I spent a while looking at different LED TV’s, I was going to purchase the UE40D5520 then I saw this new 2012 UE40ES5500 next to it (and only £50 more). It looks like it was in a different class, it is very slim and the TV is basically all screen, the black and glass bezel around the screen is very thin and makes the TV look more expensive than it actually is.
The set up of the TV was very simple and it was up and running in no time. However the TV did not have the latest firmware even though it was only released a few weeks ago? I updated it from 001011 to 001012.2 which is the latest firmware at this time of review. The TV also spent about 5-10 min downloading and updating to the latest version of the Smart Hub.
Once it finished all the updates, wow, I was completely blown away with the quality of the picture! The clarity, colour and detail are amazing. Although I can only compare to my old Samsung Series 5 1080p LCD TV.
I also wanted a TV with low power consumption and this defiantly ticks the box in that department. With everything on full blast the TV only uses 55 watts. With the TV set to medium Eco mode it only uses 24 watts (even on medium Eco mode the brightness and quality of the picture is 10 times better than my 4 year old series 5 LCD TV).
I have the TV set up to a 5.1 surround system so I can’t really comment on the sound quality although it did sound a little tinny but that was probably because I’m used to 5.1.
I have connected the TV to the Internet via Comtrend Power Adaptors as this is more reliable and faster than Wifi, This model also has a web browser and in actual fact I was pleasantly suppressed on how fast and easy it was to use. I downloaded the Samsung Smart View and Remote for my Android phone (available for iPhone as well) and browsing on the TV with my phone is as quick as my laptop/PC, although using the TV remote is awful and slow to navigate.
I browsed the Samsung Apps and was very disappointed, there was nowhere near the amount off apps available as the Samsung website states, about half in actual fact included no BBC iPlayer? I emailed Samsung about this and they basically said they are working on this and all the apps including BBC iPlayer will be available via an update in the near future however they could not tell me date (I think this effects all 2012 sets).This is a shame as I would have given the TV 5 stars but because of the above I can only give it 4 stars. However you can still access BBC iPlayer via the web browser on the TV and this works a treat but it would be easier if the app was available.
To summarise I would defiantly recommend this TV (if you can wait for the app update).
UPDATE – 23/05/12
Today Samsung released a new firmware 1017.1 for this TV, there are a few more apps but still no BBC iPlayer?
UPDATE – 17/06/12
Samsung releas firmware 1021.0 on 4th June, installed but must be some bug fixes as I can’t tell the difference. Also BBC iPlayer was added on 13th June.
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I bought the 40 Inch model from John Lewis, it was so good I was kicking myself for not getting the 46 inch model, so I contacted John Lewis and they agreed to exchange it for the 46 inch model. The larger screen with the narrow bezel frame makes the picture like a window into another dimension, the HD picture quality is absolutley amazing, SD quality is pretty good for a LED TV, the sound is quite good for such a slim TV. After a long wait for Samsung 2012 Models, BBC IPlayer is now available for download from Samsung Apps, the Lovefilm App should be available soon. Give the Screen a few days ( 7 or 8 Days ) to lose it’s newness and after the inital out of the box tweaking the picture will improve naturally, I’m constantly gawping in amazement at the HD channels, the images are stunning.
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This review is from: Samsung UE32ES5500 32-inch 1080P Full HD Smart LED TV with Freeview (New for 2012) (Electronics)
I wanted a thin 32in TV that would look great flat against a wall, with a good quality HD Freeview picture, and, ideally iPlayer. The Samsung model with 3D fitted the bill, but I didn’t want the cost or the facility of 3D. So when this model came out and seemed to be pretty much the same, but without 3D – it seemed to be the answer. (In fact this model has the Smart Hub, and is internet ready, but you need a wi-fi dongle, or connect via ethernet cable to actually get on-line)
I am very pleased with the very neat and elegant look of the TV, and the picture is excellent on both SD and HD. The sound is fine for me, and see no need to get extra speakers. (But I am not a keen movie watcher)
It is very thin, but the aerial cable comes out backwards, not to the side. So I had to get a new aerial cable with 90 degree angled ends, so that I could mount it successfully on my chosen very thin wall bracket. The USB and HDMI connections come out sideways, so no problem. So mounted on the wall it gives the look that I wanted – like a framed picture.
Set up was easy – for the TV side. I got connected to the internet OK, first via ethernet cable, then I decided to get a wi-fi dongle.
My problems started with trying to find iPlayer. I won’t bore you with the details, but basically Samsung released this TV too early. Now after a firmware update (downloaded from their support web site, unzipped and loaded onto the TV via USB memory stick) plus various s/w updates, re-setting etc. I have a fully working TV with iPlayer! And it is very convenient. Note that when you start to play something in iPlayer, you get a message at the top telling you to choose another programme! Ignore that, and it does start playing after a few seconds. Much better than accessing on a laptop and connecting via cables to a TV!
Using YouTube and accessing the web via the browser is good – but very fiddly via their text inputting screen. I got the (free) app for my iPhone that simulates the remote control, and produces a keyboard to input text when required. Brilliant and great to use! Unfortunately the keyboard didn’t seem to come up every time when it should. Plus, now, after the various upgrades to the TV, it doesn’t seem to work at all. I will delete the app on the phone, and download this again, to see if this clears the problem. If this works then this TV with iPhone is a great combination, and I will be delighted despite the early grief with the set.
The Samsung support have been polite and helpful. So this set has caused me many irritations, and you need to be prepared to faff around with periodic firmware and software updates. But now it is nearly all working fine, I appreciate its classy looks, excellent reception and the promise of internet TV has finally come.
