- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
Philips OLED820 Review
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Panel type: WRGB OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3810x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
In the world of televisions, it's easy to get lost as most of them look like twins. The same specifications, the same slogans about cinema quality and refresh rates designed to ensure the highest quality image. After a while, one starts to wonder if there’s really anything left that can surprise them. The Philips OLED820 on paper has everything that the competition offers, but it also adds its signature feature – Ambilight, a multi-coloured glow spreading behind the screen. However, that's only part of the story, as with a television, the whole picture matters: image quality, HDR, smoothness, and daily comfort of use. We decided to check all this to find out if the OLED820 truly deserves your attention.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Our verdict
8.0
Overall rating
The Philips OLED820 is a very successful and significant step forward compared to last year's model, the OLED 819. For many people, the main reason for purchasing will, of course, be Ambilight: a multicoloured backlighting system that distinguishes Philips televisions from the competition. It's no surprise, as it made a huge impression on us as well. It’s not just an impressive gadget, but a real addition that can change the perception of the content being watched and add depth to it. However, Ambilight should not overshadow what the OLED820 offers as a screen. We have almost infinite contrast, high brightness in HDR films, and excellent colour reproduction, which becomes even better after a slight adjustment or professional calibration. This set guarantees one of the best images available on the market today, and we are also aware that the television offers something unique and unprecedented anywhere else. It is also equipment that will perform well in gaming. The 144 Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 ports provide access to the full capabilities of next-generation consoles, and the low input lag makes gameplay exceptionally responsive. The operating system – Google TV – also deserves praise. It’s a much better solution than the proprietary Titan OS found in lower Philips models, such as the OLED770. This is a significant argument for paying extra for this model. A larger library of applications, a more efficient voice assistant, and fewer system errors translate to a clearly better everyday experience. Of course, the Philips OLED 820 is not free from minor shortcomings – there are some software gaps, and some features could be better refined. Nevertheless, the overall presentation is very solid. Perhaps the OLED820 is not a revolutionary television, but it is a very successful and well-balanced offering in Philips' lineup. It combines excellent picture quality, a full set of features for gamers, and a unique addition in the form of Ambilight. If you are looking for a solid mid-range OLED that gives not only a good picture but also something distinctive and exceptional, the OLED820 should be high on your shopping list.
Advantages
Perfect contrast and black level thanks to the WOLED panel
High HDR brightness (up to 1300 nits) and wide coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space (99%)
Support for multiple HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Excellent motion smoothness, no blur, refresh rate up to 144 Hz
Full support for gamers: HDMI 2.1 (2 ports), VRR, ALLM, HGiG, Dolby Vision in games, low input lag
Ambilight, which significantly enhances the viewing experience and sets the TV apart from the competition
Google TV system with a massive app base and an excellent voice assistant
Extras including: Backlit remote and swivel stand
Support for audio formats Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Disadvantages
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports (with 2 consoles and a soundbar, we are forced to "juggle" the cables)
Lack of many classic "TV" features such as USB recording or PiP mode, infrared remote may be annoying
Slight issues with colour matching (much better than last year but still far from the competition)
Issues with font readability when working with PC (lack of full Chroma 4:4:4 support)
Movies and series in UHD quality8.3
Classic TV, YouTube8.6
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.4
TV as a computer monitor6.5
Watching in bright light5.7
Utility functions6.8
Apps9.6
Sound quality7.7
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PHILIPS OLED820 - Competing TVs in this price range
PHILIPS OLED820 - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Central
Kolor ramki: Graphite
- Stand: Swivel
- Flat design: No
- Accessories: Stand
OLED820 is a TV that immediately gives the impression of being well thought out. The first thing that stands out and gives it character is, of course, Ambilight. It’s this lighting system that makes Philips TVs stand out from the crowd and attract attention more than the competition. Combined with the picture quality provided by the OLED panels, it's hard to overlook it. The TV itself may not be the thinnest representative of its family, as the classic OLED "rear" slightly sticks out at the back, but overall it looks very elegant. Additionally, there’s a metal central stand that not only adds solidity but also allows you to tilt the screen to the side. While OLED guarantees wide viewing angles, the ability to slightly rotate the TV can be surprisingly useful. So, the Philips OLED820 has a few features that truly make it stand out from the crowd.
