4K Ultra HD QLED Resolution (3840 x 2160): QLED technology delivers vivid colours, high contrast, and an incredibly sharp image, making content more realistic and full of depth.
Ambilight Technology: The three-sided Ambilight system emits a glow that adapts to the content displayed on the screen, creating a more immersive viewing experience.
Pixel Precise Ultra HD Graphics Engine: Optimises the quality of the displayed content, ensuring smooth motion and excellent image sharpness.
HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG Support: Support for various HDR formats guarantees better contrast and more accurate colour 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 personalises the interface.
Dolby Atmos and DTS Technology: Provides spatial sound, creating the impression of surround sound without the need for additional speakers.
Gaming Features: The television offers features such as variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low latency mode (ALLM), and Game Bar, making it easier to manage settings while gaming.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity: Provides a wireless connection to the internet and other devices, enhancing the television's functionality.
HDMI 2.1 and USB Ports: Three HDMI ports and two USB ports enable connection of various external devices, such as consoles, media players, or USB 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
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Panel type: LCD VA Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Titan OS Model year: 2024
Our verdict
5.3
Overall rating
The Philips PUS8209 is a model that stands out primarily for its unique Ambilight system. The three-sided wall lighting behind the television dynamically adjusts to the picture, adding an extraordinary atmosphere when watching films or playing games. This solution, for which Philips is renowned, makes a difference and could be a great choice for those looking for something more unconventional in everyday use. 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 dimly lit rooms. Watching films in such conditions is genuinely enjoyable, although the screen brightness (280 nits) leaves much to be desired – in bright rooms, the image can appear washed out, and HDR content does not make a significant impression. When it comes to gaming, the PUS8209 also has some advantages. Support for VRR, ALLM, and a low input lag of 13 ms ensures that gameplay is smooth and responsive. Of course, this is not equipment for advanced gamers, but for those who occasionally pick up a controller, it should suffice. The biggest downside is the Titan OS operating system. Many popular applications are lacking, and the interface does not always function as smoothly as one would wish. The remote control, which requires aiming at the television, can be irritating, especially in situations where quick operation is expected. In summary: the Philips PUS8209 is a television that will perform well for basic applications. Ambilight adds uniqueness and enhances the atmosphere during viewing. In everyday use or occasional gaming, it manages, but its limitations – particularly in screen brightness and operating system – may be problematic for more demanding users. If one is looking for simple equipment with an unusual visual addition, this model is worth considering.
Advantages
High native contrast
Three-sided Ambilight system – a unique backlighting of the wall behind the television that enhances immersion during viewing
Low input lag – around 13 ms
Includes basic features for gamers - VRR and ALLM
Support for Polish characters and subtitle personalisation – the built-in player allows changing the colour 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 surroundings
Poor viewing angles – typical for VA panels,
Issues with font rendering
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
Apps7.0
Sound quality5.0
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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) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
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Contrast and black detail
6.6/10
Local dimming function: 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
Visibility of details in the lights:
Philips PUS8209 pleasantly surprised us in terms of contrast, which is truly solid for its price range. Thanks to the use of a VA panel, a contrast level of 8000:1 has been achieved, which is considered an excellent result in this price category. In tests using scenes from the film Oblivion, the television performed well, providing visible light separation. Three independent light sources in the test scene were portrayed without significant issues. Similarly, in the case of the film Sicario 2, where the blacks, although not perfect, appear decent enough to allow for the distinction of details in the darker parts of the image. The lack of local dimming technology is noticeable, however, the manufacturer has implemented a "global dimming" function. This mechanism enables the television to automatically darken 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 meet the needs of 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 effect of HDR. In practice, the image resembles standard SDR more, so it’s hard to speak of deeper visual experiences. On the positive side, the colour gamut coverage is commendable – 91.4% DCI-P3 is a score that will be sufficient for most films. It must also be said that the image is stable and there are no issues with sudden changes in brightness or colours. Overall, HDR on this television is more of a formality than an actual added value. If we are looking for genuine HDR thrills, 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 television performs with adapting to very demanding HDR scenes designed for high brightness values. In the case of the first scene from the film Mr, the image, for this class of television, looks quite good. The darkest details are slightly brighter than they should be, but the overall reception remains positive, and the tonality of the scene is correct. In the film Billy Lynn, however, some problems can be observed. High-contrast elements, such as firework effects, tend to be overexposed and blend into a uniform whole. Aside from these shortcomings, the tonality of the image in the remaining sections remains 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 perceive distinct differences between dynamic and static metadata. It is possible that the implementation of Dolby Vision would improve the HDR quality; however, unfortunately, this format is missing in this model.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: HDR10+
Factory color reproduction
6/10
Philips PUS8209 offers many picture modes, but the best of them, without a doubt, is the Filmmaker mode. Despite its proud name, it has its clear problems. In the case of HD content, the white balance is characterised by a strong dominance of red, which causes the picture to be significantly warmer than it should be in reality. The brightness characteristic (gamma), although correct in the mid-tones, has serious issues at the beginning and end of the curve. Drops in the shadows cause a loss of detail in the dark areas, and blowouts in the bright areas make some elements look unnatural.
