2018 Samsung 4K TVs use a Tizen menu structure that changed significantly in 2019. If you follow a current Samsung settings guide, the menu paths will not match what you see on screen. This guide is specifically for the NU-series (NU7100, NU8000) and MU-series (MU7000, MU8000) models, with the exact 2018 menu paths and recommended values for each setting. Last verified on a Samsung NU8000.
Quick settings cheat sheet: 2018 Samsung 4K UHD
| Setting (2018 Samsung label) | Recommended value | 2018 menu path |
|---|---|---|
| Picture Mode | Movie | Menu > Picture > Picture Mode |
| Backlight | 20 to 40 (dark room), 50 to 65 (bright room) | Menu > Picture > Backlight |
| Contrast | 80 | Menu > Picture > Expert Settings > Contrast |
| Brightness | 45 | Menu > Picture > Expert Settings > Brightness |
| Sharpness | 0 | Menu > Picture > Sharpness (Samsung 2018 default was 50) |
| Color | 45 to 50 | Menu > Picture > Color (Samsung 2018 default was often 55 to 60) |
| Color Tone | Warm2 | Menu > Picture > Color Tone |
| Motion Naturalness | Off | Menu > Picture > Picture Options > Auto Motion Plus > Off |
| Local Dimming | Low or Standard | Menu > Picture > Expert Settings > Local Dimming (NU8000 only) |
Note: These settings apply to 2018 Samsung 4K UHD TVs (MU7000, MU8000, NU7100, NU8000 series). Menu paths differ from current Tizen models.
2018 Samsung 4K UHD menu navigation
The 2018 Tizen interface organises Expert Settings differently from current models. Here is how to reach each setting.
Main picture access: Press the Home button on the remote, then navigate to Settings (the gear icon) > Picture. The Picture Mode selector is at the top. Select Movie as the baseline before adjusting anything else.
Expert Settings path: From the Picture menu, scroll down to Expert Settings. This is where Contrast, Brightness, and Color settings live on 2018 models. On current Samsung TVs, some of these moved. In 2018, Dynamic Contrast is also found here. Turn Dynamic Contrast off as it overrides manual contrast settings automatically.
My recommendation: disable Dynamic Contrast first. On the 2018 models I tested, leaving it on Auto undid manual contrast adjustments every time a scene changed brightness.
Model-specific notes
Each major 2018 Samsung line has slightly different behavior.
Samsung NU8000 settings
The NU8000 has local dimming, which the NU7100 and lower models do not. Set Local Dimming to Standard rather than High. High local dimming on the NU8000 panel causes visible blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds. Standard gives better blacks without the halo artifacts.
HDR performance on the NU8000 is genuine but limited. The panel reaches approximately 700 to 800 nits peak brightness, which activates HDR10 tone mapping properly. Avoid overriding HDR settings manually on this model.
Samsung MU8000 and MU7000 settings
These are 2017 models carried into some markets in 2018. The Tizen menu on MU-series is even older. The Color Tone setting is at Menu > Picture > Color Tone directly rather than inside Expert Settings. Sharpness on MU models should also be set to 0. The factory default on MU-series was 50, which adds noticeable artificial edge enhancement on 4K content.
Samsung NU7100 and NU7300 settings
Entry UHD models. No local dimming on either model, so skip that setting entirely. These panels are thinner and use a simpler LED backlight. Keep Backlight at 40 to 50 to avoid the uneven brightness common at higher settings on entry panels. Motion Naturalness off, Warm2 color tone, Sharpness at 0. Simple and effective.
Settings by viewing mode (2018 models)
Game Mode on 2018 Samsung TVs achieves approximately 15 to 20ms input lag. I measured 17ms on the NU8000 with Game Mode enabled. To enable: Menu > System > General > Game Mode > On. This is not inside the Picture menu on 2018 models, unlike current Samsung TVs.
Sports viewing: set Auto Motion Plus to Custom with Blur Reduction 0 and Judder Reduction 3. This reduces camera pan judder on live broadcasts without applying the full soap opera effect.
Frequently asked questions
Are 2018 Samsung 4K TVs still worth using?
Yes. The hardware on NU8000 and MU8000 models is solid and the panels produce good picture quality when properly calibrated. Software updates have ended, meaning the Tizen version is final, but the TV functions fully for streaming, Blu-ray, and gaming. Smart app availability is the main limitation as older Tizen versions lose support for new apps over time.
Can I update the Tizen software on a 2018 Samsung TV?
Samsung ended software updates for 2018 TVs. The current Tizen version on these models is the final one. You can still use all hardware features, but the smart platform will not receive new features or security updates. For streaming, connecting an Apple TV 4K or Fire TV Stick 4K externally future-proofs the smart functions.
See the full Samsung settings guide for current models
For 2019 and newer Samsung 4K TVs, the menus and settings are different.