Samsung LE26B450 review

With some of the qualities of its bigger siblings, this 26in Samsung really performs in style – and at a competitive price too Tested at £315.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

All in all, this Samsung is an excellent performer and at a tidy price too

Pros

  • +

    Good contrast levels

  • +

    clean images

  • +

    handles blacks well

  • +

    good price

Cons

  • -

    Only a slight lack of weight to the sound

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Not for the first time this year, Samsung is making some of its rival TV manufacturers look rather lazy.

You may be buying a set that's 'only' 26in, but the company has still seen fit to include the red-tinted styling of its bigger and more expensive siblings, as well as a feature list that includes support for 1080p at 24fps and a digital optical out, on top of the now compulsory trio of HDMIs.

Calibration worth the effort

Calibrating the TV isn't as easy as it could be. The simple settings can be trimmed perfectly well using the THX Optimiser, but there are lots of extra options hidden in supplemental menus that can have a big impact on picture quality.

Experimenting with these isn't made any easier by the fact their menus cover the majority of the screen.

Still, persevere and you'll be rewarded with a brilliant picture. Contrast levels in particular are impressive, with pleasingly deep blacks combining with punchy whites to reproduce the picture of the Passengers Blu-ray to impressive effect.

Sharp motion faithfully tracked

Images are clean, edges are sharp and motion is tracked faithfully.

The 'B450 continues to impress with standard definition, providing a balanced, precise and detailed picture whether you're watching The Young Victoria on DVD or Family Guy on Freeview.

In fact, the Samsung's only blemish is its sound delivery, which, though clear, lacks weight and width.

See all our 21-26in TV reviews

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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