Samsung NU8000 vs MU8000 Review : What are their differences?

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Samsung NU8000 is the mid-range model of Samsung’s 2018 Flat 4K HDR LED TV lineup while MU8000 is the predecessor, the mid-range model of Samsung’s 2017 4K HDR LED TV lineup. Like the predecessor MU8000, NU8000 also comes with 5 screen sizes available including 49 Inch (UN49NU8000 vs UN49MU8000), 55 inch (UN55NU8000 vs UN55MU8000), 65 Inch (UN65NU8000 vs UN65MU8000), 75 Inch (UN75NU8000 vs UN75MU8000) and the largest is 82 inch (UN82NU8000 vs UN82MU8000). In the market, with the same screen size, NU8000 is priced hundreds dollar more expensive than MU8000 and this is mostly due to the price of MU8000 has been dropped a lot since it was first released. On the other hand, because NU8000 is recently released, of course the price is still stable and has not dropped a lot. Nevertheless, their price of course is not fixed and still could change, particularly for the price of NU8000 that is recently launched. So, as a newer model, what new features and advantages which offered by NU8000 over the predecessor MU8000?

Samsung NU8000 vs MU8000 Key Specs

Specs and Features MU8000 NU8000
Resolution 4K (2160×3840) 4K (2160×3840)
Sizes Available 49” (UN49MU8000), 55 inch (UN55MU8000), 65” (UN65MU8000), 75” (UN75MU8000), 82 Inch (UN82MU8000) 49” (UN49NU8000), 55 inch (UN55NU8000), 65” (UN65NU8000), 75” (UN75NU8000), 82 Inch (UN82NU8000)
Screen Type Flat Flat
Backlighting Technology Edge Lit LED Edge Lit LED
Local Dimming Yes (precision black) Yes (Ultra Slim Array)
UHD Dimming Yes Supreme UHD Dimming
HDR Engine 4K HDR Extreme HDR Plus
Color Technology 4K Color Drive Extreme Dynamic Crystal Color
Support 10 Bit Yes Yes
Peak Illuminator Yes N/a
Ultra Clear Panel Yes N/a
UHD Up-scaling Engine Yes Yes
Smart TV Tizen 2017 Tizen 2018
Processor Quad Core Quad Core
Remote Samsung Smart Remote (TM1750A) Samsung Smart Remote (TM1850A)
HDMI 4 4
USB 3 2
Composite IN No No
Component In No No
Ethernet 1 1
RF In (Terrestrial) 1 1
Built In Wi-Fi Yes Yes
Audio Channel 2.1 2.1
Speaker Type Down Firing + Front Firing Down Firing + Front Firing
Sound Output 40 Watts 40 watts
Price click here for today’s price click here for today’s price

Features and Technologies of Samsung NU8000 and MU8000

On their panel, both Samsung NU8000 and MU8000 equally use VA panel. They are also equally use Edge Lit backlight and local dimming, but for this case, Samsung use different term for each, Ultra Slim Array for NU8000 and Precision Black for NU8000. We are less clear with their difference, but basically, both of these technologies are based on edge-lit backlight with local diming. For maximizing native contrast ratio and black level produced, both of them are equally powered by a feature named “Contrast Enhancer” and “UHD Dimming”. But for this case, MU8000 is featuring standard UHD Dimming while NU8000 is featuring advanced UHD Dimming called “Supreme UHD Dimming”. Meanwhile, for maximizing their color reproduction, Samsung NU8000 is powered by Dynamic Crystal Color while MU8000 is powered by 4K Color Drive Extreme. However, we don’t clearly know, whether this difference is just a market language or just a term or indeed there is a really difference in technology between them.  For maximizing their peak brightness, MU8000 is powered by Peak Illuminator Pro, while for NU8000, there is no Peak Illuminator pro listed as a part of its spec on its official website, so we dare not make sure, whether NU8000 has Peak Illuminator technology or not.

