Compare: Philips OLED769 vs Sony X85L

Philips OLED769 is the entry-level OLED model from the Dutch manufacturer for 2024, but don’t let that mislead you. OLED769 surprises with its image quality and several interesting features. Thanks to OLED technology, the colours are truly vivid, and the contrast is very good – deep blacks and bright highlights displayed on this screen make a difference, especially when watching evening series. When it comes to motion fluidity, OLED769 performs really well. The 120 Hz panel handles dynamic scenes excellently, whether it's sports or games. When it comes to gaming on consoles, the television does not disappoint either – 4 HDMI 2.1 ports support VRR and ALLM, and the fast response time ensures smooth and responsive gameplay. And what about Ambilight? It’s a classic Philips feature and one of those functions that either you love or hate. In this model, it works very well – the backlighting responds to the content on the screen and adds atmosphere, particularly in a dark room. It’s not something that everyone will consider essential, but it does make an impression in the evenings – at least on us. As for the new operating system TitanOS, it leaves us with mixed feelings. It operates quickly, but some popular applications are missing. For more demanding users, it might lack the flexibility that earlier Philips systems (GoogleTV) offered. Philips OLED769 is a good choice for those looking for a television with beautiful image quality and the exceptional addition of Ambilight. The image quality and motion fluidity will satisfy most users, and the minor limitations of the operating system will not be a hindrance if you prioritise basic applications. It’s a solid option for both watching films and gaming.

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will be continued in the offering for 2024 by the Japanese manufacturer. Its greatest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the largest access to applications, so we need not worry that one of our favourite applications will be missing. The intuitive interface and voice control feature using Google Assistant make daily use of the television comfortable and modern. As for picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very average number of zones), black levels look quite decent. Additionally, its fairly high brightness allows for comfortable television viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Furthermore, the television offers a programme recording function with built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion smoothness, X85L does not disappoint either. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system ensure smooth display of dynamic scenes, satisfying both movie enthusiasts and sports fans. The television is also equipped with a range of features for gamers, including VRR, Game Bar and G-Sync support, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. Of course, the television is not without its faults. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode can be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and image smoothness when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is a decent piece of equipment that is particularly worth attention if it can be purchased on promotion.

Philips OLED769 impresses with its black levels and contrast. Thanks to OLED technology, each pixel in this television is self-illuminating, allowing for the complete shutdown of individual pixels. This means that black areas of the image are pitch black, and the contrast is infinite. The effect is incredibly realistic, with excellent clarity and detail in dark scenes. The OLED panel used in Philips OLED769 is produced by LG, known as WOLED, ensuring the highest quality in black reproduction. As a result, the television offers a contrast that is unattainable for traditional LCD televisions - even the best ones on the market.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which in itself offers quite good contrast. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it encompasses 24 zones. Although this number is not impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially in comparison to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but appear average in the context of competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the film Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs fairly well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has employed in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be observed, for example, in scenes with the helicopter from the film Sicario 2.

Philips OLED769 performs quite well, particularly in film scenes with small points of light. The television surprises with its brightness, reaching around 800 nits, which is an impressive result. As a result, fine sources of light, such as street lamps at night or stars in the sky, are sharp and full of detail. However, the biggest challenge for this model is the scene with a full-screen burst of sunlight. In such moments, the brightness drops to about 250 nits, which is not very impressive. This is a typical problem for cheaper OLED displays, which struggle to maintain high brightness across the entire screen surface.

The Sony X85L television offers solid HDR performance with a brightness level of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vivid effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows one to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, like the scene from the film Sicario 2, the television reveals its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits cause the HDR effect to lose its impressive quality, resembling rather ordinary SDR. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the very good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette at 95%, which definitely deserves praise and positively impacts the overall image quality.

The "Film" mode proved to be the best factory setting in terms of fidelity to the source material, and it is on this that we based our tests. However, like other factory modes, it was not without flaws. Let us examine, therefore, what exactly went wrong in SDR and HDR materials.

In both cases, the white balance was disrupted by the excessive dominance of green and red hues. This phenomenon created a yellowish tint that spread across the entire image, leading to issues such as yellowed whites and unnatural skin tones. These problems were clearly highlighted on the "ColourChecker" palette, where each of the samples was shifted towards warmer tones.

As for contrast and brightness, in the Philips OLED769, we can look at two key graphs: Gamma for HD content and the EOTF curve for 4K HDR content. In the case of the first graph, the gamma value falls below the optimal level of 2.4, resulting in an increase in brightness of light areas of the image. This means that bright elements may be slightly overexposed, losing detail and depth. In contrast, the EOTF curve for 4K HDR content performs really well. The graph shows that the television effectively conveys details in both the brightest and darkest areas of the image, resulting in a realistic and dynamic representation of scenes.

