attracts. We can’t wait to see what Sony has to offer us, but as it stands, the Samsung leaves the 2012 Award-winner in its wake.
It’s worth playing around with the picture settings and modes to find the tone best suited to watching TV or film. For example, we found that it was best to leave the picture on Standard mode (with THX tweaks) when watching normal broadcast channels (standard or high definition).
When it came to the Blu-ray of The Amazing Spider-Man, we felt more comfortable setting it to Natural mode, and then fine-tuning the backlight and contrast levels from there. It delivered a much more satisfying balance: previously, skies looked overcast and black levels were grey and washed-out. In Natural, whites were punchier and brighter, and The Lizard’s underground sewer hide out looks appropriately gloomy and wet.
Switch to 3D with Closer to the Edge, and Samsung’s active 3D performance is a brighter, clearer and less cumbersome affair. You’ll still feel your eyes working overtime (normal for active sets), and while motion isn’t perfect, we welcome the improvements. Two pairs of active 3D glasses are supplied with the TV.

Samsung UE55F8000 TV review: Verdict

We need to emphasise that the Samsung UE55F8000 is the first of the 2013 range TVs that we’ve laid our eyes on. And it sets a high standard: it’s a cutting-edge set with improved smart features, a friendlier user experience, and a definite step up in both sound and picture performance. But it’s not flawless: the motion and voice controls are far from perfect, and it’s quite an expensive price tag.
Still, there’s no denying the Samsung UE55F8000 is a fantastic set – and a definite improvement on its already high previous standards.
We’re still waiting for the rest of the sets to arrive for a more comprehensive comparison, but for now, it’s a good start to the year for Samsung – five stars all around.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B

Tested at £1300

Rating = 4/5

The ET60 series makes a solid start to 2013 for Panasonic, but we expect other models to be more impressive and better value

For

• Slim, stylish
• Great new home screen options
• Streaming and smart connectivity, clever remote app
• Detailed and sharp pictures
• Comfortable 3D performance

Against

• Black levels lack depth and solidity
• Backlight not perfect
• Poor sound

Our first look at a Panasonic TV in 2013 comes in the shape of the Panasonic TX-L50ET60B, a midrange LCD/LED model. Panasonic has been in a rich vein of form with its TVs in the past couple of years, most notably with its plasma series.
2012’s GT50 and ST50 models, for example, struck the perfect balance between price and performance. The £1300 Panasonic TX-L50ET60B will be looking to do the same and get this year off to a flyer for Panasonic.

The Japanese giant is once again releasing a huge number of new televisions for 2013 – up to 16 plasma ranges and 16 LCD/LED models are expected to make their way in to UK shops. Finding the sweetspot for performance-per-pound value, therefore, is our mission.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Design

Last year’s ET50 series, which the ET60 series replaces, was a good but not great TV – will 2013 be a different story? It certainly looks the part out of the box. A new Super Narrow Bezel and metal design makes for one of the best Panasonic TVs that we’ve seen, and it sits on a simple rectangular pedestal stand, which allows for rotation.
The overall quality of the finish is excellent – though you don’t want to catch yourself on one of the pointed corners –and worthy of a far more expensive television. The flagship Panasonic LED models will have to go some to raise the style stakes.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Specification and features

The Panasonic TX-L50ET60B is a Full HD, 120Hz, LED-backlit TV, with Freeview HD and analogue TV tuners. You’ll find three HDMI inputs (one fewer than last year), two USB inputs, an SD card slot, headphone connection and an optical audio output side-mounted on the unit, while component, composite, RGB and stereo RCA audio inputs are on the back panel. So, it’s pretty comprehensive.
As with last year’s range, the Panasonic TX-L50ET60B ‘Smart VIERA’ TV offers wired or wireless network connectivity, and once online you get access to a wide range of content. BBC iPlayer is on board, plus BBC News and BBC Sport apps, and you can access films from Acetrax and Netflix. Standards such as YouTube, Aupeo! (internet radio), Facebook and Twitter are also present.
There’s no sign of the other terrestrial channels’ on-demand offerings, however, with ITV Player, 4oD and Demand Five notable by their absence.
If you do connect this smart TV to your network, you’ll also be able to stream music and video from any DLNA compatible device, such as a laptop or tablet, and access the internet via the built-in web browser. And making this smart TV experience all the more usable is the new Viera 2 remote app for smartphones and tablets.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Interface

Available for Android and iOS, Viera 2 is much more than a basic remote control app.
Connect to the same wi-fi network as your TV and, as well as allowing you to move around the TV’s interface using your smartphone or tablet, the ‘Swipe and Share 2.0’ functionality allows you to send music, video or images from your phone’s library straight to your TV. You can also launch apps, access a full keyboard when using the web browser and even access a gamepad for gaming apps.
Swiping a cursor around the screen can still be a little clunky, and the web browser experience is still not a patch on simply using the device you’re holding (there’s no Flash support either), but as a simple and effective way to share content on your phone on the big screen it seems likely to be useful. Even if some of our videos did appear upside down…
Also in the box with the Panasonic TX-L50ET60B are two pairs of passive 3D glasses. All of Panasonic’s 2013 LED TVs are passive sets, while all the Panasonic plasma models use active-shutter technology. This model has 2D-to-3D conversion on board, too.
Last but not least is a familiar Panasonic remote control handset. It has been given a slight rejig in terms of design, with Home and Apps given more prominence and the old ‘Viera Tools’ button retired. It remains one of the better examples of an intuitive, easy to use remote. There’s no secondary smart remote with the ET60 series.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Installation

Turn on the TV for the first time and this Panasonic will guide you through the set-up process itself – Voice Guidance vocalising a 15-step series of prompts to show you “what your new VIERA can do”. It works nicely and this series of help menus is always accessible via the Tutorial tab at the top of the new ‘my Home Screen’ interface.
Yes, Panasonic has given its interface a refresh – and we really like it. Packing in so many potential features and functions can make for a confused experience, but the various home screens on this ET60 series – which will be on all the new Panasonic TVs – are clean, clear and customisable.

