Compare: Philips PUS7009 (IPS) vs TCL MQLED85 / C765

Philips PUS7009 is a model that's best suited for simple, everyday use. Thanks to its IPS panel, it offers wide viewing angles, which means the picture looks good even if we're not sitting perfectly straight on. This is a device that will mainly perform well for watching television, browsing photos, or using basic applications. For gamers, the PUS7009 has a few interesting options, such as ALLM, VRR, and Game Bar. It’s not a device for those expecting top-level smoothness or quality, but for occasional gaming on a console, it’s more than sufficient. A big plus is the readability of the fonts – if someone plans to connect a computer and work with text, the TV performs quite well. When it comes to image quality, it’s not perfect. The blacks are rather grey, the contrast is low, and the brightness is limited. If we want to watch something in a brightly lit room, we might be disappointed. And what about HDR? It’s better to forget about it because the lack of Dolby Vision support and limited technical capabilities mean that HDR content doesn't make a big impact. The biggest downside is probably the TitanOS operating system. It has few applications and operates rather clumsily – sometimes it freezes, and the interface can be annoying. If someone has previously used Android TV, TitanOS may seem like a step backward. The Philips PUS7009 is a television that will manage basic tasks – watching TV, casual gaming, or browsing photos. However, if we care about good image quality or a smooth operating system, it’s better to look for another model. This is a device for people who don’t need fireworks, but just want a solid television for everyday use.

TCL MQLED85, or model C765, is a television that can truly surprise, especially in this price range. It is one of the cheapest models featuring mini-LED technology, which is immediately evident in the picture quality. The blacks are deep, and the brightness is sufficient even in a brightly lit room. Thanks to the large number of dimming zones, watching movies in the evening is a pleasure – the blacks are really deep, and the picture in dark scenes looks clear. However, it's not perfect – in some scenes, you may notice minor issues with small bright elements, but this is really a minor detail compared to what this model offers. Google TV performs excellently here – there are plenty of apps, and using the system is simply convenient. Voice control in Polish works flawlessly, which can be particularly useful if you don't want to type movie titles using the remote. Of course, there are minor shortcomings, such as the lack of recording capabilities, but these are not things that interfere with daily use. For gamers, it is also a fantastic option. Support for HDMI 2.1, VRR and low input lag means the television handles consoles well and competes effortlessly with more expensive models from Korean or Japanese manufacturers. At this price, it's hard to find something better when it comes to smooth and responsive gameplay. During testing, we encountered a few minor software issues, but it's hard to say whether that's a serious downside. We hope that TCL will release updates, so there’s a chance this issue will be resolved quickly. TCL MQLED85/C765 is an excellent choice if we are looking for a television with good picture quality and modern features at a reasonable price. It is a model that combines affordable mini-LED technology with a convenient Google TV system, and it’s also great for gaming. Minor software shortcomings are something you can live with, especially considering what this television offers in its class.

The Philips PUS7009 television, available in 43" and 55" variants, is equipped with an IPS panel, which unfortunately does not lend itself to achieving deep blacks. The results are exceptionally poor, and the television simply does not meet expectations in this aspect. Due to the limitations of the panel, the blacks resemble more shades of grey, which makes the picture quality in darker scenes leave much to be desired. For this reason, we do not recommend this model for nighttime viewing with the lights off, as the lack of adequate contrast spoils the experience of movie screenings. It is possible that the situation could be improved by the Ambilight system, which can create an illusion of perceived contrast, but unfortunately, it is not available on this model.

TCL MQLED85/C765 stands out due to its use of a VA panel and Mini LED backlighting, which makes a huge difference compared to traditional backlighting systems. Mini LED, with its significantly smaller diodes, allows for more precise control of the screen's backlighting, resulting in much better contrast and deeper blacks. The model with a 55-inch diagonal that we are testing has an impressive number of over 700 local dimming zones, providing exceptional precision in image display. It's worth noting, however, that the number of backlighting zones may vary depending on the screen size – for larger diagonals, the number of zones naturally increases due to the larger screen area, allowing larger sizes to achieve better results in terms of contrast and black levels. Thanks to the enormous number of zones, the TCL MQLED85/C765 achieved results comparable to OLED screens on our first test pattern from the movie "Oblivion," offering nearly reference-level contrast. But what happens when we test this model in even more demanding conditions? How will the TV perform in tougher scenarios? Overall, the TCL MQLED85/C765 performs very well with black levels, but in some cases, the local dimming algorithm is not perfect. On dark backgrounds, smaller bright elements can lose clarity and brightness, as confirmed by our latest pattern from the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Despite some imperfections in the local dimming algorithm, and thus a slight occurrence of the HALO effect (which is a bright halo around bright objects on a dark background caused by deficiencies in the screen's local dimming), the results achieved by the TCL MQLED85/C765 are impressive, especially considering its price. This TV offers contrast and black depth that can compete with models that are even twice as expensive.

