Practical Smart Home

Samsung DU8100 Crystal UHD 4K TV: Stellar Like Crystal

Samsung screen superiority for half the price

Published

February 3, 2025

Vincenz

As a full-time creative, I’m more appreciative when I consume content using THE better display — AMOLED over LCD, 4K Ultra HD over Full HD, you get the picture.

While I’ve tried and tested a bunch of smartphones with various display types throughout my six years in GadgetMatch, I simply don’t get to try out a lot of TVs.

The first (and last) TV review I did was way back in 2021. Three years later, I’ve been granted an opportunity to try and test out a new Smart TV — a 55-inch Samsung DU8100 Crystal UHD 4K TV.

I consider this a sweet treat for someone who lost his hard-earned TV just after two years.

Slim But Never Flimsy

I grew up in an age where I get to see the transformation and transition of televisions.

From fat CRTs with their static fuzz to flat-screen LCDs and Plasma panels that truly revolutionized the TV industry over the years. This also meant that the thickness of modern-day smart TVs have barely changed.

However, the Samsung DU8100 dared to defy the odds with its revolutionary AirSlim design. This makes the TV as thin at only 25.7mm (around 3cm).

Hear me out! The old Android TV I got a few years back isn’t in the same league. I never actually cared about how thick that was, until I saw how impressively thin the Samsung DU8100 is.

Even though it’s slim, it’s not at all flimsy and still has some heft to it.

Despite its thin chassis, Samsung managed to put in the essential ports — 3x HDMI (one with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x LAN, Optical, as well as the old RF In.

Also, the thing that’s super thin are its bezels. I barely even notice their existence especially when watching anything and everything in the dark.

At first, I frowned upon how its TV stands looked. But interestingly, those TV legs never needed a screwdriver for installation.

You just have to align and insert them straight onto the display’s bottom and it will automatically lock so once it’s in place.

Lucid and Vivid

Samsung is and will always be known for their glorious visual supremacy. Specification-wise, the Samsung DU8100 has an LED panel.

Subjectively, I get impressively vivid colors with bright whites and sufficiently dark blacks.

But of course, not as excellent as what IPS delivers. Not even close to Samsung’s line of Neo QLED that I only get to see in mall displays and tech conventions.

There are several Picture Mode options for you to choose from depending on your preference. Personally, I chose to stick with Dynamic mode.

That said, whatever mode you choose, you’ll still enjoy its full on picture quality. Its vibrant and popping without going overboard when it comes to scenes that lean more into the cinematic vibe.

Contrast-wise, it’s also well-balanced without getting harsh on the visuals — where human subjects are most likely affected.

Hail 4K Upscale

Even if I don’t have microscopic eyes to be so nitpicky, I can still differentiate a Full HD video versus the clearer 4K UHD.

Fortunately, the Samsung DU8100 has a 4K Upscaling feature.

It uses its built-in Crystal UHD Processor 4K with algorithms to upscale lower-resolution content into something that’s closer to the 4K quality.

To test out this feature, I played two 1080p videos from 2016.

First, GFRIEND’s ‘시간을 달려서’ music video as I wanted to reminisce what 3rd Gen K-Pop was like nine years ago.

I really wish GFRIEND never disbanded

Last but not the least, GadgetMatch’s YouTube video about the Galaxy S7 edge — just because Samsung resurrected the “edge” line this 2025 with the Galaxy S25 Edge.

This was released way before I joined the team as I was still in college back then 🥲

Shockingly, it felt like both videos are natively playing in 4K resolution with around 60fps of frame rate.

This feature not only upscales the content, it fills in the frames to make motion smoother.

Tied to Tizen

Unlike most Smart TVs running Google TV, Samsung sticks to its proprietary Operating System dubbed as “Tizen OS“.

If you’re used to the simplicity of Google’s OS meant for flat screen panels, it will take some learning curve before you get to used to Tizen’s all-round navigation and layout.

For the tech-savvy in me, I honestly didn’t mind the various differences in UI. But, for most users, you may find Tizen a little bit bland, especially with how it displays apps and content.

