The Samsung CU8000 and CU7000 TVs belong to the Crystal UHD line (2023), the cheapest TVs Samsung offers. Budget TVs, the LED screens in these TVs are made in the factories of previous generations. The TV has a small price tag, don’t be surprised that you might see screen flares in this TV, especially in the dark, but you can also buy a pretty good TV you will like. In these TVs, the screens are made by Chinese manufacturers; what kind of display the TV will have is unknown. For example, there is the 58CU7000 TV model; as you understand, this screen is 58 inches diagonal. If you look at the TV market, such displays are made by Hisense and TCL; Samsung has long been buying third-party displays for its budget Crystal UHD series.
Differences between Samsung CU7000 and CU8000 TVs
As I wrote earlier, these 2023 TVs are from the same series; the price of the TVs is also slightly different. The CU7000 model is cheaper; for example, the 55-inch TV 55CU7000 is cheaper than the 55CU8000 by about $100.
To make it easier for you to navigate the differences, I’ll talk about the main parameters of the TVs and note the differences between them.
Samsung CU7000 and CU8000 displays
Pay little attention to the displays; they are the same; they are the cheapest screens with EDGE backlighting and a frame rate of 60 Hz. They have virtually no screen darkening, or instead, they do, but you can only darken half of the screen. There will be no black in these TVs, only gray. This is a feature of LED; if you watch TV in the light, you are most likely satisfied with the TV. The color depth is claimed to be 10 bits (8 bits +FRC), which allows you to show about 1 billion shades. The actual display has a color depth of 8 bits, i.e., it can show 16 million shades; using dithering (FRC), the rapid blinking backlight theoretically could raise the number of shades, but in reality, it will never be a billion shades.
The fundamental differences between Samsung CU7000 and CU8000 TVs
There is a whole list of differences between these televisions. Below I will describe each difference between the TVs in detail.
The number of USB ports: the CU7000 has one USB port, and the CU8000 has two.
Support for voice assistants: the CU7000 can work with voice assistants. CU8000 has built-in voice assistants.
Different remote controls: UC7000 remote TM2240A (Smart remote without microphone). UC8000 remote TM2360E has a microphone and solar panel.
The difference in the USB ports.
The CU7000 just decided to make only one USB port. Technically it’s easy to make two ports, but that must have been the idea; the UC8000 has two USB ports.
Voice Assistant Support
Voice assistants can only control the CU7000 TV. For example, if you have an Alexa dot, you can tell the TV to turn up the volume or switch channels. You need to set it up through Samsung’s smart home app to do this.
With the CU8000 TV, assistants are built into the TV, you need to select Alexa as the active voice assistant, and you can control other devices through the TV. For example, you can ask Alexa to turn off the lights in the room by using the TV remote.
Differences in remote controls
The CU7000 comes with a remote without a microphone, you can’t use the TV for commands and voice control. The CU8000 comes with a new type of remote, smaller and with a microphone in the remote. You can control the TV with your voice and work with the voice assistant built into the TV. The remote also has a built-in solar panel for recharging the remote.
You realize that the UC7000 TV has fewer features than the UC8000 TV. But if you don’t use voice assistants, you can buy the CU7000 and save some money.
Other differences
There are a few other differences between the CU7000 and CU8000; these differences can be at the software and physical level; in fact, the motherboards for the TVs are different.
The CU7000 TV does not support standby power for the WiFi modules and the LAN port. Because of this, you won’t be able to turn this TV on using Alexa and other voice assistants over the internet. You can only turn on the TV with the remote control or via HDMI using additional devices that can be woken up over the network, and they, in turn, will turn on the TV (Anynet must be turned on on the TV). The CU8000 has a WOW and WOL function that allows you to control the TV, turn it on remotely.
