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Entry-level 2014 Samsung Smart TV gets game, promises value

Samsung's UNH6350 series will cost less than any other Smart TV announced by the company at CES 2014, and because we expect a decent picture anyway -- in addition to a great Smart TV suite that includes games -- it could be a very good value.

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
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David Katzmaier
2 min read

If previous years are any indication, Samsung will sell zillions of LED LCD TVs in 2014, and its models designated UN63-something-something will once again provide among the best value.

We really liked the combination of Smart TV excellence, decent picture and competitive prices found on last year's 6300 series, and the UNH6350 series promises more of the same.

Pricing has yet to be announced, but we do know the H6350 will first become available in March. It also offers more choices in size than any other TV series we've ever seen. Are you ready? OK: 75, 65, 60, 55, 50, 48, 40 and 32 inches. That's one size for every day of the week, and two on Sunday -- for dual-screen football, of course.

The UNF6350 lacks the "Micro Dimming" found on the step-up UNF6400 series, but based on what we saw last year, directly comparing the UNF6400 and UNF6300, that difference has little impact on picture quality.

The main differences between the H6400 and H6350 have nothing to do with the picture--at least, the 2D one you'll actually watch. The H6400 supports 3D and includes the snazzy new remote complete complete with voice search and control. The H6350 is 2D-only and has a standard remote that doesn't cause anything to happen when you speak into it, no matter how loudly or insistently.

Of course, if you care not about those extras, the H6350, like the 2013 F6300 before it, might prove a superior value to the 6400.

They both get Samsung's 2014 Smart TV suite, arranged around five "pages" just like the excellent 2013 version. There's one major addition this year: the Social and Media pages have been combined into one, and a new Games page has been added. Samsung says they'll include "lite versions" of popular game titles, and that at launch around 20 games will be available for download. For a controller you can choose either your smartphone or tablet, or the included remote. Powering all those brains is a quad-core processor.

Check out the Samsung TV roundup for more on the company's CES 2014 releases.