Compare: TCL C8K vs Philips OLED770

The C8K is proof that premium Mini LED technology doesn't have to cost as much as a premium product. With a high number of dimming zones and a new WHVA panel, the television offers excellent contrast, deep blacks, and very high brightness – everything we expect from a good viewing experience in the living room. The improved viewing angles are also impressive, as they no longer detract from the enjoyment of watching when sitting outside the centre of the frame. The C8K also shines in the gaming world – with a 144 Hz refresh rate, support for 288 Hz in Full HD, a full set of gaming features, very low input lag, and sensible compatibility with PCs, it's hard to put down the controller or keyboard. It also comes with Google TV – currently the most advanced and versatile Smart TV platform. There is access to all the key apps, great voice control, and an intuitive interface. It may lack some classic TV features like USB recording from built-in tuners or picture-in-picture (PiP), but most users won't even notice that. On top of all this, the sound is quite decent – a new collaboration with Bang & Olufsen.

Of course, it's not a screen without its flaws. HDR, while impressive, still has some 'mini LED' traits – bright scenes can be overly bright or dimmed, and the system lacks a few classic features known from other brands. But when we consider its price in comparison to the competition, it's hard not to ask the question – why pay more?

Philips OLED770 is a television that stands out primarily for its picture quality – the characteristic perfect black and infinite contrast typical of OLEDs make even a regular evening of binge-watching a series feel like a small cinematic experience. After calibration, the colours gain naturalness and consistency, while details in dark scenes are separated from the lights with surgical precision. This is a screen that gives the feeling of engaging with premium-class technology, even though it is formally a budget OLED in Philips' portfolio. The second pillar on which the OLED770 stands very strong is gaming. Here, the manufacturer has really done their homework. VRR works up to 120 Hz, we have an automatic game mode (ALLM), and input lag in standard HDR10 or SDR modes at 120 Hz can drop to as low as 5 ms – these are results that will easily satisfy even the most demanding gamers. And finally, the Ambilight system – for many it’s a gadget, but during longer sessions, it truly makes a difference. The colourful LEDs behind the screen dynamically respond to what's happening in the game, and can pull you deeper into the virtual world. It’s precisely for this reason that one could risk saying that the OLED770 is one of the more interesting budget gaming TVs on the market.

However, not everything shines so brightly, because when we come to the Smart TV aspect… TitanOS is the biggest drawback of this model. Theoretically, we have everything we need: access to apps, AirPlay support, and voice commands. In practice, though, the list of apps is limited, screen mirroring often doesn’t work at all, and voice search does not support the Polish language. Moreover, the remote, although well-designed and backlit – operates on infrared, which sounds almost anachronistic in 2025. The system is purportedly fast, but it can irritate with errors, and instead of encouraging usage, at times, it rather urges us to turn it off. And here we reach the crux: the OLED770 is a television that performs excellently as a screen for movies and games, but not necessarily as a multimedia hub for the home. For someone who mainly uses a console, home cinema, or operator's decoder – it will be a solid choice. We get fantastic picture quality, a full set of modern gaming features, and of course, the proprietary AmbilightTV backlighting system! But if someone is looking for a television that has to replace everything and serve as a multimedia powerhouse, it would be better to look towards the more expensive Philips models that offer more refined system solutions like GoogleTV.

TCL C8K is a representative of the Mini LED class of TVs and – importantly – it uses a VA panel. This means high native contrast right from the start, but the true strength of this model reveals itself only when we combine it with an impressive number of dimming zones. In the 75-inch version we tested, we counted nearly 1700 independent zones – and you can feel it. In many scenes, the effect of black levels and contrast is nothing short of phenomenal. In less demanding scenes – where dimming algorithms don’t have to “work hard” – the screen can resemble OLEDs. The contrast can be nearly infinite, and the separation between bright and dark elements makes a fantastic impression.

