4K Ultra HD QLED Resolution (3840 x 2160): QLED technology provides vibrant colors, high contrast, and incredibly sharp images, making content more realistic and full of depth.
Ambilight Technology: The three-sided Ambilight system emits a glow that matches the content displayed on the screen, creating a more immersive viewing experience.
Pixel Precise Ultra HD Graphics 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 ensures 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 customization of the interface.
Dolby Atmos and DTS Technology: Provides spatial sound, creating an immersive audio experience without the need for additional speakers.
Gaming Features: The television offers features such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Game Bar, making it easier to manage settings while gaming.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity: Provides wireless internet connection and connection to other devices, enhancing the functionality of the television.
HDMI 2.1 and USB Ports: Three HDMI ports and two USB ports allow for the connection of a variety of 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
5.3
Overall rating
Philips PUS8209 is a model that stands out primarily due to its unique Ambilight system. The three-sided backlighting behind the television dynamically adjusts to the image, adding a special atmosphere while watching movies or playing games. This solution, which Philips is known for, makes a difference and can be a great choice for those looking for something more unconventional in their daily usage. In terms of picture quality, the television performs quite well, especially in this price range. The VA panel provides solid contrast and decent blacks, which works particularly well in the evening in dark rooms. Watching movies in such conditions is genuinely pleasant, although the screen brightness (280 nits) leaves a lot to be desired – in bright rooms, the image can look pale, and HDR content does not make a significant impression. As for gaming, the PUS8209 also has a few advantages. Support for VRR, ALLM, and a low input lag of 13 ms make gameplay smooth and responsive. Of course, this is not equipment for advanced gamers, but for those who occasionally pick up a controller, it should be sufficient. The biggest downside is the Titan OS operating system. Many popular apps are missing, and the interface does not always run as smoothly as one would wish. The remote, which requires aiming at the TV, can be irritating, especially in situations where quick response is expected. In summary: the Philips PUS8209 is a television that will serve basic purposes well. Ambilight adds uniqueness and enhances the atmosphere while watching. In daily use or occasional gaming, it holds up, but its limitations – particularly in screen brightness and the operating system – may be problematic for more demanding users. If we are looking for simple equipment with an unusual visual addition, this model is worth considering.
Advantages
High native contrast
Three-sided Ambilight system – unique wall lighting behind the TV, enhancing immersion while watching
Low input lag – around 13 ms
Has basic gaming features - VRR and ALLM
Support for Polish characters and subtitle customization – built-in player allows changing the color and size of the font
Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS – a wide range of supported audio codecs
Disadvantages
Titan OS operating system – limited number of applications
Poor brightness (280 nits) – issues with viewing in bright environments
Poor viewing angles – typical for VA panels
Issues with font display
Movies and series in UHD quality5.4
Classic TV, YouTube6.1
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)4.9
Gaming on console6.6
TV as a computer monitor2.0
Watching in bright light4.4
Utility functions5.0
Apps6.0
Sound quality5.0
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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) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
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Contrast and black detail
6.6/10
Funkcja lokalnego wygaszania: No
Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).
Result
8,050:1
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
7,300:1
Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).
Result
10,200:1
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
9,050:1
Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).
