Home Tech Land is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Samsung CU7000 was the cheapest 4K TV in Samsung’s 2023 lineup, and you can still find it as a clearance, open-box, or used deal. It keeps things simple: a vertical alignment (VA) panel with strong contrast for the money, Samsung’s Tizen smart platform, and three High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports. This Samsung CU7000 review explains what the TV still does well, which limits matter in 2026, what the original version of this review got wrong, and why Samsung’s newer U8000F and U8000H usually make better buys.
Quick verdict: The CU7000 suits budget shoppers who mostly stream shows and sports in a dim or moderately lit room. Its deep contrast beats many rivals at this price, but it’s dim, has narrow viewing angles, and tops out at 60 hertz (Hz). Samsung has replaced it three times, so buy it only at a clear discount. Check the Samsung CU7000 price on Amazon, and compare it with the newer Samsung U8000F on Amazon first.
Samsung CU7000 at a glance
| Spec | Samsung CU7000 |
|---|---|
| Release | 2023 (discontinued) |
| Sizes | 43 to 85 inches |
| Panel | VA liquid crystal display (LCD) with no local dimming |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz native, with Motion Xcelerator processing |
| Processor | Crystal Processor 4K |
| High dynamic range (HDR) | HDR10, HDR10+, and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG); no Dolby Vision |
| Gaming | Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM, which Samsung calls Auto Game Mode), HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGiG) mode, and Samsung Gaming Hub; no variable refresh rate (VRR) |
| Inputs | Three HDMI 2.0 ports (one with Audio Return Channel, or ARC), one Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, Ethernet, optical audio out, and an antenna input |
| Audio | 20-watt, 2-channel speakers with Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite and Q-Symphony |
| Smart platform | Tizen with Samsung TV Plus, SmartThings, Alexa, and Google Assistant support |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| 65-inch size and weight | 57.1 x 32.7 x 2.4 inches and 45.4 pounds without the stand; 400 x 300 Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mount pattern |
Specs come from Samsung’s UN65CU7000FXZA product page and the Full Compass specification listing, with comparisons from RTINGS.
Is the Samsung CU7000 discontinued?
Yes. The CU7000 belonged to Samsung’s 2023 Crystal Ultra High Definition (UHD) lineup, and Samsung has since released three successors:
- DU7200 (2024): RTINGS calls it closely matched with the CU7000. The DU7200 is slightly brighter, more accurate out of the box, and adds basic VRR from 48Hz to 60Hz, while the CU7000 has deeper contrast and slightly better reflection handling. RTINGS’ advice: buy whichever costs less.
- U8000F (2025): RTINGS rates it nearly identical to the DU7200, with better out-of-the-box accuracy. Samsung listed the 65-inch at $399.99. See the U8000F at Samsung.
- U8000H (2026): Samsung’s newest Crystal UHD TV comes in 43- to 85-inch sizes, and Samsung listed the 55-inch at $299.99 in October 2026. See the U8000H at Samsung.
Prices change often, and the newer models frequently go on sale for similar money, so the CU7000 only makes sense when the discount is obvious.
Design and setup
The CU7000 has a slim, nearly bezel-less design with a gray finish and two small feet near the edges of the screen. On the 65-inch model, the feet sit about 46.7 inches apart, so you need a wide TV stand. Our guide to the best TV stands for 65-inch TVs can help if your furniture is too narrow. If you plan to add a soundbar in front of the TV, measure the gap under the screen first; a low-profile model is the safest bet.
The TV measures just 2.4 inches deep, so it sits close to the wall when mounted. The 65-inch model uses a 400 x 300 VESA pattern with M8 screws. Plan your cables first, though: the ports face backward in a recessed panel, which makes them awkward to reach once the TV hangs on a wall. A VESA 400 x 300 TV wall mount with some tilt or swivel helps, and our best wall mounts for 65-inch TVs guide covers options. Cable channels on the back and an included clip help you keep wires tidy.
Picture quality
Contrast is the CU7000’s biggest strength. Its VA panel produces deep blacks for an entry-level LCD, which helps movies look rich in a dark room. RTINGS found that the CU7000 has a higher contrast ratio and more uniform blacks than LG’s 2022 UQ8000, and deeper contrast than Samsung’s own 2024 DU7200.
The original version of this review claimed the CU7000 could dim itself to “perfect, uniform blacks.” That’s not accurate. Like every LCD without local dimming, the CU7000 keeps its backlight on across the whole screen, so blacks look dark gray rather than truly black, especially in a pitch-black room. It avoids the blooming that some cheap local-dimming TVs show around bright objects, but it can’t match a Mini light-emitting diode (Mini-LED) or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV.
Brightness is the main weakness. The CU7000 looks dim in a sunny room, and HDR highlights don’t pop. It supports HDR10+ in addition to HDR10 and HLG, but it lacks the brightness and wide color gamut to show HDR the way its creators intended. Viewing angles are narrow, too: colors and contrast fade as you move off-center, so the best seats sit straight in front of the screen.
Smart features
The CU7000 runs Samsung’s Tizen platform, which loads quickly and offers every major streaming app, plus hundreds of free channels through Samsung TV Plus. You can cast from an iPhone with Apple AirPlay, mirror an Android phone, and control the TV with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. SmartThings lets the TV control compatible smart home devices.
Two corrections to the original review: Samsung doesn’t list Multi View, which shows two sources at once, as a CU7000 feature, so don’t count on it. And like most smart TVs, Tizen shows ads and sponsored rows on the home screen. The included remote is a basic model rather than Samsung’s solar-charging SolarCell remote.