In terms of HDR quality, PUS7009 (IPS) performs very poorly. A brightness level of 250 nits doesn't allow for enjoyment of HDR effects, and the image resembles more of a standard SDR. There’s no talk of dynamic effects or vivid bursts of light. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut is only 75%, which is definitely insufficient. The lack of full colour coverage means that the colours are not as vibrant as they should be, resulting in a flat and unimpressive image. There are no aspects to commend this model in the context of HDR.

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 performs well in handling HDR. In the tested movie scenes, where the screen is at 100% brightness, the model achieves impressive results around 1000 nits, providing intense and realistic rendering of HDR content. However, similar to contrast, the dimming algorithm may show some limitations. Despite a large number of Mini LED zones, the television does not always manage to "wow" the user with brightness in very challenging test scenes. For instance, in the scene from the film "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in another scene from "Sicario 2," where a very bright light effect is visible against a dark background, the television did not reach maximum intensity. For users expecting a perfect HDR effect in such extreme cases, the TCL MQLED may come up a bit short. However, in terms of colours, the television stands out with a very high coverage of the DCI P3 colour gamut at 95%, which is an impressive result comparable to much more expensive models. TCL MQLED85 / C765 offers support for various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is crucial for cinema image fans. Although this model achieves brightness over 1000 nits, the TCL MQLED85 may struggle to reflect details in very high-contrast scenes. For better HDR quality control, the C765 is equipped with dynamic tone mapping, making the image more realistic and natural depending on the content.

The television was tested in movie mode, which – despite its name – does not provide correct image display. The white balance in both 4K HDR and HD/SDR content is characterised by drops in red, making the image cooler and the colours lose their natural warmth. The gamma brightness characteristics and EOTF curve confirm that the television has issues maintaining appropriate brightness – it boosts it significantly, resulting in an unnaturally washed-out image. This effect can be seen in the comparisons below, where everything looks as if it has a milky filter applied. Additionally, the limited coverage of a wide colour gamut also does not promote quality – colour checker attempts indicate significant colour variations, making it difficult to achieve faithful image reproduction.

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 was tested in movie mode, which, while seeming to be the best setting from the manufacturer, is not without its flaws. The colour reproduction in HD/SDR mode MQLED85 shows certain shortcomings. In the analysis of white balance, there is a significant lack of blue colour, which can affect the overall image quality, particularly in bright scenes where blue shades are crucial for natural representation. The overall image may then appear too warm. As for gamma contrast, the graph shows that there is a large jump above the reference line of level 2.4 at the beginning, which may suggest significant dimming of brightness in darker areas, leading to loss of detail in blacks. Then for most of the time, the values are below this line, which can lead to loss of detail in the brighter parts of the image. Such a distribution may negatively impact the perceived image quality, especially when watching regular TV in HD quality.

In the case of the 4K HDR image quality of the TCL MQLED85/C765 television, there is a noticeable excess of red colour in the analysis of white balance. This excess can significantly impact the viewer's experience, leading to several notable effects. First and foremost, an excessive amount of red can make other colours, such as green or blue, appear muted or unnatural. This distortion of colour balance can result in an overall impression of "oversaturation," which detracts from the image's naturalness and authenticity. In terms of contrast, the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) graph indicates that most values are above the reference line, suggesting an intense boost in brightness in the bright areas of the image. However, the exception is the start of the graph, where the EOTF line is below the reference, which may lead to excessive dimming of small light elements.

Users should be aware that despite using the best mode, which is movie mode, the television is not free from flaws in the context of image settings, so it is worth considering adjusting the settings to achieve better results.