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PHILIPS OLED820 - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
Contrast and black are the domain of OLEDs, and the Philips OLED820 is no exception. The WOLED panel from LG Display works exactly like the models LG C5 or Samsung S90F and delivers precisely what we expect – perfect black and infinite contrast. Whether we're watching challenging scenes full of fine details or simpler shots drenched in uniform black, the television always performs superbly. It separates light from dark with surgical precision, creating an extraordinary sense of depth in the image. And while there can be discussions about different technologies, in this category OLED simply rules, and the Philips OLED820 only confirms this rule.
PHILIPS OLED820 - HDR effect quality
7.5/10
Supported formats: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.3%, Bt.2020: 76.4%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1035 nit
Result
1235 nit
Result
1356 nit
Result
1315 nit
Result
521 nit
When it comes to HDR quality, the Philips OLED820 uses the same class of WOLED panel found in its biggest rivals – the LG C5 and the Samsung S90F. This means we can expect really solid results. This year, mid-range OLED panels can exceed the threshold of a thousand nits, and the tested model reaches around 1300 nits in some films. This is an outstanding result, allowing the director's vision to be conveyed with incredible precision, as this is the brightness range in which modern productions are mastered. Of course, there are situations where even the OLED820 has to compromise. Full-screen scenes flooded with white, like those in the film The Meg, can drop brightness to 400–500 nits, which clearly diminishes the effect. This is a characteristic of OLED technology that has not yet been fully eliminated. Despite this limitation, it's hard not to appreciate the HDR in this model – high luminance and a wide coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette at 99% make the image look simply fantastic.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Comparing the OLED820 with our reference display, we were really impressed with how well the TV adapts to different scenes. The fireworks in Billy Lynn and the golden sky from the film Pan looked stunning – the screen retained details, and bright points were displayed with great precision thanks to successful tone mapping. One could nitpick about a slight tendency to 'swallow' details in very dark scenes, like the faces of supporting characters in Billy Lynn, but that's a minor point in the grand scheme of things. The Philips OLED820 left a very positive impression after this comparison and showed that it can compete with the reference surprisingly well.
HDR luminance chart:
Luminancja HDR
Luminance of RGB colors
Writing about the great adaptation of the OLED 820 for static HDR content, we were somewhat correct. However, there are extreme conditions where standard tone mapping is not enough. Fortunately, Philips is among the brands that do not limit themselves to just one solution – the OLED820 supports both the popular Dolby Vision and the less sought-after but similarly functioning HDR10+. It is this dynamic metadata that enables the TV to handle the toughest scenes, showcasing more detail and maintaining better image balance. Importantly, most streaming platforms today offer films and series in these dynamic formats, so we can be assured that the OLED820 will almost always display the image in the best possible quality.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
6.7/10
The colour reproduction in the factory settings really surprised us, and in a positive way. The Philips OLED820, switched to Filmmaker mode, immediately showed that it was quite well tuned in terms of colour. The white balance was relatively accurate, although there was a slight deficiency in the blue hue, which sometimes gave the image a slightly yellowish tint. However, this is not a drawback that particularly interferes with everyday viewing. A bigger problem arose with the brightness characteristics. The gamma chart clearly deviated from the ideal, as the line was below the expected values, causing the image to be excessively brightened, and the colours looked as if they were covered with a light milky filter. This effect was also noticeable in tests using the Colour Checker pattern, where more pronounced errors appeared.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.3/10
After calibration, both the Filmmaker mode and the gaming mode improved quite a bit. A slight adjustment of the white balance and enhancement of the brightness characteristics yielded excellent results with SDR content – the image looked nearly perfect, natural, and very close to the reference. For HDR material, the situation was similar; the colours looked fantastic, and it was hard to find fault with anything. However, we did notice a certain characteristic, which we had already pointed out when comparing scenes from the film Billy Lynn. The analysis of the EOTF curve showed that the TV has a slight tendency to dim details in the blacks, meaning that the darkest parts are not always displayed exactly as the director intended. Nevertheless, the effect after calibration is superb, and the OLED820 is emerging as one of the more interesting screens in its class. A little bit of fine-tuning is all that’s needed, and there’s really nothing to worry about.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Smoothness of tonal transitions
6.5/10