Result
8,200:1
Philips PUS8209 positively surprised us in terms of contrast, which is really solid for its price range. Thanks to the use of a VA panel, it achieved a contrast level of 8000:1, which can be considered a very good result in this price category. In tests using scenes from the movie Oblivion, the television performed well, offering visible light separation. Three independent light sources in the test scene were reproduced without major issues. Similarly, in the case of the film Sicario 2, where the black levels, although not perfect, appear decent, allowing for the differentiation of details in darker parts of the image. The lack of local dimming technology is noticeable, however, the manufacturer has implemented a "global dimming" feature. This mechanism allows the television to automatically dim or brighten the entire screen depending on the content, which somewhat improves the perception of contrast. Philips PUS8209 offers solid contrast and decent results in tests. Although it lacks the precision of local dimming, its capabilities at this price are satisfactory and will please most users.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
HDR effect quality
3.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 91.4%, Bt.2020: 67.0%
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
231 nit
The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
268 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
278 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
274 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
281 nit
Unfortunately, this is where the problems begin. A maximum brightness of 280 nits is definitely too low to feel the true HDR effect. In practice, the image resembles standard SDR more, so it's hard to speak of deeper visual experiences. On the plus side, the color gamut coverage is commendable – 91.4% DCI-P3 is a result that will be sufficient for most films. It must also be noted that the image is stable and there are no issues with sudden changes in brightness or colors. Looking at the overall picture, HDR on this TV is more of a formality than an actual added value. If we are looking for true HDR emotions, this model may not meet expectations.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
We are checking how the TV performs in adapting to very demanding HDR scenes, designed for high brightness levels. In the first scene from the movie Pan, the image, for this class of TV, looks quite good. The darkest details are slightly lighter than they should be, but the overall impression remains positive, and the tone of the scene is correct. On the other hand, in the movie Billy Lynn, some issues can be noticed. Highly contrasting elements, such as fireworks effects, can be clipped and blend into a uniform whole. Aside from these shortcomings, the tonal quality of the image in the remaining parts is maintained at a good level.
HDR luminance chart:
The television supports both static HDR10 and dynamic HDR10+, which theoretically should offer differences in image quality depending on the type of metadata used. In practice, however, due to the low maximum brightness, it is difficult to see clear differences between dynamic and static metadata. It is possible that the implementation of Dolby Vision would improve HDR quality; however, this format is unfortunately missing in this model.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
6/10
Philips PUS8209 offers many picture modes, but the best among them, without a doubt, is the Filmmaker mode. Despite its proud name, it has its clear issues. In the case of HD content, the white balance is characterized by a strong dominance of red, causing the image to be significantly warmer than it should be in reality. The brightness characteristic (gamma), although correct in the midtones, has serious problems at the beginning and end of the graph. Drops in the shadows lead to a loss of details in dark areas, and highlights in bright areas make some elements look unnatural.
For high-quality 4K HDR content, the situation reverses. In this case, blue dominates, leading to an effect of artificial image enhancement, reminiscent of unnatural store settings. Such an image looks unappealing and inconsistent with the creators' intentions. An additional problem is the EOTF curve, responsible for brightness in HDR materials. It deviates significantly from the reference chart, making the image appear too dark, robbing the depth and detail of HDR content.
Against this background, the errors in the Color Checker test and deviations in color palette reproduction are exceptionally large, which negatively impacts the overall image quality. The Filmmaker mode, although the best among the available options, requires significant corrections to fully deliver the director's vision.
Color reproduction after calibration
8.3/10
After calibration, the white balance for HD and 4K content has improved significantly. Although we did not achieve a perfectly flat characteristic, the effect is definitely better than before. The image on the television no longer appears artificially warm or overly cold, which significantly enhances the naturalness of the displayed content. The brightness characteristic (gamma) has also been adjusted - the biggest issues at the beginning and end of the graph have been mitigated. The EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness in 4K HDR material, has been stabilized, eliminating problems with excessive dimming of the image. In the color palette test, some imperfections can still be seen due to average coverage of a wide color gamut, which is a limitation of the hardware itself. Nevertheless, the final effect is clearly better than before calibration - the image looks more natural and approaches the expectations for the Filmmaker mode.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
6.5/10
Philips PUS8209 presents a decent gradation in bright scenes, where tonal transitions are smooth enough not to be distracting. Unfortunately, in darker scenes, such as red water, the television clearly struggles. Issues with blending shades and a lack of precision in reproducing subtle color differences are very noticeable here.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
5.5/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
The television offers a "Distortion Reduction" feature that effectively improves the gradation of tonal transitions, especially when set to the minimum level. Unfortunately, it comes at a price – the feature also smooths out details like the texture of materials. On the plus side, the operation of this option does not negatively affect the film grain, which remains intact.
As for image scaling (upscaling), the television generates a plastic, soft image that generally looks pleasant. However, in the background, one can sometimes notice issues with aliasing on some elements, such as branches or fine details, which can lower the quality of the reception. Despite these minor imperfections, the overall experience of scaling is satisfactory.
