Entertainment
Entry-level 4K Smart TV with a fair price tag: Crystal UHD
Buying a new TV can be puzzling for first time buyers (or upgraders) with so many technical jargons being marketed as unique selling points and there are a wide range of televisions to choose from. This article will help you to unpack the complexities and guide you to narrow down the choice of your Samsung TV purchase.
What is LED TV vs LCD TV?
Oftentimes LED TV and LCD TV are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. They are not, but LED and LCD are part and parcel of the television anatomy with a different function.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a screen or display panel of the TV that uses liquid crystals to produce images in colours when lights pass through it. LED (Light Emitting Diode), on the other hand, is the source of light behind the LCD screen. Known as backlight, LEDs pass through the liquid crystals and other filters to create the picture as you see on the TV screen. Without this LED backlight, LCD TV cannot illuminate on its own.
LCD is a common screen technology used in many televisions, computer monitors and smartphones. Supported by LED backlight, you can see a life-like picture with crisp and vivid colours on your devices. Samsung is one of the global manufacturers of LED TV that is constantly evolving its technologies to improve the image quality of its LCD LED TV ranges including the Crystal UHD TV.
Is Crystal UHD TV and UHD TV same?
Crystal UHD TVs have the same 4K resolution of 3840x2160 as with regular UHD TVs, but the former has a wider spectrum of colours via the Dynamic Crystal Color that adds more contrast to the images. It also supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), a feature that enriches the luminance, contrast and colours so you can actually see the details in the picture even in the darkest dark and the brightest bright scenes.
Crystal UHD is definitely a step up from the UHD television when it comes to the design too. Samsung Crystal UHD TVs have a slimmer profile that is easy to blend into your wall or cabinet. On top of that, they come at a slightly wider dimension that does not compromise its picture quality. For example, the Crystal UHD BU8000 65-inch TV with AirSlim design is thinner by 34.2mm and wider by 1.5mm compared to the UHD 4K AU7000 65-inch TV.
The 65-inch UHD 4K AU7000 TV dimensions: a depth of 59.9mm with a width of 1449.4mm and a height of 830.3mm (set size without stand).
The 65-inch Crystal UHD BU8000 TV dimensions: a depth of 25.7mm with a width of 1450.9mm and a height of 831.9mm (set size without stand).
There are notable similarities between Samsung UHD TV and Crystal UHD TV when it comes to the 4K upscaling and if the colour technology didn't matter much for you. With a few hundred Ringgit more on the Crystal UHD television, you are getting the newer version of ultra high definition TV with crystal processor.
Crystal UHD vs QLED 4K
Samsung Crystal UHD TV is known as the entry-level of 4K Smart TV in the market as it delivers a comparable 4K picture quality with a Smart TV feature at an affordable price range. You can get a smart television with 60Hz refresh rate and unrivalled features like the Game Mode, SmartThings, voice assistant, WiFi direct and many more at a less expensive price than a QLED 4K TV.
Why is QLED 4K more expensive than Crystal UHD? Because QLED TV has advanced display technology. The "Q" in QLED stands for Quantum Dots, which is a layer of filter consisting of nanocrystal semiconductor particles that is placed in between LED backlight and LCD screen. The LEDs backlight project onto the Quantum Dots film, which processes the colours and brightness, before emitting them onto the LCD display.
You will definitely enjoy a better viewing experience with QLED 4K television because of its high luminance, in addition to the Quantum Processor 4K that uses machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to upscale the low definition content to 4K picture quality. This type of TV also comes at a higher price tag compared to the Crystal UHD 4K TV.
Check out our TV Buying Guide to learn more about Samsung QLED TV and what makes it among the best LED TV brands in Malaysia.
In essence, all Samsung televisions use LCD displays with LED backlights to produce coloured images. The processor, whether it is Quantum or Crystal, plays a big role in enhancing the picture quality in terms of brightness, contrast, colours and shades.
If you are looking for a budget-friendly LED television with crystal clear 4K picture, Crystal UHD is on the affordable end even for larger TV sizes. You can also compare all Samsung LCD LED TV prices, specifications and features to find the right TV at Samsung Malaysia official store.
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