Compare: Philips OLED909 vs TCL C75B

The Philips OLED909 is certainly an engineering showcase from the Dutch manufacturer for 2024. When it comes to picture quality, the television delivers what one can expect from OLED technology – deep blacks and infinite contrast. Additionally, it is equipped with META technology (MLA micro-lenses), which significantly enhances its brightness and further improves the already excellent viewing angles of organic matrix televisions. As a result, HDR effects look phenomenal, and the TV will satisfy most users looking for great picture quality in this class of devices. In terms of motion fluidity, the OLED909 does not disappoint either. The 144 Hz panel, combined with a full set of gaming features such as HDMI 2.1, ALLM, and VRR, makes it the perfect choice for gaming enthusiasts. Both dynamic shooters and spectacular racing games will look smooth and responsive. Regarding usability, the television features the Google TV operating system, just like the OLED809 model. This solution is significantly better than TitanOS, which is found in the lowest series OLED 769 from the Dutch manufacturer. It provides access to a vast number of applications, easy navigation, and support for voice assistants. Additionally, there is a four-sided Ambilight system that adds magic to every movie night, creating a unique atmosphere. However, it is not a device without flaws. The biggest issue regarding the picture is the average fluidity of tonal transitions – colour banding is visible in subtle gradients, which may disturb more discerning viewers. In the context of PC compatibility, although it is phenomenal hardware for gamers, it may not be the best choice for text or graphic work, due to the lack of 4:4:4 chroma support. In terms of usability, it is worth mentioning a few disappointments. We really liked the remote control in this model – it is well designed, and the backlit numeric keypad is a great addition, especially when using the television in the evening. Unfortunately, it mainly operates on infrared, so we found ourselves getting annoyed a few times when we had to aim precisely at the screen. This is a bit strange, considering that in this price range we expected more modern solutions. The lack of recording features or picture-in-picture (PiP) also surprised us – these are functions that are often standard in this segment. Despite these flaws, the Philips OLED909 is a television that impresses with its picture quality, gaming features, and unique additions like Ambilight. The biggest question one has to ask is: is it worth it? It is great hardware, but its high price raises the question of whether it is the best choice in terms of price to quality ratio.

The mid-range TV segment is expanding rapidly, and the TCL C75B demonstrates that you can get really solid equipment in this price range. This model has been clearly designed with gamers in mind – the HDMI 2.1 port offers ample scope, providing VRR, ALLM, as well as impressive 144 Hz refresh rates in 4K (or 240 Hz in Full HD), which will surely satisfy both gaming and sports fans. Operating the TV is enjoyable and intuitive, mainly thanks to the Google TV system. Although you may encounter slight stutters, the wealth of available applications and features compensates for that – practically everything we need is at our fingertips or even accessible by voice if we wish to converse with the remote in Polish. As for picture quality, the TCL C75B also performs well. Thanks to its VA panel, it boasts quite good contrast, and the presence of Dolby Vision allows for enjoyable HDR effects, even if the brightness isn't groundbreaking. Of course, it is not equipment without flaws – despite the fast panel, there is some motion blur, and the lack of traditional features (like USB recording) may disappoint some users. Nevertheless, in its price category, the C75B is a very attractive option, especially for those looking for a screen designed for high-level gaming.

The Philips OLED909 presents exemplary achievements in the category of contrast and black levels, characteristic of OLED technology. Tests on five panels confirmed infinite contrast, making the television an ideal choice for film enthusiasts in darkened rooms. A scene from the film Oblivion impresses with the excellent separation of light from the lamp, allowing full appreciation of the precise reproduction of even the smallest details. The scene from the film Sicario 2 also performs well, where the bright lights of the helicopter have been perfectly separated from the dark background. However, in this same scene, the phenomenon of desaturation, or loss of colour saturation, is noticeable. Although this is not directly related to the assessment of contrast and black levels, it is worth mentioning, especially if perfect colour reproduction in every situation is crucial. Despite this minor flaw, the black levels generated by the Philips OLED909 remain incredibly deep and deserve top marks.

The TCL C75B television tested by us in size X" is equipped with a VA panel, which naturally provides quite decent contrast results – and this was also observed during our tests. On each test pattern, the television achieved a contrast ratio of around 5500:1. This is a result that can be considered very good in this price range. The black levels on this model perform really well, although of course, they are far from perfect.

