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
Philips PUS8079 is currently the cheapest model from the manufacturer, featuring multicolour Ambilight backlighting, which has a significant fan base. Operating with a small budget for the device, this will certainly be an advantage and a considerable added value. However, by opting for such a budget, we must also reckon with certain compromises that will be inherent in all televisions of this class. This television is primarily dedicated to those who mostly watch television during the day. Why? Primarily, the main reason is the contrast results, which, for a VA panel, were extremely low, as well as the television's luminance, hovering around 200 nits. Such brightness suggests that it will not be suitable for materials with a broad colour palette, namely streaming platforms at the highest packages. However, it is also worth noting the positives of the television, as it would be unfair not to point them out. This refers mainly to the fairly high tonal fidelity in materials significantly exceeding the television's capabilities and smooth gradation. The latter is the strongest point of the tested television, as it is practically hard to find fault with it, and if one were to try, it would be nitpicking. If we occasionally connect a console, we can expect low input lag, allowing for comfortable Sunday gaming. The contentious issue is the operating system itself. It is incredibly simple and sufficient for those who only need YouTube or Netflix, although in every other case, it may prove inadequate. So who is Philips PUS8079 for? Primarily for those looking for something that distinguishes a unit in this price range. And that something is certainly Ambilight.
Advantages
Unique Ambilight system
Excellent smoothness of tonal transitions
Low input lag values
Good built-in file player
Support for DTS audio
Disadvantages
Low display brightness
No 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
Apps7.0
Sound quality5.1
Complete the survey to find out what fits your preferences
Competing TVs in this price range
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Go to reviewTV 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
Local dimming function: 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
Visibility of details in the lights:
The Philips PUS8079 television features a VA panel. It is worth noting that the size we tested is 43", as this manufacturer often changes the panel depending on the size. Although this type of panel should provide at least good blacks, since we are dealing with a very budget-friendly unit, the results are rather predictable. Results at around 2300:1 are among the lowest for this type of panel. More advanced units achieve results that are 2-3 times better in this regard. However, the current state of affairs should not overly surprise us, as we are dealing with a device that is very, very budget-friendly. We should also mention that in this case we have direct backlighting (Direct), whose only advantage is the uniformity of the backlight. Unfortunately, it has not been divided into any zones, which is not surprising given the low class of the device. On the positive side, light separation was noted in the test with the film "Oblivion".
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 maximum brightness in content with a wide tonal range at a level of 202 nits is extremely low and, in practice, does not allow for watching films and series on streaming platforms in the highest quality. It is worth mentioning that in this case, the use of the HDR format equipped with dynamic metadata will not help either. Why won't it help? Because the only such format implemented in the television is HDR10+, which is extremely unpopular, and films recorded in this format are scarce. It is also worth noting that PUS8079 utilises WLED backlighting, which unfortunately is not the best solution, resulting in a coverage of the wide DCI-P3 colour gamut of only 80%. The result of this situation is significantly less intense colours in HDR content.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Interestingly, the test in our two demanding films proved to be incredibly successful for Philips PUS8079. The scene of incredibly high luminance, which is "The Master", is quite noticeably dimmed and lacks contrast, however, the overall tonal quality of the scene has been preserved very well, and it is quite difficult to fault anything beyond the aforementioned issues. We must admit that this is quite a surprise, as we were expecting something entirely different. The scene from "Billy Lynn" also turned out to be trouble-free for the tested television. Once again, there was a lack of contrast and light power, however, everything else was reproduced very well. All of this thanks to the excellently implemented dynamic tone mapping feature, which even more expensive units would envy.
HDR luminance chart:
And just as we expected, already from the behaviour of the television in the previous test sequence, even static HDR10 is not a significant problem for the algorithms and recovers details deeply in the whites, revealing secondary and tertiary elements. The situation does not change when the same material is played with dynamic HDR10+ — it performs just as well, with no noticeable significant changes, if any exist at all.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
1.8/10
The best factory mode in terms of colour reproduction and fidelity to the director's vision was "Film". Admittedly, it was the best among the pre-defined modes, although it had significant discrepancies between what the film's author wanted to convey and what the tested television displayed. Both in SDR and HDR materials (though to a lesser extent in the latter), the white balance, which is the most fundamental element responsible for image purity, turned out to be somewhat of a repeat of the vivid mode, with the blue tint known from displays on shop shelves. Moving directly to SDR materials and what is responsible for contrast, namely gamma, we see that it is significantly reduced. This leads to cutting down on an already limited contrast range and brightening the entire image. In the EOTF curve, which is responsible for the increase in brightness pace in HDR materials, we observe a sharp drop below the reference line, which, given the limited light output of the television, had a significant impact on the perception of these contents, which were even darker. We will not separate the assessments of the colours themselves, as in both cases they achieved astronomical deltaE values, being simply completely different from what they should be.
Color reproduction after calibration
4.8/10
Fortunately, Philips implements advanced image correction tools in all its televisions. SDR materials benefited the most here, and the enormous deltaE errors were significantly corrected, both white balance and gamma underwent considerable reshaping. Although one cannot speak of a reference image here, it is definitely better, and films or series can be watched without causing headaches, and above all, eye strain. Naturally, HDR materials, due to the very low luminance of the television, could not be corrected to the same extent as those with a standard colour palette; however, the EOTF curve and white balance were roughly straightened out. Unfortunately, that was all we managed to squeeze out of our unit, although it should be noted that each unit is different and has completely different errors, smaller or larger.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
It seems that the fluidity of tonal transitions will be the greatest advantage of the tested television. Practically in each of the scenes, they were at a very satisfactory level. The only moments where it is insufficient are in dark scenes, but even in these areas, it is quite good, and the overall experience can still be rated very positively, especially considering the price of the tested device. An issue not related to the fluidity of tonal transitions, but clearly visible in the pictures, is the noticeable backlight bleed in the corners. This is a matter of the technology itself, but it is worth bearing in mind that these cheaper units may be more prone to a visible effect.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
6.3/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
We will return once more to the issue of tonal transitions but in the context of the overall improvement of image quality. As we can observe in the photograph on the left side, the enhancement function for gradation works brilliantly. Moreover, it offers several settings, and each of them, even the lowest one, provides beneficial effects, and what’s more, it does not soften the effect of film grain. We will reiterate that this function is the greatest advantage of the tested television.
