Samsung Q7F vs Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Direct comparison

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”85”

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Tizen

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Panel type: LCD IPS

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

5.8

5.0

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    5.7

    4.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    5.6

    4.1

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    4.8

    4.1

  • Gaming on console

    6.4

    5.4

  • TV as a computer monitor

    6.0

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    3.9

    4.0

  • Utility functions

    7.3

    5.1

  • Apps

    9.3

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    5.8

    6.0

Advantages

  • Solid native contrast (VA Panel)

  • Vivid colours thanks to the QLED filter

  • Low input lag (around 10MS)

  • Robust and smooth Tizen operating system

  • Compact sleek design with Type C charging

  • Google TV system: massive app library

  • Relatively low input lag

  • Good viewing angles: thanks to an IPS panel

  • PC compatibility: excellent font readability (Chroma 4:4:4)

  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz at Full HD resolution

  • Presence of a classic mini-jack output

  • Quite pleasant sound: clear and loud beyond "budget" standard

Disadvantages

No like
  • Very low brightness (only 250 nits in HDR)

  • Lack of many features for gamers

  • Lack of many classic "TV" features, e.g., USB recording or PIP

  • No Dolby Vision

  • Average digital image processing quality

  • Very weak blacks and contrast

  • HDR: low brightness (250 nits) and lack of real effect

  • System fluidity: sluggish performance and "dull" remote

  • Motion: total lack of digital smoothers in the menu

  • Image processing: noticeable overscan and motion artifacts

Our verdict

Samsung Q7F is the cheapest model from the manufacturer’s QLED line, and it must be said that several advantages can be pointed out here without any problem. After calibration, the colours look really good, and the additional QLED filter makes the colours more saturated than in typical budget LCD televisions. It also features a VA panel, which offers quite decent native contrast. This is definitely not at the level of top models, but it performs well for everyday viewing. However, the biggest plus is the Tizen system, which is Samsung's flagship platform. It runs smoothly, is feature-rich, provides access to a wealth of applications and add-ons, and allows easy connection of the television to the SmartThings ecosystem to control other devices in the home. Essentially, this is where the list of pros ends, because the longer you use the Q7F, the more apparent it becomes that this is a product that is quite underdeveloped. It’s not just about the panel with its low brightness and average picture quality in HDR films, but also about the lack of features that usually work flawlessly in Samsung models. The manufacturer claims that VRR and HGiG are present, but in practice, there is no benefit from them, making it difficult to recommend the television even to casual gamers. It also doesn’t perform the best with regular television, as the digital image processing is at best average, and the feature designed to improve tonal transitions, which usually works well in Samsung TVs, practically doesn’t operate here. The Q7F is equipment that can only be recommended to those looking for a television with two phrases on the box: “QLED” and “good Smart TV”. The rest get a rather bland product, which lacks a lot to compete even with other more budget-friendly options. It’s a shame, as usually the word "QLED" in Samsung meant something more than just an ordinary television.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung televisions from the 2025 model year due to the release of software version 1131, which restored the crucial gaming feature HGiG.

Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a textbook example of a very cheap television that has primarily two major advantages: the Google TV system and an extremely low price. It is these two elements that make it an attractive option for many people. During testing, we also found it has another great use, which is working with a computer. Thanks to exemplary font readability and good viewing angles of the IPS panel, Blaupunkt surprisingly performs well as a budget monitor. However, one must be aware that this device is typically budget-oriented, and that savings are reflected in the image quality. The panel is simply dark, making it difficult to perform well in tougher lighting conditions, not to mention creating any real HDR effect. Additionally, despite the good viewing angles, the black levels on this model leave much to be desired – in the evenings, it will tend to appear dark grey, which is a typical characteristic of the IPS technology used here. From a price perspective, this is a device that aims to compete in the market not on image quality, but rather on the amount on the receipt. Blaupunkt UGC5500S is perfectly suited as a secondary television in the home, equipment for the holiday house, or for a less important room, where the image just needs to be there, and we want to enjoy all the benefits and applications that Google TV offers.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Average
Stand type
Legs
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Height adjustment, Base adjustment
Fixed
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

4.7/10

2.2/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: No

Contrast:

Review Samsung Q7F Contrast and black detail

Result

2,850:1

Review Samsung Q7F Contrast and black detail

Result

2,750:1

Review Samsung Q7F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,300:1

Review Samsung Q7F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,050:1

Review Samsung Q7F Contrast and black detail

Result

2,750:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,000:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,150:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,050:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The Samsung Q7F in the 55-inch size we tested has a VA panel, which immediately translates to decent native contrast. Values around 3000:1 may not be record-breaking, as we know that VA panels are currently being produced with more than double the contrast, but it still performs much better than IPS or ADS panels, where black quickly turns into shades of grey or navy blue. Unfortunately, we won't find typical local dimming zones here, but the manufacturer has added something like global dimming – that is, dimming the whole screen relative to the content. The effect? In most scenes, black looks quite solid, although during nighttime viewing, we will still see that it resembles a dark navy or grey more than true pitch black. Overall, it's alright, but without any fireworks – it's not spectacular, but there's also no drama.

To put it bluntly: when it comes to black levels, it's just very poor. Our measurements on test patterns only confirmed what we could see with the naked eye – a result around 1000:1 is, these days, even in this price range, a disappointing outcome. In movie conditions, that "black" simply doesn't exist. To avoid being all talk, we fired up one of our favourite test scenes – the helicopter flight in "Sicario 2" (you can actually see it in the video we've linked below). Instead of inky, deep night, we got an image that is... navy blue. Everything on the screen that should be dark and mysterious actually glows a dark blue. This is the price we pay for using an IPS panel. On one hand, we get quite decent viewing angles, so if you're watching TV with the whole family from different angles, the picture doesn't lose much in saturation. On the other hand, if you're planning evening screenings with the lights off, this lack of contrast is going to sting your eyes from the very first minute.

HDR effect quality

3.7/10

3.8/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 92.4%, Bt.2020: 69.2%
DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 60.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Samsung Q7F Brightness measurement

Result

215 nit

Review Samsung Q7F Brightness measurement

Result

225 nit

Review Samsung Q7F Brightness measurement

Result

267 nit

Review Samsung Q7F Brightness measurement

Result

113 nit

Review Samsung Q7F Brightness measurement

Result

250 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

232 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

245 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

255 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

238 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

252 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Samsung Q7F

Unfortunately, the Samsung Q7F is not one of the bright televisions, which directly impacts the quality of HDR films. The peak brightness of the panel is only around 250 nits, which is definitely insufficient for claiming a true cinematic experience. In practice, the HDR content does not differ significantly from classic SDR, making it difficult to talk about any "wow effect" that usually accompanies us when watching such films. During testing of film scenes, the image simply looked dark, and the brightness almost always hovered around the aforementioned 250 nits. The worst performance came from shots with small, intensely glowing elements – the global dimming technique used reacted very aggressively in those cases, dimming the entire screen to maintain the black effect. However, it is worth noting the presence of a QLED coating that broadens the colour spectrum. For a budget QLED model, the Q7F performs quite decently here: the DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage is around 93%, and BT.2020 reaches 70%. This means that despite the low brightness, the colours can still look quite vivid and attractive.

We won’t beat around the bush here – if you’re looking for a TV strictly for cinematic HDR experiences, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Unfortunately, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is not a machine built for such challenges. This is primarily due to its very low brightness, which we measured during our tests. A result of around 250 nits on movie screens speaks for itself. It’s simply too little to even consider any real HDR effect. To be honest, everything displayed in this format can confidently be seen as a somewhat “enhanced” SDR mode. We expected this, as practically every device in this price range falls short in this area, but we feel it’s our duty to warn you. Manufacturers love to brag about HDR compatibility on the boxes, but in reality, this format simply doesn’t exist here – it lacks the “fuel” in the form of brightness.

The situation is further complicated for Blaupunkt, as we’re dealing with a panel that has very basic coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching only about 80%. You won’t find any advanced coatings to expand these capabilities (like quantum dots), which means scenes that are supposed to burst with richly saturated colours appear simply underwhelming on this screen. Therefore, we have a particular piece of advice for you: don’t force HDR mode on this model. If you have the option in the streaming app settings – just turn it off. By sticking to the classic SDR mode, you’ll be sure that the TV won’t try to “enhance” something that it can’t handle hardware-wise.