Due to the C75B's belonging to the mid-range segment, we do not find local dimming technology here. This is particularly noticeable in more demanding scenes, such as those from the film Sicario 2, where we observed that the black takes on a navy shade instead of a deep black. This limitation of panels without local dimming can be especially visible in evening screenings with the lights off, when the dark elements of the image are more prominent. It is worth remembering this when choosing a television in this category, especially if we care about the best quality of black while watching films at night.

Philips OLED909 impresses with its HDR quality, achieving up to 1500 nits of peak brightness in tested scenes. This is an excellent result, placing this television among the best OLED models on the market. The MLA panel, also used in models such as the Panasonic Z95A and LG G4, plays a key role here, allowing for exceptionally bright and detailed reproduction of dynamic scenes. However, it is worth noting that in the most demanding scene from the film The Meg, brightness drops to around 700 nits. This is a typical phenomenon in OLED technology, where intensely bright full-screen images cause a limitation in luminance. Nevertheless, the HDR effect still looks very good, and the television performs better than most of the competition under similar conditions. The wide colour gamut coverage also deserves praise. The OLED909 offers 95% coverage of DCI-P3, ensuring that the television can display vibrant and realistic colours.

During our test, the TCL C75B "spat out" around 380 nits of brightness. We recorded similar results while watching most of the films we tested. They can be considered average – the television does not perform poorly in this segment, but around 400 nits is definitely too low to fully experience the magic of HDR effects. Of course, these results are better than those of budget models, which can achieve almost half the brightness values. However, for HDR enthusiasts seeking stronger lighting effects and greater realism, the C75B may prove insufficient. On the positive side, it's worth mentioning the DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage of 95%. This is a very good result that easily suffices to enjoy a wide range of colours in content available on popular streaming platforms. Vivid and rich colours are definitely a strong point of this model.

Just like with other televisions, the Philips OLED909 has been tested for colour reproduction in factory modes. The best mode turned out to be Filmmaker Mode, however, despite its name, it is not without flaws.

The biggest problem is the white balance. In both HD and 4K HDR content, there is a noticeable dominance of green and red hues, which causes a distinct yellowing of the screen. This effect is particularly evident in test materials, for instance in a scene with Tom Cruise in the foreground, where the difference compared to a calibrated image is very apparent.

As for brightness characteristics, in HD material the gamma was overly boosted – it was below the reference value of 2.4, which gave the image a “milky” filter and affected overall clarity. In the case of 4K HDR content, we noticed the opposite phenomenon – at the beginning of the EOTF curve, there is a noticeable drop, indicating problems with reproducing the smallest details in dark scenes. Although Filmmaker Mode offers acceptable quality, noticeable errors in white balance and brightness characteristics show that the television requires additional calibration to fully demonstrate its potential in colour reproduction.

TCL C75B offers several picture modes, but in our opinion, the best choice is the “Film” mode. Although its settings are quite decent, the television struggles with some colour reproduction issues. In our tests, we noticed that the image had a noticeably pinkish tint compared to what could be considered accurate. This effect was particularly evident in skin tones, which appeared unnaturally flushed. The main culprit for this phenomenon turned out to be the white balance, characterised by an excessive amount of blue and red in both HD and 4K HDR materials.

An additional problem was the way brightness was rendered. The gamma, which is responsible for the visibility of details in darker materials, was definitely boosted, causing details in the darkest parts of the screen to be invisible, disappearing into complete blackness (e.g., the lower part of the screen in the comparison photo - around the actress's ear). Similarly, the situation was reflected in the EOTF curve, which was below the correct value, suggesting that we might encounter a similar problem in 4K HDR content.

Thanks to our experience and the right tools, we decided to take matters into our own hands and see how much we could extract from this model after professional calibration. We describe the details in the next section.

Philips OLED909 offers tools for image calibration, which significantly improves its quality. After calibrating the Filmmaker Mode, the television presents a much more natural colour representation. The white balance after calibration looks very good. Although we noticed slight deviations in the blue tint in HD content, the errors are within acceptable limits, and the image gives a much better impression than in the factory settings. The brightness characteristics, including gamma and EOTF, have also been clearly improved. The television no longer has issues with excessive brightening or darkening of the image. Both dark and bright details are now rendered correctly, making the image look very good in every scene. After calibration, the Filmmaker Mode in the Philips OLED909 offers excellent image quality that will meet the expectations of even the more demanding users. Calibration fully utilises the potential of this model.