The fluidity of tonal transitions is unfortunately the Achilles' heel of the Philips OLED820. During testing, we noticed slight issues with colour blending – both in bright and darker scenes, there is a noticeable banding that detracts from the naturalness of the image. It must be said that compared to last year's model, the OLED 819, there is a significant improvement, but nonetheless, the competition performs better in this category.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Fortunately, the earlier effects of the mentioned posterisation can be quite effectively mitigated. The "distortion reduction" feature set to medium handles unwanted colour banding well, improving the smoothness of tonal transitions. It does sometimes work a bit too aggressively and smooths out some details – such as the minor imperfections of the actors’ skin – but despite that, it can be considered worth using without major compromises. The upscaling in the OLED820 also performs well. The test image with the model is exceptionally soft, sometimes perhaps too much, although this can be remedied with a slight increase in sharpness in the picture menu – that's a matter of individual preference. The absence of overscan issues with very low-resolution content is also commendable, allowing us to not worry about the image being unnecessarily cropped.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
Motion fluidity is an area where OLEDs always shine, and the Philips OLED820 confirms this rule. The panel itself offers a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which will mainly benefit PC gamers, but even with standard TV sources or consoles, where it operates at 120 Hz, motion is fast, sharp, and simultaneously smooth, without any signs of smearing. This is thanks to the remarkable response time between pixels, which ensures the image maintains clarity in every dynamic scene. The manufacturer has also added their own smoothness enhancer called "Motion Style." In the menu, we find two sliders – the first, responsible for smoothness, allows for the adjustment of the number of artificially added frames in films. This way, we can choose a raw, cinematic character with clearly visible film frames or a more theatrical image with smooth motion. The second slider is for motion blur reduction, particularly useful in sports broadcasts. Here, we definitely recommend setting it to the maximum value, as the effect is truly excellent.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
When it comes to motion blur, we actually wouldn't have to write anything, because this phenomenon simply does not occur in OLED televisions. Motion is super sharp and there is no effect of the image "dragging" behind a moving object. Theoretically, one could aim for an even sharper effect with the BFI feature, but we won't find it in the OLED820. However, this is no loss, because this type of solution usually comes with flickering images, doubling of contours, and it also significantly reduces brightness. Here, motion looks great anyway, so there's no reason to regret the lack of this option.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The Philips OLED820 is one of the most comprehensive TVs for gamers. Onboard, we find practically everything one could expect: two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gbps (shame there aren't four), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), support for Dolby Vision in games, and a good implementation of the HGiG mode. The TV also handles lower resolutions at 120 Hz without issue, so you can count on great flexibility when choosing different picture modes on your console. Philips also adds a Game Bar – a panel that allows you to change picture modes, add a crosshair, or preview parameters. Although it looks a bit clunky and is less refined than its competitors, it gets the job done. In practice, therefore, the OLED820, in addition to a full set of four HDMI 2.1 connections, offers almost everything a gamer could need.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Input lag
10/10
The input lag on the Philips OLED820 is truly at a reference level. Measurements showed values below 5 ms, placing it among the very best TVs available on the market. Even the Dolby Vision mode does not cause it any issues in this regard, which is quite a rare phenomenon. In practice, this means an instantaneous response to every movement, no noticeable delays, and complete comfort in dynamic games. In short, excellent results that will please even the most demanding gamers.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 13 ms | 2160p60 DV: 13 ms |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | 2160p120 DV: 5 ms |
| 2160p60: 13 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
PHILIPS OLED820 - Compatibility with PC
6.5/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): No
Font clarity: Average
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RWBG
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
Cooperation with a PC for the Philips OLED820 varies depending on the usage. It performs exceptionally well for gaming: the high refresh rate of 144 Hz combined with G-Sync support provides a smoothness and responsiveness that other TVs would envy. However, the situation is less favourable for text work. The lack of proper implementation of chroma 4:4:4 means that fonts on coloured backgrounds can appear slightly blurry, which significantly lowers the comfort of working. Therefore, it’s hard to recommend the OLED820 as a screen for office work with text or numbers. It's a pity that the manufacturer couldn’t learn from last year’s models, and this flaw continues to persist.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Viewing angles
7.6/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 34%
The viewing angles on the Philips OLED820 are another advantage that should please you. OLEDs have always been characterised by nearly perfect angles, so regardless of where we're looking from, the image remains clear and readable. True, the classic WOLED panel doesn't measure up to technologies like MLA OLED or QD-OLED, but it's still hard to find fault here. The angles are simply excellent.