Factory color reproduction

5/10

4.8/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

The reproduction of factory colours in the Samsung Q7F is definitely not one of its strong points. In Filmmaker mode, which theoretically should be closest to neutral, the white balance issue is immediately noticeable. There’s too much red on the screen, while blue is lacking. The effects are very easy to notice – white, instead of being neutral, takes on warm, almost slightly orange tones. In the long run, this makes the entire image appear a bit unnatural, while bright areas of the scene can seem unrealistic. The problems are even more evident in HDR content. The charts show that the TV has significant errors in the Color Checker palette, which results in visible inaccuracies in the real image. In practice, this means that colours are not presented as they should be. The Q7F also heavily manipulates brightness; darker elements are overly boosted, causing them to lose their cinematic feel, while bright parts can be dimmed. This makes the image seem flattened, and contrast, instead of helping to bring out details, only highlights its own limitations. In HDR materials, this is particularly frustrating because every detail matters. In scenes where a subtle play of light and shadow should be felt, the Q7F either overdoes the lighting or, conversely, suppresses elements that should attract the eye. This causes the image to lose its depth, and instead of cinematic realism, we have a rather simplified effect.

We also took a close look at how Blaupunkt handles colours in movie mode, and here the matter is, to put it simply, twofold. We must once again clearly separate what we see in the standard SDR format from what happens when HDR is switched on, as they are two completely different worlds. Let's start with the better side of the coin. If you're planning to watch traditional TV, YouTube, or older films on this television, you can count on really well-tuned colours. In our test sample, the white balance in movie mode performed exceptionally well, which honestly surprised us. Of course, to avoid being too rosy, we noticed some drawbacks. Looking at the gamma charts, we observed that the processor struggles with properly dimming the image in its brightest areas. Additionally, there is quite a strong, at times overly aggressive, red saturation, which resulted in visible errors in reproducing certain shades. Despite this, overall, the image in SDR is simply solid and watchable without a grimace on your face. Unfortunately, the magic fades when we re-enter the world of HDR. Here, Blaupunkt behaves as if we suddenly switched it to store mode, and in its worst rendition. The excess blue in the white balance is so significant that it’s glaring, ruining any realism in the scene. Furthermore, the television interprets brightness very loosely, which, upon analysing the EOTF curve, clearly showed that for most of the time, colours simply appear washed out and lacking depth. This is also perfectly evident in the colour errors that become apparent in this mode. Once again, we are left with the same conclusion: Blaupunkt in SDR mode looks significantly better and more natural than in HDR, which seems to be forcefully added without proper refinement.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.6/10

6.4/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

After professional calibration, we managed to bring the Q7F to order – at least in terms of SDR content. The image in this mode looks really good: the white balance has been set correctly, the colours appear natural, and the errors in the colour palette have dropped to levels practically invisible to the eye. Gamma behaves exemplary, and the only minor flaw remains a slight lightening of smaller elements, which stems from the lack of local dimming. For everyday watching of television or films in standard quality, the Q7F performs surprisingly well.

It was significantly more challenging to tame HDR content. Despite adjusting the white balance, the television still heavily manipulates brightness, causing scenes to appear unnatural – what was meant to be subtly darker can sometimes be overly bright, and the bright parts of the image can occasionally be dimmed. The final effect is better than in factory settings, but it’s clear that the construction limitations of the Q7F do not allow for fully utilising the potential of HDR materials.

It may sound like a joke – pulling out professional measuring equipment for a TV that costs around a thousand złoty / 250 dollars, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t check it. The question is: does such cheap gear give us any leeway in terms of calibration? To your surprise, the answer is: yes, absolutely. In the Blaupunkt UGC5500S menu, we found surprisingly many options that allowed us to effectively work on the picture. These aren't just empty sliders; these are concrete tools that enabled us to make use of our measurement sensors and software. In SDR mode, the effects were visible to the naked eye. We successfully eliminated the problem we mentioned earlier – that excessive, almost artificial saturation of reds. We also fixed the issue with the incorrect dimming of the brightest parts of the image. After calibration, the picture in standard format became significantly more balanced and simply correct. When it comes to HDR, the situation was more complicated again. While we managed to “tame” that aggressive blue tint in the white balance, it was clear that we were fighting a bit of a losing battle. Even after changing the settings, the TV still tried to interfere with the picture in its own way, as if the electronics knew better than we did how the scene should look. To top it off, there's the hardware barrier that no slider can overcome – colours in HDR still remain undersaturated. This simply results from the quality of the panel itself; it physically cannot produce the most vivid colours. To summarise this point: if any of you ask whether it’s possible to calibrate a TV for “a grand”, we respond with complete conviction: it is possible.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

