Looking for an Affordable 4K TV? The Samsung QE43Q60B Fits the Bill
SAMSUNG QE43Q60B 43" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR QLED TV
The Samsung QE43Q60B is an easy-to-set-up TV that provides an enjoyable viewing experience with an excellent onboard sound and a QLED 4K display. Some parts of the Tizen OS user interface are slugglish, but despite these issues, the Q60B is a significant improvement from standard HD and 2K displays, and it is a versatile entry-level QLED 4K TV.
Samsung’s Q60B range of TVs are available with displays ranging from 43 to 75 inches. Boasting QLED panels with High Dynamic Range and 4K resolution, this is not the cheapest selection of TVs from the South Korean company, but they look (and sound) impressive.
This is mainly thanks to quantum dot technology, which enhances color and depth; it’s awe-inspiring in conjunction with HDR.
To find out if this is a TV you should choose, we got hold of the 43-inch model (QE43Q60B) and set it up in a standard family room.
Why Choose the Samsung QE43Q60B?
With an increasing number of 4K TVs to choose from, getting one with a great picture that suits your budget can be tricky.
Once you’ve settled on a display type (QLED? OLED? NEO QLED?) and size, it’s time to choose a manufacturer. In a crowded marketplace, Samsung is a trusted name.
But is this position deserved when it comes to 4K TVs?
At the high end of the market, the answer is invariably “yes.” But the competition is greater on the more affordable end of the market, with plenty of alternatives (some with slightly familiar names). Samsung TVs can be at risk of melting into the background.
But these TVs look good, have small bezels, stunning visuals, and offer plenty of connectivity options. There’s no Android TV; Samsung TVs offer Tizen OS for smart TV capabilities.
At the very least, a Samsung Q60B TV should be on your list to consider. While the QE43Q60B is the smallest model available, there are very few differences between this and its larger siblings.
What Ships With the Samsung QE43Q60B?
Opening the box reveals a thin TV, accompanied by a power supply, two stands (left and right), two cable clips, and two remote controls. There is also a Common Interface smart card adapter; if included, this ships as a separate unit that you can attach to the back of the TV.
Clear instructions are also included for all screen sizes in the Q60B range.
The dual remote situation isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Along with the standard TV remote covering everything is a smart remote. Resembling an Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV remote, this is equipped with a microphone and reduced controls, and facilitates integration with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby.
Flip the remote over, and you’ll find a solar cell (hence its official SolarCell Remote moniker), which should extend operating time. There is also a USB type-C port for recharging—Samsung recommends an original Samsung charger for this. Note that the standard remote shipped with Samsung Q60B TVs requires 2x AAA batteries.
Thanks to the simple design of the stands, the Samsung QE43Q60B can be set up in five minutes. This may differ for you, and mounting on a wall with a VESA bracket will probably take longer.
Design and Ports
The 43-inch display is edged with a narrow bezel, 5mm in width but with an obtuse angle creating the impression of just 3mm around the screen.
Without the smart card adapter, the TV is around 20mm thick; or 25mm (about an inch) deep with it installed.
Around the back, the TV has a row of recessed ports: USB 5V (power only), USB 5V (power and data), Ethernet, two HDMI, and two coaxial. Along with the smart card adapter, two more ports are offered: an additional HDMI port, and an optical audio output.
Note that there is no DisplayPort on this range of TVs.
With such a small bezel-to-display ratio, simple, minimalist legs, and a good selection of ports, the Samsung QE43Q60B will look good and provide almost all the connectivity options you need.
Key Features of the Samsung QE43Q60B
This is a 4K TV with QLED technology.QLED is different to OLED and LEDas it uses a blue backlight and a layer of quantum dots (tiny nanocrystals) to combine and split colors. The result, claims Samsung, is a billion colors and 100% color volume.
It has a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 (16:9 ratio), at 100Mhz screen refresh. Thanks to HDR10+, deeper blacks and increased detail are presented.
The combined result of these factors is a TV that looks as good at home as in the showroom.
Display and audio hardware is underpinned by the Quantum Processor Lite 4K, the most significant individual piece of hardware aside from the QLED display.
Depending on where you are in the world, this TV range ships with different coaxial interfaces. In the UK, this means a DVB-T2 input, for digital broadcasts through an aerial.
It also has built-in wireless and Bluetooth radios. Wi-Fi is used for streaming (Samsung TV Plus packages a huge selection of channels), while Bluetooth is for the SolarCell Remote and game controllers, as well as external speakers.