Coming with HDR technologies, both of them are also supported by different feature. For this case, Samsung NU8000 is supported by “HDR Plus” while MU8000 is supported by “4K HDR Extreme”. Although their term is different but basically both of these features have a job to give a wider range of contrast and brightness of the picture, makes HDR images produced looks more nuance to life. Additionally, to bring HDR experience in your home, both of them already support HDR 10 formats and HLG. This allows you to enjoy movies or TV broadcasts in HDR quality. Meanwhile, for maximizing its performance when handling motion blur when they are playing fast moving images, both Samsung MU8000 and NU8000 are equally powered by Black Frame Insertion technology called Motion Rate 240 based on native 120 HZ refresh rate panel. For connecting with other devices, NU8000 and MU8000 are equally equipped with 4 HDMI ports. A bit difference is about the number of their USB ports where MU8000 is equipped with 3 USB ports while NU8000 is only equipped with 2 USB ports. And to bring smart features experiences in your home, both of them are equally featuring Tizen OS as their smart TV platform. The difference, MU8000 comes with 2017 version while NU8000 comes with 2018 which certainly bring some improvements and new features, make you more comfort when enjoying smart entertainment in your home.

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the MU8000 <<

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the NU8000 <<

Samsung NU8000 vs MU8000 Performance

Picture Quality

Although both of them essentially have excellent native contrast ratio, but for this case, there is improvement brought by NU8000 over the predecessor MU8000. This certainly makes NU8000 can reach deeper black level than MU8000. Nevertheless, if ignoring the excellence of NU8000 over MU8000, basically, their native contrast ratio is strong. A bit less than 5000:1 for MU8000 and a bit more than 5000:1 for NU8000, this makes both of them can reach up to about 0.02 nits of black level that means it is great for showing dark scene. The result, blacks of images looks really black, even when they are set in a dark room where the impact of high native contrast ratio is very sensitive. On other hand, the depth of their black level is also quite dark to reveal details of HDR images like what intended. The result, details in shadows of HDR images will looks excellent like the intended by HDR technology itself. As we know, to show shadow details of HDR images like the intended, a HDR TV must have 0.05 nits or darker like what recommended by UHD Alliance. And of course, what offered by them meet what recommended by UHD Alliance. But, a bit unfortunate, coming with local dimming technology, it doesn’t have a significant impact on their contrast ratio. When their local dimming is turned on or set to “High”, there is no significant improvement, even their contrast ratio tend to be similar to when local dimming is set to “0”.

If in term of contrast and black level, Samsung NU8000 offer a bit improvement over the predecessor MU8000, so is the case of their peak brightness, it also offers a bit improvement over Samsung MU8000. Nevertheless, essentially, both of them have great peak brightness for SDR contents. This means, their peak brightness are quite bright to fight the glare of ambient light in a bright room, makes the picture displayed on their screen looks remain good although there are a lot of light in a room where they are used. The excellence of NU8000 than MU8000 will be more noticeable when they are set in an extremely bright room, where it can do better in maintaining its picture quality from the glare and reflection than MU8000. Meanwhile, when inputting by HDR signals, both of them even can get brighter peak brightness. Their local dimming is also effective to brighten the small area of windows, makes both of them can show bright small object brighter. On the other hand, when showing bright large object or a scene with almost all objects are bright, their peak brightness also not too much drops. The result, a dramatic highlight of HDR image will be shown very bright, while bright scene of HDR images also can be shown fairly bright. But even so, since peak brightness of NU8000 is brighter than MU8000, no matter at small areas or large areas of window, this certainly also makes a highlight of HDR images can be shown brighter on the screen of NU8000, makes details of images in a bright scene of HDR images looks a bit clearer than MU8000. But even so, since their brightness is still less than 1000 nits, this certainly makes them is not able to show highlight of HDR images at 1000 – 4000 nits of brightness like what recommended by UHD Alliance. But even so, for their class, what offered by Samsung NU8000 and MU8000 can be said great.

