4K Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels): Provides four times the resolution of Full HD, offering a sharp and clear image with a wealth of details.
Ambilight technology: The three-sided Ambilight system emits a glow adapted to the content displayed on the screen, creating a more immersive viewing experience.
Pixel Precise Ultra HD engine: Optimizes the quality of displayed content, ensuring smooth motion and excellent image sharpness.
Support for HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG: Support for various HDR formats guarantees better contrast and more accurate color reproduction, resulting in a more realistic image.
TITAN OS operating system: An intuitive and fast Smart TV system that allows access to popular streaming apps and interface personalization.
Dolby Atmos technology: Delivers spatial sound, creating the impression of surrounding audio without the need for additional speakers.
Gaming features: The TV offers features such as variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM), providing smooth and responsive gameplay.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity: Provides wireless internet connection and connectivity with other devices, enhancing the functionality of the TV.
HDMI 2.1 and USB ports: Three HDMI ports and two USB ports allow connection of various external devices, such as consoles, media players, or flash drives.
- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- Details about the matrix
- TV features
- Playing files from USB
- Apps
- Sound
Complete the survey to find out the result
Panel technology: LCD VA Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating system: Titan OS Model year: 2024
Our verdict
4.6
Overall rating
The Philips PUS8079 is the brand's most affordable model featuring the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which has a dedicated fanbase. Given its budget price, this is a significant advantage. However, with a lower budget, certain compromises are to be expected. This TV is particularly suited for those who primarily watch content during the day. The main drawback is the contrast, which for a VA panel is quite low, and the luminance hovers around 200 nits, making it unsuitable for high-quality HDR content. However, there are notable positives. The tonal fidelity is relatively high, especially for content within the TV's capabilities, and the smooth gradation is impressive—hard to criticise. For casual gaming, low input lag is a plus. The operating system, though simple and sufficient for basic streaming like YouTube and Netflix, may fall short for users requiring more functionality. In conclusion, the Philips PUS8079 is ideal for those seeking an affordable TV with Ambilight, especially for daytime viewing, but may not be the best choice for high-end content or those seeking a more robust OS.
Advantages
Unique Ambilight system
Great fluidity of tonal transitions
Low input lag values
Good built-in file player
Support for DTS audio
Disadvantages
Low display brightness
Missing Dolby Vision
IR remote - requires aiming at the screen
TitanOs system - limited number of applications
Movies and series in UHD quality4.3
Classic TV, YouTube4.9
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)4.5
Gaming on console6.2
TV as a computer monitor2.0
Watching in bright light2.6
Utility functions5.0
Apps6.0
Sound quality5.1
Complete the survey to find out what fits your preferences
Competing TVs in this price range
TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
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Contrast and black detail
4.3/10
Funkcja lokalnego wygaszania: No
Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).
Result
2,750:1
Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.
Result
2,550:1
Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).
Result
2,150:1
Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
2,350:1
Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).
Result
2,350:1
The Philips PUS8079 is equipped with a VA panel, and the size tested was 43". It's important to note that the manufacturer may change the panel type depending on the screen size. While a VA panel typically provides good black levels, the performance here is predictable given the TV's budget price. With a contrast ratio of around 2300:1, this is one of the lowest results for a VA panel, as more advanced units can achieve 2-3 times better results in this regard. As expected for such an affordable device, the backlighting is direct (Direct), offering uniform illumination but lacking zone division, which is typical for low-end models. One positive point is the light separation observed in the test with the movie "Oblivion." However, this advantage fades when watching "Revenant," where the picture quality drastically drops, leaving the scene looking flat and disappointing. Ultimately, while the Philips PUS8079 offers basic features for its price, it falls short of being a viable option for home cinema enthusiasts.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
HDR effect quality
2.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 80.0%, Bt.2020: 59.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
179 nit
The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
177 nit
The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).
Result
202 nit
The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).