After calibrating the TCL C75B, it has clearly improved in terms of colour reproduction. Although the television does not offer many options for adjusting the white balance, we managed to enhance its settings quite significantly. As a result, the image is no longer excessively pink, and the colours now look much more natural and harmonious.

The gamma jump, which was previously an issue, has not completely disappeared, but we have managed to reduce it considerably. This has made details in dark scenes more visible – both in HD and 4K HDR materials.

Unfortunately, the lack of local dimming is still noticeable. The "blooming black" effect remains, but that is a limitation of the display itself. Nevertheless, the colours after calibration look far better, and the image is much more enjoyable to watch.

The Philips OLED909 performs average in terms of fluidity of tonal transitions. The WOLED panel used in this model is not known for handling tonal transitions perfectly, and in the case of the OLED909, it looks somewhat worse than in competing models with similar panels. There are noticeable subtle transitions and colour blends in the bright and dark areas of the image, which can be particularly visible in more demanding scenes with subtle gradients. This effect may influence the perception of content, especially for users who pay attention to such details.

In terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions, the TCL C75B performs really well. The gradation of the darkest colours is particularly impressive – here the television does not disappoint and presents a high-quality image.

Some imperfections can be seen in the brightest areas of the screen, such as in a scene from the film Kingsman (the sun in the blue sky). Nevertheless, the final effect should satisfy the vast majority of users.

The Philips OLED909 offers a distortion reduction feature aimed at smoothing tonal transitions. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this function leaves much to be desired. Setting it to the "Medium" level brings certain effects, but it comes with the risk of blurring important details in the image. For this reason, we do not recommend using this option unless we are keen on mitigating visible artifacts at the cost of detail.

As for image scaling, the television presents a very plastic image, which may appeal to viewers who prefer a softer picture. Those expecting clearer sharpness will also find a solution, as image scaling can be adjusted according to individual preferences in the settings.

TCL C75B has a tone transition smoothing function, but unfortunately, we cannot commend it. Regardless of the selected level – low or high – tone transitions in older materials remained visible, as if the function wasn't working at all. It's hard to say anything positive about it, as in practice it seems completely useless.

The image scaling is better. The television performs quite decently, although on thinner elements, like branches in the background, you can notice slight jaggedness. However, this is not something that significantly interferes with daily viewing.

Unfortunately, a bigger problem turned out to be overscan, which is cutting off the edges of the image. In our tests, there were instances where news tickers or other elements near the edge of the screen were cut off. This is definitely something to pay attention to, especially if we use the television for watching news programmes or content with text on the screen.

The Philips OLED909 with a 144 Hz panel offers excellent motion smoothness, which should satisfy both film enthusiasts and gamers. Additionally, the television is equipped with a motion smoothing feature called "Motion Style", which allows for precise adjustment of motion fluidity to personal preferences. In the settings, we find two sliders: "Smoothness", responsible for regulating motion fluidity in films, and "Blur Reduction", which helps eliminate minor artifacts and distortions in dynamic scenes. This feature works well, ensuring that even rapid movements on the screen are clear and readable.

The TCL C75B definitely has something to offer gamers. The television is equipped with a panel that can display images with a refresh rate of 144 Hz in 4K, and even 240 Hz in Full HD. These are really impressive results, especially for a model from the entry-level range.

In addition, there are features for improving fluidity and reducing motion blur in films. The "Motion" option allows precise adjustment of the effect on a 10-point scale, which offers great personalisation possibilities - everyone can set the fluidity as they like.

The Philips OLED909 is a television that meets practically all the requirements of gamers. Equipped with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and support for Dolby Vision, it guarantees an excellent gaming experience. Additionally, the television offers very low input lag, ensuring that reactions to player movements are instantaneous, which will be particularly appreciated by fans of fast-paced games.

The television handles any resolution at 120 Hz without any issues, and even supports higher refresh rates. The HGiG feature, responsible for accurately displaying HDR content in games, works as it should, making the image in game mode balanced and aligned with the guidelines of console manufacturers.