Not only on contrast and brightness, in case of color reproduction, Samsung NU8000 also offers a bit improvement than the predecessor MU8000. Samsung MU8000 might already support wide color gamut, but NU8000 can deliver a bit wider. The result, NU8000 can show a bit more accurate for certain colors, particularly less saturated colors like greens. Nevertheless, since both of them support wide color gamut, essentially, they can fairly accurate show most colors of images in DCI P3, makes HDR images displayed on their screen also looks fairly. Additionally, the excellence of NU8000 on wide color gamut, black level and peak brightness also makes it has a bit better color volume. But essentially, the equally can show their wide color gamut at their entire brightness range but still struggle to show their wide color gamut at dark deep colors, even for MU8000 it also struggles to show its wide color gamut at extremely bright colors. Additionally, there is also an improvement on color gradient offered by NU8000 than MU8000. Both of them might equally still have some a bit imperfection on darker colors, but for this case, NU8000 can show a bit better and smoother than Samsung MU8000. Nevertheless, overall, color gradient of HDR images can shown smoothly by both Samsung MU8000 and NU8000 and some imperfections that present don’t have a big impact on the normal content.

With stronger native contrast ratio, deeper black level, brighter peak brightness, wider color gamut and also smoother color gradient, this certainly makes the picture displayed on the screen of NU8000 will look a bit better than MU8000, particularly when they are playing HDR images. Nevertheless, both of them also have the same major drawback that is about their side viewing angle. Since both of them use VA panel, this certainly makes their side viewing angle coverage is poor. This means, when viewed from more than 20 degrees off center and front, the picture will look degrade, and will be worse from wider angles. But even so, as long as you don’t often watch TV from the side, this should not be a serious problem for you.

Motion Handling and 24p Playback

Both Samsung NU8000 and MU8000 equally do a great job when handling motion blur. For a LED TV, their pixel response time is extremely low that means it is great and as we know, pixel response time is most important component in handling motion handling. The lower pixel response time, the motion blur will be more minimized. What offered by both Samsung NU8000 and MU8000 might not as low as OLED TV or the competitor like Sony X900V or OLED TV, but their pixel response time still can be said excellent. And maximized by Samsung’s Motion Clarity technology called “Motion Rate 240”, this makes both of them are able to show smooth and clear picture quality when playing fast moving images like sports or fast movies. Following fast moving object, a short faint trail might still be noticeable, but it is more due to their backlight flicker. A bit improvement is precisely on their backlight flicker handling. You need to know, since both Samsung MU8000 and NU8000 use local dimming, to dim their backlight they use PWM system and the use of PWM system cause duplications following moving objects. For this case, NU8000 uses 240 Hz of PWM frequency while NU8000 uses 120 Hz, make NU8000 offer a bit better performance. Nevertheless, because they equally use high frequency, their backlight flicker and difference in performance between NU8000 and MU8000 might not too be visible.

The excepting of when they playing 24p movies via 60i signal like movies from satellite TV, both of them equally do a great job. This means, with certain setting on their picture setting, no matter they are playing 24p videos like Blur-Ray or DVD movies, 24p videos via 60p signals like movies from streaming devices or 24p videos via native apps, all of them will be shown clearly and smoothly with judder-free on their screen. The difference in performance is shown when they are playing 24p movies via 60i signal. For this case, Samsung MU8000 can show then with judder-free while NU8000 cannot remove the judder. But even so, since most people don’t sensitive to judder, we can slightly ignore about this issue for NU8000.

Inputs/Outputs

As their major connectivity, both Samsung NU8000 and MU8000 are equally equipped with 4 HDMI ports. All of their HDMI ports already support HDCP 2.2 and GDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth while that supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) is HDMI 4. IN addition to HDMI ports, they are also equally equipped with 1 RF In (Antenna In), 1 Ethernet, and 1 Digital Audio Out (Optical). Additionally, both of them are also equally not equipped with Composite In and Component In. The difference between them is about the number of their HDMI ports where MU8000 is equipped with 3 HDMI ports while NU8000 is equipped with 2 USB ports only. All of these USB ports are USB 2.0 and have not support USB 3.0. The other difference, all inputs/outputs of NU8000 are located on the rear panel, while most of inputs/outputs of MU8000 are located on a separated box named “One Connect Box Mini”.

