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Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 are parts of Samsung’s 2018 4K UHD LED TV Lineup 7 Series. In the market, they come to the entry level model. Both of them may lack some advanced features found on the higher series like 8 Series of QLED TV lineup, but they offers benefits in their price that is more affordable. In the market, Samsung NU7100 is available in a lot of screen sizes option including 40 inch (UN40NU7100), 43 Inch (UN43NU7100), 50 Inch (UN50NU7100), 55 Inch (UN55NU7100), 58 Inch (UN58NU7100), 65 Inch (UN65NU7100), and 75 Inch (UN75NU7100). On the other hand, NU7300 comes in 2 screen sizes option those are 55 inch (UN55NU7300) and 65 Inch (UN65NU7300). Meanwhile, with the same screen (UN55NU7100 vs UN55NU7300, UN65NU7100 vs UN65NU7300), NU7300 is sold about tens dollar more expensive than NU7100. But of course, their prices are not fixed and could still change at any time. So, what are their differences and which is a better choice between them?
Samsung NU7300 vs NU7100 Key Specs
| Specs and Features | Samsung NU7100 | Samsung NU7300 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 4K (2160×3840) | 4K (2160×3840) |
| Sizes Available | 40 Inch (UN40NU7100), 43 Inch (UN43NU7100), 50 Inch (UN50NU7100), 55 Inch (UN55NU7100), 58 Inch (UN58NU7100), 65 Inch (UN65NU7100), 75 Inch (UN75NU7100) | 55” (UN55NU7300), 65” (UN65NU7300) |
| Screen Type | Flat | Curved |
| Backlighting Technology | Edge Lit LED | Edge Lit LED |
| Local Dimming | No | No |
| UHD Dimming | UHD Dimming | UHD Dimming |
| Picture Engine | UHD Engine | UHD Engine |
| HDR Format | HDR 10, HLG, HDR 10+ | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ |
| Color Technology | PurColor | PurColor |
| Support 10 Bit | Yes | Yes |
| UHD Up-scaling Engine | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Clarity Enhancement | Motion Rate 120 (native 60 Hz refresh rate panel) | Motion Rate 120 (native 60 Hz refresh rate panel) |
| Smart TV | Tizen 2018 | Tizen 2018 |
| Processor | Quad Core | Quad Core |
| Samsung Bixby | No | No |
| Remote | Samsung Standard Remote (TM1240A) | Samsung Standard Remote (TM1240A) |
| HDMI | 3 | 3 |
| USB | 2 | 2 |
| Composite IN | 1 | 1 |
| Component In | 1 | 1 |
| Ethernet | 1 | 1 |
| RF In (Terrestrial) | 1 | 1 |
| Built In Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Channel | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Sound Output | 20 watts | 20 watts |
| Price | See todays price | See todays price |
Technology and Features of Samsung NU7100 and NU7300
The differences
Since they come in the same class, there is almost no difference between Samsung NU7300 and NU7100. The main difference between them is about their screen type where for this case, Samsung NU7100 comes with flat panel while NU7300 comes with curved panel. There may some advantages offered by curved panel than flat panel like improvement in immersion, wider field of view, look cooler, and others, but on the other hand, it also has some cons like reflections are extra exaggerated, terrible for hanging, usually sold more expensive, and others. Nevertheless, the excepting of their aesthetic, the difference performance offered by each like we mentioned above is not too significant. This means, the decision comes back to you, choose flat panel or curved TV.
The Similarities
The excepting of the screen type, both Samsung NU710 and NU7300 has similar features and are also powered by the same technologies. On their panel, they equally use VA panel with edge light backlight and lack local diming technology. They may lack local dimming technology, but instead, there is UHD Dimming. Refer to the Samsung’s Statement, UHD Dimming is the system that designed to precisely scan an incredible amount of zones across the entire image and adjusts brightness to deliver deeper darks and brighter whites. But even so, this actually is only a software manipulation and not a real local dimming like we found on the higher series like NU8000, NU8500, or all models of QLED TV lineup. Meanwhile, for maximizing their performance in producing colors, both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 is are equally powered by PurColor Technology. Its performance in producing colors may not be as good as Dynamic Crystal Color, or Quantum dot technology found on the higher series, but at least, this makes them can produce good color reproduction.
Equally coming with HDR technology, both of them already support more than one HDR formats. In addition to HDR10 format, they also support HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) and HDR10+. HLG is developed by NHK and BBC for TV broadcast, while HDR10+actually is based on standard HDR10 format, but it already uses dynamic metadata like Dolby Vision. The result, HDR10+ can show every scene with more precise brightness and color range, makes HDR picture produced is better than standard HDR10 format.