9/10

6.4/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the Q7F is really quite good. The gradients are smooth, without harsh steps or artificial divisions that can be quite noticeable in cheaper TVs. Even in more challenging scenes, like the one from The Revenant or the red shot with the actor swimming in water, the picture maintained its quality and simply looked good. If someone is looking very closely, they might notice slight imperfections in extremely demanding moments, but they are subtle enough that most people won’t even notice them. Given this price range, the Q7F performs surprisingly well in terms of gradation, and it's hard to find anything serious to complain about.

Looking at our test photographs, it’s really hard to pick at anything. Most of the colours in the attached images blend together almost perfectly, creating smooth gradients without noticeable "jaggies". And indeed, in most scenes where we took these shots, it looked surprisingly good. However, the problem arises when we stop analysing still frames and start simply watching the films. In motion, the situation changes dramatically. During dynamic scenes on screen, artefacts begin to pop up, which are a direct result of simply having a poor image processor here. Unfortunately, a static photo can't capture that "tearing" of colours, but you have to take our word for it: what looks clean and smooth in the photo can really stand out and simply irritate during viewing. This is where our rather low rating in this category comes from.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

5/10

2.5/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
No
No
Smooth transition function
OK
No

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Upscaling and digital image processing in the Q7F is a bit of a rollercoaster. On one hand, we have really nice upscaling – weaker sources look better than you might expect. The image becomes clearer, sharper, and even older films or free-to-air TV hold up well. Samsung has been strong in this area for years, and the Q7F confirms that. On the other hand… things start to get tricky. The TV has a problem with overscan – part of the image is simply cut off, and it doesn't look very elegant. Additionally, we were let down by a feature called "noise reduction," which should improve the smoothness of tonal transitions in weaker materials. In other Samsungs, it works relatively well, but here it practically makes no difference – the banding in gradients is still there. It's a bit of a shame because we expected more from a model that is aimed at users looking for a display for SDR content.

If you're hoping that the processor in this model will magically "fix" the poor quality signal from your cable TV or old movies from YouTube, we must disappoint you. The capabilities of this television end at absolutely basic upscaling, which is simply stretching the image to a higher resolution. It does this correctly in that the image is not blurry, but there is no mention of any intelligent sharpening or adding details. Worse still, Blaupunkt is completely devoid of any functions to reduce unwanted tonal transitions. If the material being viewed shows what is known as banding (ugly "steps" instead of a smooth transition of colours, e.g., in the sky), this television will display them in all their glory. Additionally, the television has a tendency to slightly crop the edges of the image. Instead of displaying 100% of what the source sends, Blaupunkt slightly zooms in on the frame, causing us to lose details that are at the very edges of the screen. In summary: in the category of digital "enhancement" of the image, Blaupunkt simply performs poorly. We receive a raw, unprocessed signal, with all its flaws.

Blur and motion smoothness

4/10

3.7/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
No
Blur reduction option
No
No
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
-
BFI function 120Hz
-
-
Brightness drop with BFI
49%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Image flickers in this mode

Motion blur and motion fluidity in the Q7F is probably the most budget-friendly aspect of this television. The 60 Hz panel makes the motion blur quite noticeable, especially in dynamic scenes, and it's rather hard to consider this model as equipment designed for watching sports or playing fast-paced games. In tests with the little green man, there was a long trail, similarly, the ball in a football match would leave behind streaks.

On the positive side, the presence of motion smoothing is worth noting. In films, it really makes a difference – especially since most materials are recorded in 24 frames. Here we can decide whether we prefer a more "cinematic" image, with a slight judder typically found in cinema, or a smoother, more “TV-like” one. This actually works quite well and helps improve the viewing comfort for series or movies.

When it comes to motion fluidity, Blaupunkt has nothing to defend itself with. A 60 Hz panel at this price is standard, so none of us expected a perfectly sharp image in fast action scenes or during a match. However, the biggest drawback of this model is that you won’t find any digital motion smoothers in the menu. The manufacturer hasn’t given us any room for manoeuvre – nothing can be smoothed out or the image adjusted to our personal preferences. The picture is always "raw" and we receive it exactly as it is transmitted by the source. For fans of cinematic "jumping" images, this might be good, but the rest simply has to get used to the lack of any motion enhancement.

