Verdict

Pros

• Great value
• Great pictures for the money
• Comprehensive video streaming options

Cons

• Motion issues with 3D
• Some aspects of the Smart interface are a little inscrutable
• Dynamic contrast system 'turns off' LED lighting during fades to black

What is the Samsung UE40F6400?

The mid-range Samsung UE40F6400 is the most affordable TV we’ve seen from Samsung’s 2013 TV series to date. Despite this, though, it’s still well featured, including such ‘big hitters’ like Samsung’s latest Smart TV interface, active 3D, built-in Wi-Fi, expansive multimedia playback support, and a ‘200 Clear Motion Rate’ engine.

Not what you’re looking for? See our top 10 best TVs of 2013 round-up

Samsung UE40F6400: Design & Connections

It’s attractively designed, too, for a 40-inch TV we’ve found selling just £616 – it’s around £650 from larger outlets. Its black bezel is attractively finished and pretty slim at under 1.5cm across. We also like Samsung’s trademark transparent outer trim, and the silver cross-style stand the set sits on if you’re not wall mounting it.

If you do want to pop it on the wall, though, you shouldn’t find it too difficult, thanks to the way Samsung has positioned the majority of the set’s connections for side access, so you don’t have to worry about cables sticking straight out of the TV’s rear. The only important exceptions to this are one of the four HDMIs and the LAN input. But where the latter is concerned there’s a pretty handy workaround in the shape of built-in Wi-Fi.

Other connections of note include three USBs capable of playing back a wide range of photo, music and video multimedia file types. You can also access similar files from networked DLNA PCs.

Samsung UE40F6400: Smart TV

Samsung has committed to delivering its latest Smart TV functionality across pretty much the whole of its TV range this year, so the now-familiar array of five separate content hubs greets you when you’ve installed the Samsung UE40F6400.

Also present and correct are all the video streaming platforms that have helped make Samsung’s online TV offering this year such a rip-roaring success, including, uniquely, all four of the main UK broadcaster catch-up TV services.

Plus you get Samsung’s S-Recommendations system that learns your viewing preferences and makes suggestions accordingly, and the TV ships with a second remote featuring a touchpad and a built-in mic for accessing Samsung’s latest, ever-improving voice recognition system.

The Smart menus remain a little inscrutable in places, and Samsung’s Android and iOS app situation remains frustratingly ‘fractured’ into multiple apps and varying functionality between devices. Overall, though, the UE40F6400’s Smart system is commendable for its sophistication.

For a more in-depth analysis of Samsung’s Smart platform this year, read our Samsung Smart TV review from earlier in the year.

Bear in mind, however, that Samsung has issued a series of firmware updates since that report was written that has notably improved some aspects of the system, especially the voice and gesture control elements.