However – as is often the case with Mini LEDs – this is not an organic screen, and some compromises have to be expected. Brightness is a huge asset, but it can also reveal the weaknesses of this solution – especially in dark scenes. Parts of very challenging scenes to display – such as those famous ones with a starry sky or sequences from the iconic Pioneer Kuro – become noticeable with what’s known as haloing, which is a glow around small bright details. Sometimes the whole screen also lightens slightly when the system tries to reconcile contrast with extreme luminance. However, this is a characteristic of the technology, not a flaw of a specific model. And although such compromises can somewhat diminish the final impression in certain scenes, TCL C8K is among the very best when it comes to contrast among Mini LED TVs.

In terms of black and contrast, the Philips OLED770 doesn’t introduce any revolutions – but with OLEDs, it would be hard to expect one. The organic matrix allows for complete blacking out of individual pixels, which in practice gives us almost perfect black and contrast that reaches infinity. Whether we’re watching night scenes in films or scenes full of tiny bright points, the TV precisely separates details from the background. There are no halo effects or other artifacts typical for LCD TVs with local dimming here. Choosing an OLED – also in the version of model 770 – you can be assured that in this category, the image will look fantastic.

TCL C8K is a really bright television. In synthetic conditions – that is, during tests with brightness charts – it was able to achieve even 3500 nits peak brightness in movie mode. That's an impressive result and brings the C8K close to the market leaders, at least when it comes to panel brightness. More importantly – these aren't just numbers on paper. In films with a lot of bright scenes, such as Life of Pi or The Meg, the brightness clearly exceeds 1000 nits, providing a true sense of HDR effect. The picture in those moments looks very dynamic, colors are saturated thanks to excellent coverage of the color palette, and the lights are – spot on and intense. Exactly how it should be.

However, this doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. Just like in contrast tests, here too, in more demanding scenes, compromises appear. In sequences with very fine light elements – such as stars in the night sky or reflections in dark rooms – the local dimming algorithm can… get confused. Instead of bringing those details up, the television sometimes decides to dim them significantly – down to around 300 nits – to maintain deep blacks. On one hand, this is quite a sensible approach (better deep black than a grey/navy blue screen), but on the other – there may be moments when certain elements of the picture become difficult to see or even disappear into darkness.

TEST UPDATE (20/08/2025): The brightness control algorithm in this model is quite problematic – attempting to calibrate the picture so that it doesn’t drastically overexpose the brightest scenes results in unnatural shifts: improvement in one part of the image results in deterioration in another. The television may achieve slightly higher readings in brightness measurements, but in practice, this comes with a heavily overexposed image that looks very unnatural!

For the record, we provide brightness values without this adjustment:

1463 nits
640 nits
1368 nits
468 nits
1025 nits

The Philips OLED770 doesn't try to compete with the brightest OLEDs on the market, and it's actually hard to expect that, as it's the entry-level model in Philips' range for 2025. In our measurements, it reached a maximum of around 700 nits, which allows for enjoyment of HDR effects in scenes where light appears in spots – for instance, in the flash of headlights or a starry sky. In such moments, the picture can truly amaze. However, it's different when there are more bright elements on the screen. The TV, like many cheaper OLEDs, restricts luminance at that point, and the entire image noticeably dims. This was best seen in a scene from the movie The Meg, where the sun rises behind an oil platform – the brightness dropped to around 250 nits, which is almost three times less. The HDR effect remains pleasing to the eye, but it's worth being aware that this model performs best in scenes with less intense light. Fortunately, the OLED770 also has an ace up its sleeve – the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette is as high as 99%, so colours in movies and games are vibrant and very close to what the creator intended.

In the C8K, a new picture mode has appeared: Filmmaker Mode. This is something we've known for years from televisions of other brands – a mode designed to deliver the director's vision as faithfully as possible, without unnecessary image enhancements. Unfortunately, at TCL, it seems to still be in the "to be refined" stage. Right from the first glance, the screen appears too warm – the image veers into reds, which may not appeal to everyone. The white balance was markedly skewed – the screen looked distinctly warm, and the red colour dominated almost every scene. There was a lack of blue, which led to an unpleasant yellowing and distortion of the image. But that’s not all. Regardless of whether we were watching regular TV, YouTube, or HDR films – the television had a clear tendency to excessively brighten the image. In tests of gamma curves and EOTF, the lines strayed instead of adhering to the standard, resulting in an overly bright and less contrasting image. Additionally, in colour reproduction tests, significant deviations were noticeable – on the colour wheel, some points were actually "drifting away." It must be said plainly: Filmmaker Mode in the C8K, in its current form, is not very cinematic.

