Philips The One (PUS8959 / PUS8919 / PUS8909 / PUS8949)

PUS8959 / PUS8919 / The One / PUS8909 / PUS8949

Info

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”

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Panel technology: LCD IPS Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating system: Titan OS Model year: 2024

Our verdict

6.9

Overall rating

Philips PUS8959, also known by other designations under the PUS89 abbreviation (depending on the sales network), is a model from the popular series The One. Its biggest distinguishing feature is the Ambilight system, which still makes a great impression. The three-sided backlighting adapts to the picture on the screen, making movies, series, or games literally extend beyond the edges of the TV. The One is also a good option for gamers. The 120 Hz panel and low input lag ensure that games run smoothly, and the motion on the screen is clear. On the console, we tested several dynamic titles, and the TV handled them without any problems – no stutters or delays. Additionally, HGiG support allows for better reproduction of HDR effects in games. This is a great solution if we care about the image matching what the creators intended. The picture quality is at a good level, especially during the day. With a brightness of 550 nits, The One performs well even in well-lit rooms, and Dolby Vision in HDR films delivers vivid colors and sharp details. However, the ADS panel has its limitations – the blacks in dark scenes resemble a gray shade more, which can be noticeable when watching in a dimly lit room. When we watched movies with the lights off, the lack of depth in the blacks was somewhat evident. The Titan OS operating system is something that still needs refinement. It is fast, but the limited number of applications, such as the lack of Spotify or TVN Player, can be frustrating for those used to more advanced platforms like GoogleTV. When daily using Netflix or YouTube, it works flawlessly, but if we expect more advanced features, the system may not meet expectations. Overall, Philips The One is a good choice in its price category. The Ambilight system impresses and significantly enhances the viewing experience, especially in the evening. It is also a solid option for gamers, thanks to smooth image and low input lag. Although the blacks are not perfect and the operating system needs refinement, the TV performs well in everyday use. For fans of unique solutions like Ambilight, this is a proposition that definitely deserves attention.

Advantages

  • Ambilight System: Triple-sided backlighting

  • 120Hz Panel - smooth image

  • Additional features for gamers

  • Satisfactory level of brightness that works well during the day

  • Wide viewing angles

Disadvantages

No like
  • Poor black quality

  • Annoying "hybrid" remote

  • Titan OS: Still in development, with a limited number of applications and not very functional compared to more advanced platforms

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    6.6

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.3

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    7.2

  • Gaming on console

    8.5

  • TV as a computer monitor

    9.0

  • Watching in bright light

    6.1

  • Utility functions

    6.0

  • Apps

    6.0

  • Sound quality

    6.4

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TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), 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

Result

2,350:1

Result

2,400:1

Result

2,600:1

Result

2,550:1

Result

2,200:1

The television Philips PUS8959 is based on an ADS panel, which offers slightly different parameters compared to the popular VA panels. In the tested scenes, the contrast was around 2000:1, making the black level far from ideal. ADS panels are known for their weaker contrast compared to VA panels, which in practice means that instead of deep black, we see more navy or gray shades. However, the ADS panel is still better than the standard IPS panel, which cannot achieve such a level of contrast. Additionally, the Philips PUS8959 is not equipped with local dimming technology that could improve these parameters. The lack of this feature amplifies the effect of shallow black, particularly noticeable in dark scenes, like those in the movie "Sicario 2." Instead of intense black, the screen generates a silvery glow, which can be bothersome, especially when watching in darker conditions. All of this makes the visual experience lose depth, and details in dark scenes are not as well visible as one might expect from higher-class screens. Despite the lack of local dimming, the television is equipped with something called Global Dimming. The television is capable of completely dimming the panel to achieve higher contrast, but at the expense of details that may blend together, for example, lights in the test scene from the movie Oblivion. It is worth adding that the model we received for testing has quite large spots resulting from uneven backlighting, although this is not an exception, and one should take into account that we might also receive such a unit when purchasing.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

HDR effect quality

5.8/10

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 94.3%, Bt.2020: 70.1%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Result

501 nit

Result

514 nit

Result

553 nit

Result

544 nit

Result

569 nit

The luminance chart for Philips PUS8959 shows that the television can achieve around 550 nits of brightness, which can be considered a satisfactory level. This brightness allows the effects of HDR to be felt, particularly standing out in more demanding scenes. In the tested patterns, the television performed quite well, even in challenging sequences like those from "Sicario 2". Due to the lack of local dimming, the television does not dim small bright elements, and they shine with the full "power" of the television but at the cost of the silverish blacks we mentioned in the paragraph about blacks. It is also worth praising Philips PUS8959 for its good coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette, which amounts to around 94.5%. This makes the colors vivid and close to the creators' intentions, further enhancing the quality of HDR effects and the viewing experience of high dynamic range content.