After calibration, the picture has significantly improved, especially in terms of white balance, which is now more stable, and the shades have taken on a natural quality, eliminating the earlier impression of a rather cool picture. The calibration has brought noticeable benefits in terms of tonality – the shadows and midtones are now more realistic, and the whole seems more harmonious. Unfortunately, hardware limitations still affect the quality of the image. The brightness characteristic remains problematic, despite our efforts, and due to poor coverage of the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 colour gamut, delta E errors are still at a high level. Although calibration has improved some aspects, the television still does not allow for complete satisfaction.

After professional calibration of the television TCL MQLED85/C765, its colour properties in film mode have significantly improved, resulting in much more satisfying visual experiences. Both in SDR and HDR modes, the white balance shows no serious errors, and the graph appears to be much better harmonised. Users can now enjoy natural colour reproduction, which is crucial for achieving an authentic experience while watching films. It is worth noting that in HDR content, there may be minor colour reproduction errors at the end of the graph, but these are significantly smaller than before calibration. As a result, characters and landscapes become more realistic, enhancing the depth of immersion in the story.

Regarding contrast, the gamma curve, responsible for HD quality, has been completely free of drops below the reference line, which means better visibility of details in dark scenes. However, there is still a slight boost at the beginning of the graph, which may affect the perception of bright elements. For HDR content, the EOTF curve also shows fewer errors, although some issues with reproducing mid-tones may still be noticeable. The EOTF curve measured on real film scenes still shows a significant brightness boost, so the image may appear more intense but artificially brightened. This is a typical problem for TCL brand televisions, which may appeal to untrained viewers but can frustrate those more familiar with an ideal image.

What benefits does professional calibration bring to film enthusiasts? Thanks to it, viewing becomes even more realistic and immersive, allowing every scene to be experienced fully, preserving details and natural colours.

The gradation of tonal transitions in Philips PUS7009 is at a good level, with no visible issues that could negatively affect content perception. With careful viewing, one can notice some minor imperfections in bright, colourful transitions; however, they are subtle enough not to pose a barrier for most users.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the TCL MQLED85/C765 television is decent, although noticeable issues arise in both bright and dark test scenes. Particularly evident are the colour joins in the scene from the film "The Green Knight", where the red colour of the water transitions to black. Despite these imperfections, the overall gradient quality is acceptable and does not overly detract from the visual experience. The television handles most scenes well, offering satisfactory tonal transitions, contributing to an overall satisfying visual experience that won't spoil our cinematic enjoyment.

If we talk about tonal transitions in low-quality material, the feature called "Distortion Reduction" (set to "minimum") effectively improves the gradation, eliminating undesirable tonal transitions. However, this setting on Philips TVs is quite aggressive – while it doesn't blur grain or high-quality material, it may introduce unwanted effects and blur elements that should remain sharp with poorer signals.

In terms of image scaling, Philips PUS7009 performs reasonably well. A significant advantage is the absence of cropped edges, meaning no overscan, which allows for displaying the full frame without loss. The image is noticeably improved, making characters and backgrounds, such as the model or branches in the background, look fairly detailed and natural, even with lower quality signals. Although the scaling is not perfect, as it can remove desired details in the distance, the results are good enough to satisfy most users.

We will now take another look at the tonal transitions on the TCL MQLED85/C765 TV, but in the context of lower image quality. Despite the presence of the "Gradual Smoothing" option, when set to "low", the effects are practically invisible, disappointing users who expect an improvement in image quality. On the other hand, the "high" setting yields minimal results, and worse still, it can blur important details, negatively impacting the sharpness and clarity of the displayed image. However, in the context of image scaling, the TV successfully displayed the image without overscan, meaning we do not lose any part of the view. The image looks quite decent, and details such as tree branches or the outlines of models do not show significant jaggedness, which positively affects the visual quality.

Philips PUS7009 does not have any motion smoothing features in films, which means we cannot choose whether the picture should be more choppy or more cinematic. These features could improve more dynamic scenes. As for motion blur, despite using a 60Hz IPS panel, the situation looks quite good. The response time between pixels is better than in versions with a VA panel, which keeps motion blur at an acceptable level and does not significantly affect the viewing comfort of dynamic scenes.