We have no issue with this 50in set watching the TV as we browse other functions – whatever you’re watching on TV is displayed in a good-sized area of the screen. This panel is bordered by various menu options, giving you easy access to key areas of functionality.
We opt for the standard ‘TV Home Screen’, which gives us a sidebar on the right of Freeview TV channels, through which we can scroll independently to see what’s on without affecting the main picture, plus hot links to Viera Connect apps at the bottom and the full list of apps and other settings at the top. Simply put, in no time at all we feel we know how to access all the features of the TV. No mean feat.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Calibration

The standard Panasonic menu for adjusting picture, sound and other settings is accessed via the Menu button on the remote control. These menus remain more traditional in appearance, and will be familiar to anyone who’s seen a Panasonic TV in the last few years. They’re simple and intuitive. You’ll find the standard selection of Viewing Modes (we choose Normal), Colour Temperature (Normal) and other brightness, contrast, colour and sharpness settings.
There are various further picture adjustments at your disposal, too. Adaptive Backlight Control ‘automatically controls dark areas of the picture’, Ambient Sensor adjusts the picture based on your room lighting conditions, while there’s Intelligent Frame Creation motion processing and various noise reduction settings.
Panasonic’s motion processing has improved and we were happy to have the Minimum setting smooth out some juddering for us, while Ambient Sensor could be useful if you’re in a brightly lit room. Otherwise we prefer these processing modes turned off.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Picture quality

The Freeview HD tuner is excellent. Edges are sharp, with good definition even to background objects showing the Panasonic’s impressive levels of insight. Detail and texture to people’s faces and clothes make for a realistic and immersive picture.
Motion is pretty smooth, too. We opt to turn the Intelligent Frame Creation on to Minimum (some people may even prefer Middle), to smooth out juddering without introducing an unnatural feel.
As we’ve seen across other Panasonic TVs – and projectors such as the PT-AT6000E – the TX-L50ET60B has a natural, relaxed colour palette, looking best delivering a more realistic rather than vivid image.
We try Vivid Colour but find it too over-saturated, even after tweaking. Whites could be a little brighter and whiter – switching to a Cool picture mode adds a blueish tint, while Warm makes for a slightly yellow hue – but generally we like what we see. And good off-axis performance makes it ideal for family viewing.
Hit the AV button on the remote to switch to one of the HDMI inputs, and we take a look at the Blu-ray of The Amazing Spider-Man. It’s a similarly easy-to-watch, easy-to-enjoy picture. Colours are accurate and natural, sharp edges frame detailed objects, and fast motion is handled smoothly.
Again, it’s not at its best when asked to deliver punchy pictures – colours are instead subtle – and the level of contrast between white and black can be bettered elsewhere.

In fact, black levels, so good on Panasonic plasma TVs, are a relative weakness of this midrange LED set. The ET60 struggles to match the deep, dark blacks of last year’s best TVs, losing definition in dimly lit scenes.
We also notice a not entirely uniform backlight on our TX-L50ET60B review sample, with bottom corners of the screen seeming to let a little too much of the backlight through. It’s by no means a constant annoyance but during darker scenes it is apparent.
DVD performance bears many of the hallmarks of the picture quality from other sources. Again, colours are natural, edges reasonably sharp and motion slips up and shows signs of juddering only in the most testing scenes. There’s occasional pixel crawl and noise to some object edges, and again black levels lack solidity and insight, but it remains an easy picture to just sit back and watch.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: 3D performance

Easy to watch; a theme seems to be developing. And it continues when we switch to 3D pictures. This is a passive 3D TV, and you get two pairs of Panasonic TY-EP3D20 3D glasses in the box. They’re very light, comfortable and, dare we say it, almost quite stylish (should that be a concern in the privacy of your home).
The TV auto-detects a 3D signal and flicks the TV to 3D picture mode. This will change your settings, though you can of course readjust them. We experiment and end up, sure enough, somewhere in between, not feeling the need for quite the contrast boost that the 3D setting delivers.
3D performance is good. We watch some Harry Potter, followed by a bit of Avatar and then Coraline, and most noticeable is the lack of strain or stress as we enjoy 3D pictures. This traditional perk of passive 3D tends to go hand-in-hand with a little less depth and a loss of detail, and that’s true to an extent with this 50in ET60.
The subtlety to 3D effects is no bad thing but it’s not quite as sharp and insightful as we’d like, while fast motion can still occasionally blur. Once more, black levels let the overall image down a touch, too.
The live 2D-to-3D conversion, which allows you to turn any TV content in to 3D pictures, is a neat effect, but the quality is a step down. Crosstalk becomes noticeable, the image is softer, and we felt our eyes working a little harder. For gaming it can be a nice effect – and it’s an easy way to show your mates – but overall it’s a poor relative to true 3D content.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Sound quality

We’ve started to see a few flatscreen TVs pay more attention to sound quality, with both the Sony KDL-HX853 and the new Samsung F8000 ranges delivering better than average TV sound.
Sadly, the Panasonic TX-L50ET60B doesn’t follow suit, delivering a much more familiar, poor quality TV sound that’s unclear, prone to sibilance and light in weight. That thin-panel design seems to have come at a cost here. We’d urge you to use a soundbar or other external speakers alongside this TV.
Bass and treble controls do help a touch – we upped the bass and dropped the treble a few notches – but the sound quality remains underwhelming. Sound modes and surround modes don’t make too much difference, though the Stadium surround mode does seem to add to the ambiance when watching live sport.