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

We tested the Philips PUS8959 TV on two very demanding movie scenes that are rarely found in televisions within a similar budget – especially in terms of brightness, which can pose a challenge for equipment of this class. In the scene from the movie Pan, the HDR effects are clearly visible, and the image is not further dimmed, which is a plus. However, due to the limited contrast of the ADS panel, the HDR effect is not as spectacular as one might expect, but still looks quite decent. In the second scene, from the movie Billy Lynn, the TV presents a satisfactory level of image quality compared to references, although the brightness is somewhat excessive. Despite this, the colors remain well-reproduced, and the overall color schemes are maintained, allowing for a satisfying visual experience in this scene.

Philips PUS8959 also offers dynamic tone mapping, but we recommend setting this option to static (off). Even with the feature turned off, the TV recovers details above its theoretical capabilities without disrupting the other elements of the image. Turning on dynamic tone mapping would lead to even greater excessive brightness in scenes, negatively impacting the overall image quality. Therefore, for the best HDR effect, we recommend keeping this option turned off for a more natural and balanced image.

HDR luminance chart:

The Philips PUS8959 TV supports a wide range of HDR formats, including static HDR10 and dynamic standards HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. We decided to compare how the TV performs in the most popular formats, namely HDR10 and Dolby Vision, to see which one provides better detail reproduction.

In the first scene with horses, presented in HDR10 format, the overall brightness is quite high, making it difficult to talk about any subtle details. The horses are clearly visible, but the lack of shadows and background details makes the scene lose depth and realism. When using Dolby Vision, the same scene gains a bit more detail – not only are the horses visible, but also subtler elements, such as shadows and parts of the background. Nevertheless, even with Dolby Vision, the image is still far from reference level, showing that the Philips PUS8959 is not always able to fully take advantage of the possibilities offered by this advanced format.

Static HDR10

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

Factory color reproduction

4.1/10

The Philips PUS8959 television was tested in the best, theoretically most precise picture mode – Filmmaker. Although the name suggests cinematic quality, it unfortunately falls far short of the ideal. The biggest issue in this mode is white balance, both in HD and 4K content. It is characterized by a significant dominance of the red color and dips in the green level, resulting in an unnatural color reproduction. For example, white elements of the image have a distinctly pinkish hue, and the green is less intense, causing the overall image to lose its naturalness and color balance. The ColorChecker test confirms these errors – it is clearly visible how the color samples "deviate" from the correct values, which can be best observed on the sample squares that should accurately reproduce colors. The lack of accuracy in this regard affects the realism and fidelity of the image, which is particularly undesirable in Filmmaker mode.

Regarding brightness characteristics, the gamma chart resembles a real roller coaster – with small elements displayed on the screen, the brightness is excessive, causing details to become overly highlighted. Meanwhile, at higher gamma values, the image loses contrast and becomes too dark, making the overall appearance look less dynamic. Similar issues can be noticed in the EOTF characteristics – the television is unable to correctly reproduce the brightness level, negatively affecting the overall image quality.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.1/10

After calibration, the Philips PUS8959 television shows a significant improvement in color reproduction, especially in HD content. The white balance is exceptionally even, and the Delta E error values are below 1, which can be considered an outstanding result. Additionally, the gamma, which is responsible for brightness in lower-quality materials, performs very well, maintaining a stable level at 2.4, leading to an appropriate balance between bright and dark areas of the image.

Regarding 4K HDR materials, a significant improvement is also noticeable. The white balance, although not as perfect as in HD content, no longer shows issues with excessive red exposure, making the image appear more natural and harmonious. Unfortunately, in the EOTF characteristics, it is difficult to speak of any significant improvement, due to the design limitations of the television that prevent significant enhancement in this aspect.