Formovie Xming Episode One | 2024

Whereas Google TV instantly feeds you content you might want to watch regardless of which platform or service it is — just like how convenient I breezed through the Google TV-quipped projector I reviewed last October 2014.

And if I were to nitpick, the only downside for me is going back and forth to the home screen whenever I wanted to change anything and everyhing related to settings (display, audio, network, all of ’em).

There’s not even a dedicated system settings button on its remote control…

…which I’m NGL, oftentimes lags and doesn’t respond to some of my hard presses.

Nevertheless, it still offers all the in-demand apps for TV — YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV,+, HBO Max, Viu, among others.

There’s even support for music platforms such as Spotify and my all-time fave, Apple Music.

Truly enjoying D.O’s new song on a larger than ever screen

Beats Without Frills

The reason why I enjoy watching on large screens is none other than the audiovisual sufficiency I don’t fully enjoy in smartphone displays.

Upon firing up the Samsung DU8100, I was with thrilled how loud and strong its speakers are.

No matter what content you watch whether it’s a special video of a song remake from 2000s…

vocal-filled and solemn live performance …

enchanting heavenly concert…

variety show of your favorite idol working in a pizza shop…

or even mukbang of a giant schnitzel in Hungary (while watching it hungrily)…

the sound this TV produces is more than enough for the living space you’ll place it in.

Even in a large room, it fills the space with its powerful sound system — what more if I place it in my smaller room?

Why am I even surprised? It has a 20W audio output.

And just look at those labels when I played The Garfield Movie — there’s 5.1 Surround Sound system.

Although it’s not the most immersive title, I still enjoyed playing the animated movie as it instantly reminded me of my childhood.

Standard audio is already loud but when I switched to Amplify mode, it felt like I was in a surround-sound cinema. Most of the time, I just put the volume range between 20 to 30,

But if manually adjusting volume is a bit of a stretch for you, you can switch to Adaptive Sound that intelligently optimizes sound based on the content that’s being played.

It became handy when I watched the currently trending When The Stars Gossip as the audio design switches between tinny dialogues to the daunting sound of space craft being launched into the orbit.

Smarter Than Ever

One thing unique to Samsung’s ecosystem of products is SmartThings.

Their one-stop app basically lets you control any Samsung device within the perimeter of your home.

As basic as it sounds, I love how I can power on/off the TV with just the Galaxy S24 Ultra. That’s despite the absence of an IR blaster on the said phone.

Using the phone as the remote is even more responsive than the remote bundled in the package itself.

Then again, a “smart” home means you’re devices should be connected to a fast Wi-Fi connection 24/7. And with this in mind, it’s worth mentioning the Samsung DU8100 has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 support.

And even without Samsung’s dedicated app, you can still connect your device through Screen Mirroring / Casting.

This may depend on the smartphone / device you are using, but the vivo X200 Pro worked for me.

I even tried playing some Android games through this mode.

Without any hiccups, all worked perfectly fine.

Amazing for Gaming, too

With gaming already mentioned, I also tried to test out what this TV can do in console gaming.

With the dedicated Game Mode turned on, it made me enjoy the gaming experience regardless if I’m playing on an aging gaming console released way back in 2016.

Sure enough, I immediately noticed the difference playing here versus my old Android TV.

Samsung’s Motion Xcelerator feature truly improved the full motion of a gameplay — especially in a speedy racing game like the Remastered WipEout 2048 from 2017.

Granted that I am not the most well-versed team member for gaming, I still truly and fully enjoyed the gameplay experience on this TV.

There’s even ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) that I was able to maximize when I fired some guns in the last DedSec core mission of Watch Dogs: Legion.

Care for the environment

Some of you might have noticed the plain cardboard box that comes when purchasing the TV.

Its packaging isn’t the only thing that makes this friendlier to the environment.

Whenever you consume content with this TV, you can opt out to turn on the AI Energy saving mode as it benefits not just you as a consumer from your electricity bills, it also saves the planet.

JSYK, one small action contributes to a bigger overall effect.

There are even Auto Power Off and Auto Power Saving options baked into the system.