For high-quality 4K HDR content, the situation reverses. In this case, blue dominates, leading to an artificial enhancement effect, reminiscent of unnatural retail settings. Such an image looks unattractive 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, causing the image to appear too dark, robbing the depth and detail of HDR content.
Against this backdrop, errors in the Color Checker test and deviations in colour palette reproduction are exceptionally large, which further negatively impacts the overall image quality. The Filmmaker mode, although the best among the available options, requires substantial corrections to fully convey the director's vision.
Color reproduction after calibration
8.3/10
After calibration, the white balance for HD and 4K content has significantly improved. Although we have not achieved a perfectly flat characteristic, the effect is definitely better than before. The picture on the television no longer appears artificially warm or excessively 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, responsible for brightness in 4K HDR material, has been stabilised, eliminating problems with excessive dimming of the image. In the colour palette test, some imperfections can still be noticed due to average coverage of the wide colour gamut, which is a limitation of the equipment itself. Nevertheless, the final effect is clearly better than before calibration – the image looks more natural and approaches the expectations of the Filmmaker mode.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
6.5/10
The Philips PUS8209 presents a decent gradient in bright scenes, where tonal transitions are smooth enough not to be noticeable. Unfortunately, in darker scenes, such as red water, the television clearly struggles. Issues with blending shades and a lack of precision in reproducing subtle colour differences are very apparent 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, this comes at a cost – the feature simultaneously smooths out details such as the texture of materials. On the positive side, it is worth noting that the operation of this option does not negatively affect 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 certain elements, such as branches or fine details, which can lower the quality of 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 suitable for watching films, but there is still a sense of something missing. The television does not offer any motion smoother that would allow users to adjust the fluidity of the picture to their individual preferences, which can be disappointing for some users.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
When it comes to motion blur, the television performs moderately. The issues are not very troublesome, but they are noticeable – especially in tests, where there is a slight stretching of objects, such as the characteristic "Ufoludek" in the motion smoothness test. Although motion blur does not interfere with 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 features 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 smoothness and image precision. Additionally, this model does not support any HDR mode dedicated to gaming, such as HGiG or Dolby Vision, which further limits its capabilities in this regard.
Input lag
10/10
The input lag in the Philips PUS8209 is one of its strongest points. With a value of around 13 ms, the television provides a very quick response time, which should please most gamers, both casual and more advanced. This 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, cooperation with a PC seems promising, especially thanks to support for chroma 4:4:4, which should ensure good font readability and detail reproduction. In practice, however, the television has significant issues with displaying text, particularly 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 the smoothness of gameplay 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 poor, which is typical for a VA panel. When viewing at an angle, the brightness of the image drops significantly, and the colours lose their depth, which can greatly affect viewing comfort, especially in larger groups or in an unusual setting of the television in relation 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 matrix coating, which only moderately reduces reflections, which may be insufficient in brightly lit rooms. However, the biggest problem is the low brightness level of 280 nits. In practice, this means that watching content during the day, especially in strong sunlight, can be a challenge, as the picture appears too dark to ensure comfortable use.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips PUS8209: 277 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: TPN246E_V246.004.147.081
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity:
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
The Philips PUS8209 uses the Titan OS operating system, which, while simple 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 can be disappointing for users accustomed to broader capabilities. Additionally, the lack of support for AirPlay restricts compatibility with Apple devices, reducing the flexibility of the television for content streaming. Although the remote control is interesting, it requires aiming at the screen, which may not appeal to everyone.
The absence of more advanced features, such as PiP (Picture-in-Picture) or programme recording, further limits the device's capabilities in everyday use.
The Philips PUS8209 is a television that draws attention with its interesting solution in the form of a three-sided Ambilight system, which is a dynamic backlighting of the wall behind the television that adapts its colours and intensity to the content displayed on the screen. This effect creates an impression of greater depth of image and enhances immersion, especially in dimly lit 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 such as AirPlay can be a significant drawback for more demanding users. Although Ambilight distinguishes this model from the competition, shortcomings in the operating system greatly affect 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 the adjustment of colour and font size, which significantly enhances the comfort of using this feature. More demanding users may notice some shortcomings in the supported file formats; however, for most applications in daily use, this player should be completely sufficient.
Apps
7/10
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 speakers with a power of 2x10 W do not offer exceptional quality or depth; however, they are sufficient for everyday television viewing. On the positive side, it is worth noting the wide range of supported audio codecs, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS, which can significantly enhance audio quality when combined with external sound systems, such as soundbars or home cinema sets.