Panasonic TX-L50ET60B TV review: Verdict

The Panasonic TX-L50ET60B is a good TV, and a solid start to 2013 for Panasonic. We’re big fans of the style and design, the new my Home Screen menu system looks great and Panasonic’s familiar natural, sharp and detailed palette is present and correct.
A decent selection of streaming options, a clever new remote app and watchable, comfortable passive 3D, all form part of a package we’re happy to recommend.
Ultimately though, we expect other 2013 models from Panasonic to be better – both in terms of all-round performance and ultimate value. The £1300 price tag isn’t low enough to forgive the less than solid black levels and uneven backlight, slightly lacklustre contrast levels, or the poor sound quality. A better selection of catch-up TV apps would be nice, too. So this is good but not great: roll on the rest of the Panasonic range.

Philips 47PFL6008

Tested at £1200

Rating = 4/5

It might have its niggles, but we’re willing to forgive them (mostly) for the wonderful picture and comfortable viewing experience. We’re impressed.

For

• Crisp, clean picture with plenty of subtle detail
• Passive 3D at its best
• Ambilight feature is a bonus
• Solid, easy-to-listen-to sound
• Good remote control

Against

• Slightly sluggish reaction times
• Smart features are limited
• Dated interface
• Satellite tuner is not a Freesat-compliant unit

Philips tends to follow its own schedule when it comes to new TVs, so its sets tend to end up in our reviewing hands later in the year compared with those from rival manufacturers. But this year we’ve been sent one of its 2013 TV sets in time for spring – and we’re glad, because this Philips 47PFL6008 is really rather good.

This 47in Full HD, passive 3D LED screen is part of Philips' 6000 series, and features smart content, a new remote control, improved motion processing, and a new Ambiwoox sound feature to match its eye-catching Ambilight tech. It will cost you a cool – but relatively affordable compared with rivals – £1200.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Design and specs

This new Philips 47PFL6008 TV looks good: the screen is surrounded by an even thinner bezel than last year’s models, so there’s virtually nothing to distract you from the screen.

Build quality is solid too. Yes, the logo might look a bit ‘stuck on’ at the bottom edge of the set and the grey skeletal frame for a stand might look frail, but there’s no reason to worry as everything is sturdy and stable. There’s no unnecessary flashiness here, and it’s to Philips’ credit. 

Look around to the back panel and you’ll find plenty of connections for your kit: there are four HDMI inputs; an input each for component, analogue audio and RGB Scart; and digital optical and headphone outputs.

Those of you with content on hard drives will be glad of the three USB ports, and there’s also an ethernet port and built-in wireless for all your internet needs. And, being a TV, there’s also a digital tuner. There is a satellite input next to the regular aerial socket, but it’s not an official Freesat connection.

Philips says that while the TV shares the same specification as the Nordic versions, the satellite option is intended for those countries only. So, while it might pick up some stations over a satellite dish, they won’t be sorted in any order, and are not Freesat compliant. Oh well, Freeview HD it is.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Remote control

Philips has a reputation for making decent remote controls, and the 47PFL6008 sticks to that tradition by supplying a well-made handset. It has a satisfyingly solid weight and a nice rubberised finish that provides a good grip – a nice alternative to the more standard plasticky offerings.

The buttons are laid out logically, but a word of warning: the Exit button will take you back to the TV broadcast no matter what source you’re watching – so if you want to close menus while watching a Blu-ray, hit the return button to avoid switching back to TV.

Compared with its rivals (such as the Samsung UE46F7000 and Panasonic TX-L47DT65B), the Philips’ reaction times could be faster, particularly when it comes to the Smart side of things – but on the whole, it’s something we can live with.

Flip the remote control over and you’ll find a QWERTY keyboard on the back – a new feature for this year’s models. It’s really handy if you browse the internet on your TV; the keyboard style will be more familiar to your fingers, and is a quicker alternative to plodding through on-screen keyboards using the up and down buttons.

Search results come up pretty quickly as well, and it’s one of the few times we’ve actually enjoyed browsing the web on a TV.

Philips MyRemote Control app

There’s no separate minimalist touch-pad remote control (fast becoming a standard addition to smart TVs) here, but there is a free control app that you can download on to your smartphone and/or tablet. Philips MyRemote is compatible with both iOS and Android, and the tablet version includes a full TV programme guide.

The control app is functional, logical and responsive, and a nice alternative if you find swiping across a touch screen more intuitive than clicking buttons. It even displays the programme you’re watching, and you can also send media (photos, videos, music) stored on your device directly to the TV using the SimplyShare feature.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Smart features

Press the ‘Smart TV’ button on the remote and Philips’s one-page hub shows up. While it doesn’t have the breadth of apps and content freely supplied by rivals, it does have the essential BBC iPlayer, along with Acetrax, Facebook, Twitter, Blinkbox and Absolute Radio.

