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  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Smart TV Features

  • Picture Quality

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Color

  • Viewing Angle

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Smart TV Features
  • Picture Quality
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Color
  • Viewing Angle
  • Other Tests

Introduction

For its $1199 MSRP, users are getting a TV that’s of smaller size, but one with great color production and contrast ratio. Unfortunately, nothing about this model is perfect: yet the fact that it carries the Samsung brand name and the inclusion of smart features boost its price considerably.

Design

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The Samsung ES6100 is smartly built and maintains the company's excellent design ideas for 2012.

Samsung’s ES6100 series features a slim profile, a minimalist bezel, and a plastic version of the X-shaped stand also used with the ES6500 and E8000 series TVs. The stand allows for about 20° of swivel in either direction. The on-set controls are allocated to the Jog Stick, which is on the back, right hand side of the TV, below its ports. While the plastic stand isn’t as impressive looking as the metallic version found amongst more expensive models, the ES6100 looks great, and it's very lightweight too, making it easy to tote around.

The ES6100 looks great, and it's very lightweight too, making it easy to tote around.

On the back, right hand side of the TV, you’ll find a sensible selection of input and output ports. There are 3 HDMI inputs, with one inclined to the side of the TV, and two more located on the back. The 3 USB inputs are split as well, with the side offering two inputs, and the back area housing a third. Users also have access to a shared component/composite input, an EX-LINK port for service updates, audio inputs for DVI (PC) and analog (3.5 mm) devices, a LAN input for a wired internet connection, digital output for SPDIF (surround system) audio, and a coaxial jack for antenna or cable input.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

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Samsung's fantastic smart features are present on the ES6100.

The ES6100 is a great way to access streaming content.

Our first look at Samsung’s 2012 smart platform, which is organized into the Smart Hub, revealed that it’s one of the best—if not the best—smart platform available amongst this year’s line-up of internet-enabled TVs. The ES6100 is, therefore, a great way to access streaming content, various apps, and your own personal media via USB or wireless-connected devices.

The standard menus utilized by the UN40ES6100 are the same ones found on Samsung’s other 2012 TVs. They hug the left side of the screen and feature a stack of sub-menus for Picture, Sound, Settings, etc. The menus are intuitive and load quickly: Navigating them with the ES6100’s standard infrared remote is a painless process.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

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First and foremost, the ES6100's picture quality is quite good. We tested a maximum contrast ratio over 3500:1. Color accuracy wasn’t perfect, however, showing mild yet visible temperature errors.

You'll probably need to utilize the swiveling stand if you want to use this TV in a large room.

Furthermore, even though this Samsung displayed a large contrast ratio, its ability to maintain that contrast across a wide angle of viewing proved lacking. We tested a total viewing angle of around 30°, which is about 15° lower than we would consider flawless. While this doesn’t pose a huge problem for anyone watching this TV head-on, it does mean you'll probably need to utilize the swiveling stand if you want to use this TV in a large room.

Conclusion

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The Samsung UN40ES6100 is a solid performer with just a few minor flaws.

If you go with this TV, you’re paying a few hundred dollars more than you would for a Vizio or a Dynex TV of the same size, but that’s largely due to the fact that Samsung’s giving you access to its Smart Hub and plenty of streaming options for movies, TV, and music. Expect fairly average performance in the areas of audio and motion: nothing terrible, but nothing mind-blowing. Black/white differentiation and colors are good and motion performance is above-average.

We can’t brand a TV of this size and caliber as the cream of the crop, nor as a good choice as the central hub for a home theater set-up, but it’s a great option if you want a quality, fairly affordable smart TV for a small room or office, or even to tote around from dorm to dorm.

Science Introduction

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The Samsung UN40ES6100 tested with excellent color and contrast scores. As a rule, our staff (and many other television testers) count color and contrast as the most important aspects of a TV's basic performance—let's be honest, what you see and how easily you see it are pretty important.

After color and contrast, we examine screen performance abilities: viewing angle, motion, etc. You'll be glad to know that, other than a surprisingly small viewing angle, the Samsung ES6100 has no drawbacks. That's a solid result for a mid-range TV.

Color

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The ES6100's color curves are impressive.

Out of all of the tests we ran, we found the ES6100's color curves to be the most impressive aspect of its core performance. Its handling of greyscale and color inputs enable it to display the full range of 1,024 base colors/shades with no problems, giving almost perfect credence to each (though some areas of the input spectrum are stronger than others).

What this means for viewing is that you'll have a full spectrum of reds, greens, blues, greys, blacks, and whites to work with, enabling a visual panoply of accurate and diverse eye candy. More on how we test color performance.

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Viewing Angle

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The ES6100's viewing angle was its weakest area.

Viewing angle is an important utility aspect of every TV. You wouldn't buy a TV that you couldn't watch at all, right?

Having the flexibility to choose where you watch from is one of the best things about high-definition televisions. The ES6100's total viewing angle of 30° is below average, meaning that the range you can comfortably watch it from is fairly limited. More on how we test viewing angle.

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Other Tests

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If you're curious as to the rest of this TV's time in our laboratory, check out the gallery for more information.

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Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

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