The first measurements already show that the factory settings of the Philips OLED770 have a lot to improve, even in Filmmaker mode. The white balance chart clearly indicates a lack of blue, giving the image a slightly yellowish tint. In practice, white is not snow-like, but leans towards warmer hues – which some may even find appealing, but from a precision standpoint, this is a deviation from the norm. The gamma, on the other hand, tends to be on the darker side – the average value is around 2.6 instead of the reference 2.4. In mid-tones, the image appears muted and more saturated, which can look too "cinematic" but detracts a bit from the naturalness. However, the most significant issues are visible in colour reproduction. The average error is relatively high, and some colours – particularly shades of grey – deviate significantly from what should be seen. In everyday viewing, this means that sometimes colours may look less natural than we would wish.

After professional calibration, the TCL C8K has made a huge leap forward. In SDR content, the white balance has been almost perfectly set – the screen has finally stopped being too warm and has taken on a neutral character. The gamma curve, which is responsible for how brightness is represented, now looks very good – the image is more coherent and realistic. In HDR content, we also improved the white balance – within the limits of what the television itself allows. Unfortunately, the C8K still interprets brightness management a bit "in its own way." When we look at the EOTF chart in films, it’s clear that the television brightens entire scenes more than it should. Before calibration, this effect was quite bothersome – now the situation is much better, although it still falls a bit short of perfection. This, however, is a limitation of the device itself, which – despite our efforts – does not allow us to fully tame its nature.

Philips OLED770 had shown signs from the start that it harboured significant potential, but it was hard to fully appreciate this in its factory settings. The image was often too warm, and some colours appeared as if they had lost their naturalness along the way. Calibration revealed that this television was very amenable to work – it responded to every adjustment and almost immediately unveiled another layer of its capabilities. The white balance was set in both SDR and HDR so that the yellowish haze disappeared and a neutral, clear white emerged. Gamma stabilised closer to perfection, which helped restore the naturalness of mid-tones, while shadows ceased to be artificially darkened, perhaps even with a slight brightening effect. The result was obvious... Movies are watched with greater ease; the image has cinematic depth without the feeling that something is overly darkened. However, the most interesting aspect was working on the colours. Factory errors were not dramatic, but slightly noticeable – skin tones could be too warm, and grey wasn’t always the shade we expected. After calibration, the error values dropped to around 2, and in many cases even below 1. This is a level that is definitely lower than the threshold of discernibility for the human eye. In other words, after correction, the colours finally “clicked” into place. Looking at the screen, we felt like the television had begun to speak with a full voice. Like an instrument that had finally been properly tuned.

In this regard, the TCL C8K performs really well. The transitions between colours look natural and cohesive – there are no strange bands or strong banding that could disrupt the viewing experience. Especially in bright scenes, everything looks very smooth. In the darkest parts of the image, particularly in shades of grey, you might occasionally notice slight inconsistencies, but they are subtle enough that they shouldn't bother anyone.

In this category, there’s a noticeable improvement compared to last year's Philips models. The OLED770 handles colour gradation significantly better, and strongly visible transitions or artificial banding occur less frequently than before. Interestingly, we achieved the best results in dark scenes – where most televisions, especially those with WOLED panels, tend to struggle the most. A good example is the shot of an actor floating in red water – the transition from intense red to black looks nearly perfect here, without the typical “stair steps.” The situation is somewhat worse in light parts of the image. With extremely bright gradients, particularly close to white, the television has trouble maintaining smoothness. This can be noticed, for example, in a scene from the film Kingsman, where in the background of the bright sky with the sun, subtle bands of the sunrise appear instead of a smooth blur. Fortunately, these situations are relatively rare, and in everyday viewing, the OLED770 presents itself very solidly and doesn’t disrupt immersion as was the case in last year's models.