If the built-in apps start to feel slow on an older unit, a cheap streaming stick is an easy fix. Our G96 TV stick review covers one budget option.
Gaming performance
The CU7000 works for casual console gaming. Auto Game Mode switches the TV into its low-lag game mode when it detects a console, and Samsung Gaming Hub streams cloud games without a console. Owners and reviewers report responsive input lag in Game Mode.
The limits are clear, though. With a 60Hz panel, HDMI 2.0 ports, and no VRR, the CU7000 can’t run 120 frames per second (fps) games from a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, and it can’t smooth out frame drops to prevent screen tearing. If you play competitive shooters or want 4K at 120Hz, see our guide to the best gaming TVs for PlayStation 5 and Xbox.
Sound
The 20-watt speakers use OTS Lite to make sound seem to follow the action on screen, and Adaptive Sound adjusts audio to your content. They sound fine for news and sitcoms but lack bass for movies. Q-Symphony lets a compatible Samsung soundbar play together with the TV speakers, and a Samsung soundbar is the best upgrade you can make. Note that the CU7000 uses standard ARC rather than enhanced ARC (eARC), so it can’t pass lossless surround formats to a soundbar.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep contrast for an entry-level LCD
- No blooming, since it has no local dimming zones
- Three HDMI ports
- HDR10+ support
- Fast, app-rich Tizen platform with free Samsung TV Plus channels
- Slim design that mounts close to the wall
- Often deeply discounted on clearance or used
Cons
- Dim, especially for HDR
- Narrow viewing angles
- 60Hz with no VRR
- No Dolby Vision or eARC
- Ads on the home screen
- Discontinued, with newer models at similar prices
Samsung CU7000 vs. newer budget TVs
Since the CU7000 is three model years old, compare it with what replaced it. Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries Samsung’s current Crystal UHD and QLED models alongside strong budget rivals from LG, TCL, and Hisense. Here’s how they stack up:
Compare similar budget 4K TVs on Amazon
| TV | Display type | Smart platform | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung CU7000 (2023) | VA LCD, 60Hz | Tizen | Rock-bottom clearance and used deals | Check price |
| Samsung U8000F (2025) | VA LCD, 60Hz | Tizen | The closest current Samsung model | Check price |
| Samsung Q7F (2025) | Quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) | Tizen | Richer color without leaving Samsung | Check price |
| LG UA77 (2025) | LCD, 60Hz with basic VRR | webOS 25 | Viewers who prefer LG’s Magic Remote and webOS | Check price |
| TCL Q65 (2025) | QLED, 60Hz | Google TV | Dolby Vision on a tight budget | Check price |
| Hisense QD6 (2025) | QLED, 60Hz | Fire TV | Alexa households and Fire TV fans | Check price |
- Samsung U8000F: The CU7000’s direct descendant keeps the same simple formula with better out-of-the-box accuracy, according to RTINGS, which also rates it above LG’s comparable UT75 for contrast. See the Samsung U8000F on Amazon.
- Samsung U8000H: Samsung’s 2026 Crystal UHD model is the newest version of this TV and starts at budget prices. See the Samsung U8000H on Amazon.
- Samsung Q7F: Samsung’s entry QLED adds quantum dot color for a modest premium. If you want a bigger step up, read our Samsung Q8F review. See the Samsung Q7F on Amazon.
- TCL Q65: It adds Dolby Vision and quantum dot color at a similar price, which makes it a strong pick for movie fans. See the TCL Q65 on Amazon.
For more options, browse our picks for the best 55-inch TVs under $500, our best smart TVs for the money, and our LG UQ8000 review, which covers LG’s competing budget TV from the same era.
Who should buy the Samsung CU7000?
Buy the CU7000 if you find it well below the price of a U8000F or U8000H, you watch mostly in a dim room, and you sit roughly in front of the screen. It also works well as a bedroom or kids’ room TV. Before buying used, confirm that the remote and stand come with it, check the screen for dead pixels and uneven backlighting, and make sure the seller resets it to factory settings.
Skip it if your living room gets lots of daylight, your family spreads out across a wide sectional, or you own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and want 120Hz gaming. In those cases, a newer QLED or Mini-LED TV gives you much more for a little extra money.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Samsung CU7000 come out?
Samsung released the CU7000 in 2023. The DU7200 replaced it in 2024, followed by the U8000F in 2025 and the U8000H in 2026.
Does the Samsung CU7000 support Dolby Vision?
No. Samsung TVs don’t support Dolby Vision. The CU7000 supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG instead.
Is the Samsung CU7000 good for gaming?
It’s fine for casual gaming at 60fps thanks to Auto Game Mode. It lacks 120Hz support and VRR, so it isn’t a good match for competitive gamers or for getting the most from current consoles.
What’s the difference between the Samsung CU7000 and DU7200?
RTINGS says they’re closely matched. The CU7000 has deeper contrast, while the DU7200 is slightly brighter, more accurate, and adds basic VRR. Buy whichever costs less.
Final verdict
The Samsung CU7000 still delivers deep contrast, a smooth smart platform, and three HDMI ports, which makes it a decent TV for dark-room streaming. Its dim picture, narrow viewing angles, and 60Hz panel hold it back, and Samsung’s U8000F and U8000H fix some of those issues for similar money. Grab a CU7000 only when the price is clearly lower than its successors. Check the current Samsung CU7000 price on Amazon.
1 thought on “Samsung CU7000 Review: Is Samsung’s 2023 Budget TV Still Worth Buying?”