TCL MQLED85/C765 is equipped with a standard refresh rate panel of 120 Hz, with the possibility of increasing it to 144 Hz when connected to a powerful computer. The television also offers a multi-level motion smoother, which is mainly aimed at users wanting to improve the fluidity of motion in films. It allows for adjusting the intensity of the effect on a scale from 0 to 10, enabling precise tailoring of the image smoothness to individual preferences. The response time of the panel is decent, but not perfect. We can observe motion blur occurring behind both dark and medium objects.

In terms of compatibility with consoles, Philips PUS7009 is suitable for casual gamers. Despite using HDMI 2.0, the TV offers access to features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and Game Bar. ALLM automatically switches the TV to low latency mode, allowing for faster responses while gaming, while VRR dynamically adjusts the refresh rate to reduce screen tearing. The Game Bar is a tool that provides quick access to game settings and real-time parameter monitoring - although we believe it looks the weakest compared to competing Game Bars.

Unfortunately, more demanding gamers may be disappointed. The Philips PUS7009 does not support advanced HDR formats in games or high refresh rates, due to the use of a 60 Hz panel. The lack of support for these features limits the TV's ability to deliver smooth and fully detailed experiences during fast-paced gameplay.

TCL MQLED85/C765 has achieved an impressive rating in the gaming features category, making it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts. The television supports all the latest technologies that significantly enhance the gaming experience. Among the key gaming features is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), allowing the TV to automatically switch to low latency mode, minimising response time and ensuring smooth gameplay. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) supported from 48 to 144 Hz eliminates stuttering and screen tearing in dynamic game scenes. Additionally, the TV supports the Dolby Vision Game Mode, which provides better image quality in games with exceptional depth of colour and contrast. TCL MQLED85/C765 also features a decent but not the best implementation of HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), optimising the display of HDR games, however, in the case of TCL, it causes bright details to wash out, resulting in some elements merging into a white blob - more on this can be read in the colour reproduction section. It supports various resolutions such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, and 4K@120Hz, allowing gamers to enjoy higher image quality and better fluidity. The Game Bar feature allows for easy switching between game settings and quick control of parameters, which significantly simplifies adjusting the TV to individual needs. With support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, users of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards will be pleased with the refresh rate synchronisation capabilities, eliminating tearing and stuttering issues, ensuring smoother and more immersive gameplay.

MQLED85/C765 is a television that combines advanced technologies and excellent support for gamers, making it the ideal choice for those looking to maximise their gaming experiences.

Input lag in PUS7009 is at a very good level - it's only 11 ms for supported resolutions. For most gamers, this low level of latency should be satisfying, providing smooth and responsive experiences during gameplay.

Latency in the TCL MQLED85 television reaches impressively low levels under any conditions. Even the most demanding gamers will surely appreciate the minimal input lag of just 8 ms at 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Moreover, the latency remains at the same level even when Dolby Vision HDR is enabled, which is not the case with many competing models.

Philips PUS7009 is one of the better choices as a monitor for office work. The readability of the fonts is very good, regardless of the background – both on light and dark backgrounds, the text remains clear and easy to read. In daily work, especially with text and office tasks, this TV performs exceptionally well. However, gamers may be a bit disappointed – the input lag in "Monitor" mode, which is 43 ms, is too high to ensure comfortable gameplay in fast-paced games that require quick reactions. The use of a 60 Hz panel and the lack of support for G-Sync mean that the TV does not meet the standards expected by PC gamers. The rating in this category is therefore lower, although the device performs well in everyday computer usage for work.

TCL MQLED85 works well as a computer monitor. Thanks to its support for chroma 4:4:4, the text on the screen is sharp and readable, which is essential for people working with text documents or spreadsheets. One of the biggest advantages of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is just 8 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures smoothness and responsiveness, crucial for both gamers and those involved in video editing. However, it's worth noting that there is a slight issue related to font display on dark backgrounds. Upon zooming in on the tested font picture, it can be seen that horizontal lines are darker compared to vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the TV may not fully illuminate in such cases, which can affect the quality of displayed text. Nonetheless, the overall performance of TCL MQLED85 as a computer monitor is very good and will certainly meet the expectations of many users.

Philips PUS7009, thanks to the use of an IPS matrix, offers quite good viewing angles. The image remains relatively clear and uniform even when viewed from a greater angle, which is definitely a better result compared to the variant with a VA matrix, where there is usually a rapid deterioration in image quality when deviating from the axis.