The television Sony X85L was tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, although associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image that aligns with the director's intention. The main problem is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue colour and significant shortcomings in red. As a result, the picture becomes unnaturally cool and looks artificial. Errors in colour reproduction were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed considerable discrepancies – the colours were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly demonstrates that the accuracy of colour reproduction leaves much to be desired.

The brightness of the image is one of the positive features of the television. The gamma for HD content is at an acceptable level, although there are minor errors, but generally it is quite good. However, the characteristic of brightness for 4K materials remains a problem, controlled by the EOTF curve. It is evident here that very small, bright elements of the image are too dim, which is the result of the limited number of backlighting zones due to the design of the television.

After professional calibration, Philips OLED769 truly shines in terms of colour accuracy. The television has been completely stripped of any yellow tint in both HD and 4K content. The Colour Checker test confirms that deltaE errors are minimal, occasionally exceeding a value of 2, which means we can speak of almost perfect director's representation.

When it comes to contrast, the situation is equally impressive. With 4K materials, there wasn't much to improve initially, while the gamma chart has been significantly enhanced. This allows dark and light areas of the image to be represented with greater accuracy, resulting in a realistic and dynamic portrayal of scenes.

The calibration has allowed the full potential of this television to be unleashed, both in terms of colours and contrast. Philips OLED769 now offers vivid, natural images of high quality that will delight any user, whether they are watching films or using other multimedia.

Thanks to the application of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, the image quality has been significantly improved. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours appear more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it is not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic colour reproduction, eliminating the previous cool tone. The gamma, which was already decent, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively affecting the depth and detail of the image.

As for 4K content, despite efforts, the white balance still struggles with a lack of red, which can lead to overly warm colours in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is quite stable, with a slight enhancement in mid-bright scenes. However, in actual film material, the television can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

Nevertheless, calibration has brought significant benefits, particularly in terms of colour accuracy, improving the overall image quality and providing a more natural and cohesive directorial vision.

The gradation in Philips OLED769 unfortunately proves problematic in almost every scene from the test sequence. Particular difficulties arise in dark colours and around black. In these areas, in addition to the posterisation effect, the image is enhanced by a solid dose of noise. The problem with tonal transitions is not limited to dark hues – it can also be seen in lighter elements, such as in a scene from the film "Kingsman," where clear colour banding is visible around the sun. This phenomenon can significantly affect the visual perception, especially in scenes where black and dark shades play a key role. It's hard not to notice these imperfections, which can disrupt the viewing experience, particularly for viewers who value excellent image quality.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Sony X85L is at a good level – the gradation of colours is smooth, even in more demanding areas, which makes the perception of scenes positive and natural. The biggest issues arise around shadows, where subtle colour joins may be visible. Despite this, the television performs well enough that most viewers should not notice these minor imperfections.

When it comes to lower quality materials, the distortion reduction in the Philips OLED769 handles tonal transitions well, especially at the minimum setting. It is worth noting that at this setting, film grain is not blurred, which is a pleasant surprise, as such negative phenomena often occur with other manufacturers. Overall, it is quite a decent solution. However, it should be pointed out that this setting does not work in HDR mode, where gradation issues are much more pronounced. In HDR mode, the television struggles with smoothing tonal transitions and may present more noticeable distortions and noise, reducing picture quality in dynamic scenes.

Regarding digital processing, the Philips OLED769 performs well. The model in the photo is not overly jagged, and the branches in the background lack the characteristic jagged edges. The television achieves this effect thanks to the absence of artificial sharpness, which may be an advantage for some users. Others, however, may find this less attractive, as they prefer a more vibrant, sharper image instead of a subtle effect. This effect can be mitigated by using a higher setting for the "Sharpness" parameter.

In terms of smoothing tonal transitions, the Sony X85L television does not offer any dedicated enhancement options, which is a certain drawback. On the other hand, the image scaling performs quite well – the television adds a bit of artificial sharpness, which may make details such as tree branches more pronounced, although sometimes with noticeable jagged edges. This type of effect may appeal to some viewers who prefer a more detailed image.

