Samsung PN50B850 Review

In terms of performance, Samsung PN50B850 is on the same level with the models from the previous 650 series from the same company. One would wonder why spend more on this 50 inch plasma TV, if the performance is the same, but it would only mean that that person has not seen the new high tech design Samsung had in store for the 850/860 series, with a frame that is only 1.2 inches thick. There is little difference between this Samsung plasma TV and its 860 counterpart, the latter having as extras, the ability to switch manually to 24 cinema mode, as well as an extra calibration mode. The overall picture quality is great, and its video processing features are very reliable.

The only difference between PN B860 series and PN B850 series is the presence of a manual option for 1080p/24 mode and an extra calibration setting on PN B860.

We’ve made this Samsung PN50B850 review short, covering only the most important aspects. If you want to read more about PN50B850 you should also check Samsung PN50B860 review. Everything there, with the exception of what I said above, applies to this model as well.

At a Glance

• Resolution: 1920×1080
• Contrast ratio: 3,000,000:1 (dynamic)
• Anti-glare filter: Ultra FilterBright Plus
• 24p cinema mode
• USB
• Ethernet
• WiFi
• Internet@TV
• Picture In Picture
• Wide Color Enhancer Pro

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Good black levels (improved compared to last year)
• Highly accurate colors (better than Panasonic models)
• Solid video processing
• Solid standard definition processing

Cons:

• No S-video input
• Relatively expensive, being a slim model
• Though anti-glare performance is good, other models are better

Performance

As mentioned earlier, there is not much improvement over the 650 series from Samsung, when we talk about these models from the top of the line series. There are even tests that show that the black levels on 650 models are a tad better than on Samsung PN50B850, but this aspect does not influence much the overall performance that is still very good, and only very little behind the competitive V10 series from Panasonic.

Black Levels

Samsung PN50B850 cannot complain about its black levels, even if they do not match the Panasonic’s incredible blacks. It appears that the main issue that this model encounters is the inability to recreate true black, but, in general, dark scenes and shadow detail are displayed realistic and punching enough to recommend this model as a buy.

Color Accuracy

Even if Samsung PN50B850 cannot boast about having the deepest levels of black, like Panasonic, it can do it when it comes to color accuracy. Its colors are truly amazing and no tinges or smearing is experienced. Even if Panasonic’s colors are more saturated (due to its incredible black levels), the colors on the Samsung model are more accurate, which gives Samsung more of an extra edge over its competition.

Video Processing

High definition content is displayed with no problems on the Samsung PN50B850’s screen. Be it 1080p or 1080i video sources, the viewer will have a nice watching experience. Blu-ray discs can also be watched without a glitch, as the model does automatic implementation for displaying content in 24p cinema mode. While it may not equal Panasonic in terms of video processing, as its 600Hz subfield motion technology delivers inferior results if compared with the 600Hz subfield drive from Panasonic, the differences are too thin in order to be taken into consideration.

Standard Definition

Samsung PN50B850 does not encounter problems as other plasma TV’s do when it is needed to display standard definition content on its screen. It is able to solve every line from regular DVD’s, and low resolution images are also displayed without visible artefacts. This is more than most plasma TV’s on the market do, and it is a strong point for this plasma model.

Conclusion

While it is more expensive than the 650 model from Samsung, having the same level of performance, Samsung PN50B850 catches the eye with its sleek, awesome design. If you are interested in having the coolest looking plasma TV, with looks doubled by excellent performance, and you have the money for it, then this is a recommended buy.