Nevertheless, the overall performance is much better after calibration, making the Philips PUS8959 one of those televisions where it is truly worth spending time on precise calibration to achieve satisfactory image quality.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

8.9/10

The gradation on the Philips PUS8959 television looks very good, offering smooth tonal transitions in most scenes. Occasionally, minor issues can be noticed, especially during transitions between certain colors, where subtle unevenness is apparent. However, these imperfections are subtle enough that they do not significantly impact the overall viewing experience and can be considered completely acceptable. In everyday use, the television provides sufficiently good gradation quality to satisfy even more demanding users, maintaining the naturalness of the image and avoiding glaring tonal distortions.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.5/10

OK Smooth transition function

OK Image without overscan on the SD signal

When it comes to smoothing tonal transitions, the "Distortion Reduction" function at the minimal setting performs quite well, effectively smoothing tonal transitions without excessive influence on other elements of the image. In tests, I did not notice that the reduction negatively affected the image structure, such as film grain or object details – everything remains in place, which is a big plus for users who appreciate the natural look of film materials.

On the other hand, regarding digital processing, the image looks quite good, although it is characterized by very softened contours, giving it an almost "misty" quality. This effect can evoke mixed feelings – some users may enjoy the fluidity and delicacy of this type of presentation, while others may find it too gentle, losing detail. It is a matter of individual preferences, but it must be admitted that the Philips PUS8959 provides quite subtle yet effective tools for improving tonal transitions without excessive interference in the natural character of the image.

Blur and motion smoothness

8/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz

Film motion smoothing option: Yes

Blur reduction option: Yes

BFI function 60Hz: No

BFI function 120Hz: No

Brightness drop with BFI: 0%

Philips TV PUS8959 is equipped with a 120 Hz panel, which should satisfy more demanding users, especially those who love watching dynamic sports broadcasts or playing games. Such a high refresh rate allows for a significantly smoother image, being a key aspect during dynamic scenes and fast actions.

For those who prefer watching movies, the TV offers an additional motion smoother that allows adjusting the frame rate of the film according to personal preferences. The Philips PUS8959 has a 10-step adjustment for the functions called "Smoothness" and "Motion Blur Reduction." The "Smoothness" function is responsible for increasing the number of frames through interpolation, making motion on the screen smoother, resembling the effect of so-called "soap opera." Meanwhile, "Motion Blur Reduction" focuses on minimizing blurring and improving motion sharpness, which is particularly noticeable in dynamic sequences, such as action scenes or fast sports shots.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

When it comes to trailing, the ADS panel offers quite good response between pixels, resulting in relatively smooth motion reproduction. Some shortcomings are noticeable, especially on dark backgrounds, where slight traces of trailing may appear, but overall the whole performance looks quite good. Thanks to the use of a 120 Hz panel and precise adjustments for smoothness and blur reduction, the Philips PUS8959 television is able to provide satisfying image fluidity both when watching movies, sports broadcasts, and while gaming.

Console compatibility and gaming features

9.8/10

  • Yes ALLM: Yes
  • Yes VRR: Yes
  • Yes VRR range: 48 - 144Hz
  • Yes Dolby Vision Game Mode: Yes
  • Yes Correct implementation of HGIG: Yes
  • Yes 1080p@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes 1440p@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes 4K@120Hz: Yes
  • Yes Game bar: Yes

Philips PUS8959 is a television that will certainly satisfy gaming enthusiasts. It supports most modern technologies useful during gameplay, such as HGiG, allowing for better HDR effect reproduction in games. As a result, the image is closer to what the game developers intended to achieve.

The television also supports 120 Hz image display, ensuring smoothness and dynamism, which is particularly important during action games and sports broadcasts. The Game Bar feature provides quick access to game settings, making it easier to adjust the image according to user preferences without interrupting gameplay.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode does not offer low input lag, which may be noticeable during dynamic scenes. Nevertheless, thanks to the HGiG feature and high refresh rate, the Philips PUS8959 remains an attractive choice for gamers, offering good image quality and appropriate smoothness during gameplay.

Input lag

9.7/10

Philips PUS8959 TV offers impressive results in terms of input lag, making it an excellent choice for gamers. For 120 Hz content, the lag is less than 6 ms, which is an absolutely outstanding result and allows for immediate reactions in games, especially in fast-paced titles. For 60 Hz content, the input lag is 15 ms, which is also a remarkable result and provides comfortable gameplay in most cases.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode does not perform as well, as the input lag increases to 31 ms. While this result may be acceptable for less dynamic content, it may prove insufficient for demanding gamers, affecting precision and reaction speed. Nevertheless, in standard modes, Philips PUS8959 still offers outstanding performance, making it a competitive choice in the gaming TV market.

