Sharp GP6765 vs Philips PML8709

In movie mode, the television Sharp GP6765 reaches a brightness level of 300 nits; unfortunately, this is quite an average result. Such brightness is closer to the standard SDR image than what full HDR experience should offer. As a result, the television is unable to convey the full depth and dynamism of the picture that one might expect from a good HDR mode. Visual effects that in other models are vivid and detailed may appear muted here, and high-contrast scenes won’t look as impressive. However, it's worth noting that when comparing this result with televisions in this budget, it is a decent score. A positive feature is the fact that the television supports a wide colour gamut of DCI-P3 at 92.5% thanks to the implementation of quantum dots (Quantum Dot/QLED). This is quite a respectable result, especially in this price range. As a result, colours are vibrant and more saturated, which certainly impacts the image quality, although it doesn't fully save the HDR experience due to the limited brightness.

Looking at the contrast results, we expected that the algorithms responsible for the zones in the Philips PML8709 would be at least decent. However, what we encountered during testing is difficult to explain. The average brightness we managed to achieve was just 350 nits, which is definitely too low to fully enjoy HDR effects. In practice, the TV barely stands out compared to an average SDR. The situation becomes even more surprising in test scenes, such as the second one from the movie Life of Pi or Sicario 2. Small light elements achieve just 120 nits there, making them practically imperceptible. Such a level of brightness is completely below modern HDR standards and significantly diminishes the experience of watching high-quality content. The only bright spot in this category is the very good coverage of wide color gamuts – DCI-P3 at 97% and BT.2020 at 83%. This ensures that colors are saturated and well-reproduced, which can somewhat improve the overall experience of watching HDR materials. However, the lack of adequate brightness means that even this cannot save the Philips PML8709 in this category.

Sharp GP6765 was launched in movie mode, which is the best setting for colour reproduction. Unfortunately, even so, the quality is still far from ideal. Starting with the white balance, in SDR mode the graph shows significant increases in the red colour. This effect can make the image appear slightly yellowish, leading to distortion of natural skin tones. As a result, viewers may notice that some scenes seem unnatural, and colours lose their authenticity. In HDR mode, the situation changes dramatically – the dominant colour becomes blue. Such a strong shift towards blue also negatively impacts the colour balance of the image, which can lead to a loss of detail in cool tones. Viewers may feel that the image is somewhat cold and out of balance, which is further highlighted by the fact that the television does not achieve optimal colour reproduction. Tests conducted using the Colour Checker tool confirm these shifts in several tested samples.

When it comes to contrast, in HD mode the range shows a significant jump at the beginning of the graph, but then remains close to the reference line at 2.4. This means that in most scenes, the television is able to deliver a satisfactory level of contrast. For the viewer, this means better perception of details in shadows and greater depth of the image, which affects their overall viewing experience of movies and TV shows. In HDR mode, however, the EOTF curve shows large fluctuations both at the beginning and at the end of the graph. Such fluctuations can lead to inconsistencies in detail reproduction in bright and dark areas of the image. For the viewer, this means that in scenes with intense light, such as explosions or dynamic actions, essential details may disappear and the image may appear blurry. Conversely, in darker parts of the image, the lack of clear differences in shades can cause details to blend into a uniform patch, which significantly reduces the viewing quality. Although movie mode offers the best factory settings in the GP6765, both in the context of colour reproduction and contrast, significant problems do exist.

Though theoretically the Filmmaker mode in the Philips PML8709 should provide natural colour reproduction, in reality it resembles a store mode more. In the white balance, both for HD and 4K content, there is a clear dominance of blue. This causes the image to appear washed out and cold, which is particularly noticeable in the comparative image below.

The brightness characteristics also leave much to be desired. Both gamma and the EOTF curve exhibit excessive screen brightness. As a result, there is a loss of detail in both the brighter and darker areas of the image, further diminishing its credibility and naturalness. Bright elements appear unnaturally flat and little varied.

These significant issues with white balance and brightness characteristics lead to noticeable errors in colour reproduction, which can easily be seen in films as well as the Colour Checker test. The colours are inaccurate, affecting the overall image quality and visual experience. The factory settings require significant improvement in order to fully enjoy the potential of this television.

After calibration, in movie mode, the white balance on the Sharp GP6765 TV for SDR content improves significantly. All the lines on the graph come closer to the reference line. Although they are not perfectly straight, the achieved results are satisfying, considering the price range of this model. Such an improvement in white balance translates into a more natural and accurate colour reproduction, positively affecting the overall visual experience and immersion in the films being watched. Regarding the colour gamut, the initial jump on the graph was not removed, however after this error, the rest of the lines represent the expected effect much better, making the image more coherent and pleasant to view.

In the case of HDR content, the white balance performs slightly worse compared to SDR content, but it is still significantly better than before calibration. The improvement in white balance in HDR contributes to greater colour consistency, making watching films more enjoyable, despite some shortcomings that may occur. Speaking of contrast, it is difficult to claim significant improvement. Our specialists noted that the lack of control over dynamic tone mapping settings prevented achieving significant improvement in EOTF, leading to uneven brightness reproduction.

Despite some shortcomings related to the lack of settings options for dynamic tone mapping, the Sharp GP6765 TV has gained a new face after proper calibration. The improved white balance and better colour reproduction in SDR mode have made the image more natural and pleasant to the eye. Although there are still areas that require improvement, especially in HDR content, the TV offers satisfying visual experiences, making it an interesting choice in its price range.