Meanwhile, the App Gallery contains widgets for eBay, TED talks, various radio stations and more. Also new to the TV is Miracast capability, which mirrors media content from your smart devices to the TV via wi-fi.

Smart features have grown in prominence over the past few years, so much so that they’ve now become an essential part of TVs, rather than just add-ons.

Next to the shiny new interactive and user-friendly hubs offered by Samsung and Panasonic, the Philips interface does look a bit dated. It’s perfectly functional and we do appreciate the neat, simple menus over anything showy or gimmicky, but it’s not as engaging an experience as it might be.

We’d like it to be a little smoother and faster, too; as we mentioned earlier, the apps are rather slow to navigate and open, which could get frustrating if they’re used on a daily basis.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Sound

We've long bemoaned the sound quality of modern TVs and it seems that in 2013, manufacturers are finally doing something constructive about it.

The 47PFL6008 features Philips-patented ‘Ambiwoox’ technology: look to the back of the TV again and you'll see a driver right above the connections. This Ambiwoox driver, with its double suspension ring, aims to deliver greater bass extension and improve midrange performance.

It certainly adds extra oomph: regardless of source, the Philips sounds solid and well-rounded, with good weight across the frequencies and none of the harsh, tinny brightness we’ve come to expect in voices.

It wouldn't hurt to invest in a decent soundbar to get an even better sonic experience but, as it stands, we were comfortable listening to the Philips on its own.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Ambilight

One thing we’ve always liked about Philips TVs is the Ambilight feature, designed to decrease eye fatigue and increase the immersiveness of the picture. The tech uses a series of LEDs at the left and right edges of the TV panel to shine light on to the back wall – light that changes colour according to the image on the screen.

It sounds cool, and looks even better. With it switched on, the barely there bezel seems almost to vanish, while the image appears to extend beyond its own edges – and rather than being showy or distracting, as you might expect, it’s remarkably unobtrusive.

You can adjust the intensity and brightness of the colour, set it to a static colour or to Dynamic (we prefer this option – it’s the one that changes with the picture), and you can also pick your wall colour from a palette to fine-tune the effect to your surroundings. Simple, but effective.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Picture

Of course, neither the sound nor the Ambilight feature would be worth their salt if the 47PFL6008’s picture wasn't any good. But there’s no need to worry: this is a great screen. A quick comparison with last year’s Award-winning Sony 46HX853 shows that the Philips delivers crisp, clean and detailed images. It isn’t a better picture overall (the Sony is smoother) but it’s definitely sharper and more detailed.
Individual blades of grass are clearly visible in a Blu-ray of Looper; the red Mazda car gleams in the sunshine; and make-up artists’ jobs have clearly become harder, as you can see nearly all the pores in their skin and any blemishes that the actors might have. God help you if you’re watching Pete Postlethwaite in high-def…

Whites and highlights are clean and punchy too, and blacks are deep enough – but not as definite in subtle shadings as rivals such as the Panasonic TX-L47DT65B.

Switch to a DVD of Seven Psychopaths and the Philips shows itself to be a fine upscaler – there’s an inevitable drop in quality from Blu-ray, but it retains the clean picture and brightness.

Whatever the source, the Philips’ colours are dynamic and have a good natural balance overall, even if they’re slightly on the cool side.

There’s no compromise when it comes to detail or texture, however: it’s merely a colour characteristic that shows up particularly on skin tones, which tend towards a cooler palette rather than a robust, blushing one. A little colour boost and few steps towards the red side of the R/G tint scale livens things up a bit.

On that note, there’s plenty of scope to tweak the 47PFL6008’s picture. You can delve into the menus to choose a picture style (we liked Personal or Standard the best), while there’s plenty of scope to adjust factors such as brightness, contrast and backlight. We’d recommend using a THX Optimizer disc to get the TV looking at its best when watching Blu-rays.

You’ll have to calibrate each HDMI input separately, however – which is a bit laborious but worth it in the end. It’s also a shame that you can’t tweak broadcast TV to the disc-based THX standards – although if you run all your sources through an AV receiver, you’ll only be using one input anyway, and all this is a moot point.

Anyway, whichever way you do things, a bit of tweaking sees standard and high-definition TV channels look dynamic, natural and noise-free.

Motion processing rate has gone up to 500Hz from last year’s 400Hz, and there’s a subtle, but significant difference. The picture is smooth and assured, both in slow pans across the screen and in fast-moving action shots.

We played around with toggling Perfect Natural Motion off and on Minimum, but in the end we left all options (under the Pixel Precise HD section) switched off, as any additional processing tends to give a somewhat unnatural sheen to the picture in an attempt to smooth things over.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Passive 3D

Play TT3D: Closer to the Edge in 3D, and you’re in for a smooth (if adrenaline-charged) ride. Philips’s passive 3D tech is some of the best we’ve seen – it might even give Panasonic’s passive 3D LED sets a run for their money.

It puts hardly any strain on your eyes and despite the usual dimming when you put the glasses on (there are four pairs in the box), the picture remains crisp and bright with a good depth of field. The smooth motion-handling is certainly evident here; we’d happily watch 3D films on the 47PFL6008 TV.