SDR HDR Dolby Vision
1080p60: 15 ms 2160p60: 14 ms 2160p60 DV: 31 ms
1080p120: 6 ms 2160p120: 6 ms
2160p60: 15 ms
2160p120: 6 ms

Compatibility with PC

9/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Very Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 7ms

Matrix subpixel arrangement: RGB

Max refresh rate: 120Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Philips PUS8959 performs excellently as a monitor for use with a PC. With support for chroma 4:4:4, it provides full color clarity, which is crucial for working with text – fonts are sharp and legible, regardless of the background they are on. This makes using office applications, browsing the internet, and graphic editing comfortable and precise.

Additionally, the low input lag offered by the television guarantees smooth and responsive operation, which is important for both everyday tasks and more dynamic applications, such as gaming or multimedia editing. Philips PUS8959 is an excellent choice for users seeking a television that will also serve as a PC monitor, providing high image quality and user convenience.

Viewing angles

6.9/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 82%

Philips PUS8959, equipped with an ADS panel, offers quite good viewing angles, definitely better than those found in VA panels. The image retains its quality even when viewed from a greater angle – colors are vivid, and contrast does not deteriorate as much as in televisions with VA panels. As a result, when watching television from different spots in the room, one can still enjoy well-saturated colors and overall image quality, making Philips PUS8959 a perfect choice for larger spaces and for watching together with family or friends.

TV efficiency during daytime

6.1/10

Matrix coating: Satin

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Average

Philips PUS8959 has a satin coating on the screen that effectively reduces light reflections, which is advantageous when using the television in bright daylight conditions. However, such a coating causes blacks to take on shades of gray during the day, losing their depth and intensity, which affects the perception of the image in darker scenes.

A brightness level of 562 cd/m² allows for comfortable television viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. The image is bright enough to stand out against daylight, and the reduction of reflections ensures decent visibility of content, making Philips PUS8959 a good choice for rooms where lighting levels cannot always be controlled.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Philips The One (PUS8959 / PUS8919 / PUS8909 / PUS8949): 562 cd/m2

Details about the matrix

Backlight Type: PFS LED

TV features

6/10

  • System operacyjny: Titan OS

  • TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

  • No Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No
  • No Recording programming: No
  • No Picture in Picture (PiP): No
  • No Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): No
  • No AirPlay: No
  • No Voice search in native language: No
  • Yes Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
  • Yes Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
  • Yes Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
  • Yes Audio only mode: Yes
  • Yes RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
  • Yes Backlit remote control: Yes
  • Yes Teletext: Yes

Philips PUS8959 is equipped with a three-sided Ambilight system – the flagship patent of this brand, which has delighted a dedicated group of fans for years. Ambilight relies on dynamic backlighting of the wall behind the TV, matching the content displayed on the screen, which significantly enhances the viewing experience, especially in dimly lit rooms. This effect is unique and adds a certain kind of "magic" to watching, causing many users to choose Philips specifically for this feature.

As for the operating system, Philips PUS8959 uses Titan OS – a system that is still in its early stages of development. Here, you can see growing pains, especially since Philips has moved away from Android in most of its models. Titan OS has a limited number of available apps. This is frustrating for those accustomed to a broader ecosystem like GoogleTV. Additionally, the TV does not have AirPlay functionality, which limits its compatibility with Apple devices and may be a drawback for users looking for a flexible way to stream content.

The user features of Philips PUS8959 are a mix of pros and cons. The remote control included with the TV is quite annoying – it requires direct aiming at the screen, which can be inconvenient. On the other hand, the voice function works without the need to aim, but it only supports English. On the plus side, the remote is backlit, making it easier to use in the dark. The TV does not have PiP (Picture-in-Picture) functionality or the ability to record programs, which is a significant drawback. However, the TV is equipped with Bluetooth, allowing connection to headphones or a keyboard, which can be useful – especially due to the limited number of available apps, which may encourage the use of the built-in web browser.

Playing files from USB

8.2/10

Maximum photo resolution:Supported photo formats:
Yes 4 Mpix
Yes JPEG
Yes 6 Mpix
No HEIC
Yes 8 Mpix
Yes PNG
No 10 Mpix
Yes GIF
No 12 Mpix
No WebP
Yes 16 Mpix
No TIFF
No 20 Mpix
Yes BMP
No 24 Mpix
No SVG
No 28 Mpix
Yes 32 Mpix

Although the Titan OS system on the Philips PUS8959 TV is still in its infancy, it deserves praise for supporting Polish subtitles embedded in movies, which is a significant convenience for users dealing with external files. If we want to play a movie from a connected USB device, the TV will do so without major issues, providing comfortable viewing without the need for additional subtitle configuration.