Philips offers advanced image calibration tools in its televisions, which we decided to fully utilise. The results? Although we managed to improve many aspects, it wasn't without difficulties. White balance was one of the biggest challenges – despite our efforts, it could be called fighting against windmills. We were able to significantly correct it, so the picture now looks much better than in the factory settings, but it is still far from perfect. Especially in some scenes, a subtle dominance of blue is visible, although not as intense as before. We achieved a significant improvement in brightness characteristics – gamma now appears much more stable. The EOTF curve looks correct at first glance, however, when analysing movie content, it is evident that the television has trouble maintaining the proper characteristics. The algorithms are "struggling", trying to adjust brightness, which may be due to the limited number of dimming zones that do not always handle more complex scenes well. Overall, the picture after calibration looks much more pleasing to the eye – colors are more natural, and colour reproduction errors have been minimised. Although it is still not perfect, the Philips PML8709 now presents itself much better than in the factory settings.

On the Sharp GP6765 television, the “10-bit colour reproduction” feature performs well in the tested scene with light bulbs. Setting this option to “medium” yields satisfactory results, as there are no issues with grain smoothing or blurring of key image elements. The “low” setting also delivers positive results, providing a clear image without adversely affecting details. Such smoothing options for tonal transitions contribute to enhanced visual quality, allowing for more natural colour transitions.

In terms of image scaling, the Sharp GP6765 television has its strengths, such as the absence of overscan when displaying test material. This allows viewers to enjoy a full image without losing any details from the edges. However, in the tested scene with the model, some shortcomings arise. The branches or trousers do not look their best. Their outlines appear slightly jagged, suggesting that effective edge smoothing techniques were not applied. This can make some details look somewhat distorted, which may affect the overall visual experience.

The distortion reduction feature in the Philips PML8709 smooths tonal transitions, but its effectiveness leaves much to be desired. We recommend setting this option to "Medium" - at this level, the effect is noticeable but not excessive. Unfortunately, compared to other Philips models, the smoothing effect is less effective, meaning that certain tonal transitions may still appear somewhat uneven. An additional drawback is that this feature also smooths other details, such as the textures of materials like shirts, which can affect image sharpness.

As for image scaling, the television performs very well. The image appears smooth and free of noticeable "jaggies". This effect may appeal to many users, although some might prefer a more vivid look. Fortunately, the television allows for adjustment of the sharpness parameter, enabling us to tailor the image to individual preferences.

When it comes to blur and motion fluidity, the Sharp GP6765 television performs quite averagely. It is equipped with a 60 Hz panel, which works well for films. The TV features a motion smoothing function called "Motion Enhancement". With this feature, we can control the fluidity of the motion, allowing us to choose whether the image should appear in a cinematic frame or be more fluid - theatrical. This smoothening function should satisfy most users who focus on film content. However, in the case of sports or games, the Sharp does not perform at its best. In the tested scene with the UFO alien, there is noticeable blurriness, suggesting that the low response time of the panel negatively affects the sharpness of moving objects. Such effects can be particularly frustrating during dynamic sequences where fast movements are common. For those who prefer watching sports or intense video games, the limitations in motion fluidity may be discouraging, making the Sharp GP6765 not necessarily the ideal choice in this category.

Philips PML8709 is one of the few models with mini-LED technology on the market, offering a refresh rate of 60 Hz. While it’s not a panel for the most demanding gamers, it should satisfy those who mainly watch movies. The TV is equipped with a “Motion Style” feature, which is a motion smoother that allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion according to your preferences – from a more “plastic” look to a cinematic aesthetic with clearly visible frames.

The functionality of Sharp's GP6765 for gamers leaves a lot to be desired. Although this model is equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, which theoretically should offer a range of modern conveniences, in practice the situation is much worse. The only feature that truly utilises the capabilities of this standard is Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Unfortunately, the lack of support for key features such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) or HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) makes this TV a less appealing choice for gamers. VRR is essential for eliminating issues with tearing and stuttering, which is particularly important in dynamic games where smoothness of image is crucial. Meanwhile, HGIG allows for optimal HDR reproduction, increasing immersion and visual quality. Although it might seem that the implementation of Dolby Vision will bring significant benefits, for gamers it is completely useless due to the very high input lag in this mode.

One could say that the presence of HDMI 2.1 ports in Sharp GP6765 is a marketing trap that can mislead users into thinking that the HDMI standard automatically entails all its conveniences. Expecting full functionality that should accompany HDMI 2.1 may lead to disappointment.

Philips PML8709 is a television aimed more at casual gamers, mainly due to the 60 Hz panel, which won’t meet the expectations of the most demanding users. However, for those who appreciate gaming at a more moderate pace, this model may prove sufficient.

The television offers several gamer-friendly features, such as ALLM (automatic switching to game mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), which help in providing smoother image display without annoying stutters. Furthermore, in terms of HDR, we find the implementation of HGiG, which adjusts the HDR effect to the specifics of games, ensuring a more natural image in appropriately optimised titles. Unfortunately, there is no support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be noticeable in games that utilise this format.

A nice addition is the presence of a basic "Game Bar," which allows for quick previewing and modification of the most important settings related to gaming. It’s a simple but useful touch, especially for those who frequently change their configuration between different types of gameplay. Despite some limitations, the Philips PML8709 offers a solid set of features for less demanding gamers.