The sleek, edge-lit LED-based Samsung UN55B8000 is one of the most expensive HDTVs in Samsung’s roster. It tries to live up to its price, though, with amazing picture quality and a bunch of innovative features which are sure to leave you gaping.
Design
The design of the Samsung UN55B8000 is one of its strong points, and you’ll find out why as soon as you set your eyes on its ultra-thin panel, which is just 1.2 inches deep at most. You won’t see any red accents on
Samsung UN55B8000
its glossy black frame, either, which is tapered with a transparent edge. In fact, the only touch of color you will find is the blue power indicator, which you can easily turn off. It comes with a transparent, circular swiveling stand with a brushed metal surface, too, and a special slim wall mount, for those who want to hang it – both of which complement its stunning design.
The remote control that comes with the UN55B8000 makes its own statement, with RF capability that allows you to control the TV without having to point it at the screen, or even from the next room. There is also a new rotating scroll wheel, which, unfortunately, is not too responsive, and a mouse-like secondary remote that allows you to change the channel, volume, and turn the set on and off. The menu system is practically the same as previous models, with highly legible text against a transparent background and explanatory text for most functions running along the bottom.
Screen/Picture Clarity
The picture quality of the UN55B8000 easily impresses, too, with outstandingly deep black levels made possibly by its LED lighting, excellent shadow detail, and colors that are vivid and generally accurate, with the usual bluish tinge down to a minimum. The only problem is the less-than-uniform brightness of the screen, especially in dark scenes, although this does little to mar the overall picture quality.
The 240Hz refresh rate sets it apart from lower end Samsung models, too. While the effects of this are quite difficult to discern, the absence of blurry images during fast-action scenes and the fact that you can reduce blur even with the dejudder processing turned off are still something to appreciate. It delivers every line of both 1080p and 1080i sources, as well.
Features
The picture quality can be even better with a firmware update and a little adjustment using the variety of picture settings that come with the UN55B8000. These include four adjustable picture modes, a film mode, an automatic dynamic contrast ratio control and four aspect ratio settings, to name a few. There are also three power-saving modes to help you cut down on energy consumption even further, interactive widgets, a library of built-in content, and great connectivity for digital devices – with four HDMI inputs, a PC input and not just one but two USB slots.
With all these, the Samsung UN55B8000 definitely packs a price for its punch. Sure, it may be one of the most expensive HDTVs around, costing as much as $3500, but at least, you’ll have a lot to enjoy and brag about with your friends 
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