For maximizing their performance in handling motion blur when they are playing fast moving images, they are equally powered by Motion Rate 120 Hz technology based on native 60 Hz refresh rate panel. While for connecting with other devices, both of them equally equipped with 3 HDMI and 2 USB ports as their major connectivity. And as their Smart TV, they are featuring Tizen 2018 OS that powered by a quad core processor. The difference to the higher series like NU8000 or NU85000, Their smart TV is not integrated with Smart Things and Samsung Bixby Voice. Additionally, for navigating, they are only equipped with standard remote that doesn’t have voice navigation.
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Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 Performance
Picture Quality
Overall, both Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 have a good picture quality for their price level. The major strength of picture quality produced by them is strong native contrast ratio and deep black. As typical of TV with VA panel, both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 equally have excellent native contrast ratio. Although for this case, NU7300 actually has a bit stronger native contrast ratio than NU71000, but essentially, both of them equally can produce deep black. The result, blacks looks really black, even when they are set in a dark environment. Combined to its good black uniformity, this makes dark scene displayed on their screen looks excellent. Additionally, deeper than 0.02 nits, black produced by them is also dark enough to reveal details in a dark scene excellently, makes shadow details of HDR images looks excellent like the intended. Essentially, both of them have no problem displaying black, make them are as good TVs for watching movies with a lot of dark scene like thriller or horror.
In term of peak brightness, Samsung NU7300 actually also has slightly brighter than NU7100, but their difference is also not too significantly. With SDR content, their peak brightness is bright enough to maintain the picture produced from the glare, makes the picture displayed on their screen looks remain good in most room with any light condition, except in a very bright room with sunny window or a lot of light. In a very bright room, their peak brightness is not bright enough to overcome the glare, particularly for NU7100. Additionally, since they don’t have local dimming, when showing a dark scene with small highlight, these TVs will reduce their peak brightness. This will make highlights don’t look too bright, but on the other hand, this will reduce visible blooming, so dark scene will look deeper. Meanwhile, with HDR contents, their peak brightness is almost similar to when they are playing SDR content. Their algorithm is also similar where they will reduce their peak brightness when showing a dark scene with small highlights in order to reduce visible blooming. Overall, with their peak brightness that is only around 300 nits, it is still far from 1000 nits as the minimum recommendation to show HDR contents like the intended and you will not be able to take the benefits offered by HDR content over SDR content. But in their price level, they are not alone considering most of their competitors are not also far better in producing peak brightness.
Lack of quantum dot panel or Dynamic Crystal Color found on the higher series makes them cannot produce wide color gamut. Their color gamut is only able to cover about 80% of DCI P3, still less than what required to show HDR images like the intended, that is 90% of DCI P3 color space. Their color gamut is only excellent for SDR content that usually mastered in Rec.709, while for HDR contents that mastered in DCI P3, some certain colors like green and red cannot be shown fairly saturated. Additionally, the limited color gamut and peak brightness also makes their color volume is not so good. They are not able to produce very dark colors accurately. On the other hand, their limited peak brightness also makes them fail to produce bright saturated colors and this will be more noticeable when they are showing bright outdoor scene. But even so, although their performance in producing color is not as good as the higher series like NU8000 or NU8500, but overall, for their price level, what offered by them can still be said fairly good. Meanwhile, while their color gamut and color volume is not so good, both Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 equally have excellent color gradient, particularly when showing HDR content that usually mastered in 10 bit depth of colors. Overall, their color gradient looks very smooth with no major color banding. Some little imperfection may be still visible in some certain colors, but overall, their color gradient is excellent.
Overall, for their price level, both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 have a good picture quality. But this is only if the picture displayed on their screen viewed from the center and front, while when viewed from the side, the picture displayed on their screen doesn’t look so good. This is due both of them have poor side viewing angle coverage, as typical of VA panel. Started at less than 25 degrees off center and front, color will look shift. But the worst is their black level degradation where black level produced by them will look degraded started at about 10 degrees off center and front. When viewed from the side, black will look tend to grey than really black that certainly make the picture displayed doesn’t look as good as when viewed from the center and front.
Motion handling and 24p Playback
Although not as good as the competitor like LG UK6300 or others, overall, both Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 have good pixel response time. But for this case, compare between them, NU7300 has better pixel response time than NU7100, that certainly make motion blur is less visible on the screen of NU7300 than NU7100. But even so, the impact caused by their difference in pixel response time is not too noticeable, particularly for most people with untrained eyes. Overall, when playing fast moving contents like sports or fast movies, the picture displayed on their screen looks smooth and clear with only visible faint trail following fast moving object. This should please gamers and sports viewers. But on the other hand, there are also some blurs that caused by persistence or backlight flicker. This is due both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 uses 240 HZ PWM Dimming System to dim their backlight. The use higher frequency of Dimming may make backlight flicker is less visible, but on the other hand, this will make blur that caused by persistence is more visible. For this case, both NU7100 and NU7300 also have an optional 60 Hz BFI (Black Frame Insertion) mode that will flicker their backlight at 60 Hz, where to enable this feature, you can enable “LED Clear Motion” under “Auto Motion Plus” Setting. By enabling this mode, this will make motion looks clearer, particularly when playing 60 fps content like sports or video games, but on the other hand, this will make backlight flicker is more visible. Which is a better option for you; this certainly comes back to your sense.
