Samsung UE40D6530 LED 3D TV

Cut-price super-skinny telly with all the trimmings

Review When it comes to features, Samsung’s UE40D6530 40in LED telly doesn’t skimp on anything much. Freeview HD, 3D, Video on Demand, Skype, integrated web browser, social media apps, media streaming, PVR recording to external hard drive – it’s all here. This isn’t so much a TV as an all in one entertainment centre. And priced at £1099, Samsung is clearly planning to shift a lot of these puppies.

Entertaining concept: Samsung’s UE40D6530

Too slim for traditional side-mounted inputs, connectivity is all confined to the back panel. There are four HDMI inputs, a PC input, Scart and component – both of which have to be using supplied adaptors – three USBs, Ethernet LAN and a digital audio optical output. Samsung has conveniently chosen to opt for integrated Wi-Fi, so there’s no need for a separate dongle.

TV portal options

One compelling reason to buy this screen is undoubtedly the connected Smart Hub portal. It’s from here you can access VOD services such as YouTube, LoveFilm, BBC iPlayer, Acetrax and PictureBox. This isn’t the regular, standard definition YouTube API. This TV supports the new YouTube Leanback service, which delivers the highest quality stream available.

YouTube interface

I did a side by side comparison between the D6530 and Panasonic’s rival TX-P42VT30, using the snappily-entitled clip JVC GS-TD1 sample footage shot at Covent Garden. The VT30’s YouTube app played the clip in 380p and looked blocky and generally unpleasant; the Samsung’s Leanback implementation accessed the 720p stream, giving an altogether smoother and more detailed presentation.