Console compatibility and gaming features

4.7/10

3.5/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    No
    No
  • VRR range
    No
    No
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    No

Features for gamers in the Samsung Q7F are a topic that stirs up quite a few mixed emotions. On one hand – no sensible person expected miracles here because after all, it’s a 60 Hz TV and from the start, it was clear that it wouldn't be a device for squeezing the maximum out of a console or PC. On the other hand, since the manufacturer promised specific solutions in the promotional materials, it’s only natural that we wanted to see them in practice. At the outset, it's pretty decent. The automatic game mode (ALLM) works, so there's no need to manually fiddle with settings; the console switches the TV to low latency mode on its own. We also have the Game Bar, which looks impressive and allows you to peek at a few basic parameters without leaving the game. And this is where the good news ends.

[UPDATE] We have updated our tests of Samsung TVs from the 2025 model year due to the release of software version 1131, which restored the key HGiG feature for gamers.

The biggest problem with the Q7F is VRR, or rather its absence. Yes, a relevant icon appears in the menu, you can even see it in the Game Bar, but throughout the test, the feature remained dormant and could not be activated in any way. The issue with HGiG is even more painful; this option was actually available at the start, but after the software update, it disappeared completely, which is simply unprofessional. Therefore, the Q7F is only suitable for absolute basics. Sure, you can turn on the console, play more relaxed titles, and enjoy low input lag, but if someone is counting on more advanced features that the manufacturer promised, they'll be disappointed. This is not a TV you buy with the intention of gaming, and it's better to be aware of this before making a purchase.

When it comes to gaming on the Blaupunkt, we weren’t expecting miracles and indeed – the list of features isn’t very long. However, there are two interesting points worth mentioning, as they might be significant for some of you at this price. The first advantage is that the TV quite smoothly detects the connected console. Thanks to the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature, the device knows when you start gaming and automatically switches to low latency mode. This is convenient because you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time to ensure input lag doesn’t spoil the fun. The second point is a real curiosity that surprised us. Despite it being a 60 Hz panel, the Blaupunkt can display a 120 Hz image at Full HD resolution. Sure, we lose 4K details, but for those playing more dynamic, online shooters where smoothness is more important than resolution, this is a really nice and unexpected addition in such an affordable device. Other than these two points, you won’t find anything more here. There are no advanced smoothness enhancement systems for gamers or extensive gaming menu bars. It’s a simple screen for occasional gaming.

Input lag

10/10

8.6/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
36 ms
1080p120
25 ms
2160p60
13 ms
13 ms
2160p120

HDR

2160p60
12 ms
12 ms
2160p120
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
2160p120 DV

Input lag on the Samsung Q7F is really good for a 60 Hz TV. Measurements showed values below 12 ms, which means this model is more than sufficient for regular gaming on a console. Of course, it doesn't compare to the top-tier 120 Hz screens that can drop below 6–7 ms, but in everyday use, it's hard to talk about noticeable delay. In this regard, the Q7F doesn't fall behind its competitors in its segment and can easily be considered a safe choice for casual or sports gaming. At least in this respect.

An important point for every gamer is, of course, input lag, which is how quickly the television responds to our movements on the controller. Here, Blaupunkt has something to boast about, although the results are quite specific. At 4K resolution, the lag is only 12 ms. That's an excellent result. With such a lag, gaming is simply phenomenal, and the response is almost instantaneous. However, it's a bit disappointing that the situation changes when switching to 1080p. Here, the input lag increases to around 30 ms. Just to be clear: that's still not a terrible result. For most people, it will be "more than acceptable," and during casual gaming, you probably won't even notice it. Nevertheless, it's a pity that such good parameters couldn't be maintained as we saw with full 4K. Nonetheless, in the overall assessment, as a budget screen for console gaming, Blaupunkt really performs admirably in this regard.

Compatibility with PC

6/10

6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
13ms
13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
RGB
Max refresh rate
60Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
No
No

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

Collaboration with a PC on the Q7F is decent, though it's not a television that will satisfy the most demanding users. Fonts are displayed clearly and sharply, so you can comfortably work on it – especially for everyday office tasks or browsing the internet. With thin letters, you can notice slight shading, but it's not something that hinders normal use. In a smaller size, the Q7F can indeed serve as a computer screen, although you have to keep its limitations in mind. The lack of variable refresh rate means we won't benefit from G-Sync or FreeSync, and the 60 Hz effectively limits more demanding PC gaming. It will be fine for work and light use, but for serious gaming, it's definitely better to look for something higher up in Samsung's range.

