Philips PUS8359 (IPS) vs Samsung Q60D / Q67D / Q68D

The quality of the HDR effect on the Philips PUS8359/12 television is also not impressive. A brightness level of 280 nits is too low, resembling standard SDR more than true HDR, which is clearly evident on the five tested test cards. Additionally, the television does not impress in terms of colour gamut coverage – just 76% DCI-P3 is a result that can be considered poor, especially compared to other models in a similar price range.

Television Samsung Q60D, regardless of the tested scene, achieves brightness levels above 500 nits, which is above average for this class of devices. Such a level of brightness allows for a taste of true home cinema, with clearly visible details in bright areas of the image and well-rendered contrast dynamics, especially when watching content from streaming platforms or films played from Blu-ray. This means that movie screenings gain greater depth and realism, particularly in well-lit scenes. Despite the use of quantum dot technology (QLED), the television does not achieve outstanding results in colour reproduction. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space is only 90%, which may be noticeable in more demanding scenes, where the richness and saturation of colours play a key role in image quality.

The most faithful factory mode in terms of compliance with the source material turned out to be "Film," which was used in our tests. However, like other factory modes, it also had its drawbacks. Both in SDR and HDR materials, we noticed issues with white balance, where the dominance of green and red resulted in a yellowish hue. This effect was particularly evident in the form of yellowed whites and unnatural skin tones. The "ColourChecker" palette test showed that each colour was shifted towards warmer tones, which affected the accuracy of colour reproduction. A key aspect of the image is also contrast and brightness, which can be assessed by analysing the gamma charts and the EOTF curve. In the gamma chart, we observed significant deviations – both excessively high values that caused loss of detail in the shadows and excessively low values, which led to a drastic drop in contrast. Compared to gamma, the EOTF curve performed better, only slightly brightening the image, which had a less negative impact on overall quality.

Samsung has been offering a "Filmmaker" mode in its TVs for several years now, aimed at providing the most faithful picture settings straight from the factory, in line with the vision of filmmakers. This is certainly a big step towards cinematic quality at home, but it is worth noting that this mode is not without its issues.

For example, the white balance in both SDR and HDR modes exhibits an excessive amount of red, which makes the image too warm. As a result, the skin tones of actors and bright scenes can appear unnaturally flushed. The Colour Checker test further confirms this problem – colour samples often shift towards red hues, deviating from the neutral colour representation that would be more desirable in a professional setup.

When it comes to contrast, there is a noticeable strong drop at the beginning of the gamma graph, where values below 2.4 drop all the way down to 2.1. As a result, the image in darker scenes may appear less distinct, losing depth. In the case of HDR content, the EOTF curve (which is responsible for brightness reproduction) shows a strong spike at the beginning of the graph, which can lead to excessive brightness in the lighter parts of the image, disrupting the natural tonal balance.

Philips, in both its cheaper and more expensive models, offers a wide range of tools for image calibration. We used them to improve the quality of the displayed image, although it was not as straightforward as it might seem. We managed to adjust the white balance, improve the gamma, and fine-tune the EOTF curve; however, despite these efforts, the deltaE errors remained at a very high level. The main causes were limited coverage of the DCI-P3 palette and low maximum brightness, which significantly affected the final outcome. While the overall presentation is much improved, the design features of the television did not allow us to achieve spectacular results.

After professional calibration of the Samsung Q60D television in film mode, users can enjoy a significant improvement in image quality. Samsung televisions have always offered 2- and 20-point grayscale adjustment and an advanced CMS (Colour Management System), allowing for precise colour and shade adjustments. The white balance for both SDR and HDR has been stripped of strong peaks and tendencies towards colour drifting into red tones, significantly enhancing the naturalness of the image. Although a few larger errors can still be observed in HDR mode, the overall quality of colour reproduction has been excellently improved. Regarding contrast, although drastic changes cannot be said due to the limitations of the television's technology, the improvement is noticeable. Thanks to calibration, details in dark scenes are more visible, and the differences between light and dark elements of the image have been enhanced. This makes the overall perception of the image more satisfying, allowing viewers to enjoy greater depth and realism in the displayed content.

In this paragraph, we'll take a look at two functionalities. We'll once again examine the function responsible for tonal transitions, but we'll also check how the television handles image scaling. The option responsible for smooth gradation is called "Distortion Reduction". As we've established, it does a pretty good job of smoothing out inconsistencies. However, we must point out two things: we are unable to enable it for HDR content, and it blurs details in films.

The television being tested cannot boast the best image scaling. There is a noticeable overall blurriness in 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 figures is also visible.

However, when it comes to processing and scaling lower quality materials, the television performs quite well. The image is rendered without overscan, which ensures full use of the available screen space. Additionally, the outlines of the model or branches of the tree are not overly jagged, resulting in a satisfactory quality of the displayed content. Although noise reduction could be more effective, the overall processing results of lower quality materials are positive and meet expectations.

Philips PUS8359 is not the best choice for watching sports. The lack of even basic motion smoothing features means that the picture in dynamic scenes isn't sharp enough. Despite using an IPS panel (43 and 55'), which theoretically should provide better clarity than VA panel variants, there’s no noticeable improvement in terms of motion blur. In photos of fast movement, it’s clear that the figure of the little green man is distinctly blurry, indicating that the TV struggles to maintain sharpness in dynamic shots.

Samsung Q60D is equipped with a 60 Hz panel and a feature to enhance movie smoothness, known as "Motion Blur Reduction." This function aims to minimise motion blur and improve overall image fluidity, which will certainly appeal to users who primarily seek a television for watching movies and series. Thanks to this technology, viewers can enjoy a more fluid visual experience, even in dynamic action scenes where details are crucial. However, it is worth noting that while "Motion Blur Reduction" improves image fluidity in films, for gaming, this panel may not be the best choice due to its considerable motion blur effect, which can be seen in the photo below.

In terms of console compatibility, Philips PUS8359 is mainly suitable for casual gamers. Although the TV is equipped with an HDMI 2.0 port, it offers features such as Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and Game Bar. ALLM automatically switches the TV to low-latency mode, making quicker reactions during gaming easier, while VRR smoothly adjusts the refresh rate, eliminating screen tearing issues. The Game Bar provides quick access to game settings and ongoing parameter monitoring; however, in our opinion, it performs worse compared to competitors' solutions.

However, more demanding gamers may feel disappointed. Philips PUS8359 does not support advanced HDR formats in games or higher refresh rates, which is due to the use of a 60 Hz panel. These shortcomings limit the TV’s ability to deliver smooth and detailed experiences during fast-paced, dynamic gameplay.

Samsung Q60D has been equipped with features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) and Game Bar, which significantly enhance the gaming experience. However, the lack of HDMI 2.1 implementation limits its capabilities, preventing the use of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), which could further improve smoothness and image quality. Generally, for casual gamers, this TV should perform well in everyday use, providing satisfactory gaming experiences. However, if we are more demanding in terms of gaming, it is worth considering models with a higher refresh rate and HDMI 2.1, which will ensure full functionality and better support for the latest games. In such cases, investing in a more advanced TV will yield significantly better results in terms of smoothness and image quality, which is crucial for gaming enthusiasts.