How does the TCL C8K handle lower quality materials? One could say: fairly well, though without much enthusiasm. The television offers a tonal transition enhancement feature designed to smooth out unwanted gradients. In practice, there's a slight improvement visible, but it's not at a level that eliminates all imperfections. The feature subtly softens harsh transitions, but it doesn't work miracles. Film grain isn't completely suppressed, and subtle banding on grey backgrounds can still be noticeable. But maybe that's for the best? – at least the image doesn't lose its texture or depth, as is often the case with televisions that overdo digital processing. When it comes to upscaling, which is enhancing picture quality from lower resolutions, the C8K performs quite well. The image is sharp, and details – though sometimes a bit softened – remain discernible. However, it's not on par with the best picture processors from the competition. On the plus side, there's no issues with overscan, which is the artificial cropping of the image that can still surprise in some models from other brands.

The problem of the previously mentioned colour connections can largely be mitigated thanks to the "distortion reduction" function, which is an algorithm for smoothing tonal transitions in Philips. It works best at a low level – effectively eliminating unwanted colour bands while not introducing strange artifacts or losing image detail. This is one of those features that is truly worth keeping on.

The issue of upscaling is somewhat less impressive. Images from lower resolution can be too soft, while in some parts the characteristic "jaggies" appear. The impression is that the algorithm is trying to reconcile two contradictory directions – smoothing and sharpening – and ultimately fails to find the golden mean. As a consolation, it's worth noting that the television does not have problems with overscan, meaning it does not cut off the edges of the image, which can sometimes happen in other competing models.

If you're planning a weekend with the Champions League or a marathon of F1 racing – the TCL C8K won't let you down. The television is equipped with a 144 Hz panel, so it should inherently handle fast motion well. And indeed – it performs very well. The fluidity of motion is at a very good level here, and the "Motion Clarity" feature with two sliders (blur reduction and flicker reduction) allows you to easily adjust the effect to your own preferences. Want to slightly smooth things out – no worries. Prefer a cinematic look – no problem.

The issue of the panel in the Philips OLED770 is not entirely straightforward. The manufacturer claims a 120 Hz panel, but our measurements showed that the screen can accept a 4K signal even at 144 Hz. This sounds like great news – because who wouldn't want an additional mode for PC gamers at this price? However, the reality turned out to be more complex. With 120 Hz content, the television behaves like most OLEDs – the image is absolutely clear, with no trace of blurring or smearing, ideal for both dynamic games and sports broadcasts. The problem only arises at 144 Hz. Unlike models with official support for this frequency, here we see the phenomenon of so-called frame skipping. This means that the television is unable to display all the frames – some of them are skipped, causing motion to lose smoothness and double outlines to appear on the screen. The effect resembles the operation of the BFI function, which Philips does not offer in this model anyway.

TCL C8K offers practically everything we could expect from a screen for gamers. It has variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic game mode (ALLM), Dolby Vision in games, and a well-functioning implementation of HGiG, which helps preserve the creators' intent in HDR titles. The TV also supports 120 Hz in lower resolutions without any problems, and it can even display a staggering 288 Hz in Full HD – a figure that will surely appeal to fans of dynamic shooters and sports games on PC.

On board, we also find the GameBar – a graphical interface that somewhat resembles an elongated Nintendo Switch console. Thanks to this, we gain quick access to information about the current game mode, frame count, HDR format, and other little details that really make life easier for the gamer. We obviously couldn’t resist and ran a couple of races in Forza Horizon on the C8K – and we must admit, it looked and worked really well.

However, there is a slight drawback – in such a fast and clearly gaming-oriented device, it's a bit unfortunate that the manufacturer opted for the implementation of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. For some users, who use several next-gen consoles and, for example, a soundbar with eARC, this could be a limitation that’s hard to overcome.

