Samsung UE43RU7020

The Samsung UE43RU7020 is the smallest size of the lowest range of Samsung’s 2019 TVS. If you are strapped for cash but want to buy one of the latest Samsung screens, this is the one. A notch or two further up on the Samsung spectrum is the UE43RU7470, our 2019 Award-winning TV in the 40-43in size category, but the RU7020 has had a few treats stripped off so that it can hit a lower price. It loses the One Remote and Bixby, but perhaps more significantly, Samsung’s Dynamic Crystal Control colour technology, is replaced by the technically less advanced Purcolor.

Two-footed stand

With its 1.5cm bezel and 5.8cm profile, the UE43RU7020 looks similar to its more expensive sibling. What’s more, its two-footed stand approach is a lot more forgiving than the overly large, one-piece boomerang beneath the RU7470. Around the back, it’s standard fare for Samsung’s 7-series TVS. There are three HDMIS (including ARC), two USBS and an optical out, plus aerial and ethernet connections.

There’s only one remote control, the standard, full-buttoned black plastic Samsung remote, and we’re disappointed to see that some of the more important buttons, such as Settings and Info, have been relegated to the bottom of the device, with Netflix, Prime Video and Rakuten front and centre instead.

As for the apps themselves, Samsung’s Tizen OS is the best in the business, and you’ll find Now TV, BT Sports, BT TV, Apple TV, all the catch-up services, Deezer, Tidal and Spotify as well as the video services above. Tizen also happens to be one of the most usable and intuitive TV UIS around. There’s no Bixby voice control, but it’s by no means essential. More important is the HDR support, which comes in HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG formats. There’s no Dolby Vision, but that isn’t a surprise.

We begin with Passengers in HDR on 4K Blu-ray and through the window of the starship Avalon, we get a sense of the infinite darkness of space and, despite the edge-lit panel technology, there’s enough control of the lighting for the stars to appear as pin pricks in the black.

In fact, one of the most impressive things about this set is how consistent the backlight is compared with that of most edge-lit models. There’s some slight vignetting in the external scenes in space, but it’s a performance to be proud of. Detail is good too, with close-ups of Lawrence and fellow passenger Chris Pratt rendered accurately with plenty of good skin texture.

Where it’s less impressive than the RU7470 is in the close contrast control. Facial features don’t have the same nuanced lighting, and appear a little flatter on the RU7020 as a result. It’s not a bad performance for the price, but it shows what you get at the next step up.

Colour management

Dropping down to SDR with Avengers: Age Of Ultron in Full HD, we can see how well this TV manages the colour palette. The views are impressive as the heroes fly home through sapphire skies after retrieving Loki’s sceptre. There’s some able contrast on show in the renders of the billowy clouds but, as good as the blues are, the set doesn’t handle the greens and reds with the same aplomb.

The RU7020 also struggles to reach the same richness that the step-up Samsungs can manage. It’s noticeable on the highlights of Captain America’s uniform, on Hulk’s skin and Iron Man’s suits, and while it’s tempting to boost the colour settings to squeeze that last drop of colour, flesh tones and foliage suffer and the colours become over-cooked.

There’s also a pinky hue to the whites – the missing Dynamic Crystal Control technology would seem like an obvious reason for this. The upscaling is still impressive, though. Even in dark scenes with lots of motion, we never feel like we’re watching something inferior. The detail levels are a little lower, but the upscaling never slips into blurs.

Even at SD resolution, it’s not bad. The colour loses more saturation and there’s some shimmer on surfaces and patterns that makes Digital Clean View worth switching on. The trade-off is a slight decrease in detail, but it’s worth making.

Samsung’s 7 series TVS do not have the excellent viewing angles of the company’s flagship QLEDS. Colour and contrast take a notable hit when you sit off-axis with the RU7020, but the effect levels out quickly and doesn’t get much worse as you move further round.

The 10W powered two-speaker set-up is Samsung’s 7 series standard. With both speakers in the middle of the panel’s rear, we’re not expecting much in the way of a soundstage. Of the three sound modes, Optimised works best as we enjoy the opening fight scene in Avengers: Age Of Ultron. There’s no swell to the soundtrack, nor spine-tingling emotion as the heroes fly through the air. There’s little weight as they land their punches, hammers and shields in what should be a glorious moment.

The TV adds bigger hits in Amplify mode, but there’s little midrange to enjoy and it’s too tinny on the treble. This is a fine ‘small’ TV, but without the same performance-per-pound ratio as other 2019 Samsung 7 series models.

“If you’re strapped for cash, but want to buy the latest Samsung TV, this is the one”