Meanwhile, when playing 24p movies, their performance in handling judder is not so good. No matter the frame rate of the content, they are not able to remove judder completely, even for native 24p movies like DVD or Blu-Ray movies. This means, when they are playing 24p movies, in certain scenes, judder will be still visible. Fortunately, most people don’t sensitive to judder, so this should not be problem for them because they will not see it.
Inputs/Outputs
As their major connectivity, both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 are equally equipped with 3 HDMI ports, a bit less than the higher series like NU8000 that has 4 HDMI ports. Nevertheless, their ability is similar to higher series where all of them already support HDCP 2.2, CEC, HDMI 2.0 Full bandwidth and 1 port also support ARC (equally on HDMI 3). The number of their HDMI ports is also a bit less than the series about them where they are only equipped with 2 ports of USB 2.0. IN addition to USB and HDMI ports, they are also equipped with 1 Component In that shared with Composite In (AV IN). Nevertheless, on the panel side, they use mini jack instead of RCA port. But don’t worry, in their buying package, the adapter is included. Like most of TVS which available in the market, they also have 1 RF In, 1 Ethernet port, 1 digital audio out (optical) and also built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity.
Meanwhile, in “PC” and “Game” mode, both of them equally have excellent input lags. No matter the resolution and the type of the inputs, their input lags are lower than 15 ms that means it is great for any game. No matter you play 1080p or 4K games, HDR or non HDR games, casual or fast paced games, this allow you to play them responsively without feel laggy. Combined to their good motion handling and risk-free from permanent burn in, this make them a good choice for playing for game. Not even just that, since both NU7300 and NU7100 also support chroma 4:4:4 without any issue, this certainly also make them a good choice for PC monitor.
Smart TV
Like most model of Samsung’s 2018 TV lineup, both Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 are also equally featuring Tizen OS as their smart TV platform and also powered by a quad core processor. But even so, it comes with a limited version of this platform. In term of user interface and apps provided, there may not difference between their platform than what offered by the higher series. Its user interface is intuitive but still simple, make the navigation is easy. Additionally, apps and smart features offered are also a lot and very complete. There are VoD service like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, and more, Web Browser, Live TV, Games, and many more. It also has an apps store called Samsung app store provided thousands of downloadable apps, games, contents, and more. Nevertheless, compared to the Tizen found on the higher series, it only has minimal animation and lacks Smart Thing and Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant. But even so, on the other hand, this makes its performance is faster and more responsive than that found on the higher series.
As the controller, both Samsung NU7300 and NU7100 also lack Samsung Smart Remote. Instead, it comes with basic remote only. This remote is a bit bigger than Samsung smart remote and also have a lot of buttons that cover most of basic TV functions. Additionally, it also supports CEC function. This means. It can act as a universal remote, allow you to control some functions of other CEC devices connected on your Samsung TV via HDMI ports. But even so, it doesn’t have voice navigation. On the other hand, its TV platform also doesn’t support voice command. This means, you cannot take benefit offered by Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant though you upgrade their remote with Samsung Smart Controller.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung NU7100 <<
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung NU7300 <<
Summary
Conclusion
Picture quality and HDR performance offered by both Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 may be not as good as the series above them , but for their price level, what offered by them can be said good. The major strength of their picture quality is their deep black level, make them are a good choice for a dark room. With SDR content, overall, both of them have good picture quality. However, with HDR contents, you cannot take a lot of benefits offered by HDR contents over SDR content due their limited peak brightness, color gamut, and color volume. So, if you come to them for HDR performance, you will be disappointed. Nevertheless, they are not alone considering most TVs in their price level also have limited HDR performance. Meanwhile, the excellence offered by them is excellent input lags where their input lag is including the best. Overall, with decent picture quality, low input lag, and good motion handling, this makes them a good entry level TV for mixed usage, whether for watching movies, TV shows, Sports or playing games. But as the note, since they have poor side viewing angle coverage, you can enjoy good picture quality displayed on their screen only if you watch from the center and front, while when viewed from the side, the picture will look degraded.
So, which is a better choice between them? Technically, Samsung NU7300 may have a bit better performance than NU7100, whether in producing black, color, and peak brightness. But this may be more caused by the unit variance. This means, the excepting of what impacted by the difference between curved and Flat Panel, particularly about their aesthetic, both of them offer similar performance. For you who don’t mind to spend tens dollar more for the aesthetic offered by curved panel, NU7300 is a better choice for you. But even so, if you only focus on picture quality and performance, NU7100 is a better choice. Now the decision comes back to you according to your own preferences.
>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung NU7100 <<
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