Philips PUS8359 (VA)

PUS8349 / PUS8359

Available screen sizes: 50”

Diagonal with a different matrix: , ,

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

Our verdict

5.5

Overall rating

Philips PUS8359 in the size of 50" is a fairly simple television, yet sufficiently advanced for a considerable number of consumers. Its most distinguishing feature (as is the case with the entire brand) is the Ambilight backlighting, which at this price point is definitely an added value and something that may encourage a purchase. In this price range, it is futile to search for something that provides impeccable picture quality, although we can look for models that offer something more. In our opinion, this is indeed the case with the tested television. In this context, we pay particular attention primarily to the quality of tonal transitions, colour accuracy after calibration, and the efficiency of the television when connected to a computer. Thanks to the low input lag, casual gaming will be quite enjoyable. However, we must also note the drawbacks of the unit. Undoubtedly, these will be the low luminance in HDR materials and the narrow coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Although it is worth noting that the dynamic tone mapping function works very effectively. We will also briefly mention contrast and black levels, which, although not outstanding, are certainly better than those in units based on IPS/ADS panels. The television's operating system can be considered one of the better ones, although it is still in development and lacks many features, as discussed in a dedicated section. It also does not have as wide a library of applications as its competitors, although this is likely to change soon. Who is PUS8359 for? One could say it is for anyone seeking a balance between quality and price.

Advantages

Colour reproduction after calibration
Dynamic tone mapping function - recovers details that are too bright for the television
Smooth tonal transitions
Very good compatibility with computers and consoles - low input lag, chroma 4:4:4

Disadvantages

Low brightness of HDR materials
Lack of a significant number of essential applications
Poor viewing angles

Movies and series in UHD quality

5.0
Classic TV, YouTube

5.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

4.5
Gaming on console

6.4
TV as a computer monitor

6.0
Watching in bright light

4.7
Utility functions

5.7
Apps

7.0
Sound quality

6.1

TV appearance

HDMI inputs: 3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1 Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps

Review Philips PUS8359 (VA) Appearance of the TV

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Contrast and black detail

Viewing mode Game mode

5.6/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Local dimming function: No

Review Philips PUS8359 (VA) Contrast and black detail

Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).

Result

4,400:1

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

4,950:1

Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).

Result

4,500:1

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

5,650:1

Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).

Result

3,800:1

Visibility of details in the lights:

Philips PUS8359/12 in the 50-inch version is equipped with a VA panel. We emphasise this quite strongly, as the manufacturer is known for using these interchangeably with IPS/ADS panels depending on the diagonal size. This is particularly important in the context of contrast and black levels, which are the fundamental criteria in evaluating image quality. The panel itself uses direct backlighting (Direct LED), although it has not been supported by any local dimming system, which is rather obvious when looking at the device's price range. Nevertheless, the use of this type of screen allows for achieving several rows of better black levels and contrast compared to the aforementioned panels that do not possess advanced backlighting systems. The simple design of the television positively influenced the visibility of details in blacks. Our first test scene from the film "Oblivion" demonstrated quite good black levels, but also excellent light separation, which is not an easy task even for much more expensive units. The second prepared material from the film Sicario 2 also presented itself in a fairly decent manner. Indeed, due to construction flaws, one can notice some backlight bleed, however, the details themselves are clearly visible and it is hard to fault them. The fact remains that the black levels could be deeper.

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

HDR effect quality

Viewing mode Game mode

4/10

Viewing mode Game mode

Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 83.0%, Bt.2020: 61.0%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Philips PUS8359 (VA) Brightness measurement

The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

281 nit

The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).

Result

280 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

324 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

290 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

320 nit

Philips PUS8359 did not impress us with its results in HDR materials. This model is capable of generating a maximum brightness of 320 nits, and often even less. Such results, combined with a lack of support for HDR Dolby Vision, mean that the image will be significantly darker compared to the source material. Therefore, playing SDR materials will be more beneficial for this television. This is also suggested by the rather low coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 83%, which results in significant colour deficiencies. The fact remains that the television supports the HDR format based on dynamic metadata, although HDR10+ is such a niche format that it does not bring any significant advantages.

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

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

The results of maximum brightness in HDR materials have translated into the display's performance in our demanding test scenes. The scene from the film "Billy Lynn" is virtually devoid of its main advantages, which are the combination of high brightness and deep black. The entire image has been significantly dimmed, leading to detail issues in the blacks, creating dark patches here and there. There is also a noticeable problem with skin tones, caused by low coverage of a wide colour palette. The tested television performed much better in the second scene from the film "Mr. Pan". Aside from the overall dimming of the image, caused by insufficient brightness and the lack of the popular HDR format equipped with dynamic metadata, the overall tonality performed very well, and in this case, we must commend the tested television.