If you’re a fan of two-player gaming, the 3D technology has a neat trick up its sleeve. It works to give each player a full-screen experience instead of splitting the screen in half (as it would in normal 2D). You’ll need to buy separate 3D gaming glasses (two pairs cost about £30), so each player can see their own game in full screen while playing at the same time.

Philips 47PFL6008S: Verdict

There’s no denying it: this Philips TV holds its own comfortably against pricier class rivals.

There are downsides, though, which explain its four-star rating. There's the slight sluggishness during use – we’d have liked it to be much more responsive. A dash more subtlety across the board in picture quality would help too, as the competition from rivals is sky-high as far as we’ve seen in the new 2013 sets.

That being said, this Philips 47PFL6008 TV is one of the best four-stars we’ve given in recent times. It might not have extensive smart features or a fancy interface, but if all you want is a big screen with brilliant picture quality and easy-on-the-eyes 3D, the 47PFL6008 is excellent value for £1200.

Samsung UE46F7000

Tested at £1600

Rating = 5/5

Another great screen from Samsung, with stunning picture quality and interface that’s worth its price… and an audition

For

• Sharp and detailed pictures
• Natural and vibrant colours
• Redesigned smart features
• Remote controls are slick and fun to use
• Classy-looking and well built

Against

• Patchy backlight in one corner
• Voice control can be frustrating to use

Samsung has already been at the receiving end of a glowing TV review this year: the Samsung UE55F8000 wowed us with smarter features and upgrades, and great picture quality.

Now it’s time for the next series down, the F7000, to step into the spotlight. The Samsung UE46F7000 TV shares plenty of features with its more upmarket sibling, but will it share a similar five-star fate? Let’s have a look at what the Samsung UE46F7000 TV can do.

Samsung UE46F7000: Design

The first thing we notice about the Samsung UE46F7000 is the stand. It’s a square metal stand and for that we’re grateful.

The metal arc stand of the UE55F8000 caused quite a stir: it might have looked elegant, but it wasn’t an entirely practical design, teetering precariously over the edges of standard AV racks. The 46in screen feels much safer and sturdier fitted to its more conventional square stand; we definitely prefer this design of support.

The screen itself is a slim and elegant affair, with the 46in LED display surrounded by a super-narrow bezel. Build quality is top class – but we expect no less from Samsung. We also quite like that the glowing Samsung logo is inlaid into the stand rather than in the frame of the TV.

As with the UE55F8000, there’s a sleek retractable camera at the top of the TV – handy for Skype calls, face recognition and Samsung’s motion control feature.

Samsung UE46F7000: Specifications

Head around to the back of the TV, and you’ll find four HDMI inputs – enough to hook up any AV equipment, cable or satellite box and gaming consoles. Other connections include three USB ports, component and composite inputs, an RGB Scart socket, digital optical and headphone outputs, an ethernet port and integrated wi-fi.

Like the UE55F8000, the Samsung UE46F7000 features one Freeview HD tuner and one Freesat tuner with two feeds (making it possible to watch one channel while recording another to a USB-connected hard drive).

We’re also glad to see that the quad-core processor found in the F8000 has made its way into the F7000. A world first for Smart LED TVs, this delivers a faster and better performance when it comes to browsing the web, multitasking, and it gives a better picture performance as well. It’s particularly useful for the smooth running of the new smart features that appear throughout the Samsung 2013 TVs.

Samsung UE46F7000: Smart features

The highlight of Samsung’s smart features is a completely redesigned Smart Hub. It’s a doozie, too: the five-panel carousel is attractive, user-friendly, and as slick as using a smartphone or tablet. Its apps are presented in a neat grid, and animated flourishes when opening and closing make the new Hub a lot more engaging.

Each panel is devoted to a separate category…

Social - Houses the social networking essentials of Facebook, Twitter and Skype. You can also pull up a separate Twitter feed while watching a TV show, and make Skype calls directly from this page with the camera popped up.

Apps - There are plenty of media apps to keep you entertained, such as catch-up TV options with BBC iPlayer, Demand 5 or ITV Player, music on demand from Spotify, and widgets for the latest news and sports.

On TV - Everything related to broadcast TV, with the new panel design ensuring that broadcast TV is an integral part of the smart experience, rather than keeping it as a separate entity. You can access the programme guide, switch to a timeline view, record shows and see previews of what’s on next all from this one panel.

There’s also an S Recommendation feature, which intelligently learns your viewing preferences and offers suggestions of similar shows. We were stuck watching daytime TV during testing, but the technology aims to become more personalised and effective the more you use the TV over long periods of time.

Movies & TV shows - Instead of having to log in to separate accounts for on-demand services (such as LoveFilm, Netflix, Acetrax and so on) and then search for available movies, this panel aggregates all the films and TV shows available, and then you choose which service to stream or download from.

Photos, Videos and Music - Pull up all types of media content from various storage devices accessed via your home network right on to the 46in screen.

And in keeping with the ‘smart’ theme, Samsung is offering a Smart Evolution kit which lets you upgrade the technology involved in picture performance and features every year. This kit – which slots into the back of the TV – is valid for up to four years.

Even better, if you already own a 2012 Samsung set from the 7-, 8- or 9-series, you can upgrade it to include this year’s specifications and features. The module costs around £280.

Samsung UE46F7000: Control

Samsung was putting the finishing touches to the standard remote control during our F8000 review. We’ve finally got the finished product, and we like what we see and feel. The remote is smaller, slimmer, and much more ergonomic than before – and the multi-coloured hexagonal Smart Hub button has been replaced with a standard button. All in all, it’s quick and easy to use.