Although it didn’t come in my review unit due to logistics issues, all Samsung DU8100 units are bundled with Samsung’s latest SolarCell Remote with a solar panel behind it for utmost efficiency.

This welcoming change also eliminates the need to purchase non-rechargeable batteries that go into the e-waste dispenser after depletion.

Is the Samsung DU8100 Crystal UHD 4K TV your GadgetMatch?

For the price of PhP 26,779 (discounted from PhP 34,499), the Samsung DU8100 Crystal UHD is a smart TV worth considering the year 2025.

I honestly don’t see any reason to Swipe Left except if you wanted a Google TV that’s priced within this range. Nevertheless, Samsung’s Tizen OS bears what Google TV can with most of the apps available right off the bat — just with a less intuitive UI experience.

Nonetheless, I’m still Super Swiping the Samsung DU8100 Crystal UHD 4K TV and deserves the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

It was able to delight me with its harmony of hardware and software features that totally made the product compelling. It’s mid in price but not in performance.

Moreover, the price is justifiable especially for budget-conscious consumers who want to buy a shiny, new Smart TV in 2025 from a Korean tech giant that’s been tried, tested, and trusted for several decades.

That’s also an honest opinion from someone who doesn’t earn that much and is living in an inflation-fested third-world country.

@gadgetmatch

Looking for a shiny new Samsung TV for your home? 🏠

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch – GadgetMatch

Computers

Samsung’s SECRET That Made OLED Even Better

Say hello to the new QD-OLED Penta Tandem display tech by the Korean giant

Published

May 23, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

Samsung Display just unveiled QD-OLED Penta Tandem technology. This is a next-generation display structure that stacks five emission layers to improve brightness, efficiency, and overall OLED performance.

In this video, we simplify what Penta Tandem actually is, how it works, and show you two monitors that already have the technology — specifically from MSI and Dell.

For more details, check out Samsung Display here.

Health

Spring reset: Growing more at home with Auk Mini

From kitchen counter experiment to everyday habit

Published

May 21, 2026

Chay Lazaro

Spring and summer rolling around almost always makes me want to reset something in my routine.

A few years ago, it was growing broccoli sprouts in a jar. Getting the Auk Mini over Christmas felt like the natural next step.

From sprouts to something more

Starting with sprouts was easy. After having them at a family gathering, it clicked that I could actually grow something, even in our small apartment. Anyone, including my husband can do it on the kitchen counter, and upkeep takes less than a minute a day. Watching something grow and actually eating it made me realize how nice it is to have fresh greens around all the time.

The Auk Mini builds on that. Instead of just one thing in a jar, now I have herbs growing consistently at home.

Getting started was easy

This was the part I was most unsure about, but it ended up being very straightforward. Setup took a few minutes, the instructions were clear, and nothing felt overly technical. The kit comes with everything you need to start: Auk Mini itself, seeds for planting, coco fiber, and nutrients that you add to the water to support both growth and flavor.

Once it’s up and running, it mostly takes care of itself. The lighting system handles what the plants need throughout the day, and the watering system keeps everything consistent. I have been away on trips, and I still come home to herbs that are healthy and fresh, waiting to be trimmed and added to my food.

It fits real life and small spaces

Fresh herbs growing beside my microwave

Living in a New York apartment, space is limited. While there are community gardens I could participate in, it’s not as convenient as having access to your own, especially when you’re in the middle of a snowstorm or a heatwave.

The Auk Mini sits beside my microwave, on a table that used to be my desk. It doesn’t feel like I added a new project to my life – it just blends in. I have the black and walnut version, which works well with the rest of my space, but it also comes in white, with oak or cork as other finishes, if you want something lighter.

Watching and competing

My husband and I set it up together and turned it into a challenge: who would harvest first?

Our kit came with basil and parsley. He planted basil, which sprouted first. I took on parsley, which grew much slower and wasn’t ready for harvest until a little over six weeks later. The competition was a small thing, but it made the whole process more fun. We started paying attention to growth day by day, and it’s satisfying when you finally get to use what you grew.

