At CES 2013, Samsung launched its latest plasma TVs, the F8500 series, which it claims “offers the ultimate in picture quality with the deepest blacks and the brightest picture available”.
In the UK, the Korean company will be launching the 51-inch Samsung PS51F8500, and the 64-inch Samsung PS64F8500 (the US also gets a 60-inch model). Both will get you active 3D, Smart TV functionality with quad-core processing, and ultra-slim chassis cut from “a single piece of metal”.
Check out all the latest CES 2013 news and hands-on reviews here
Samsung F8500 Plasma Specs
It’s a well-known fact that, until OLED TVs like the Samsung 55-inch F9500 come along to steal its crown, plasma offers the best contrast of current TV tech – far superior to even Full-LED backlit LCD technology.
However, it appears that with the PS51F8500 and PS64F8500, Samsung has taken this to a whole new level. The Korean company claims that its new plasma TV range for 2013 sports now just the deepest blacks available, but also the brightest picture. It quantifies this by asserting that the F8500 gives the same brightness level as its LED TVs such as the Samsung F8000, but with “eight times the black expression” – read, dark detailing and black levels. It’s helped along here by Samsung’s proprietary Deep Black Algorithm and Real Black Pro II
That’s impressive stuff no matter how you look at it, and means that in 2013 Samsung’s plasma TVs may at last pose a very serious challenge to the likes of the Panasonic ZT60.
It’s not just the image quality that makes an impression with the Samsung F8500 plasma TV. It offers the same Smart TV functionality as the Korean company’s flagship LED TVs, meaning there’s a quad-core Samsung Exynos processor based on ARM running at its heart. This enables the usual range of online and offline features, apps, media playback, plus voice and gesture control. It’s upgradeable to the latest and greatest SoC if/when it gets out of date using Samsung’s modular Smart Evolution system.
Samsung F8500 Plasma Design
While it’s pretty much a given that plasma TVs will rarely look as good as their slimmer, lighter edge-LED lit LCD counterparts, Samsung has really gone to town on the PS51F8500 and PS64F8500’s design. Apparently the F8500 series have had their bodies sculpted from a single piece of metal called the One Body Form, which is finished in an attractive, off-black brushed finish. The top and sides of the bezel are also incredibly slim by Plasma standards, letting you focus on those lovely screens.
Samsung F8500 Price and Launch Date
The F8500 series will be available in the second quarter of 2013, but UK pricing has yet to be confirmed.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
