Connecting the PN50B850 to an active broadband connection allows for simplified firmware updates and access to downloadable updates for the set's Content Library of images, recipes, children's activities, and personal wellness information. A broadband-connected set can also display a customizable selection of apps powered by the Yahoo Widget Gallery, such as weather and news updates and access to Flickr and Twitter. The TV's multimedia player supports a wide variety of file types including MP3, JPEG, DivX, MKV (Matroska-wrapped), MP4, MPEG-2, and others. In addition to 148MB of internal storage available for personal multimedia content, the PN50B850 is also compatible with streaming content from a DLNA-compliant (www.dlna.org) server device (Windows-based server software is also included). Wi-Fi–enabled mobile devices that support DLNA Digital Media Controller can also link to a network-connected PN50B850 to view text messages, call information, and saved media files on the big screen.

The PN50B850's Movie picture preset produces the most accurate primary and secondary color measurements I have ever recorded from an uncalibrated display. The Movie preset also disables the set's dynamic contrast feature for a more accurate depiction of video detail. I was less impressed with the consistency of the Movie preset's white balance, which left portions of a neutral-colored grayscale test pattern incorrectly tinged green—the worst, most visually obvious white-balance error. Compared with the entirely green-dominant white balance on similar picture presets with the Panasonic TC-P42S1 and LG 50PG60 plasmas, the PN50B850's performance in this area could be considered (relatively) above average. At least the set's advanced picture settings are effective at taming the worst of these white-balance errors (although the results still weren't perfect).

Picture-size controls allow the PN50B850 to display every pixel of 1,080-line video without excessive overscan, which degrades picture detail. 720p video sources were overscanned by a minor 1 percent when using HDMI input but by a relatively excessive 5 percent when using component video input. VGA input from a PC supported the PN50B850's full 1080p screen resolution, resulting in a detailed, crisp desktop.

The PN50B850's dark screen produces a well-contrasted picture in brightly lit rooms—especially when compared with the grayish-colored screens on plasmas like the Vizio VP505XVT. But in a dimly lit room, the PN50B850's average video black measurement of 0.11 candela per square meter (cd/m²) and related contrast ratio result of 941:1 lag behind most newer plasma TVs, including Panasonic's TC-P42S1 (0.09 cd/m²; 1,146:1) and the Vizio VP505XVT (0.08 cd/m²; 1,245:1). But all those sets pale in comparison to the now-extinct Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD's almost imperceptible black measurement of 0.01 cd/m² and related contrast ratio of 8,809:1.

All of the TVs in Samsung's 2009 lineup use the company's custom video-processing engine. Its performance when upconverting standard-definition video is excellent; a selection of classic film DVDs I tested looked sublimely colored and detailed through the set's 480i component input. The HQV Benchmark's jagged-edge reduction tests were also smooth, but I was somewhat surprised that the Microsoft DVD Test Annex's film tests showed potential loss of vertical detail with video originally captured at 24 frames per second (fps). Selecting the TV's alternate film processing mode from its picture setup menu fixed this issue but also introduced significant combing artifacts with some text overlays like scrolling credits and stock tickers.

My HD video tests with the PN50B850 revealed that its depiction of motion detail was comparable with that of the latest 240-Hz LCDs, including Sony's KDL-46Z5100. One thing the PN50B850 lacks that most 120- or 240-Hz LCDs have, however, is a display mode that performs an even frame repeat with video originally captured at 24 fps to recreate a more theater-like viewing experience. The screen on the PN50B850 (and all 60-Hz TVs, for that matter) requires the use of an odd frame-repeating sequence when displaying 24-fps video that produces an uneven shaking effect known as judder.

The estimated operating cost of the PN50B850 using default picture settings is $3.89 per month (224 watts in-use average), effectively identical to that of the 52-inch Samsung LN52A750 LCD ($3.89; 223W). But the PN50B850's consumption is significantly less than that of other 50-inch plasma sets I've tested recently, such as the Vizio VP505XVT ($6.18; 356W) and the LG 50PG60 ($6.58; 379W), and it's easy to lower energy consumption even more thanks to the set's Eco picture preset (174W average). Such impressive results earn the PN50B850 an Energy Star certification and our GreenTech Approved designation.

With its unique design, improved efficiency, and impressive feature list, the Samsung PN50B850 represents a welcome update to the classic plasma television—and its extras don't get in the way of its basic function as a quality display. The PN50B850's solid picture performance would have been nearly perfect with improvements in dark-room contrast and white-balance consistency, even if a little calibration does help somewhat. The set's sibling model, the B860, adds a film de-judder feature that many 120- and 240-Hz LCDs already provide. Still, I'd like to see Samsung and other plasma manufacturers also add an optional smoothing function for on-screen video motion to match yet another popular feature of those LCDs. My wish list aside, this is the strongest plasma I've seen so far in 2009.

Sub-ratings:
Image Quality:
Value:
Usability:

Benchmark Test Results:
Calibrated display settings
HDMI video input @ 1080p24/1080p60
Objective Testing (higher is better):
VESA Bright Uniformity 93.6%
VESA Dark Uniformity 80.0%
HQV Benchmark score: 95/130
HD HQV Benchmark score: 75/100
Average Contrast Ratio: 941:1
Average Power Consumption (default settings): 224W; $3.89/month @ $0.1135/kWh (2008 USA average)

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