If you're planning to connect a computer to this television, it's absolutely crucial to find and enable the PC compatibility option in the menu. Once you do this, magic happens – the implementation of Chroma 4:4:4 and font readability jump to an exemplary level. The readability of text is simply excellent here. Of course, our editorial diligence wouldn't let us pass this equipment without taking a look "under the hood." In very specific tests with thin, dark text, we noticed that the horizontal and vertical matrix masks differ slightly in brightness levels. However, we want to reassure you: this phenomenon is so subtle that, during normal use, writing emails or browsing the web, you won't be able to notice it with the naked eye. We maintain our opinion that as a monitor strictly for dynamic gaming on PC, it isn't the ideal choice (as we mentioned in the context of the 60 Hz refresh rate), but if any of you are wondering whether you can comfortably work on such a Blaupunkt – we say: yes, it absolutely can be done.

Viewing angles

3.5/10

5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
78%
71%

The viewing angles on the Q7F are simply poor – typical for a VA panel. Just sitting slightly off to the side immediately shows that the picture loses quality. Colours fade, contrast noticeably drops, and blacks start to resemble grey more than anything deep. This is a television that is definitely best viewed head-on, and any larger viewing angle involves compromises.

Here it's really very good. Whether we were sitting straight on or on the edge of the couch, the colours didn't lose their saturation. This is a big plus if you're planning to watch matches or movies with a larger group – no one will complain that the picture looks worse for them. Although IPS panels are known for their good viewing angles, in this particular model, when viewed from a sharp angle, the picture noticeably loses brightness. Interestingly, the colour saturation still remains in place, but the screen simply becomes darker. It's not something that disqualifies this television, but it's worth knowing.

Daytime performance

3.9/10

4/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Decent
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Panel brightness

Blaupunkt UGC5500S: 245 cd/m2

Samsung Q7F: 237 cd/m2

The performance of the Q7F during the day unfortunately doesn't impress. Due to its low brightness, the screen quickly capitulates in very sunny rooms. Therefore, it’s hard to recommend it to those who plan to watch television in a bright living room with large windows. In moderately lit rooms, it manages reasonably well, but in bright light, the image loses clarity. Additionally, the fact that the panel doesn’t always effectively handle reflections means that glares can be bothersome during the day. This is rather a screen for evening viewing than for daily sessions in full sunlight.

In terms of daytime performance, Blaupunkt is simply average. It all comes down to the low brightness of the panel, which – as we mentioned, hovers around 250 nits. That’s definitely too low for the screen to comfortably "cut through" the strong light coming into the living room. As a result, in bright sunlight, the image loses its clarity and appears somewhat washed out. However, there is one bright spot in this category: the satin coating of the panel. Thanks to this, we don't have to deal with the mirror effect, which often means instead of watching a movie, we're seeing our own couch reflected. The satin nicely diffuses reflections, which somewhat saves the situation. Nevertheless, we can’t cheat physics: while the coating bravely fights against reflections, the low brightness ultimately capitulates in the face of the sun's rays. If you plan to watch something in the middle of the day in a very bright room, prepare yourself for the necessity of drawing the curtains.

Panel details

Backlight Type
QLED
White LED
Software version during testing
T-RSLFDEUC-0090-1110.7, E2500007, BT-S
RTM9.241015.007
Image processor
m7332 2GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Samsung Q7F TV Panel details
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV Panel details

Samsung Q7F

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

TV features

7.3/10

5.1/10

  • HDMI inputs
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    No
  • Recording programming
    No
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    No
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    No

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    No
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Samsung Q7F TV features
Review Samsung Q7F TV features
Review Samsung Q7F TV features
Review Samsung Q7F TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features

Smart TV – Tizen System

Here the Q7F shows its strongest side. Samsung has been developing the Tizen system for years, and it's clear that we are dealing with a mature, refined platform. Everything runs smoothly, the menu doesn’t lag even when switching between heavier applications, and installing additional programs from the library is quick and hassle-free. Additionally, there’s full support for AirPlay, integration with voice assistants, as well as a wide range of add-ons – from cooperation with devices in the SmartThings ecosystem to the ability to control Philips Hue smart lighting or other smart gadgets. Samsung strongly emphasises expanded network features, and it's evident – in terms of Smart TV, the Q7F has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of; on the contrary, it can put to shame more expensive competitors.

