Samsung STB-E7500 review

It also has an integrated web browser, but it’s a pain to navigate using the STB-E7500’s remote control. Annoyingly, the touchpad built into Samsung’s remote app for iOS and Android doesn’t let you move the onscreen cursor. You can plug a mouse and keyboard into one of the USB ports, but it’s hardly elegant, especially when the interface is often slow to respond when loading new, content-heavy web pages.

When it comes to watching TV, the STB-E7500 improves on last year’s model by letting you record and stream content through Smart Hub at the same time. With two HD tuners inside, you’re also able to record two programs simultaneously, or record one channel while watching another. Pausing and rewinding live TV is simple, and there’s even 2D to 3D conversion should you want it. We weren’t that impressed with its depth effects, but some people may appreciate its inclusion.

One unique feature is that you can watch two channels at once using a choice of split-screen modes including horizontal split or picture-in-picture. If you can’t tear yourself away from one program but don’t want to wait for the recording to finish on a second, it’s a handy little addition. However, if you own a Samsung smartphone, tablet or laptop, you can use the Smart View app to watch a second program away from your TV screen, leaving it free for the rest of the family.

With YouView now available, it’s a tough call to say whether you should make the switch or stick with a Freeview HD PVR like the STB-E7500. If you have a lot of multimedia content stored on a PC or NAS then the STB-E700’s DLNA features could be enough to sway it for you. It’s incredibly easy to start playing films over the network, and file format support is superb. It has integrated Wi-Fi, saving you the trouble of running cables everywhere, and at £220 it’s some £30 cheaper than the competing YouView box. If you value simplicity, the ability to see both live and on-demand content through a single menu gives YouView the edge, but for sheer value we would have to recommend the Samsung STB-E7500.