
Update August 16, 2011 Since this article posted we have reviewed a number of 2011 Samsung TVs, but we can't review them all. We can speculate, however, as to how some of the un-reviewed models, further detailed below, compare with the ones we did review.
We reviewed the
We reviewed the
Among plasmas we've reviewed the
The bulk of Samsung's 2011 HDTV announcements were made at CES, but today at a New York press event it fleshed out the remainder of the details, including pricing and availability. All of the series detailed today are available between now and the end of April, although we do expect the company to announce more TVs later in the year.
Below we gather all of the estimated selling prices and availability info we were given about Samsung's plasma and LED-based LCD TVs series, along with top-level features differences.
Update 1:30 p.m. PT We had the chance to speak to Samsung's product specialist and he told us about some of the differences between the series and expanded on some of the features. Updates are in italics below. We've also uploaded the company's master feature comparison charts for both LEDs and plasmas.
LED-based LCD TVs (Master feature chart)
Samsung UND8000 series: Flagship successor to the
Samsung UN46D8000 : 46-inch, available February, $2,799Samsung UN55D8000 : 55-inch, available February, $3,599Samsung UN60D8000 : 60-inch, available June, $4,299Samsung UN65D8000 : 65-inch, available June, $5,399
Samsung UND7000 series: Least expensive LED with ultrathin, 0.2-inch bezel and 240Hz refresh rate. Also includes the QWERTY flip-remote found on the D8000 series. Confusingly, marketing will refer to the UND7000 as having "dimming plus." Despite that name the UND7000 does not have local dimming of the LED backlight; that feature is reserved for the UND8000, alone among Samsung's 2011 LEDs. The "plus" is said to refer to a local contrast enhancer processor similar to the one found on the PND8000 plasma. My preliminary take is that the UND7000 will perform somewhat worse than the extremely expensive UND8000.
Samsung UN46D7000 : 46-inch, available March, $2,299Samsung UN55D7000 : 55-inch, available March, $3,099Samsung UN60D7000 : 60-inch, available June, $3,799
Samsung UND6400 series: Similar to 2010 UNC6500 series. Least expensive LED with 3D and 0.5-inch bezel.
Samsung UN40D6400 : 40-inch, available March, $1,299Samsung UN46D6400 : 46-inch, available March, $1,599Samsung UN55D6400 : 55-inch, available May, $2,399Samsung UN60D6400 : 60-inch, available June, $3,099
Samsung UND6300 series: Similar to UND6400 but without 3D and has thicker bezel. Includes Touch of Color design.
Samsung UN40D6300 : 40-inch, available March, $1,199Samsung UN46D6300 : 46-inch, available March, $1,499Samsung UN55D6300 : 55-inch, available March, $2,299
Samsung UND6000 series: Similar to UND6300 but without Touch of Color design. Least expensive Samsung LED with Smart TV Internet apps and 120Hz.
Samsung UN32D6000 : 32-inch, available February, $899Samsung UN40D6000 : 40-inch, available February, $1,099Samsung UN46D6000 : 46-inch, available February, $1,299Samsung UN55D6000 : 55-inch, available February, $2,099Samsung UN60D6000 : 60-inch, price and availability TBD
Samsung UND5500 series: 60Hz; least expensive 1080p Samsung LED. Samsung also announced 22-inch D5010 and D5000 models (March, $299 each); details TBD.
Samsung UN32D5500 : 32-inch, available March, $699Samsung UN40D5500 : 40-inch, available March, $899
Samsung UND4000 series: Entry-level with 720p resolution.
Samsung UN19D4000 : 19-inch, available February, $249Samsung UN32D4000 : 32-inch, available February, $529
Samsung PND8000 series: Flagship successor to the superb
Samsung PN51D8000 : 51-inch, available April, $2,299Samsung PN59D8000 : 59-inch, available April, $2,999Samsung PN64D8000 : 64-inch, available April, $3,799
Samsung PND7000 series: Step-down successor to
Samsung PN51D7000 : 51-inch, available April, $1,899Samsung PN59D7000 : 59-inch, available April, $2,599Samsung PN54D7000 : 64-inch, available April, $3,399
Samsung PND6500 series: Least expensive Samsung plasma with Smart TV internet apps suite.
Samsung PN51D6500 : 51-inch, available March, $1,599Samsung PN59D6500 : 59-inch, available March, $2,199
Samsung PND550 series: Similar to to PNC590 series. Least expensive Samsung plasma with 1080p resolution.
Samsung PN51D550 : 51-inch, available March, $1,299Samsung PN59D550 : 59-inch, available March, $1,899Samsung PN64D550 : 64-inch, available March, $2,699
Samsung PND490 series: Least expensive Samsung plasma with 3D (all higher-series plasmas have 3D); 720p resolution. Samsung says this plasma's 3D resolution, despite being "only" 720p, surpasses that of passive 3D TVs. This model and all other 2011 plasmas (aside from the D450) have CinemaSmooth processing for what the company promises is correct 1080p/24 cadence, and it says that engaging CS no longer affects black level performance.
Samsung PN43D490 : 43-inch, available March, $799Samsung PN51D490 : 51-inch, available March, $999
Samsung PND450 series: Entry-level, non-3D, 720p resolution.
Samsung PN43D450 : 43-inch, available March, $799Samsung PN51D450 : 51-inch, available March, $999
Samsung will also sell non-LED-based TVs in 2011, but we're not detailing them here.