The Samsung AU8000 is an older model and while not the latest, it generally offers better performance for watching movies, sports, and for gaming compared to the Samsung CU8000. The AU8000 is better suited for bright rooms and has a higher quality of upscaling non-4K content. If you plan on watching content in well-lit environments and value picture quality for various types of content, the AU8000 is a strong choice. However, the CU8000 is a newer model with slightly different features, such as voice commands for accessibility. It may be a more suitable choice if you prefer newer models with updated features despite slightly lower performance in certain areas. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Samsung AU8000 (LCD)
Good for upscaling
Good reflections
Advantages of the Samsung CU8000 (LCD)
Very good motion processing
Key differences
Picture Quality
6.6/10
5.8/10
6.71/10
CONTRAST
4.92/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.9/10
LED
PANEL TYPE
LED
VA
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has only fair picture quality, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) has poor picture quality.
Movies & TV
5.9/10
5.3/10
6.71/10
CONTRAST
4.92/10
6.9/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
6.1/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
6.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
No
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and Samsung CU8000 (LCD) are both poor for movies & TV, though the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is somewhat better.
The Samsung AU8000 struggles with contrast and black uniformity, affecting its portrayal of deep blacks and shadow detail which are critical for a good movie-watching experience. The newer Samsung CU8000 also falls short in these areas, with even worse contrast and black uniformity, plus poorer viewing angles that affect the picture when not viewed head-on.
Cartoons & Animation
6.9/10
5.9/10
6.1/10
COLOR GAMUT SCORE
7.3/10
6.3/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
6.9/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.7/10
7.2/10
COLORS OUT OF THE BOX SCORE
6.2/10
6.8/10
GRAY UNIFORMITY
6.6/10
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair for cartoons & animation, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 renders colors better out of the box, enhancing the viewing experience for cartoons and animation, while the Samsung CU8000 provides a wider color gamut which is important but less impactful without accurate initial colors. Despite the CU8000's superior color gamut, the AU8000's better color accuracy from the start along with fair color volume and gray uniformity may present a more cohesive and vibrant visual for animated content.
News, Talk, & Other TV
6.7/10
5.7/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.7/10
7.5/10
UPSCALING
6.0/10
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) is only fair for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 performs better for news and TV programs due to its superior upscaling and good SDR brightness, making it more suitable for typical television content, whereas the Samsung CU8000 falls short with only fair SDR brightness and poorer upscaling, which may result in lower image clarity. Additionally, the AU8000 offers better colors out of the box, contrast, and color gamut which are important for natural and consistent viewing experiences, factors that are somewhat less impressive in the CU8000.
Cost
$598
$525
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) has a price of $598 and the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) costs $525.
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and Samsung CU8000 (LCD) are both only fair for sports.
While both the Samsung AU8000 and Samsung CU8000 are suitable for sports viewing, the AU8000 has a better handling of reflections which is beneficial in bright rooms, and the CU8000 offers superior motion processing which could provide a smoother experience during fast-paced action. However, both models have limited viewing angles, affecting the consistency of the picture when viewed from the side, and both also achieve only a fair response time which might not be as quick as desired for fast-moving sports content.
Gaming
5.8/10
5.5/10
5.9/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
4.9/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
8.7/10
6.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.2/10
0.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
0.0/100
5.8/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.8/10
The Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and Samsung CU8000 (LCD) are both poor for gaming.
The Samsung AU8000 and Samsung CU8000 LCD TVs have poor gaming performance primarily due to their lower response time and input lag scores, which suggests that these TVs may not handle fast-moving content well and can exhibit a delay between input from devices, like gaming consoles, and the reaction on the screen. While both models support a refresh rate of 60Hz, adequate for casual viewing, this refresh rate might not be sufficiently smooth for high-speed gaming which often benefits from higher refresh rates.I will start by locating the information about the Samsung AU8000 and Samsung CU8000 within the uploaded document to provide an explanation on their performance for gaming. Please wait a moment while I perform the search.
Bright Room
6.3/10
5.9/10
5.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
5.2/10
7.1/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
6.7/10
5.7/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
5.5/10
7.8/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
5.9/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Samsung AU8000 (LCD) to be only fair for bright room, while the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) is poor.
The Samsung AU8000 is more suitable for bright rooms because it has better reflection handling compared to the Samsung CU8000, meaning it is less likely to be disrupted by light sources. Despite both having limitations in SDR and HDR brightness, the AU8000 still outperforms the CU8000, which could struggle more with visibility in well-lit environments.
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How the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) and the Samsung CU8000 (LCD) compare to other TVs
"To put it directly: you’d never see a mid-range 4K TV hitting this black levels half a decade ago. AU8000 plays the part of a higher-end TV thanks to its sleek design. If you’re upgrading to a smart TV for the first time, the software is a great way to dip your toes in the streaming water."
Get a great deal on the Samsung AU8000 (LCD) or the Samsung CU8000 (LCD)
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the TV team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and TVs Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Jaime Roldán
TVs Expert
Jaime is a Colombia-based TV expert. He is an electronics engineer with 8 years of experience in the telecom sector and has been making TV recommendations for 12 years.