If someone is looking for a TV for gaming, the Philips OLED770 is a candidate that's hard to overlook. The mere fact that this is an OLED gives it a great starting point – perfect blacks and infinite contrast make evening sessions in atmospheric games look like they've been taken straight out of a cinema. Added to that is the Ambilight system, which uses LEDs on the back of the TV to extend the image onto the wall behind the screen. The effect is such that even just playing FIFA can look like a small spectacle, and in horror games, the atmosphere becomes really thick. On the technical side, it's also quite decent. The Philips OLED770 supports variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, has an automatic mode for gamers (ALLM), and for those using an Xbox Series X, Dolby Vision support in games is also available. You just need to know that in this mode, the input lag is slightly higher than standard, although still at an acceptable level. As a bonus, we also get the 'Game Bar', which is a special tool strip for gamers. It's not the most conveniently designed solution, but it allows for a quick view of key parameters without exiting the game. Overall, this gives a picture of a TV that has all the most important gaming features on one hand, and on the other can add something unique – Ambilight. And it's this mix of technology and visual effect that makes the OLED770 one of the better screens for gaming in a home environment.

In terms of delays, the TCL C8K pleasantly surprised us. Whether we were playing in 4K at 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or even in Full HD with Dolby Vision – the input lag remained at a very low level. This is a rare sight, as many TVs lose their advantage here, especially with more demanding Dolby Vision GAMING picture settings.

As we mentioned earlier, the only anomaly that has been captured during testing is the Dolby Vision Gaming mode. In this setting, the latency can reach up to 30 ms. This is not a particularly impressive result, and more demanding players may turn up their noses, but in practice – during casual sessions – the difference will not be greatly noticeable. The standard HDR10 and SDR modes perform much better, however. In the case of a 120 Hz signal, the input lag drops to a minimal 5 ms, which is an outstanding result and places the OLED770 among the top TVs suitable for dynamic gaming. In other words, if someone isn’t set on Dolby Vision on Xbox, the gaming experience will be fast, smooth, and free of unnecessary delays!

As we mentioned before, the C8K is a TV designed with gamers in mind – and not just console gamers. Connecting a PC is an absolute joy. The low input lag is practically unnoticeable, and the 4K panel at 144 Hz (or even 288 Hz in Full HD) makes gameplay exceptionally smooth. It's equipment that's really hard to pull away from when we connect a keyboard and mouse.

It also performs well for office work or everyday computer use. Fonts – regardless of size – are clear and sharp thanks to Chroma 444. However, we have a small note: with very thin horizontal lines, you can see slight imperfections. We assume that very few will notice this because, after all, hardly anyone plans to place the smallest 65-inch monster 50 cm from their face and use it like a regular monitor.

Philips has learned from previous models and has finally improved the implementation of chroma 4:4:4. This is important news for those planning to connect the TV to a computer, as it means no problems with sharpness and readability of fonts. Text looks clear and crisp, so the OLED770 can easily be called an excellent display for office work or browsing the internet. Of course, very demanding users may notice some imperfections resulting from the WRGB pixel arrangement typical of WOLED panels, but in practice, this does not significantly impact comfort. The TV also performs well in games launched from a PC. The panel allows for real refresh rates of up to 120 Hz, and with low input lag, this provides a very smooth image without noticeable stutters. The only thing missing is support for G-Sync and – as we mentioned before – a proper 144 Hz mode, but despite that, the overall performance is really solid. For those looking for a versatile screen for computer and console use, the OLED770 is a choice that’s hard to underestimate.

One of the innovations in this year's TCL series is the WHVA panel, which has finally made a step forward in terms of viewing angles for the Chinese manufacturer. And while you can't completely cheat physics – brightness does indeed drop noticeably when viewed from the side – the image itself remains clear and doesn’t drastically lose colours or contrast. This is a significant change, as VA panels typically fall short compared to IPS panels in this category. Meanwhile, in the C8K, it’s clear that TCL has made an effort so that even a viewer sitting a little to the side can still enjoy the full image – something that everyone who doesn't sit "right in the perfect middle of the sofa" will appreciate.