Audio from the TV itself is surprisingly vibrant. This is achieved with Object Tracking Sound technology, delivering 3D sound while the adaptive sound feature ensures what you’re watching sounds right.
Providing access to all of this is the operating system. While most smart TVs use Android TV as the operating system (which makes signing in and accessing the app store straightforward), Samsung uses its in-house Tizen OS.
While this means you won’t be able to access the usual Android TV apps, it results in a tighter, more curated selection of TV software. So, all the standard streaming apps are there, along with a few surprises. If you’re desperate for Android TV, it’s possible to always attach a Chromecast device and completely ignore Tizen.
As it is, I don’t think you’ll need to. Tizen OS is easily as good as Android TV, if not better. Apps and attached devices are accessed via the Smart Hub, which resembles the Amazon Fire TV home screen. Settings, ambiance (a selection of calming 4K images), and gaming can all be found here, along with search tools and access to Samsung TV Plus.
You can also switch sources, from game consoles to USB storage devices. Console are detected, with display and audio profiles automatically applied. This is particularly useful for Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation consoles, although it doesn’t occur with Steam Deck.
Picture Quality and Power Consumption
To assess the picture quality, I’ve used the QE43Q60B to view:
How did it perform?
Viewing a 2017 episode of Modern Family, clearly recorded in 1080p, reveals some strobing with fast motion. Typically, this occurs at middle distance, so is quite noticeable if you’re looking for it. This seems to be a problem with upscaling.
Viewing the NBA highlights in 4K the picture was crisp, had depth, sweat, and pace. All of this is without any blurring, slowdowns, or latency with the audio.
One of the main 4K titles on Amazon Prime Video at this time, No Time to Die (2021) looks amazing. In fact, it’s arguably better on this TV than in the cinema.
In contrast, I also viewed 2020 movie Honest Thief (starring Liam Neeson). Curiously, this movie was released for IMAX, but here, while it has the expected color, depth, and detail, looks odd—possibly an issue with lighting.
As the QE43Q60B has a gaming mode, you might expect better performance from the TV with games. While it offers game streaming services (see below), I tested a Mega Drive title (Zero Wing) through Nintendo Switch Online, and Spider-Man (2018) on the Steam Deck.
Zero Wing looked fine; colorful, blocky, no attempt to upscale, and was responsive, without any controller latency.
Spider-Man, meanwhile, is a little pixelated in places on a 4K display. This appears to be a problem with HDMI on the Steam Deck dock, as well as the age of the game. As 4K gaming is out of reach for most gamers, this isn’t a deal-breaker.
The TV also offers streaming apps for Xbox Game Pass, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Utomik, as well as YouTube and Twitch gaming channels.
QE43Q60B Power Consumption
Sadly, the power consumption rating of the QE43Q60B is G, which is as bad as possible. Ensuring the TV is correctly switched off, employing timers and timeout functions, etc., is a good idea.
Using the Samsung Smart Remote With Voice Assistants
If you’re too idle to move your fingers across a remote, the SolarCell Remote’s integrated microphone lets you utter commands. With support for Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby, this is probably much as you would expect, with the ability to initiate specific TV shows, music, movies, and individual apps.
Note that these features will only work within the TV environment. For example, if you have apps on your consoles, or an Amazon Fire TV stick or Roku, these will not be initiated upon command.
It’s up to you if you decide to sign in to these apps all over again on the Samsung QE43Q60B.
You Won’t Look Back From This Entry Level 4K QLED TV
Easy to set up and start watching, the Samsung QE43Q60B is about as fun as a TV can get. It automatically detected my wife’s iPhone and encouraged the installation of the SmartThings app, reinforcing the “smart” aspect of this smart TV. Indeed, it has everything you need to enjoy TV, movies, games, and photos; its onboard sound is surprisingly good, and the QLED 4K display is amazing in the right circumstances (that is, 4K movies).
Creating a Samsung account to use the TV is not necessary, thankfully. Switching sources can be frustrating, with consoles, in particular, reluctant to reveal their existence and status at times. Also, the Smart Hub is prone to sluggishness occasionally. Finally, there is that horrendous power rating.
Niggles aside, the Q60B is a significant step up from standard HD and 2K displays. It’s essentially an entry-level QLED 4K TV with a premium name badge, and fulfills any number of purposes, from home theater to clubroom wall. While the game mode doesn’t offer much visual differentiation, the Q60B presents games well, with almost zero latency and smooth, judder-free upscaling.
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