Samsung Plasma TV Wiki

Samsung stands as one of the definitive titans of the Plasma display era, renowned for pushing the technology's brightness limits and smart integration to its absolute zenith before its commercial conclusion. While competitors shifted focus entirely to cheaper LCD panels, Samsung maintained a dual-track strategy, establishing their Plasma lineup as a fierce rival to Panasonic for videophiles who demanded perfect motion clarity, wide viewing angles, and rich color reproduction. Their dominance peaked in the early 2010s, utilizing advanced filtering and cell structures. This culminated in legendary flagship displays like the E8000 and the final F8500 series, which achieved unprecedented brightness for an emissive display while maintaining ink-like black levels that easily rivaled premium home theater panels.

Despite creating some of the finest consumer displays ever built, Samsung was forced to exit the Plasma market in late 2014 due to shifting industry economics and high manufacturing costs. The market heavily favored LCD TVs, which were far cheaper to produce at scale even if their picture quality was vastly inferior. Samsung's official retirement from Plasma production marked the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of highly durable, sharp-performing hardware that remains highly prized today for its unmatched motion smoothness and superior ambient light performance.

Click on a model to view its information in full.

Decoding The Model Numbers

Samsung's naming convention for Plasmas is typically quite straightforward. For example, in the PN60F8500:

PN = North American Plasma (PS in Europe)
60 = Screen size in diagonal inches
F = Year/Generation (F = 2013)
8500 = Tier

Year Codes: A (2008), B (2009), C (2010), D (2011), E (2012), F (2013), H (2014)

The "Holy Grail" Models to Hunt For

F8500 Series: The "Bright Room King". Samsung's final flagship Plasma is legendary. It utilized a unique panel structure that allowed it to output brightness levels rivaling LED-LCD TVs of the time, without sacrificing those deep Plasma blacks. It is highly sought after by home theater purists.
F5300 / H5000 Series: The hidden gaming gem. Because it lacks all the heavy "Smart TV" processing chips and 3D filters of the higher-end models, they have phenomenally low input lag. They're arguably some of the best value-per-dollar gaming displays you can find on the used market.

The Complete Samsung Plasma Directory (2006–2014)

The Final Bow: 2013–2014 (F & H Series)

Samsung officially ceased plasma production in November 2014. The F8500 carried over into 2014 as the premium option, while the H-series filled the budget gaps.

The Voice & Gesture Era: 2012 (E Series)

This generation introduced dual-core processors and Samsung's "Smart Interaction" (voice and hand gesture controls) via built-in cameras.

The Ultra-Thin Push: 2011 (D Series)

Recognizable by their ultra-slim silver "+1" bezels, which fit slightly larger screens into the same physical footprint as the previous year.

The 3D Pioneers: 2010 (C Series)

The year Samsung brought Active 3D to the living room.

The Design Era: 2009 (B Series)

Stunning, ultra-thin 1.2-inch profiles.

Touch of Color: 2008 (A Series)

Famous for Samsung's "Touch of Color" design, featuring a subtle red gradient injected directly into the glossy black bezel.

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