Samsung CU8000 and CU7000 TVs comparison table
| CU8000 (2023) | CU7000 (2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| screen | ||
| Screen Size | 43", 50", 55", 65", 75" | 43", 50", 55", 58", 65", 70", 75" |
| Style | Flat Panel | Flat Panel |
| Resolution | 3,840 x 2,160 | 3,840 x 2,160 |
| screen bit | 8 bit + FRC | 8 bit + FRC |
| type screnn | LED | LED |
| screen technology | EDGE LED | EDGE LED |
| Backlighting | Standard LED | Standard LED |
| Dimming Technology | UHD Dimming | No |
| Stand Type (Color) | FLAT LIFT | SLIM FEET |
| Bezel Width | 3 Bezel-less | 3 Bezel-less |
| Video | ||
| Motion Rate | No | No |
| refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Color | Dynamic Crystal Color | Pur Color |
| Contrast | Mega Contrast | Mega Contrast |
| HDR (High-Dynamic Range) | Yes | Yes |
| Picture Engine | Crystal Processor 4K | Crystal Processor 4K |
| Film Mode | Yes | Yes |
| HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Technology | Motion Xcelerator | Motion Xcelerator |
| Anti-Reflection | No | No |
| Audio | ||
| Dolby | MS12 2ch | MS12 2ch |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Sound Output | 20W | 20W |
| Woofer | No | No |
| Speaker Type | 2 CH | 2 CH |
| Object Tracking Sound | OTS Lite | OTS Lite |
| Q-Symphony | Yes only soundbar | Yes only soundbar |
| Multiroom Link | Yes | Yes |
| Features | ||
| OS | Tizen 7.0 | Tizen 7.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Yes WiFi5 | Yes WiFi5 |
| Bluetooth | Yes (ver.5.2) | Yes (ver.5.2) |
| Smart | Yes | Yes |
| Samsung Health | Yes | Yes |
| Bixby | Yes | Yes |
| Film Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Filmmaker Mode | Yes | Yes |
| 360 Video Player | No | No |
| 360 Camera Support | No | No |
| Easy Setup | Yes | Yes |
| App Casting | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless TV On | Yes | No |
| Wired TV On | Yes | No |
| Wireless DEX | Yes | Yes |
| ConnectShare | Yes | Yes |
| Closed Captioning | Yes | Yes |
| Eco Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile to TV - Mirroring, DLNA | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| SmartThings App Support | No | No |
| SmartThings | Yes | Yes |
| Far-Field Voice Interaction | No | No |
| TV Plus | Yes | Yes |
| Web Browser | Yes | Yes |
| Gallery | N/A | N/A |
| EPG | Yes | Yes |
| FreeSync | No | No |
| IP Control | Yes | Yes |
| BT HID Support | N/A | N/A |
| MBR Support | Yes | Yes |
| IPv6 Support | No | No |
| Tap View | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Game Mode (ALLM) | Yes | Yes |
| Multi View | Yes 2 videos | No |
| Game Motion Plus | No | No |
| Dynamic Black EQ | No | No |
| Super Ultra Wide Game View | No | No |
| Game bar | No | No |
| Expert Calibration | No | No |
| Auto Channel Search | N/A | A/A |
| InstaPort S (HDMI Quick Switch) | No | No |
| Ambient Mode | No | No |
| Auto Power Off | Yes | Yes |
| AI Technology | No | No |
| Auto Motion Plus | No | No |
| Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) | Yes | Yes |
| V-Chip | Yes | Yes |
| TV to Mobile - Mirroring | No | No |
| USB HID Support | Yes | Yes |
| AI Upscale | No | No |
| Easy Setup | Yes | Yes |
| IoT Hub | No | No |
| TV initiate mirroring | No | No |
| Video Communication | Google Meet | Google Meet |
| HGiG | Yes | Yes |
| Inputs & Outputs | ||
| HDMI | 3 ver 2.0 | 3 ver 2.0 |
| USB | 2 | 1 |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| RF In (Terrestrial/Cable | Yes | Yes |
| RF In (Satellite Input) | Yes Europe, No US | Yes Europe, No US |
| Digital Audio Out (Optical) | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Return Channel Support | Yes | Yes |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| One Connect | No | No |
| Samsung OneRemote | Yes | Yes |
| System | ||
| Digital Broadcasting | ATSC 3.0 (Canada) ATSC/ClearQAM - US: DVB- Europe | ATSC 3.0 (Canada) ATSC/ClearQAM - US: DVB- Europe |
| Analog Tuner | Yes | Yes |
| Accessories | ||
| Remote control | TM2360E solar | TM2240A |
| __ |
Which TV to buy, CU7000 or CU8000?
The CU8000 TV has several advantages that I’ve already mentioned. The UC8000, the ability to control Alexa and Google Assistant from the TV, and the voice control feature provided by the new remote with microphone are significant advantages for me. But if you’re buying a TV just for watching videos and are used to controlling the TV with remote control, the CU7000 is acceptable.