Next, we will take a look at image scaling. Here, the tested television performed worse. We can primarily notice severely jagged fine details and a characteristic white halo around the figures. One must not forget about the considerable artificial sharpening of the image.
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, unlike the others, will be extremely short. The reason for this state of affairs is the lack of implementation of even the most basic motion smoothing function, which was to be expected, considering the price of the device. We also note that we are dealing with a VA panel, which in itself will not have the best sharpness under the sun. This type of panel is primarily associated with high contrast, which goes hand in hand with quite slow response times, as we can clearly read from the matrix analysis results. As you can see, from the photos taken in quick motion, the image is typically blurred for this type of panel. Although it will not be the ideal option, it can conditionally be used for watching sports, keeping in mind the less than optimal sharpness in motion. It is worth mentioning that movies will be characterised by judder, as the television does not have any, even the simplest, motion smoother.
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
Philips PUS8079 offers only the most basic support for gaming in the form of ALLM, VRR, and a Game Bar. The most important information is that thanks to the implementation of the feature responsible for dynamic frequency changing, the picture is actually quite smooth for this price range and does not suffer from tearing.
A slightly greater nod towards gamers is the introduction of the Game Bar, allowing for real-time editing of settings. This means we won't have to exit the game to make any changes to the picture. Importantly, it has not been stripped of options known from higher models. Thus, we will find features such as shadow enhancement for better visibility in dark areas and a colour filter for players with visual impairments.
Input lag
9.9/10
The results of input lag measurements in the Philips PUS8079 are at a high level, regardless of the signal or resolution. All gamers will certainly appreciate the efforts of the manufacturer, which ensure that a game running at 4K60Hz with HDR has 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
After connecting the television to the computer and wishing to use it as a monitor, we can expect a low input lag of 14 ms, which is practically unnoticeable on the mouse-screen-eye line. Unfortunately, the readability of the fonts is at a very low level, which practically excludes the use of Philips PUS8079 as a monitor. Why? If you take a closer look at the picture of the grey text, you will notice the phenomenon of so-called dithering. It is clearly visible that not all subpixels are illuminated on the adjacent pixels, while all should be active during the display of grey. Therefore, the text will be unbearably blurry and will effectively hinder work.
Viewing angles
3.8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 41%
The biggest and most common flaw of VA panels is their viewing angles. This particularly applies to units without angle coatings, which would make a significant difference in this regard. Interestingly, the tested hero performed considerably better than, for instance, the PML9009 we recently evaluated. Nevertheless, even a slight deviation from the axis leads to a strong degradation of colours and a drop in contrast.
TV efficiency during daytime
2.6/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Słabe
Black levels during daytime: Good
In our test sequence, there was also an opportunity to check the performance of the television during daytime viewing. Moreover, we suggest such an operational scenario, considering the insufficient contrast. However, returning to the point: the application of the satin coating yielded poor results, which, combined with the low luminance of the television across all models, effectively disqualifies it for viewing in a sunny room.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips PUS8079: 192 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: TPN246E_V246.004.012.161
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity:
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
It is impossible not to mention the biggest distinguishing feature of the manufacturer's televisions first. We are of course talking about the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which placed on the rear casing of the device projects colours adapted to what is happening on the screen, often allowing for an even greater experience of immersion. The operating system responsible for the television's functionality is Philips's proprietary system charmingly named TitanOs. It is definitely more closed and limited in terms of application resources than in the case of televisions from this manufacturer based on the GoogleTV system. Besides the lack of significant applications, its closed nature is also manifested in another way. We will not be able to perform basic tasks such as programming recordings or recording to USB. Those using devices from Apple may also feel disappointed by the lack of AirPlay functionality, which allows for easy screen streaming. Fortunately, there is the option to connect a keyboard and mouse for smoother navigation through the television's menu. It is worth mentioning that the possibility to connect headphones exists, but only wired ones. If we plug them in, we can also play sound from the television's speakers. It should also be added that the television is controlled via IR, not Bluetooth, which is quite inconvenient in these times.
In summary: TitanOs has quite a few "buts", especially when we are aware users needing and using many streaming platforms. This is rather an option for those limiting themselves to the so-called holy trinity, namely 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 built into Philips PUS8079 offers quite a wide range of capabilities, but it also has its limitations. It plays virtually all video formats, with the obvious exception of Dolby Vision and the less obvious .asf, which is not commonly encountered. However, the issues lie in the absence of the H.265 HEVC codec at high bitrate and support for .sub files, which are quite popular. When it comes to photos, the player performs adequately, but it lacks support for some popular resolutions and formats, such as HEIC, which is used on Apple devices. The player performs best with audio, where it cannot be faulted. Unfortunately, due to system limitations, there is no possibility of expanding the functionalities, which means we are left with what the manufacturer has prepared.
Apps
7/10
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 that can be said about the sound system in Philips PUS8079 is that it is present. There is practically a lack of midtones and bass. However, the high tones stand out in an unpleasant way. Interestingly, it features a complete set of the most important audio codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio. As a result, connecting our home theatre system will be just a formality.