Philips OLED769 features a multi-stage motion smoother called "Motion Style", which will satisfy users who appreciate the ability to customise the fluidity of motion in films. With this function, you can set the image to be more frame-like or smooth, resembling a theatrical effect. This is a great solution for those who want to adapt the displayed content to their visual preferences. Gamers will also not be disappointed, as the television, like most OLEDs, is equipped with a 120Hz panel. This provides exceptional fluidity and dynamism of the image. Unfortunately, Philips OLED769 does not have the BFI (Black Frame Insertion) feature, which could further improve motion fluidity and sharpness. Despite this limitation, the television still offers excellent visual experiences for both cinema lovers and gamers. This is definitely one of its strong points.

Sony X85L, equipped with a 120 Hz panel, will meet the expectations of a wide range of users – from sports and gaming fans to movie enthusiasts. Movie buffs will certainly appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, known as Motionflow. This system offers adjustment through sliders for smoothness and clarity – smoothness is responsible for motion fluidity, eliminating judder, while clarity improves the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

Philips OLED769 has been designed with gamers in mind, offering full compatibility with consoles and the highest quality of gameplay. The television received the maximum rating in this category, providing everything that the heart desires. With HDMI 2.1 ports fully supporting ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), the television ensures smooth and hassle-free gaming. ALLM automatically switches the television to low latency mode, while VRR eliminates stuttering and screen tearing, resulting in fluidity and stability in gaming. The Dolby Vision gaming feature is another advantage, although it only works at a frequency of 60 Hz. Most casual gamers will likely not feel the lack of a higher frequency; however, more demanding users may have some reservations. This allows for enjoyment of a dynamic range of tones and realistic images, enhancing the gaming experience. PC gamers will also not be disappointed, as Philips OLED769 offers full compatibility with Nvidia graphics cards, thanks to support for G-Sync. This technology synchronises the refresh rate of the television with the graphics card, eliminating tearing and stuttering, resulting in excellent image fluidity.

Philips OLED769 is a television that perfectly meets the needs of gamers, offering a wide range of advanced features and technologies that significantly enhance gameplay quality and user comfort.

Sony X85L offers a quite solid set of features for gamers, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. First and foremost, the television has a 120 Hz panel, which translates to smooth and dynamic image display, ideal for both fast-paced action games and more demanding sports titles. It is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s, allowing for the full utilisation of next-generation consoles. Additionally, Sony X85L supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, providing a smooth experience. The television also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for the synchronisation of the screen refresh rate with GPU performance, eliminating screen tearing. It is worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to the most important gaming-related settings, such as VRR, brightness levels, and display modes, which is convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are certain limitations. The television does not support HGiG, which may be a downside for some gamers, as HGiG optimises HDR effect rendering in games, providing a more authentic visual experience. Additionally, while the Dolby Vision mode is available, it is not practical for gaming due to the very high input lag.

The input lag on the Philips OLED769 is truly impressively low. At a frequency of 120Hz, values hovering around 5 ms make a huge impression, and for a frequency of 60Hz, 13 ms is also an excellent result. Such low latencies ensure a quick response to player movements, which is crucial for smooth and responsive gameplay. The only thing that can be criticised is the lack of support for Dolby Vision at materials/games with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Nevertheless, the television still offers incredible visual experiences and excellent specifications that will satisfy any gamer.

Generally speaking, the input lag on the Sony X85L is very good, which is crucial for smooth gameplay and quick reactions in games. In standard modes, especially when using HDMI 2.1 and playing at a resolution of 4K at 120 Hz, the input lag is minimal.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode is an exception to this rule. In this case, the input lag reaches as much as 95 ms. Such a high level of delay makes the Dolby Vision mode virtually unplayable, as the responses to commands are noticeably delayed.

OLED769 performs excellently in collaboration with PCs. The rating in this category is very good, primarily due to the great readability of fonts, regardless of the background colour. The support for chroma 4:4:4 further enhances image quality, ensuring clear and sharp details. The low response time is another advantage of this model, which translates into smoothness and responsiveness during work and gaming. All of this makes the Philips OLED769 an ideal choice for PC users seeking a large screen with high image quality and excellent parameters.

The collaboration of the television Sony X85L with a PC is a bit of a balance between image quality and user comfort. If we want to use the television for work, where clear fonts matter, we need to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. In this mode, the text looks good and doesn't strain the eyes, which is crucial if we intend to spend a longer time in front of the screen.