HDR luminance chart:

In HDR scenes requiring high brightness from the television or good tone mapping, despite the fact that the tested television did not possess high brightness, it pleasantly surprised us, and the details were very well visible. When a signal with dynamic metadata was provided, the situation did not change significantly. There was only a slightly greater clarity in the farthest scenery. Therefore, the dynamic tone mapping function in the tested unit deserves our recognition and high rating.

Static HDR10

Smoothness of tonal transitions

7.4/10

The fluidity of gradation in PUS8359 is at a good level. Practically every scene has preserved tonal transitions. The most challenging scene, the second one from the film "The Green Knight", did not prove to be the proverbial "killer" and allowed us to demonstrate that the tested television, considering its price range, performs excellently. The only issue we could "pick at" is the darkest scenes, where some inconsistencies can be seen here and there; however, this is rather selective. Either way, we rate the fluidity of tonal transitions very well. We must also mention that this function is not available in HDR materials.

Review Philips PUS8359 (VA) Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6/10

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

In this paragraph, we will take a look at two functionalities. We will once again examine the feature responsible for tonal transitions, but we will also check how the television performs with image scaling. The option responsible for smooth gradation is called "Distortion Reduction". As we have established, it quite effectively smooths out the inconsistencies. However, we must point out two things: we cannot enable it for HDR materials and that it blurs details in films.

The tested television cannot boast of the best image scaling. There is a noticeable overall blurriness of the image, but worse still, it blurs details. This is particularly evident on the branches and the model's hair. A characteristic white halo around the character is also visible.

Blur and motion smoothness

3.8/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 60Hz

Film motion smoothing option: No

Blur reduction option: No

Philips PUS8359 will not be the best television for sports. The reason for this is the lack of implementation of even the basic motion smoothing feature, which was to be expected given the price of the device. We also note that we are dealing with a VA panel, whose sharpness is not of the highest standard. This type of panel is mainly associated with high contrast, which goes hand in hand with quite a slow response time, as clearly indicated by the matrix analysis results. As you can see from the images captured in rapid motion, the picture is typically blurred for this type of panel. Although it may not be the ideal option, it can be used conditionally for watching sports; however, one must keep in mind the less than optimal sharpness in motion. It is worth mentioning that films will exhibit judder, as the television does not have any motion smoother, even the simplest one.

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Console compatibility and gaming features

4.7/10

ALLM: Yes
VRR: Yes
VRR range: 60
Dolby Vision Game Mode: No
Correct implementation of HGIG: No
1080p@120Hz: No
1440p@120Hz: No
4K@120Hz: No
Game bar: Yes

It will not be a surprise if we write that Philips PUS8359/12 only offers the most basic support for consoles. Once the console is connected, we can count on features such as: VRR and ALLM. This is quite pleasing in the case of the former, as experience has shown that even in more expensive units there can be issues with this. A nice touch is the implementation of a special GameBar that allows for changing settings on the "fly," so we won't have to exit the game and unnecessarily distract ourselves. This feature also allows for adapting gameplay to the needs of people with disabilities, which will certainly be extremely useful.

Input lag

10/10

The measured input lag after connecting to the console was very good and there was nothing to complain about. Both at the FHD and 4K settings, we measured delays at the level of 12ms, and by adding the HDR format at the higher resolution, the lag dropped to 11ms. Each of these results should be considered more than satisfactory, as such a level allows for gameplay that is virtually without delays at the level of controller-eye-screen.

SDR	HDR	Dolby Vision
1080p60: 12 ms	2160p60: 11 ms
2160p60: 12 ms

Compatibility with PC

6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes

Font clarity: Good

Readability of dark text and shapes: Good

Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 11ms

Max refresh rate: 60Hz

G-Sync: Yes

Connecting the Philips PUS8359 to a computer will not pose significant complications in the context of gaming. The latency is at a very good level, and working with 4K HDR settings was associated with an 11 ms input lag, which is a value that is imperceptible along the eye-screen-mouse line. The tested television also supports chroma 4:4:4, which means working with text files will not create any inconveniences. This model does not support G-Sync and offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which may be a considerable drawback for PC gamers. The rating in terms of gaming is therefore lower, although the device performs excellently in everyday office tasks.

Viewing angles

3.4/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 65%

The drop in brightness at an angle of 45 degrees is 65%. This means that even a slight shift from the centre of the screen can cause discomfort associated with colour degradation and image washing out. This is rather a characteristic feature of the vast majority of VA panels that do not have an angle coating.