In terms of viewing angles, the Philips OLED770 presents a very high level typical of OLEDs. The image remains readable and saturated even when viewing the screen from the side – there is practically no drop in contrast or fading of colours. In this category, it only falls short of QD-OLED panels, which we find either in very expensive premium models or in one exceptional case – in the 55-inch Samsung S85F. However, in everyday use, the differences are difficult to detect, and the OLED770 performs nearly perfectly. Only at really extreme angles can a slight degradation of colours be noticed.

C8K is a really bright performer, and not just in theory. In SDR content, it can reach an impressive 700 nits, which translates to very good image readability even in brightly lit rooms. So if you have a bright living room with large windows – this TV won’t have much of a problem. However, it’s worth mentioning one little detail: the WHVA panel used here with improved viewing angles causes light reflections to be more diffused to the sides. In practice, this means that, for example, wall sconces or floor lamps directly opposite the screen may reflect in a slightly more extensive way than in typical glossy/satin panels.

OLED770 is not one of the brightest TVs, so it's hard to recommend it for very sun-filled living rooms. In a bright room, its limitations quickly become apparent – the screen catches reflections and behaves more like a lightly dimmed mirror. Glare reduction is average, and in direct light, the screen performs poorly. Fortunately, the panel's coating does not distort colours, so even during the day, the hues remain natural, and the blacks do not dramatically lose their depth. Nevertheless, it’s hard to say that the OLED770 is a TV designed for bright spaces – it will definitely find a better home in a dimly lit living room or in a bedroom, where its strengths can truly shine.

Classic TV Features

TCL C8K offers the vast majority of features that we consider essential today. It has a classic and clear program guide (EPG), teletext functionality, and connecting a keyboard, mouse, or Bluetooth headphones was no problem at all. It's a bit of a shame that the Google TV system – like many other TCL models – lacks more advanced options such as program recording or picture-in-picture (PiP) functionality. For some users, this could be a downside, especially if they are used to these options with other manufacturers. There can also be some concerns about the number of USB ports – there is only one. However, in practice, most people will find this sufficient to connect a drive with movies or a USB stick.

Smart Features

While the classic TV features are not the strong suit of the C8K, when it comes to smart features, this TV really shows its claws. The Google TV system used is the largest and most popular platform on the market – and it shows at every turn. The availability of apps is phenomenal. Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime – you can find all of these here without the slightest problem. Only really niche or closed ecosystems (e.g. Apple Music) may not be available. The built-in voice assistant works very efficiently – you can ask it to change the channel, launch an app, search for a movie, or check the weather. The system responds naturally and quickly, providing a genuine sense of convenience and modernity. This is where the C8K definitely outpaces much of the competition – after all, that’s why we have smart TVs, to do more than just display an image.

Functional Features

Let's start with the basics, which are the classic functions of a television. The Philips OLED770 doesn’t turn the table here; we have a standard EPG interface, the ability to connect devices via Bluetooth, and a few simple configuration options including teletext. Interestingly, there is a jack connection, which is becoming quite rare these days. However, those with older receivers or wired headphones will appreciate it. The remote creates a good impression – it’s ergonomic and has a backlit numeric keypad – but there’s also a sense of a step back here. It works via infrared, so you have to aim it at the television, and frankly, by 2025 we would expect full wireless support. The exception is voice commands, which use Bluetooth, but even here there’s no reason for euphoria.

SmartTV Features – TitanOS

Speaking of voice, let’s move on to the Smart TV system, which is an element that largely defines the daily comfort of using a television today. And here the OLED770 clearly lags behind the competition. TitanOS operates quickly enough that it's not a disaster, but daily use can be frustrating due to minor bugs and shortcomings. Theoretically, we get support for AirPlay, but on the other hand, screen mirroring just didn’t work at all in practice. Voice search? Yes, but only through Amazon Alexa and without support for the Polish language. In other words, the features are there, but when we try to use them, we find that their practicality is severely limited and nearly useless. And it’s this Smart TV aspect that becomes the greatest hindrance of the OLED770. The image can be astonishing, gaming is excellent, and Ambilight creates a unique atmosphere – but when we transition to daily use of apps and services, we feel a sense of dissatisfaction.