Blur and motion smoothness
3.8/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz
Film motion smoothing option: No
Blur reduction option: No
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
The 60 Hz panel in the Philips PUS8209 is mainly suited for watching movies, but there is also a certain sense of dissatisfaction here. The TV does not offer any motion smoothing feature that would allow adjusting the smoothness of the picture to individual preferences, which may be disappointing for some users.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
When it comes to ghosting, the television performs moderately. The issues are not very bothersome, but they are noticeable – especially in tests where there is a slight stretching of objects, such as the characteristic "UFO" in the motion blur test. Although ghosting does not hinder everyday use, more demanding users may notice it.
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 PUS8209 offers basic functions useful for gamers, such as variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low latency mode (ALLM), and a Game Bar that makes managing settings easier.
Unfortunately, due to the 60 Hz panel, the television will not meet the expectations of more demanding gamers who are counting on higher fluidity and precision of the image. Additionally, this model does not support any HDR mode dedicated to games, such as HGiG or Dolby Vision, which further limits its capabilities in this regard.
Input lag
10/10
Input lag in the Philips PUS8209 is one of its strongest points. With a value of around 13 ms, the TV provides a very quick response time, which should satisfy most gamers, both casual and more advanced. Such a result allows for comfortable gameplay even in dynamic games.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 13 ms | |
| 2160p60: 13 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): 13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 60Hz
G-Sync: No
On paper, collaboration with a PC seems promising, especially with support for chroma 4:4:4, which should ensure good font readability and detail reproduction. In practice, however, the television has significant issues displaying text, especially on dark backgrounds, where the so-called pixelation is clearly visible, negatively affecting work comfort.
Additionally, the lack of support for technologies such as G-Sync means that gameplay smoothness when connected to a PC leaves much to be desired, making this model less attractive for users looking for a television for gaming on a computer.
Viewing angles
2.1/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 87%
The viewing angles on the Philips PUS8209 are weak, which is typical for VA matrices. When viewing at an angle, the brightness of the image decreases significantly, and the colors lose their depth, which can significantly affect viewing comfort, especially in larger groups or in an unusual setup of the television relative to the viewer.
TV efficiency during daytime
4.4/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The Philips PUS8209 is equipped with a satin coating on the panel, which only moderately suppresses reflections, which may be insufficient in brightly lit rooms. However, the biggest problem is the low brightness of 280 nits. In practice, this means that watching content during the day, especially in bright sunlight, can be challenging, as the image appears too dark to ensure comfortable use.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips PUS8209: 277 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Backlight Type: PFS 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
Philips PUS8209 uses the Titan OS operating system, which, although easy to use, remains limited in terms of functionality. The number of available applications is small compared to more developed ecosystems such as Google TV, which may disappoint users accustomed to broader capabilities. Additionally, the lack of support for AirPlay limits collaboration with Apple devices, reducing the TV's flexibility in streaming content. The remote, although interesting, requires pointing at the screen, which may not appeal to everyone.
The absence of more advanced features like PiP (Picture-in-Picture) or program recording further limits the device's capabilities in everyday use.
Philips PUS8209 is a television that attracts attention with an interesting solution in the form of a three-sided Ambilight system, which dynamically lights up the wall behind the TV, adjusting its colors and intensity to the content displayed on the screen. This effect creates a sense of greater depth of image and enhances immersion, especially in darkened rooms. Unfortunately, its potential is limited by the Titan OS operating system, which leaves much to be desired. The limited number of applications and lack of support for popular features like AirPlay can be a significant drawback for more demanding users. While Ambilight sets this model apart from the competition, deficiencies in the operating system significantly impact the overall functionality of the television.
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 built-in media player in the Philips PUS8209 performs well in everyday use. It handles Polish characters in subtitles without any issues and allows for adjustments to the color and size of the font, which significantly improves the comfort of using this feature. More demanding users may notice some shortcomings in the supported file formats, but for most applications in everyday use, this player should be fully sufficient.
Apps
6/10
Sound
5/10
5/10
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 sound in the Philips PUS8209 can be described as average, typical for televisions in this price range. The 2x10 W speakers do not offer exceptional quality or depth, but they are sufficient for everyday TV viewing. A positive aspect is the wide range of supported audio codecs, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS, which can significantly enhance audio quality in conjunction with external sound systems like soundbars or home theater setups.