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Amazing Value,
I spent a while looking at different LED TV’s, I was going to purchase the UE40D5520 then I saw this new 2012 UE40ES5500 next to it (and only £50 more). It looks like it was in a different class, it is very slim and the TV is basically all screen, the black and glass bezel around the screen is very thin and makes the TV look more expensive than it actually is.
The set up of the TV was very simple and it was up and running in no time. However the TV did not have the latest firmware even though it was only released a few weeks ago? I updated it from 001011 to 001012.2 which is the latest firmware at this time of review. The TV also spent about 5-10 min downloading and updating to the latest version of the Smart Hub.
Once it finished all the updates, wow, I was completely blown away with the quality of the picture! The clarity, colour and detail are amazing. Although I can only compare to my old Samsung Series 5 1080p LCD TV.
I also wanted a TV with low power consumption and this defiantly ticks the box in that department. With everything on full blast the TV only uses 55 watts. With the TV set to medium Eco mode it only uses 24 watts (even on medium Eco mode the brightness and quality of the picture is 10 times better than my 4 year old series 5 LCD TV).
I have the TV set up to a 5.1 surround system so I can’t really comment on the sound quality although it did sound a little tinny but that was probably because I’m used to 5.1.
I have connected the TV to the Internet via Comtrend Power Adaptors as this is more reliable and faster than Wifi, This model also has a web browser and in actual fact I was pleasantly suppressed on how fast and easy it was to use. I downloaded the Samsung Smart View and Remote for my Android phone (available for iPhone as well) and browsing on the TV with my phone is as quick as my laptop/PC, although using the TV remote is awful and slow to navigate.
I browsed the Samsung Apps and was very disappointed, there was nowhere near the amount off apps available as the Samsung website states, about half in actual fact included no BBC iPlayer? I emailed Samsung about this and they basically said they are working on this and all the apps including BBC iPlayer will be available via an update in the near future however they could not tell me date (I think this effects all 2012 sets).This is a shame as I would have given the TV 5 stars but because of the above I can only give it 4 stars. However you can still access BBC iPlayer via the web browser on the TV and this works a treat but it would be easier if the app was available.
To summarise I would defiantly recommend this TV (if you can wait for the app update).
UPDATE – 23/05/12
Today Samsung released a new firmware 1017.1 for this TV, there are a few more apps but still no BBC iPlayer?
UPDATE – 17/06/12
Samsung releas firmware 1021.0 on 4th June, installed but must be some bug fixes as I can’t tell the difference. Also BBC iPlayer was added on 13th June.
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|Top Notch TV,
I bought the 40 Inch model from John Lewis, it was so good I was kicking myself for not getting the 46 inch model, so I contacted John Lewis and they agreed to exchange it for the 46 inch model.
The larger screen with the narrow bezel frame makes the picture like a window into another dimension, the HD picture quality is absolutley amazing, SD quality is pretty good for a LED TV, the sound is quite good for such a slim TV.
After a long wait for Samsung 2012 Models, BBC IPlayer is now available for download from Samsung Apps, the Lovefilm App should be available soon.
Give the Screen a few days ( 7 or 8 Days ) to lose it’s newness and after the inital out of the box tweaking the picture will improve naturally, I’m constantly gawping in amazement at the HD channels, the images are stunning.
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|After much effort, now working fine,
I wanted a thin 32in TV that would look great flat against a wall, with a good quality HD Freeview picture, and, ideally iPlayer. The Samsung model with 3D fitted the bill, but I didn’t want the cost or the facility of 3D. So when this model came out and seemed to be pretty much the same, but without 3D – it seemed to be the answer. (In fact this model has the Smart Hub, and is internet ready, but you need a wi-fi dongle, or connect via ethernet cable to actually get on-line)
I am very pleased with the very neat and elegant look of the TV, and the picture is excellent on both SD and HD. The sound is fine for me, and see no need to get extra speakers. (But I am not a keen movie watcher)
It is very thin, but the aerial cable comes out backwards, not to the side. So I had to get a new aerial cable with 90 degree angled ends, so that I could mount it successfully on my chosen very thin wall bracket. The USB and HDMI connections come out sideways, so no problem. So mounted on the wall it gives the look that I wanted – like a framed picture.
Set up was easy – for the TV side. I got connected to the internet OK, first via ethernet cable, then I decided to get a wi-fi dongle.
My problems started with trying to find iPlayer. I won’t bore you with the details, but basically Samsung released this TV too early. Now after a firmware update (downloaded from their support web site, unzipped and loaded onto the TV via USB memory stick) plus various s/w updates, re-setting etc. I have a fully working TV with iPlayer! And it is very convenient. Note that when you start to play something in iPlayer, you get a message at the top telling you to choose another programme! Ignore that, and it does start playing after a few seconds. Much better than accessing on a laptop and connecting via cables to a TV!
Using YouTube and accessing the web via the browser is good – but very fiddly via their text inputting screen. I got the (free) app for my iPhone that simulates the remote control, and produces a keyboard to input text when required. Brilliant and great to use! Unfortunately the keyboard didn’t seem to come up every time when it should. Plus, now, after the various upgrades to the TV, it doesn’t seem to work at all. I will delete the app on the phone, and download this again, to see if this clears the problem. If this works then this TV with iPhone is a great combination, and I will be delighted despite the early grief with the set.
The Samsung support have been polite and helpful. So this set has caused me many irritations, and you need to be prepared to faff around with periodic firmware and software updates. But now it is nearly all working fine, I appreciate its classy looks, excellent reception and the promise of internet TV has finally come.
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|