If you want something smarter and slicker, though, the redesigned Smart Touch remote is a great alternative. It’s intuitive and highly responsive, and using it is akin to swiping across a smartphone’s touchscreen. From flicking through apps or browsing the web, you’ll find yourself swiping away to control the TV in next to no time. One feature we especially like is tracing a channel number on the touch pad to change channels.

Samsung SmartView Control app

If the two redesigned remote controls still don’t take your fancy, you can always download the free control app on to your smartphone or tablet device of choice.

Unlike the AllShare Play mirroring feature, the app is compatible with both Android and iOS products. It’s a good-looking thing, with controls laid out logically, and it’s responsive, too.

There’s a free-form screen to move a cursor around, and you can access smart features and apps with one click. It’s good, but standards have moved on: Panasonic’s updated control app for its 2013 TVs includes all the calibration/picture adjustments found on the TV, and in an attractive layout, too. Samsung needs to step up at this level.

Samsung UE46F7000: Voice and motion control

Samsung has been determined to stick with and improve the voice and motion controls that it introduced in its 2012 range of TVs. We’ve debated the merits and usefulness of these controls before: they’re headline-grabbing and sound cool, but in reality they’re not as intuitive to use as we’d hope – we’re still not convinced that they’d be a natural alternative to using a remote control or your smartphone app to control the TV.

Both features have benefited from the quad-core processor, though, as it’s a smoother experience than it was last year. The motion control was much more responsive than the review sample we had of the UE55F8000, with the camera picking up hand movements easily, even if we were gesturing with hands while talking or just checking Twitter updates on our phone.

It made two-hand gestures to zoom and rotate pictures easy too, as well as moving across the panels of the Smart Hub with a flick of the hand. We like the responsiveness, but if you don’t want the motion controls activating when you’re deeply engrossed in watching a film (or if you habitually leap up and flail your arms about while watching sport), we’d recommend closing down the camera.

We’ve struggled with voice commands in the past – and we continue to do so. Simple commands of changing the channel or volume are easily executed, but more complex commands are hit-and-miss.

And we found the on-screen guide’s instructions to press the mic button on the Smart Touch remote and when to speak frustrating, as it was unresponsive and would confuse our actions. Panasonic’s new voice control for 2013 is a better alternative: it’s more responsive, less fussy with voice commands and, quite simply, it works.

Samsung UE46F7000: Sound

Flat-screen TVs have traditionally sounded weedy. The higher-end UE55F8000 tries to mitigate this by adding two 10W woofers alongside two standard 10W drivers – and they add considerable weight and warmth to the set’s sonic presentation.

The UE46F7000 has to make do without the woofers, however, so is restricted to just two 10W drivers. There isn’t, therefore, the muscular weight of UE55F8000 –nor is there the comfortable roundedness of the Philips 47PFL6008’s sound – but there is enough punch to action-movie gunshots and the like, and dialogue is clear and direct.

If you’re considering the UE46F7000, we’d also steer you towards looking at a soundbar to match. If you’re on a tight budget, try the LG NB3520A (£250); if you can stretch a little further, go all the way and invest in the Sonos Playbar (£600). 

Samsung UE46F7000: Picture

This is a great screen. Play the Blu-ray of Looper, and the screen is filled with superb detail and definition. The glare of a sunset on Emily Blunt’s face looks natural, while the fading green and brown grass in the field where Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries out his hits looks dry and crackly. It’s a crisp picture, with objects etched out neatly without anything looking overly sharp.
The colour palette is balanced, too – previous Samsung sets had a tendency to favour a more dynamic picture quality – but the 2013 sets have a very natural tone so far.

There are layers of subtle detail here that convey a wonderful sense of depth to the picture, be it revealing detail in shadows or the texture of clothes of varying material. And motion handling is smooth, too – there’s no need to add additional processing as the Samsung doesn’t have any obvious issues across the screen.

The UE46F7000 does have a slightly reddish tint, which isn’t hugely detrimental: the colours look deep and vivid. However, blue skies with fluffy white clouds have a hint of pinkness to them, and Bruce Willis’s skin tone looks just a bit too ruddy and tanned.

There’s no loss in overall insight, it’s just the way the designers have gone – the Panasonic TX-L47DT65B, for example, goes in the opposite direction with a slightly yellow palette.

There’s scope, as always, to tweak the picture quality in the Samsung’s settings. Even after setting the picture up with a THX Optimizer disc, we found ourselves toning down both the backlight and colour levels just a touch.

Next to the crystal-clear images of the Philips 47PFL6008 and the Panasonic TX-L47DT65B, the Samsung was starting to look just a touch less sharp and less defined in black areas, and it is slightly noisier than either of those sets, too.

We set the Black Tone control to its lowest setting for a deeper black palette, and turned up the sharpness – this doesn’t affect other aspects of the picture, but it livens up the image considerably, with the Samsung now outshining the Philips, and running neck-and-neck with the Panasonic.

These characteristics follow through with both broadcast channels and DVDs, too. There’s the obvious difference in quality between standard- and high-definition channels, but overall the Samsung is a joy to watch.

We found ourselves drawn into daytime TV programmes and reruns of American sitcoms (yes, really), and the Samsung certainly has a talented upscaler – Seven Psychopaths on DVD was full of subtle detail and gentle colours. It’s a dynamic, exciting watch.