Classic Features

On the side of classic, “television” solutions, it’s clear that the manufacturer has put everything on the smart card. We won’t find USB recording or PiP mode here, which were once standards. It’s apparent that the Q7F is meant to be primarily a multimedia centre, rather than a device for those accustomed to more traditional solutions. Fortunately, there are a few practical additions – we have Bluetooth for pairing headphones or speakers and an option to change the font size in the menu, which users with weaker eyesight will appreciate.

In terms of Smart TV functionality, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a classic example of a device where the system is both its biggest asset and its greatest flaw. On one hand, we have full Google TV, which is a huge plus at this price point. We gain access to a massive library of apps and basically all the functionality we know from brands using this software. Nothing has been cut out forcefully, which is really refreshing in such an inexpensive TV. Unfortunately, it must be honestly admitted that in the case of Blaupunkt, this system operates quite clumsily. This is a typical issue with low-budget TVs running Google TV – the processor barely keeps up with the software. Navigating through the menu isn’t as smooth as we would like, and the remote can react with noticeable delays, giving the impression of being "dull." Of course, once you launch a specific app and start a movie, everything works steadily, but just browsing through the interface requires a bit of patience.

When it comes to classic TV features, Blaupunkt offers nothing extraordinary. It’s a simple device for basic tasks. The remote is a plus, featuring a traditional numeric keypad, which is just convenient for hopping through cable channels. We also have Bluetooth, so you can easily connect wireless headphones or a speaker. The TV also has a physical mini-jack headphone output. At a time when manufacturers are mass-eliminating this connection, the presence of a "jack" is a nod to those with older audio equipment or simply those who prefer classic wired headphones. It’s a small thing, but it’s appreciated.

Apps

9.3/10

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
OK
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
OK
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9/10

9.3/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
Yes
PNG
No
Yes
GIF
No
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

In the Q7F, we have a built-in file player and, as is usually the case with Samsung TVs, it works quite well – most popular movies or music play without any fuss. For basic use, it’s sufficient and you probably won’t need to reach for external solutions like connecting a laptop. It’s a different story if someone wants to upload photos – it can struggle here, especially with Apple’s HEIC or PNG, which are visible in the player menu but don’t necessarily want to work.

In terms of playing files from USB, Blaupunkt performs quite solidly. We tested several of the most popular formats and basically everything that matters worked without any fuss on the factory player. So you're not forced to immediately download additional software right after pulling the TV out of the box, because the equipment is simply self-sufficient ‘out of the box’. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the charms of Google TV, we still recommend installing some external software, like VLC or Kodi. The factory player is adequate, but it's in those external applications where you'll find the most configuration options, better subtitle support, or just a more convenient interface. Since the system gives you that freedom, it's worth taking advantage of it to get as much as you can out of your multimedia.

Sound

5.8/10

6/10

  • Maximum volume
    80dB
    85dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    No

Samsung Q7F has a speaker set with a power of 20 W and… well, let's not kid ourselves, it's not a revelation. The TV itself sounds quite decent, meaning series, news, or daily programs are clearly audible, dialogues are not lost, but there's a significant lack of depth or sound space. There's practically no bass; something thuds, but it resembles tapping on a box more than real low frequencies. Music sounds flat, films also don't leave a strong impression – you won't feel like you're in a cinema. It's a sound in the "acceptable" category, just to have something built-in, but if someone is hoping for a stronger experience, they'll end up reaching for a soundbar sooner or later. And to be honest – even the simplest model will make a noticeable difference, and Samsung has quite a few of those on offer.

In terms of audio, Blaupunkt performs really well, especially considering it's a typical budget television. You can see, or rather hear, that the brand hasn't forgotten its roots and for such an inexpensive build, the sound is actually superb. Of course, there's a noticeable lack of bass, but overall it's loud, and surprisingly clear. What matters most to us – even at higher volumes, the sound isn't heavily distorted, which is rare and a pleasant surprise at this price point.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

80dBC (Max)

75dBC

85dBC (Max)

75dBC