The viewing angles on the TCL MQLED85 television are not its strong suit. The use of a VA panel causes the image to lose a significant amount of brightness when viewed at an angle. Changing the viewer's position, especially in a larger group setting, can make colours appear less saturated, and contrast may be less distinct. For this reason, it's recommended to sit directly in front of the screen to fully enjoy the picture quality. Although the television offers excellent colour reproduction from a direct view, the loss of brightness and detail at an angle can be problematic for those who plan to use the television in a larger room or from various locations.

Even though the panel in the PUS7009 is equipped with a satin finish that effectively reduces reflections, the brightness level of 280 nits in SDR mode is simply too low for the TV to perform well in bright rooms. As a result, in heavily sunlit conditions, details on the screen may be hard to discern, which reduces user comfort during the day.

MQLED85 performs reasonably well in daylight conditions, and it's worth noting the satin finish of the panel. While it doesn't excel at reducing reflections, it offers decent performance in various lighting conditions. An average brightness level above 600 nits is an impressive result, allowing for comfortable viewing even in well-lit rooms. As a result, the television performs well both during the day and during evening movie screenings, providing satisfactory picture quality.

Philips has decided to change its approach to the operating system this year, replacing the previous open GoogleTV system with its own TitanOS. As is often the case with new solutions, TitanOS is grappling with typical growing pains. Currently, it only offers basic applications, and the app store leaves much to be desired, which may disappoint users expecting a rich selection of programs. Additionally, the lack of support for AirPlay features and the inability to record to USB are further limitations that could impact the overall user experience.

A notable feature of the models running TitanOS is the new remote, which, thanks to its backlighting, is very convenient to use. Unfortunately, its wireless operation is not entirely consistent. The hybrid design sometimes requires aiming at the TV and sometimes doesn’t, depending on the buttons being used. This is simply annoying.

On the positive side, the support for Bluetooth allows for connecting a mouse or other peripheral devices. This is particularly useful when using the browser, which could serve as an alternative due to the limited availability of apps in the TitanOS app store.

TCL MQLED85 TV offers many features that enhance user comfort, with the central point of its functionality being the Google TV system. This modern interface allows for easy content browsing, as well as access to apps available in the Google Play store. Users can take advantage of voice search in Polish, which greatly simplifies navigation and allows for quick finding of interesting shows, movies, or apps. It's also worth noting that Google TV is currently the only system on the market that does not restrict Polish users' access to apps, offering the greatest availability among all available platforms. However, in the context of traditional TV watching, this television has its limitations. It does not offer a recording function, which may be a significant downside for those who would like to save their favorite programs. Additionally, the lack of Picture-in-Picture (PIP) option limits the ability to simultaneously track multiple video sources. On the other hand, the TV features a "MultiVision" function, which allows for screen splitting between the TV and a mobile device. This way, users can use apps on their phone while still watching a TV program. This solution will certainly appeal to those who enjoy multitasking and want to watch TV while also engaging with social media or browsing the internet on their smartphone. Despite some limitations, the TCL MQLED85 TV presents itself as a solid option for users who value modernity and functionality.

In terms of playback from USB, Philips PUS7009 performs quite decently. The television plays most popular photo, audio, and video formats, and an added bonus is support for Polish subtitles and the ability to change fonts. Unfortunately, it has issues with playing certain resolutions of images.

Thanks to the built-in player, the television is able to play most file formats found on external storage, making it a versatile tool for consuming multimedia. However, there may be some limitations in supporting certain formats, which can be bothersome for more demanding users. Fortunately, the Google TV system allows for the installation of other media players from Google Play, which helps eliminate compatibility issues. This gives users the ability to choose applications that best meet their needs, significantly increasing the functionality of the television.

The sound in Philips PUS7009 is rather flat and doesn't stand out compared to other TVs. However, it’s worth noting that the TV supports all popular audio formats, including Dolby and DTS, which is a plus in terms of compatibility with various sound sources.

The sound of the television TCL MQLED85 can be described as decent, making it sufficient for everyday watching of movies, TV shows, and gaming. The speakers branded with Onkyo offer surprisingly good audio quality, and the sound does not crackle or distort even at higher volume levels.

Philips PUS7009 (IPS) vs TCL MQLED85 / C765

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

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