PHILIPS OLED820 - TV efficiency during daytime
5.7/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips OLED820: 345 cd/m2
PHILIPS OLED820 - TV features
6.8/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No - Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): Infrared
- Backlit remote control: Yes
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: No
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): No
- Wyszukiwanie głosowe: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
GoogleTV on OLED820
Philips OLED820 runs on the Google TV system, which immediately places it among televisions that truly provide user freedom. It’s a fantastic platform that doesn’t need any introduction – we find almost an endless number of apps here, from popular VOD services to niche programmes or games. Google TV also allows for personalisation of the home screen, tailoring content to our preferences, so the television actually “learns” our viewing style. A huge plus is also the Google voice assistant – fast, natural, and effective. It can understand even less obvious questions, and in practice, it works significantly better than many competitors. Unfortunately, there was a hiccup – the screen mirroring function simply didn’t work during testing. This can be seen as a minor issue, but in 2025, such things simply shouldn’t happen.
Classic Features of OLED820
When it comes to classic features, the OLED820 doesn’t attempt to play conservatively. On one hand, we get a backlit remote control with a numeric keypad, which is quite well organised and comfortable to use. On the other hand, you have to aim it at the screen, as it works on infrared, which is more reminiscent of equipment from a decade ago than a modern television. It also lacks a few features that are often found in competitors – there’s no USB recording from tuners or a PiP mode. A nice touch among the classic solutions is the mini jack analogue input for headphones. This is rare nowadays and can be quite useful – whether for a senior citizen with an additional headphone station or for someone wanting to connect older speakers.
AmbilightTV OLED820
You can’t overlook Ambilight, which is a hallmark of Philips. This solution impacts not only the appearance of the television but also the reception of content. The lighting system can be set in various ways, from a multi-coloured mode dynamically tracking the image to calmer, static lighting. We definitely recommend the latter option, as the gentle light behind the screen makes the content viewed, in combination with the OLED matrix, appear even deeper and more engaging. It’s a simple yet very striking addition that has characterised Philips televisions for years.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
- Stereo (Mini-Jack): Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
- DTS Play-Fi: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
- DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
PHILIPS OLED820 - Apps
9.6/10
PHILIPS OLED820 - Playing files from USB
9.5/10
| 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 Philips OLED820 has a built-in file player with USB, which at first glance looks quite clunky, but in practice works surprisingly well. You could even say it's one of the best built-in players available in televisions. It handles virtually every type of file: photos, videos, or music, with minor exceptions that most of the competition also does not support. And if someone still finds something missing, there's always the option to install the VLC app from the Google Play library and the problem disappears.
PHILIPS OLED820 - Sound
7.7/10
81dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
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
Philips OLED 820 features a built-in 4.1 speaker system with a total output of 70 W. At the back of the casing, there’s a subwoofer that delivers quite solid and deep bass. The classic speakers responsible for the remaining sound range are located at the bottom of the television, which means that the audio doesn't always distribute as we would like. However, the overall sound quality can be considered satisfactory – series, TV shows, or the occasional music listening all perform well with a slight bass enhancement. For everyday use, this should be sufficient, although we still recommend purchasing even an inexpensive soundbar, which will significantly improve the user experience.
Acoustic Measurements
81dBC (Max)
75dBC
PHILIPS OLED820 - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: TPM231WW_R.201.100.146.207
Image processor: MT5896 3GB
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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