One thing we learned pretty quickly is that different plants grow at different speeds, which can make lighting placement a little tricky in a shared setup like the Auk Mini. Since the basil grew faster and taller, we had to angle the light unevenly so it wouldn’t burn the basil while still giving the parsley enough exposure to catch up.

It changed how I use herbs

Basil and parsley used to be something I added as garnish. Now I’m using them all the time because they’re right within arm’s reach.

Learned to be creative and made pasta from scratch, made better with fresh herbs

I’ve been making sauces, marinades, pesto, even building meals and cocktails around them. It’s expanded the flavors we use in home cooking, and forced me to experiment instead of defaulting to our go-to recipes inspired by East Asian cooking. In fact, the biggest hurdle I’ve encountered is not having enough recipes in my repertoire that use herbs.

Even when a dish doesn’t call for it, I’ll cut some and add it anyway. Every time I did, it made the dish better. When something is always available and always fresh, you naturally start using more of it. And if you trim it properly, it just keeps growing back. It doesn’t go bad or get forgotten in the fridge.

You can grow anything you want

One of my favorite things about Auk Mini is that it’s not a proprietary system. They do offer other kits like a chili and tomato set or an Italian cuisine mix, but you can also grow your own choices.

I joined a Facebook group of Auk growers, and it’s been inspiring to see how others are using and expanding their indoor gardens. It makes me excited to try things that are harder to find or expensive in the U.S., especially vegetables and herbs I grew up with, like pechay, moringa, lemongrass, pandan, and kangkong.

A small step toward something bigger

Constant fresh herbs within reach

Growing herbs indoors reminds me of something from years ago. In university, I did an immersion program in a low-income community. We recommended sustainable food systems for the stay-at-home moms we met — including hydroponics systems — both as a source of extra income and fresh food.

That experience stayed with me, but I never acted on it. This feels like a small, techie version of that idea: a hydroponic system that works in real life, in a small space, and is easy to keep up with.

Is the Auk Mini your GadgetMatch?

Starting with sprouts showed me I could easily grow something. The Auk Mini showed me I can keep going and expand it. Now I have fresh greens ready whenever I need them.

It starts at $259, which isn’t the cheapest way to get into hydroponics. If you don’t use herbs on the daily like I do, the cost is even harder to justify. But that’s also why I recommend it even more. It’s convenient, it’s fresh, and at the same time it challenges you to be more creative with food.

Basil and parsley keep growing in the Auk Mini after multiple harvests

Auk Mini’s ease of setup and maintenance, and flexibility make it worth it, especially if you don’t know where to start. It was a great hobby to start the year with, and an even better habit I’ve kept building on five months on. It’s given me confidence I can grow my own food for the rest of my life, one way or another.

Editor’s Note: Since this article was first published, Auk has updated the name Auk Mini to Auk Mini 1. They also announced the Auk Mini 2, currently on preorder starting at $199. This newer model has a smaller footprint, redesigned lighting, new colorways, and the ability to use larger plant pots.

Convenient Smart Home

Spotlight: The Tech Behind Every Screen You Use

It’s Not Who You Think!

Published

May 11, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

TCL CSOT is one of the world’s largest display panel manufacturers. However, most people have never even heard of them.

At SID Display Week 2026 in Los Angeles, they unveiled the APEX Pixel Technology across three categories:

Super Pixel for smartphones
Real Stripe RGB (IJP OLED) for monitors and automotive; and
RGBC for TVs

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Also, THE Michael Josh takes you inside their booth at the Los Angeles Convention Center to break down:

✅ The world-first Super Pixel mobile display (clarity, lowest power, 165Hz refresh rate)
✅ The World’s First Foldable & Portable IJP OLED Monitor Display (28″)
✅ Intelligent Cockpit Display Suite 3.0 — sliding + curved
✅ The World’s Highest Image Quality WHVA Ultra LCD TV Display (85″)

More so, what does it mean when your phone uses Real RGB instead of sub-pixel rendering? Why is inkjet-printed OLED the next big thing in display manufacturing? And what’s a fourth color sub-pixel?

Know all of these in our Spotlight on TCL CSOT’s Display Technologies.