Result
164 nit
The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
193 nit
The Philips PUS8079 has a maximum brightness of just 202 nits in content with a wide tonal range, which is very low and makes it unsuitable for streaming movies and series in the highest quality. Additionally, using HDR with dynamic metadata doesn’t improve the situation, as the only HDR format available on this model is HDR10+, which is rare and has limited content support. The TV also uses WLED backlighting, which is not optimal and results in only 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 wide colour gamut. This limits the intensity of colours in HDR content.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Surprisingly, the Philips PUS8079 performed very well in our two demanding film tests. In the scene from "Mr." with extremely high luminance, the TV dimmed the image and lost some contrast, but the overall tonality was well-preserved, with few noticeable flaws apart from the mentioned issues. The scene from "Billy Lynn" also performed well, with the same lack of contrast and brightness, but otherwise, the reproduction was impressive. This can be attributed to the TV's excellently implemented dynamic tone mapping feature, which even more expensive models would envy.
HDR luminance chart:
As anticipated, the Philips PUS8079 handled static HDR10 content well, with its algorithms effectively recovering detail in the whites and revealing secondary and tertiary elements. When the same material was played with dynamic HDR10+, the performance remained consistent, with no noticeable major differences or improvements.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
1.8/10
The best factory mode for colour reproduction and fidelity to the director's vision on the Philips PUS8079 was the "Film" mode. However, this setting displayed significant discrepancies between the filmmaker's intent and the actual output. In both SDR and HDR materials (with HDR being less affected), the white balance was off, showing a blue tint similar to store displays, rather than pure whites. When it came to SDR materials, gamma was notably lowered, cutting into the already limited contrast and brightening the overall image. The EOTF curve in HDR content also showed a significant drop below the reference line, making HDR materials appear even darker. The colour accuracy in both SDR and HDR modes was poor, with high deltaE values indicating that the colours were far from their intended representation.
Color reproduction after calibration
4.8/10
Fortunately, Philips incorporates advanced image correction tools across its televisions. SDR content benefited the most from these adjustments, with significant improvements in deltaE errors, white balance, and gamma. While the image still isn’t perfect, it is much more watchable, making it easier on the eyes during movie or series viewing. HDR content, however, was more challenging due to the television’s low luminance. While the EOTF curve and white balance improved, the corrections weren’t as effective as with SDR materials. It’s important to note that each unit may have different errors, some larger and some smaller, but the adjustments made were a step in the right direction.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
The tested television excels in the smoothness of tonal transitions, performing admirably in nearly every scene. While there are slight shortcomings in darker areas, particularly near blacks, the overall performance remains impressive, especially considering the device’s affordability.
One noticeable drawback, however, is the visible backlight bleed in the corners, a common issue with panels in budget-friendly models. Despite this, the television’s strong performance in tonal transitions significantly outweighs this minor flaw, making it a compelling option for its price range.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
6.3/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Let us revisit the topic of tonal transitions, this time in the context of overall image quality enhancement. As shown in the photo on the left, the gradation improvement feature delivers excellent results. It provides multiple settings, each offering noticeable benefits without softening the film grain effect. Once again, it must be emphasised that this feature is the standout advantage of the tested television.
On the other hand, the television’s performance in image scaling leaves much to be desired. Fine details often appear heavily jagged, with a noticeable white halo around figures. Additionally, the significant artificial sharpening detracts from the overall image quality.
Blur and motion smoothness
4.2/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: No
Blur reduction option: No
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
This paragraph will be notably brief due to the absence of even basic motion-smoothing functionality, which is unsurprising given the device's budget-oriented nature. The VA panel used here is not known for exceptional sharpness and is instead associated with high contrast and slower response times, as confirmed by the matrix analysis results. Photos captured during fast motion reveal typical motion blur for this type of panel. While not ideal, the television could be conditionally suitable for watching sports, though viewers should expect less-than-optimal motion clarity. Additionally, films may exhibit noticeable stuttering due to the lack of any motion-smoothing features, even basic ones.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Console compatibility and gaming features
4.7/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 60Hz
Dolby Vision Game Mode:
No - Correct implementation of HGIG:
No
- 1080p@120Hz:
No
- 1440p@120Hz:
No
- 4K@120Hz:
No
- Game bar:
Yes
The Philips PUS8079 provides only basic gaming features, including ALLM, VRR, and a Game Bar. The key highlight is the inclusion of dynamic frequency adjustment, which ensures a smooth image with minimal screen tearing—an impressive offering for this price range.
