SAMSUNG UN65RU7300FXZA Curved Review

The Samsung UN65RU7300FXZA Curved TV boasts a curved display, promising an immersive viewing experience. But is the curve just a gimmick, or does it deliver a visual advantage? This review dives deep into the UN65RU7300FXZA’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide if this curved wonder fits your entertainment needs.

Product Details

Picture Quality

The UN65RU7300FXZA offers a decent picture quality for its price range. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects:

• Resolution and Sharpness: Featuring a 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), the UN65RU7300FXZA delivers sharp and detailed visuals, especially noticeable in high-resolution content like 4K movies and games.
• HDR Support: The TV supports HDR10, a format that expands the contrast range and color gamut for a more vibrant and realistic picture, particularly in HDR content. However, some users might find the HDR effect somewhat subtle compared to higher-end TVs with more advanced HDR processing.
• Curved Panel Immersion: The curved panel is the star of the show. It creates a subtle wrap-around effect, particularly noticeable when sitting close to the screen. While not a drastic difference, some viewers might find the curved design enhances their sense of immersion, especially in movies and games.

Compared To Other TVs

The UN65RU7300FXZA holds its own against similarly priced flat TVs in terms of picture quality. The 4K resolution delivers sharp visuals, and HDR support adds a touch of vibrancy. However, some competing flat TVs might offer superior contrast or more advanced HDR processing for a more impactful viewing experience. Additionally, higher-end TVs, curved or flat, will boast superior picture quality with features like local dimming technology for deeper blacks and better overall contrast.

Brightness and Contrast: Brightness levels are decent, making the TV suitable for most lighting conditions. Contrast is also acceptable, but some viewers might find blacks appearing slightly washed out, especially in dark scenes. This is a common trade-off for TVs in this price range. The curved screen might introduce some minor uniformity issues, particularly at the edges, where blacks might appear less consistent. This is not always noticeable but can be a concern for videophiles seeking perfect uniformity.

Design

The defining characteristic of the UN65RU7300FXZA is its curved display. The curve is subtle but adds a unique aesthetic to the TV. The bezels are average-sized and made of plastic, creating a clean look. The included stand is sturdy and supports the TV well. Overall, the design prioritizes functionality, but the curved panel makes it a conversation starter in any living room.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of the UN65RU7300FXZA is, well, average. The built-in speakers lack depth and power, resulting in a somewhat thin and underwhelming audio experience. Dialogue can sound clear at moderate volumes, but bass is lacking, and action scenes might sound flat.

For an immersive movie or gaming experience, consider pairing the UN65RU7300FXZA with a soundbar or a home theater system. This will significantly enhance the overall audio quality and unlock the full potential of your entertainment. The curved design of the TV might offer a slight advantage in sound dispersion, but this effect is subtle and might not be noticeable to all viewers.

Smart Features

The UN65RU7300FXZA runs on Samsung’s Tizen smart platform, known for its user-friendly interface and vast app selection. Popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are readily available, along with countless other streaming options and games. Built-in Wi-Fi allows for seamless connection to your home network, and voice control is available through Bixby, Samsung’s virtual assistant.

Here are some additional highlights of Tizen:

• Seamless Integration with Samsung Ecosystem: If you own other Samsung devices, Tizen offers a smooth and integrated experience for controlling them from the TV.
• SmartThings Hub: The UN65RU7300FXZA can act as a hub for your smart home devices, allowing you to control lights, thermostats, and other compatible gadgets directly from the TV.
• Multi-View Function: This allows you to split the screen and watch two things simultaneously, like a live game and a streaming service. However, the functionality might be limited depending on the content source.

While Tizen is a user-friendly and feature-rich platform, some users might prefer the interface of competing smart TV platforms, such as LG, Sony etc.

Motion 

The UN65RU7300FXZA features a standard 60Hz refresh rate panel. While it delivers a decent viewing experience for most content like movies and TV shows, fast-paced scenes like sports or action movies might exhibit some motion blur. This can be a concern for gamers or viewers particularly sensitive to motion blur. Consider a TV with a higher refresh rate (120Hz or higher) for smoother motion handling in fast-moving content.

The curved design doesn’t inherently improve motion handling, and some viewers might even find the curved screen slightly distracting during very fast-paced scenes.

Gaming Features

The UN65RU7300FXZA caters to casual gamers with basic features. It offers Game Mode, which pre-calibrates the picture settings for a more responsive gaming experience. Additionally, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) might be included on some models, helping reduce input lag for faster response times between your controller actions and what appears on the screen. However, the UN65RU7300FXZA lacks some features that might be important for serious gamers:

• Higher Refresh Rates: As mentioned earlier, the 60Hz refresh rate might not be ideal for gamers seeking the smoothest possible motion.
• VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): This technology eliminates screen tearing, a visual glitch that can occur during fast-paced gameplay. The UN65RU7300FXZA doesn’t support VRR.
• Advanced Gaming Modes: Some TVs offer dedicated game modes optimized for different game genres (FPS, RPG, etc.) for the best possible gaming experience. The UN65RU7300FXZA lacks such dedicated modes.

The curved screen might offer a slightly wider field of view compared to a flat screen, which some gamers might find beneficial. However, the overall benefit for gaming is debatable, and the lack of advanced gaming features might be a dealbreaker for serious gamers.

Durability and Build Quality

The UN65RU7300FXZA appears decently built with a plastic back panel and a sturdy stand. Samsung TVs generally have an average reputation for reliability, but longevity ultimately depends on usage and care. As with any TV, proper handling and avoiding extreme temperatures or environments will contribute to a longer lifespan.

The curved design adds some complexity to the structure, but there are no widespread reports of durability issues specific to the curved screen.

Viewing Angles and Screen Uniformity

The viewing angles of the UN65RU7300FXZA are decent thanks to the VA panel technology used. Colors and picture quality remain fairly consistent when viewed from off-center positions. However, compared to IPS panels, colors might appear slightly less vibrant when viewed from extreme angles.

The curved design can introduce some minor uniformity issues, particularly at the edges of the screen. Blacks might appear less consistent in these areas, especially in dark scenes. This is not always noticeable but can be a concern for viewers seeking perfect uniformity.

Inputs

The UN65RU7300FXZA comes equipped with a good selection of inputs, including:

• Multiple HDMI ports (with some featuring HDMI 2.1 capabilities) for connecting streaming devices, game consoles, and cable boxes.
• USB ports for connecting external storage drives or media players.
• An optical audio output for connecting external sound systems.
• An Ethernet port for a wired internet connection.

The number of HDMI ports and other inputs might vary slightly depending on the specific model year. Overall, the UN65RU7300FXZA offers a good selection of connections for most users.

Overall Value

The Samsung UN65RU7300FXZA Curved TV offers a compelling proposition for those seeking a unique curved design and a decent picture quality for the price. The 4K resolution delivers sharp visuals, HDR support adds a touch of vibrancy, and the Tizen smart platform is user-friendly with a vast app selection. The curved screen might enhance immersion for some viewers, especially in movies and games.

However, there are some trade-offs. The motion handling might not be ideal for fast-paced content or gamers, the sound quality is average, and advanced gaming features are absent. Additionally, viewing angles are decent but not exceptional, and the curved screen might introduce minor uniformity issues.

Conclusion

The Samsung UN65RU7300FXZA Curved TV is a good choice for users seeking a unique curved design and a budget-friendly 4K smart TV. However, if you prioritize absolute top-tier motion handling, the best possible gaming experience, superior sound quality, perfect viewing angles, or the most cutting-edge features, you might want to explore other TV options, curved or flat, that might come at a slightly higher price point.