When it comes to photos, the TV should have no significant difficulties in playing them. It supports most popular formats, although it lacks support for less common standards such as HEIC used in Apple devices. This means that some photos, especially from newer Apple devices, may require prior conversion to a more standard format in order to be played on the Philips screen.

Apps

6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Viaplay
No
Player_TVN
No
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
No
TVP_VOD
No
Apple_TV_Plus
No
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
No
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
MAX
No
Kodi

Sound

6.4/10

6.4/10

Subjective sound quality

Yes Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Yes Dolby True HD 7.1

Yes Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)

Yes Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD

Yes DTS:X in DTS-HD MA

Yes DTS-HD Master Audio

The sound of the Philips PUS8959 unfortunately leaves a lot to be desired. Although the low frequencies can be heard in the playback, the bass is very weak, which results in an overall unsatisfactory sound quality. The TV plays average, especially when compared to more advanced audio systems available on the market.

Despite the average quality of the speakers, the TV supports all the essential audio codecs, which may please users using external home theater systems. Thanks to compatibility with various audio formats, the Philips PUS8959 can offer good audio experiences when connected to appropriate external speakers or a receiver, providing a fuller, more cinematic sound.

  • Ambilight Technology: The three-sided Ambilight system emits light adapted to the content on the screen, creating an immersive atmosphere and enhancing visual experiences.

  • P5 Perfect Picture Processor: The advanced processor optimizes image quality, ensuring sharpness, contrast, and vibrant colors in every scene.

  • Titan OS Operating System: The intuitive Smart TV platform allows quick access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.

  • Support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos: These technologies guarantee cinematic quality of image and sound, offering realistic visual effects and spatial sound.

    High Refresh Rate: The 120 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth motion, which is particularly important when watching dynamic sports scenes or playing video games.

  • Elegant Design: The slim construction with minimal bezels makes the TV blend perfectly with modern interiors.

Philips PUS8959 Test

The TV from the PUS8959 series is a modern solution for demanding users. In our review of the Philips 65PUS8959 and Philips 55PUS8959, we highlighted the innovative Ambilight system that perfectly adapts to the image on the screen. This creates a unique visual effect that makes movies, series, and games look even more impressive. The Philips 43PUS8959 also does not disappoint in this category, providing experiences that go beyond traditional viewing.

Philips PUS8959 - Gamers' Opinion

During the tests of the Philips 65PUS8959, we appreciated its 120 Hz panel and low input lag, making it an excellent choice for gamers. Our assessment confirms that motion on the screen is smooth and details in dynamic scenes are clear. Support for HGiG allows for realistic rendering of HDR effects, as envisioned by game developers. The Philips 55PUS8959 and Philips 43PUS8959 offer similar advantages, making the entire PUS8959 series meet the expectations of even the most demanding gamers.

Philips PUS8959 - Image Quality and Our Opinion

In our opinion, the Philips 55PUS8959 performs very well in terms of image quality. A brightness level of 550 nits ensures that the TV handles well-lit rooms effectively. Dolby Vision allows for vibrant colors and precise details in HDR movies. Although the ADS panel does not offer perfect black levels, in everyday use, the Philips 65PUS8959 and Philips 43PUS8959 still present images at a high level.

Philips PUS8959 - Daily Use Rating

The Titan OS operating system in Philips 43PUS8959 ensures fast and stable operation during everyday use of apps like Netflix and YouTube. Our review indicates that although the number of available apps is limited, the system operates smoothly and meets basic user needs. The Philips 65PUS8959 and Philips 55PUS8959 offer identical experiences, making daily viewing enjoyable and convenient.

Our Assessment of the PUS8959 Series - Ambilight System

The Ambilight system is the biggest distinguishing feature of the PUS8959 series. Both the Philips 65PUS8959, Philips 55PUS8959, and Philips 43PUS8959 benefit significantly from the three-sided screen lighting, enhancing viewing comfort. Our opinion clearly states that Ambilight creates a unique atmosphere during movie screenings, evening watching, or gaming.

Summary - Our Review of the Philips PUS8959 Series

The PUS8959 series is an excellent proposition for gamers and movie lovers. In our tests, the Philips 65PUS8959, Philips 55PUS8959, and Philips 43PUS8959 stand out for their smooth image, excellent color reproduction, and unique Ambilight system. Although black levels are not perfect, advantages such as Dolby Vision, HGiG support, and a 120 Hz panel make our assessment of this series very positive. The PUS8959 TVs are definitely a choice worth considering.