A notable benefit for gamers is the presence of the Game Bar, allowing adjustments to be made "on the fly" without needing to exit the game. Importantly, this feature retains options found in higher-end models, such as shadow enhancement for improved visibility in darker areas and a colour filter designed to assist gamers with visual impairments.
Input lag
9.9/10
The results of the input lag measurements in PUS8079 are at a high level, regardless of the signal or resolution. All gamers will certainly appreciate the manufacturer's efforts, as a game running at 4K60Hz with HDR will have only 13 ms of latency, which is practically unnoticeable even in online games.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 14 ms | 2160p60: 14 ms | |
| 2160p60: 14 ms |
Compatibility with PC
2/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Poor
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 14ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
When connecting the Philips PUS8079 to a computer to use it as a monitor, it delivers a low input lag of 14 ms, which is barely noticeable in terms of mouse-screen-eye interaction. However, the television falls short in font clarity, making it unsuitable for use as a monitor. The issue lies in the phenomenon known as dithering, which becomes apparent in the display of grey text. Not all subpixels are lit on adjacent pixels as they should be, resulting in blurry text that severely impacts readability and makes extended work impractical.
Viewing angles
3.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 41%
One of the most notable and frequent drawbacks of VA panels is their limited viewing angles, especially in models without angular coatings that could improve performance in this area. Interestingly, the Philips PUS8079 performed somewhat better in this regard compared to the PML9009 we recently tested. However, even with this slight improvement, a small deviation from the centre still leads to noticeable colour degradation and a significant reduction in contrast.
TV efficiency during daytime
2.6/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Słabe
Black levels during daytime: Good
During our test sequence, we also evaluated the television’s performance in daytime viewing conditions, which we recommend given the insufficient contrast for darker environments. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. The satin coating didn't help much, and combined with the television's low luminance, this effectively rules it out for use in a bright, sunny room.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips PUS8079: 192 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Backlight Type: White LED
TV features
5/10
System operacyjny: Titan OS
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV):
No
- Recording programming:
No
- Picture in Picture (PiP):
No
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast):
Yes
- AirPlay:
No
- Voice search in native language:
No
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse:
Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV:
No
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker:
No
- Audio only mode:
Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen):
Infrared
- Backlit remote control:
Yes
- Teletext:
Yes
One of the standout features of Philips televisions is, without a doubt, the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting. Positioned on the back of the device, this system displays colours that adjust to what’s happening on screen, creating a more immersive viewing experience. The operating system, TitanOS, powers the television, but it is more closed and limited compared to Google TV-based models from the brand. A significant drawback is the lack of essential apps, such as Apple TV, MAX, Canal+, or Player. Additionally, TitanOS' closed nature restricts basic functions like programming recordings or recording to USB. Apple device users may also be disappointed by the absence of AirPlay, which allows easy screen streaming. On the plus side, it’s possible to connect a keyboard and mouse for smoother navigation through the menu. While headphones can be connected, they must be wired, and sound can also be played through the TV’s speakers. Another inconvenience is that the TV uses IR for control instead of Bluetooth, which feels outdated in today’s tech landscape.
In summary: TitanOs has quite a few "buts," especially for individuals who use many streaming platforms. Instead, it is an option for those who limit themselves to the so-called holy trinity of Netflix, YouTube, and CDA.
Playing files from USB
8/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The default media player on the Philips PUS8079 offers a broad range of capabilities but it has some limitations. It supports nearly all video formats, with notable exceptions like Dolby Vision and the less commonly used .asf format. However, it struggles with the H.265 HEVC codec at high bitrates and does not support .sub subtitle files, which are fairly popular. For photos, the player performs reasonably well, but it lacks support for certain resolutions and formats, such as HEIC, which is commonly used by Apple devices. In terms of audio, the player excels and cannot be faulted. Unfortunately, due to system limitations, there is no option to expand its functionality, so users are limited to the features provided by the manufacturer.
Apps
6/10
Sound
5.1/10
5.1/10
Subjective sound quality
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The best thing about the sound system in the Philips PUS8079 is that it is present. Unfortunately, there is virtually no midrange or bass, and the high frequencies are somewhat unpleasant. Interestingly, the television does include a full set of essential audio codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio, making it easy to connect to a home theatre system.