Our only main gripe with our review sample UE46F7000 is a patchy backlighting effect at the bottom-left corner of the screen. Aside from this, we found it hard to choose between this screen and the rival Panasonic TX-L47DT65B on picture performance alone.

Samsung UE46F7000: Active 3D

The UE46F7000 is an active 3D TV and the pros and cons of active 3D tech become immediately apparent. In the ‘for’ column, the picture depth is dramatic and exciting, and we find ourselves fully immersed in the 3D version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. There is an inevitable dimming when putting on the glasses, detail is retained and fast motion is stable.

Niggles? The active-shutter glasses did strain our eyes a touch. There are two pairs included with the UE46F7000 may be light, they don’t sit particularly comfortably. Active or passive 3D is a personal preference, but the comfort of passive might just outweigh the drama of active in the long run.

Samsung UE46F7000: Verdict

To answer the question we posed earlier: yes, the Samsung UE46F7000 most certainly shares a five-star rating with the UE55F8000. In fact, the F7000 might just edge it out of the limelight, if only because of the sturdier and more practical stand design.

Samsung does have some fierce competition when it comes to usability and voice interaction in particular however, now that Panasonic has expanded its smart features repertoire. But for the breadth of smart content available, and the fine quality of its picture, this UE46F7000 is a strong contender if you’re after a new TV this year.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B

Tested at £2400

Rating = 5/5

A simply stunning screen that’s engaging to watch and comfortable to use – this is a great TV

For

• Remarkably clear and subtly detailed picture
• Silky smooth motion
• Insightful and immersive
• New control and smart features are intuitive and easy to use
• Sound is punchy and rounded

Against

• Built-in camera doesn’t share the premium feel of the rest of the screen

We’ve long been fans of Panasonic plasma TVs, and by now we’re all aware of the news that Panasonic is stopping R&D of plasma display panels. But that doesn’t mean the firm has stopped making plasma TVs, as the Panasonic TX-P55VT65B proves.
With a Full HD, active 3D screen that’s filled to the brim with new smart features and a variety of control options, the TX-P55VT65B certainly promises a great viewing experience for £2400.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Picture

Let’s cut to the chase: we can’t fault this screen – it’s simply beautiful, and delivers a captivatingly immersive viewing experience.
Detail is sky-high; there are layers upon layers of subtlety here that give the picture a lovely sense of depth and insight. Picture definition, too, is accurate without edges being over-sharpened, and the overall clarity on offer is remarkable.

The picture is smooth and clean, too: the VT65’s talent with contrast shines through in hard-to-render dark scenes: black levels are velvety deep, with whites punching through. Shadows are never lost, while textures of different materials are fully conveyed.
Last year, Panasonic plasmas had a subtle almost sepia-tint, but there’s no hint of that in the TX-P55VT65B. The colour palette has a well-balanced natural tone, with colours looking pleasingly lifelike.

To test the broadcast channels we settle down to watch the live practice sessions for the Chinese Grand Prix. Formula 1 cars whizzing across the screen could easily be a motion-handling nightmare for any TV – but this Panasonic once again impressed us with its smoothness.
F1 cars raced by the track with no distracting judders or blurring and, coupled with the stark clarity and detail definition, it’s an exciting watch. While standard-definition TV and DVD films have an inevitable drop in resolution, the Panasonic TX-P55VT65B still delivers a clean and detailed picture.

And that smooth motion comes in handy when watching 3D films such as Dredd. Panning shots across the dystopian landscape of Mega City One are smoothly handled with only the slightest hint of instability – but it’s a much subtler effect than previous 3D sets.
While we prefer the easy-on-the-eyes effect of passive 3D, the dramatic sense of depth you get with active sets is a major attraction. You get two pairs of active-shutter glasses with the Panasonic. They’re similar in design to the lightweight passive pairs that you get with the LED TVs, but these are slightly heavier. Our eyes didn’t get too weary too fast when watching in 3D, either – it’s one of the better active sets we’ve seen recently.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: My Home Screen

The biggest overhaul seen across Panasonic’s 2013 TVs is a redesigned interface that offers a more personal experience for users. Instead of one static screen or themed panels for each type of smart feature, the new My Home Screen lets you mix and match apps and content in one place.
There are four standard screens with up to seven customisable ones – all are neatly arranged and easily accessible using the ‘Home’ button or, if you fancy using voice commands, by saying ‘My Home Screen’ into the Touch Pad Controller’s microphone.

There’s a permanent panel reserved for live broadcast TV, but you can add shortcuts to BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Twitter, weather apps, your favourite web pages and preview Freeview or Freesat channels all in one page.
It’s a great feature and is wonderfully easy to use. We had our own home screen set up in seconds, and while it might not be as slick or stylish-looking as Samsung’s revamped Smart Hub, it’s much more intuitive to navigate.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Remote control

Manufacturers are constantly finding new and more interactive ways for you to control your telly, and Panasonic offers no less than five methods here. First, there’s the standard (logical, nice to use) remote control.
But if that feels a bit old-fashioned, you might prefer the Touch Pad Controller. We certainly did; the egg-shaped remote nestles comfortably into the palm, and the touch-sensitive pad is very responsive and easy to manipulate with a few simple gestures. There’s also a small niche with an ‘OK’ button cut into the back of the remote where your finger naturally crooks in – it’s a nice, ergonomic touch from Panasonic.