The OLED909 is also equipped with the Game Bar feature, which allows for quick preview and adjustment of game-related settings. Although the interface of this solution appears less visually appealing than that of competitors, it serves its purpose well, offering all the essential options in one place.

The TCL C75B is undoubtedly a television designed with gamers in mind. It offers nearly everything that even the most demanding console users could need. With the implementation of fully capable HDMI 2.1, the television supports features like ALLM (Automatic Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) – operating within the full potential of the television, up to 240 Hz in Full HD resolution.

Additionally, the television supports advanced HDR technologies, including Dolby Vision and HGiG, allowing for even better detail reproduction in HDR-optimised games. The C75B is also equipped with a very convenient interface for gamers in the form of Game Bar, where all key parameters such as refresh rate, input lag, and image settings can be checked – all within a single click.

In a nutshell: the C75B is a great choice for gamers, offering a wide range of features that allow users to fully enjoy the capabilities of modern consoles and games.

Philips OLED909 achieves remarkable results in the input lag category. Values of 13 ms at 60 Hz and 5 ms at 120 Hz are among the best outcomes available on the market. Such low input lag ensures immediate response, which is crucial for gamers expecting maximum precision in dynamic games. Special praise is warranted for its performance in Dolby Vision mode, where low input lag is also maintained. This allows gamers to enjoy not only smooth gameplay but also the full visual potential of HDR games without any compromises. Philips OLED909 is one of the best choices in this regard for gaming enthusiasts.

Input lag in the TCL C75B is something that really impresses. At a refresh rate of 144 Hz, the lag is only 9 ms, which makes the TV's response to our actions on the pad or keyboard practically instantaneous. For 60 Hz, the result is 19 ms – while not record-breakingly low, it still falls within the range where delays are practically unnoticeable during gaming. One could say that the difference would not be felt anyway, which makes this TV a good choice even for more demanding gamers.

The Philips OLED909 is a good choice for gaming on a computer. The television supports G-SYNC, provides very low input lag and offers a refresh rate of 144 Hz in PC mode, making it an ideal solution for gamers who value smooth and responsive gameplay. However, for everyday work with text or graphics, the situation is slightly worse. Although the readability of fonts is at an acceptable level, up close, you can notice that they appear slightly blurry. This is due to the lack of full implementation of chroma 4:4:4, which is responsible for perfect sharpness and clarity of fonts.

The OLED909 will perform excellently in gaming applications, but for those planning to use the television mainly for text work, it may be less suitable. In such cases, it is worth considering a device with full support for chroma 4:4:4.

TCL C75B is quite a good choice for connecting to a computer. With high refresh rates, low input lag, and support for G-Sync, the television performs excellently in games – both dynamic ones and more demanding titles. The image is smooth, and the response to our actions is quick, which gamers will surely appreciate.

For office work, the television also does well. Text is readable, although on a dark background some imperfections can be noticed – certain fonts look as if there are missing pieces of vertical lines. This may be distracting if we work a lot with documents or text editing. However, if the computer is mainly used for gaming or watching films, the TCL C75B will easily fulfill its role as a monitor. It is a versatile piece of equipment that can handle most applications.

The Philips OLED909 offers some of the best viewing angles available on the market. OLEDs are known for their excellent picture quality from various angles, but the use of micro-lens technology further enhances this capability. As a result, the television maintains excellent colours, contrast, and brightness even when watching the picture from a significant angle. In practice, the OLED909 performs so well that it can even compete with televisions equipped with technology QD-OLED, which also provides wide viewing angles. This makes the television perfect for large rooms and watching together from various positions without worrying about losing picture quality.

The viewing angles on the TCL C75B are, unfortunately, very poor. This is a typical compromise with VA panels – better blacks at the cost of side viewing visibility. The image quickly loses quality when viewed from an angle, which is the complete opposite of what IPS panel televisions offer. If we plan to watch the television mainly straight on, this won't be a major issue. However, with a larger number of viewers sitting at different angles, the image quality may disappoint.

Philips OLED909, despite the glossy surface of the panel, handles the suppression of reflections from light falling directly on the screen quite well. This is particularly useful in brighter rooms where reflections can disrupt viewing. However, the use of micro-lens technology has its limitations – the black levels during the day take on a slightly pink tint. A similar, although more noticeable phenomenon can be observed in QD-OLED panels.