Ambilight – Philips OLED770

Although in terms of smart functionality, the Philips OLED770 is rather average, it has something in store that its competitors honestly envy. We’re talking about the three-sided Ambilight system, which has been a hallmark of this brand’s televisions for years. The LED lights positioned at the back of the housing dynamically illuminate the wall in colours matched to whatever is happening on the screen at that moment. The effect is simple but very suggestive – the image seems to extend beyond the boundaries of the television, giving us the impression that the screen has suddenly grown by extra inches. During a movie screening, it can create atmosphere, in games it enhances immersion, and during regular TV viewing, it simply pleases the eye. It’s this addition that makes it so that despite the limitations of TitanOS, the OLED770 has something that can attract attention and give it character.

We weren't expecting miracles, but... we got more than we anticipated. The TCL C8K handled most of the files we threw at it on the USB stick without issue. Movies in MKV, older AVI, audio tracks in DTS or AC3 – everything worked without a hitch. If we had to nitpick, it would be the usual complaint about the lack of support for the HEIC format from Apple devices, but that's a standard shortfall that one can live with. The most important thing, however, is that if someone is missing something, they can simply... install a better player. And this is where the advantage of Google TV is felt.

The built-in media player in the Philips OLED770 works quite well, especially when it comes to subtitles – virtually every format we threw at it was handled correctly, which will certainly please those watching films from their own library. However, there are certain reservations regarding photo support. Not all resolutions are recognised, which may surprise users accustomed to viewing photographs from traditional cameras or older memory cards. Apart from that, everything works correctly – it’s just worth ensuring that the TV can handle the files that we actually want to play on it.

In terms of sound, we usually don’t have high expectations. After all, a TV isn’t a Hi-Fi system. But... the C8K positively surprised us. A new feature in the latest top models from TCL is the collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, and – most importantly – you can really hear that it’s not just a marketing gimmick. After just a few minutes with the TV, it was clear that it sounds different than a typical “flat screen”. The sound is full with a slight but noticeable bass. Of course, we’re still talking about sound from the television, so it won’t compete with the cheapest soundbar with a subwoofer, but for the standards of built-in speakers – it's very good.

*During loudness tests, we noticed unusual behaviour from the audio system. When the slider was set to 100%, the TV reached about 76–78 dB, but you could tell it was trying to generate more power, after which the volume level was immediately corrected to the mentioned value. On the other hand, when we lowered the volume to about 70%, it initially dropped as expected, but then slowly rose back to the same level of 76 dB. This effect gives the impression of an aggressive limiter at work, which, regardless of the position of the slider, always brings the volume back to one level. We checked this behaviour several times, and in every case, the result was identical – no additional “smart” volume adjustment or AI functions were activated.

When it comes to sound, the Philips OLED770 performs quite well, although you can't expect powerful bass. For regular TV viewing, streaming services or series, its capabilities are more than sufficient – dialogues are clear, and the overall tonal balance is at a decent level. However, when we want to feel a real punch in cinematic productions or games, it quickly becomes apparent that it lacks solid low-end response. In such a situation, a natural complement becomes an additional soundbar or audio system that will allow you to take advantage of the potential of the excellent picture.

On the plus side, versatility in handling formats must be noted. The OLED770 can manage practically all popular codecs, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Dolby TrueHD. Because of this, when connecting external audio equipment, you can expect a full sound experience, even if the built-in speakers in the TV don't make a spectacular impression.

TCL C8K vs Philips OLED770

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

Classic features:

Smart features:

Classic TV Features

Smart Features

Functional Features

SmartTV Features – TitanOS

Ambilight – Philips OLED770

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound

Acoustic Measurements