And if you want to keep things simpler by using your smartphone or tablet to control the TX-P55VT65B, Panasonic has updated its control app to Viera Remote 2. This includes a revamped interface with a full Smart Calibration section for controlling and adjusting all the picture settings.
The app also has an updated Swipe & Share feature. This lets you share photos, videos and music (Android only for now) from your device to the TV (and back again to your or a friend’s smart device). The control app’s interface guides you on the direction of the swiping, and on the whole it’s a simple and uncomplicated feature as long as all the devices and the TX-P55VT65B are connected to the same network.
 

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Voice interaction

The fourth way to control your new Panasonic plasma TV is with voice commands. We’ve already encountered – and been frustrated by – voice control in Samsung’s Smart TVs, but it’s the first year that Panasonic has featured it. And we were delighted to find that it works with minimal amount of fuss or setbacks – voice commands are recognised instantly and correctly on the whole, and the search terms used had a logical pattern to them.
You’ll need the Touch Pad Controller (or the smartphone app) to use this feature. Simply press the microphone button and say a simple command – reaction times are quick. We’ve previously panned voice controls as it still felt clunky and slow when in use – but Panasonic’s version does make it more attractive and easier to use.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Touch Pen

While we’re on the topic of new smart features, one of the most interesting things about the TX-P55VT65B is that you can draw straight on to the screen. Before you take a biro to that plasma screen, Panasonic has included an Electronic Touch Pen instead, with which you can draw on paused screens of live TV, as well as on photos sent from your smartphone to the TV using the Swipe & Share function on the control app.
The Touch Pen itself a long, slightly bulky white pen, but it’s comfortable to hold and there’s no need for any additional software to make it work. There’s no danger of scratching that beautiful plasma screen, either – no really – the nib is smooth and rounded and rolled over the screen smoothly.
Of course, we’d caution anyone – adults and children alike – to bang on the screen with it, but overall, it was safe and scratch-free to use.

Connect the Touch Pen by clicking its power button, then simply tap on the screen to start writing and drawing. You can pause live TV to scribble on top of a screenshot, add messages to photos, play interactive kids’ games, and click links on web browsers using the Touch Pen.
You can choose from a palette of colours, switch between a pen or paint bucket tool, undo or erase what you’ve scrawled, and once you’re done, save your masterpiece to a connected SD card or USB memory stick, and download it to your smart device using Swipe & Share gestures.
This type of feature would normally be sent to the gimmick pile, but we have to admit – it does work really well. The Touch Pen flows really smoothly, and is surprisingly responsive to handwritten text and scribbles. The sheer fact that it works so well makes it rather fun to use.
We’re not sure we’d use it strictly as a photo-editing tool when more sophisticated alternatives are available on your smartphone or computer, but it’s a fun option to have. We think kids will enjoy it as well, if parents reading this are brave enough to let their toddlers poke at a brand new £2400 TV with a (electronic) stick…
 

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Design and specs

The TX-P55VT65B stands sturdy and elegant on its square metal stand. The shiny V-shaped supporting frame might have attracted a bit too much attention when paired with smaller screens such as the TX-L47DT65B, but with the TX-P55VT65B, it’s the slim and narrow-bezelled 55in ‘NeoPlasma’ screen that dominates the room.
Hidden away in the top frame is a built-in camera – this option is only available for the VT65 and WT65 series, and it’s useful if you want to make Skype calls or use the face-recognition feature with your personalised My Home Screen. You can angle the camera towards you, but the camera itself feels a little bit flimsy and added-on. The Samsung’s new sleek and smooth retractable camera had a more quality and integrated feel to it.

A key feature of the TX-P55VT65B is twin HD tuners for Freeview HD and Freesat HD – so you can watch live broadcast TV while recording another channel at the same time. It also allows you to use Panasonic’s multi-window feature, where you can watch the latest Scandinavian crime drama while also keeping an eye on the live football scores.
Other connections neatly arranged at the rear panel are three HDMI inputs (a standard across all top-ranging Panasonic TVs this year), three USB ports, component, composite and RGB scart inputs, digital optical and headphone outputs, and a slot to input SD cards from cameras. You can also opt for either a wired or wireless connection to your home network, as the TX-P55VT65B has an ethernet LAN port and built-in wireless connectivity.

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Sound

We’ve picked upon the thin and lifeless sound coming from flat screen TVs for a few years now, and it’s about time manufacturers started doing something constructive about it.
The TX-P55VT65B features long, slim front speakers inlaid into either side of the screen – and a 7.5cm woofer hidden away – as its 2.1 sound system. A total output of 20W doesn’t sound like much, but it’s in the quality of the sound that we’re interested in – and it’s a definite improvement from previous screens.

There’s a rounded quality to the sound, which has more weight and solidity to give it definition. There’s no thin or bright edge to the dialogue, and sound effects have more punch and power behind them.
We did find ourselves increasing the volume just to get a touch more clarity, but it didn’t grate on the ears. While we welcome the added muscle behind the sound, we’d still recommend investing in a full speaker package if you want to get the most out of the TX-P55VT65B, because the picture of this plasma TV is really something special.
 

Panasonic TX-P55VT65B: Verdict

Plasma may be coming towards the end of its lifecycle, but the Panasonic TX-P55VT65B proves the technology still has much to commend it. We like how easily laid out the new smart features are and how intuitive it is to use the new controls.
But overall, it’s the quality of the picture that truly impresses. We haven’t seen such a clear and smooth screen – the picture itself is worth its asking price of £2400.