TV efficiency during daytime

4.7/10

Matrix coating: Satin

Reflection suppression: Good

Black levels during daytime: Good

The screen Philips PUS8359/12 has a satin finish. Such a finish allows for quite good efficiency in keeping light reflections under control and provides a fairly comfortable viewing experience during the day. It is worth mentioning that the maximum brightness of the television in SDR content is around 320 nits, which is a reasonably good result, especially considering that the brightness is maintained even at 100% screen fill with white.

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Philips PUS8359 (VA): 318 cd/m2

Details about the matrix

Software version during testing: V246.003.000.131

Image processor: nie wiem ale chyba tredriper

Subpixel Structure:

Backlight Type: White LED

TV features

5.7/10

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): RF
Backlit remote control: Yes
Teletext: Yes

It is impossible not to mention the manufacturer’s biggest distinguishing feature of their televisions first. Of course, we are talking about the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which, located on the back of the device, displays colours adapted to what is happening on the screen, often allowing for an even greater immersive experience. The operating system responsible for the television’s operation is Philips' proprietary system charmingly named TitanOs. It is definitely more closed off and limited in terms of available applications compared to the televisions from this manufacturer that are based on GoogleTV. Besides the lack of significant applications, its closed nature is also evident in another respect. We will not be able to perform such basic functions as programming recordings or recording to USB. Users of Apple devices may also feel disappointed by the absence of the AirPlay feature, which allows for easy screen streaming. Fortunately, there is no shortage of the option to connect a keyboard and mouse for more efficient navigation through the television menu. It is also worth mentioning that there is the possibility to connect headphones, but only wired ones. If we connect them, we can also play sound through the television's speakers. It is also worth adding that the control of the television occurs via IR, not Bluetooth, which is quite inconvenient these days.

In summary: TitanOs has quite a few "buts", especially when we are aware users needing and using many streaming platforms. It is rather an option for those limiting themselves to the so-called holy trinity, namely Netflix, YouTube, and CDA.

Playing files from USB

Video Photos Audio

8/10

Video Photos Audio

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 PUS8359/12 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 issue lies in the lack of support for the H.265 HEVC codec at high bitrate. 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 excels at audio playback, where there is nothing to complain about. Unfortunately, due to system limitations, there is no option to expand the features, meaning we are left with what the manufacturer has provided.

Apps

7/10

Sound

6.1/10

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 built-in audio system in Philips PUS8359 consists of a basic connection of speakers, 2x 10 W each. As you can probably guess, not much can be expected from such a configuration. Nevertheless, if we do not exceed 50% of the maximum volume, it will not present negative thoughts. We definitely recommend connecting even cheaper soundbars. These, due to a range of codecs provided by the manufacturer, will certainly work very well. The implementation of Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio is worth mentioning.

4K Ultra HD Resolution (3840 x 2160): Provides four times the resolution of Full HD, offering a sharp and clear image with a wealth of detail.
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.
HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG Support: Support for various HDR formats ensures better contrast and more accurate colour reproduction, resulting in a more realistic image.
Titan OS Operating System: An intuitive and fast Smart TV system allowing access to popular streaming apps and customisation of the interface.
Dolby Atmos Technology: Provides surround sound, creating an impression of immersive audio and enhancing the quality of multimedia content reception.
HDMI 2.1 Ports: Three HDMI ports allow for the connection of modern devices with fast data transfer and support for advanced features.
Gaming Features: VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support ensures smoother gameplay with reduced latency, which is beneficial for gamers.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity: Provides wireless internet connection and connectivity with other devices, enhancing the functionality of the television.

Philips PUS8359 – Advanced Features for Gamers

PUS8359 test shows that this model offers a range of features dedicated to gamers, enhancing the comfort of gameplay. With a low input lag of just 15 ms, screen responses are almost instantaneous, which is crucial in dynamic games. The test highlighted compatibility with next-generation consoles, making Philips PUS8359 an attractive choice for video game enthusiasts. Also check out other TV tests to compare this model with others.

Philips PUS8359 – Image Quality and Colour Reproduction

According to the test, Philips PUS8359 offers solid image quality, especially after calibration. Colour reproduction post-calibration is at a high level, resulting in natural and vibrant colours during movie and series viewing. PUS8359 test also highlights the smoothness of tonal transitions, which is important when displaying scenes with subtle gradients. As a result, PUS8359 performs well in both dark and moderately lit rooms, offering satisfying image quality in various lighting conditions.

Philips PUS8359 (VA)

Our verdict

Advantages

Disadvantages

Competing TVs in this price range

TV appearance

Buy in the best price

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

Philips PUS8359 – Advanced Features for Gamers

Philips PUS8359 – Image Quality and Colour Reproduction