Regarding brightness, the OLED909 achieves an average brightness in SDR of 430 cd/m². This is sufficient for comfortable use of the television even in moderately challenging lighting conditions. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the brightness levels of OLEDs still fall short of televisions with mini-LED technology, which can be several times brighter.

The TCL C75B performs moderately during the day. The satin screen somewhat limits reflections, but it's not an ideal solution. The brightness is also an issue – 350 cd/m² is simply too low for comfortable viewing in a brightly lit room.

In less extreme conditions, such as in a moderately lit room, the television manages well. However, if the sun beams directly onto the screen in summer, watching may become tiring. It's worth keeping this in mind when choosing this model.

In the OLED909 model, Philips has opted for Google TV instead of its proprietary Titan OS. This solution provides users with significantly greater capabilities, especially concerning the availability of applications. Google TV offers a vast library of programs to download, from popular streaming services to tools and games. The system also supports voice commands, making it easier to search for content and manage the device, enhancing the comfort of daily use.

In terms of user functions, the television also performs well. It features support for AirPlay and Miracast technology, which allow for easy transmission of images and sound from other devices. Additionally, the television easily supports external accessories such as mice and keyboards, enabling it to serve as a more versatile entertainment hub. However, it is worth noting that the OLED909 does not include a PiP (picture-in-picture) feature or the ability to record programmes from its built-in tuners. A new feature in this model is the backlit remote, which looks attractive and operates in hybrid mode – it can function as a smart remote, and when the appropriate button is pressed, the numerical keypad also lights up. Unfortunately, its operation can be irritating, as it is based on standard infrared control, and the only function supporting RF (radio) technology is the voice command feature.

The Philips OLED909 stands out from other models with its four-sided Ambilight system. This allows the television to create dynamic lighting around the screen that adapts to the content being displayed. This solution not only enhances the sense of immersion but also improves viewing comfort in darker rooms. Ambilight remains one of the most distinctive features of Philips televisions, which is difficult to find among competitors.

TCL C75B is a television that is primarily based on the Google TV system. The platform offers access to most popular applications, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, which makes it great for watching content from the internet. However, it should be mentioned that the system can sometimes be slightly laggy, which may be noticeable during everyday use.

In terms of smart features, the C75B performs well. Voice control with the help of the built-in assistant works efficiently, and thanks to AirPlay and Miracast, it is easy to stream content from your phone or laptop. Bluetooth allows you to connect headphones, controllers, or other devices without any major issues.

However, if someone is counting on traditional television features, they may be disappointed. There is no option to record programmes onto a USB drive, nor is there a picture-in-picture (PiP) feature. TCL has been omitting such features for some time, which may not appeal to users who primarily use traditional television.

The Philips OLED909 features a built-in media player that handles most popular video, audio, and subtitle file formats with ease. However, it is worth noting that the pre-installed player does not support Polish characters in subtitles, which can be cumbersome when watching content from USB. Fortunately, with the Google TV system, this limitation can be easily bypassed. It is sufficient to download an alternative player from the wide range of available applications, which will provide full support for Polish characters and additional features, such as more advanced subtitle settings or support for less common formats. This means that even minor shortcomings in the factory software are not a major issue for users.

The built-in media player in the TCL C75B works really well. It handles most popular photo and audio formats without any issues. Although there are some shortcomings in supporting certain formats, thanks to Google TV, you can easily install an alternative player that will resolve this issue.

The Philips OLED909 stands out with its built-in soundbar featuring a navy fabric finish, branded by the renowned name Bowers & Wilkins. At the bottom of the screen, we find a solid speaker system, additionally supported by a built-in subwoofer at the back of the casing. The sound quality is truly impressive for the class of this device. The soundbar delivers clear and detailed audio that performs well with both dialogues and sound effects in films or games.

The sound on the TCL C75B is really pleasant, especially at lower volume levels. The bass is noticeable and enhances the sound nicely, but only up to about 40% volume. At higher settings, problems start to arise – the bass causes unpleasant vibrations, and the speakers begin to crackle. If we plan to frequently use higher volume levels, it is worth considering purchasing a soundbar, as the built-in speakers may not cope with more demanding situations.

Philips OLED909 vs TCL C75B

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