Samsung UE32D5000 Pro Reviews

Certainly the Samsung D5000 is one to consider for the gamers out there with an exceptionally small delay between controller input and on-screen response, and this was good in all picture modes, not just the obscurely located Game pre-set. We also like the fact that build quality seems to have been taken up a notch from last year’s budget Samsung and cosmetically the D5000 doesn’t betray its entry level status; a back-lit remote control is always a welcome addition too. For £350, or thereabouts, the Samsung UE-32D5000 is a very enticing proposition, with only the lack of any real noteworthy smart functions and a Freeview HD tuner holding it back from a higher accolade. As it is, it’s yet another badge for Samsung. Recommended and comfortably so.

There’s a lot to like about the Samsung UE32D5000, and at the current asking price of around £400, it presents decent value for money (although we begrudge the lack of Freeview HD/DVB-T2 tuner). The only real negatives relate to the use of non-MCFI assisted LED LCD display technology: fast motion video content will reveal motion blur, and the light distribution across the screen surface is slightly inconsistent, which is the price you pay for such a slim panel. It’s also a shame that the out-of-the-box picture was overly reddish, because we can’t imagine many entry-level televisions will be given the full calibration treatment. However, if you’re looking for a smaller screen HDTV with great aesthetics, low power consumption, good black levels, excellent video game responsiveness, and potentially excellent picture quality with HD sources, then the UE32D5000 is a fairly solid choice.

The big features this year might be 3D and smart TV, but that doesn’t mean everyone wants them. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t particularly feel the need, you may be interested in this Samsung, a 32in TV that boasts premium picture-enhancing features such as LED backlighting, motion processing and, of course, a Full HD resolution, but hits a very affordable price by leaving out those headline features that some might consider unnecessary.

A well-priced entry-level TV that’s well suited to a bedroom, but you might want to look elsewhere for a set for the living room.

Back to basics goes Samsung on this mainstream 32-incher that’s among the best-looking TVs ever made. As such it’s an effort that’s sure to be more popular - and ultimately, more important - than its bells-and-whistles 3DTVs. With some semblance of modernity on board in the form of (stuttering) DLNA networking and file playback from USB, Samsung has put excellent usability and some decent Edge LED-backed pictures at the forefront of a low-priced package. We hate its lack of Freeview HD channels, but Virgin/Sky subscribers will welcome the chance to save a few quid. Exciting and cutting-edge this is not, but terrific value it certainly is.

The UE32D5000's status as a showpiece living-room TV is undermined by the lack of features, such as 3D, Smart Hub, Wi-Fi and Freeview HD, but if you want to bring full HD into the kitchen or bedroom – where HD pictures and fancy functions might not be as essential – then the UE32D5000 is a terrific choice, particularly at such a knock-down price. Throw dashing looks, DLNA, a top-notch operating system, and excellent picture quality into the mix and life looks even rosier for this cracking 32-inch set.

If you’re after the last word in 3D and Smart TV technology, then the 32D5000 is not the set for you. If you’re into good picture quality and stylish design at startlingly affordable prices, though, then the 32D5000 is almost scarily good. Though it’s a shame about that missing Freeview HD tuner.