Meanwhile, in term of their input lags in “PC Mode” and “Game Mode”, there are also some improvements brought by NU8000 over predecessor MU8000. If the input lags of MU8000 at 1080p and 4K source are above 20 ms but still less than 25 ms, the input lags of NU8000 at any source are less than 20 ms. Nevertheless, essentially, their input lags are excellent and quite low to play any games so feels responsively without laggy, not only casual games but also for fast paced games which require fast reflexes.

Smart TV

As their smart TV platform, both Samsung MU8000 and NU8000 are equally featuring Tizen OS. The difference, MU8000 comes with 2017 version while NU8000 comes with 2018 version. In term of interface, there are not many changes. The core of this platform is Smart Hub and their interfaces are equally well organized and easy to navigate. Across the bottom of the screen, there are a group of customizable “tiles” as the quick access to most popular apps. You can bring the most popular or most used apps to the front, while the less used apps can be thrown to the back. This allows you to launch your favorite apps quickly without a lot navigating. Meanwhile, in term of apps provided, there are also not many changes. As their preinstalled apps, there are VoD Service Like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Videos, and more, Live TV, Cloud Games, Web browser, and many more. Both of them also already support voice navigation, but for this case, the version 2018 comes with Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant that can do more. Additionally, there is also Samsung’s apps store provided tons of downloadable apps, games, contents, and more where you can download them from your TV.

As their controller, both of them equally come with Samsung’s smart controller, NU8000 comes with 2018 model while MU8000 comes with 2017 Model. Overall, they are similar. Their remote is fairly small and don’t have a lot of buttons, even there are no “number buttons”. For accessing everything, you must navigate through home menu or use voice navigation for MU8000 or Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant for NU8000. For this case, both of them are equally equipped with built-in microphone and have excellent voice navigation that can do a lot. Additionally, both of them also can act as universal remote, allow you to control some functions of other devices. With a feature called Samsung’s One Remote, the devices which can be controlled by Samsung Remote are not just which support HDMI CEC, but also other device that don’t support HDMI CEC.

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the MU8000 <<

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the NU8000 <<

Summary

Performance Samsung MU8000 Samsung NU8000
Picture Quality (3.8/5) (3.9/5)
HDR (3.8/5) (4/5)
Motion Handling (4/5) (4/5)
Inputs (4.3/5) (4.6/5)
Sound Quality (3.4/5) (3.4/5)
Smart TV (4.1/5) (3.9/5)

Conclusion

Priced hundreds dollar more expensive than the predecessor MU8000, Samsung NU8000 offers improvement on some components of picture quality. Its native contrast ratio is a bit stronger that makes it can produce deeper black level. As well as on their peak brightness, NU8000 also has brighter peak brightness than MU8000. Additionally, Samsung NU8000 also can deliver wider color gamut and smoother color gradient than the predecessor MU8000. This certainly makes NU8000 has better picture quality than MU8000 particularly when showing HDR images, no matter the light condition of a room where they are used. In addition to picture quality, the improvement that offered is about input lags. But even since Samsung MU8000 also already has excellent input lags, this improvement certainly is not too striking. Meanwhile, coming with new version of Tizen OS, Samsung NU8000 also offers some additional features like Samsung’s Bixby Voice Assistant or others that makes your more comfort when enjoying smart TV experience in your home.

So, which is a better choice between them? Considering performance and picture quality, of course Samsung NU8000 is a better choice. In addition to it is a newer model, it also offers some improvement on picture quality and other features. Nevertheless, as we have mentioned above, with the same screen, it is sold hundreds dollar more expensive than MU8000. On other hand, Samsung MU8000 is also not a bad choice and performance offered is not far different to NU8000. Sold cheaper than NU8000, this is mainly caused to its price has dropped due the presence of NU8000 as its successor, and of course it becomes the good alternative for you who are searching a cheaper model with almost similar performance. But even so, since MU8000 has been discontinued by the manufacturer, if you want to get it, you should buy it immediately. Now the decision comes back to you according to your preference and budget.

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung MU8000 <<

>> Please click here to see today’s price for the Samsung NU8000 <<

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