On the other hand, if the television is to be used for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must bear in mind that the readability of fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp, and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L will perform well for occasional connections to a computer, but if we need it on a daily basis for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

When it comes to viewing angles, Philips OLED769 performs excellently, as is the case with all OLED televisions. The image remains clear and does not lose quality regardless of the viewing angle. This means you can enjoy exceptional picture quality even when watching from the side or from more unusual locations in the room. The only televisions that offer even better viewing angles are those equipped with QD-OLED and OLED MLA panels. These technologies can provide even greater stability and image clarity from various angles. However, compared to standard LCD televisions, Philips OLED769 still offers significantly better viewing angles, making it a great choice for large rooms and family movie nights.

The viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when viewed directly, but as soon as you move to the side, you notice that the colours lose intensity and the contrast significantly weakens. This can be an issue if the television is meant for viewing in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who usually watch solo or from one central spot, this won’t be a major downside, but when watching from the side, the picture quality unfortunately declines.

The performance of the television Philips OLED769 during the day leaves something to be desired. The screen, although satin, moderately suppresses reflections, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. The low rating is primarily due to the rather average brightness of the television—250 nits is not impressive and may not be sufficient to ensure proper image quality in strong daylight. This makes viewing on sunny days potentially less comfortable, and the image details may be harder to discern.

The performance of the television Sony X85L during the day is quite decent. Its satin screen coating handles light reflection moderately well, meaning that in bright rooms there can be some glare, but it is not bothersome enough to significantly interfere. The brightness in SDR mode at 570 nits is sufficient for comfortable TV viewing during the day, even with natural light coming in through the windows. This ensures that colours remain vivid and the picture is clearly visible, making the television suitable for everyday use.

The greatest asset of the Philips OLED769 television is undoubtedly the three-sided Ambilight system. This technology truly makes a difference by extending the screen onto the walls around the television, creating the illusion of a larger screen. It not only enhances the visual experience but also adds a unique atmosphere, whether we are watching a film, playing games, or using other multimedia.

An interesting feature is the new remote control included with televisions operating on the TitanOS system. Its backlighting makes it very convenient to use, although its wireless functionality leaves something to be desired. Its hybrid design sometimes requires you to aim at the television screen, while at other times you do not, depending on which button you are using, which can be somewhat annoying.

In the context of the operating system, Philips has introduced a new strategy this year by replacing the previous open GoogleTV system with its own proprietary TitanOS. As is often the case with new technologies, TitanOS has its growing pains. At the moment, it only offers a few basic applications, and the app store does not impress with its variety. This may disappoint some users who expect a wide range of available applications. Additionally, the lack of support for AirPlay features and the ability to record onto USB are further limitations that could be problematic.

Sony X85L runs on the Google TV system, which is a substantial advantage for many users. The television offers wide access to applications, and using streaming platforms is smooth and user-friendly. The interface is intuitive and easy to master, allowing quick switching between applications and searching for favourite content. Google TV allows for personalisation of the home screen, enabling each user to tailor it to their preferences. The Google Assistant further enriches the experience by offering voice control and quick changes to settings or searching for films without the need for a remote.

In terms of user features, Sony X85L offers many useful options. The television has the capability to record programmes, which is a significant convenience for those wanting to watch their favourite content at any time. AirPlay support allows for seamless content streaming from Apple devices, which iPhone and iPad owners will appreciate. Additionally, thanks to the built-in Bluetooth, various devices such as headphones or keyboards can be connected. However, one of the shortcomings is the PiP (picture-in-picture) function, which may disappoint users who prefer multitasking on screen.

The design of the Sony X85L television, while perhaps not among the thinnest, is solid and elegant. The metal stand with adjustable feet is one of its stronger points, allowing the height and width of the television to be adapted to various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

The built-in player in Philips OLED769 generally performs well. Although it may lack support for unusual formats, which could pose a problem for specific users, most should be satisfied with the available options. The built-in player in the TitanOS system allows for the reading of Polish characters and the changing of font colour, which additionally makes everyday use easier. Thanks to these features, playing files from USB is comfortable and versatile.

Sony X85L easily handles playback of most popular file formats from USB, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it should be mentioned that there is a small downside – the built-in player does not allow for changing the font colour in subtitles, which may be troublesome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. Alternative media players can be easily installed, offering more personalisation options.

In the sound category, Philips OLED769 may not offer super dynamic sound, using speakers with a power of 2x10W. However, it is worth noting the support for all audio formats including Dolby and DTS. Thanks to this, despite the power limitations, users can enjoy high-quality sound with the help of external players.

The sound in Sony X85L is good – it is clear across the entire range, allowing enjoyment of both dialogues and music. The bass, though light, is noticeable and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasised that this is a subjective assessment – some may find such a sound profile satisfying, while others might need additional audio equipment to fully experience stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

Philips OLED769 vs Sony X85L

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