Philips PML8709 vs Sharp GP7

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

In terms of HDR, Sharp GP7 can pleasantly surprise us. A maximum brightness of around 500 nits is the threshold at which the real benefits of high dynamic range become visible. During our tests, we achieved stable values between 430 and 500 nits, which translated to clearer differentiation of elements in both bright and slightly darker scenes. Additionally, the DCI-P3 colour space coverage was around 95%, allowing for vibrant, visually pleasing colours. Of course, this is not the highest league, but considering this price range – it’s a big plus.

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

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

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

Upon removing it from the box, in movie mode, GP7 does not perform poorly at all. In HD materials, we noticed slight disturbances in white balance – drops in red and blue, which made the image have a somewhat greenish hue. This is evident, for example, on the faces of characters, which become less three-dimensional. The gamma is somewhat brightened in places, resulting in less deep blacks. In 4K HDR content, a cooler, bluish tone additionally comes to the fore, making the colours appear less natural. On the other hand, looking from the perspective of "straight out of the box," these settings are not bad – only minor adjustments are needed, and with the help of specific tools, we will try to improve them.

Philips offers advanced image calibration tools in its televisions, which we decided to fully utilise. The results? Although we managed to improve many aspects, it was not without difficulties. White balance was one of the biggest challenges – despite our efforts, this can be described as a fight against windmills. We managed to correct it significantly, resulting in the image now looking much better than in the factory settings, but it is still far from perfect. Particularly in some scenes, a subtle dominance of blue is visible, although not as intense as before. We achieved a substantial improvement in brightness characteristics – gamma now appears much more stable. The EOTF curve initially looks correct, however, when analysing film content, it is evident that the television struggles to maintain the appropriate characteristics. The algorithms are "battling," trying to adjust brightness, which may stem from the limited number of dimming zones that do not always cope with more complex scenes. Overall, the image after calibration looks much more pleasing to the eye – colours are more natural, and errors in colour reproduction have been minimised. Although it is still not perfect, the Philips PML8709 now performs significantly better than in the factory settings.

Calibration really makes a difference in Sharp GP7. After making adjustments, we achieved a better white balance in HD content, and the colours began to appear much more natural, with minimal deviations and without a noticeable dominance of individual hues. In 4K HDR, the change is not as spectacular, but still noticeable. The gamma has been brought to a more neutral level, although there remains an issue with a slight boost in the brightest details on the screen. The lack of control over dynamic tone mapping limits our manoeuvrability, but nonetheless, it is a significant step forward compared to the factory settings.

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

When it comes to image scaling, the television performs very well. The image appears plastic and free of noticeable "jaggedness." This effect may appeal to many users, although some may prefer a more pronounced appearance. Fortunately, the television allows for sharpness adjustment, and this enables us to tailor the image to individual preferences.

The television is quite capable of scaling lower quality content. Our test patterns were well reproduced, and although there was minimal banding on fine, delicate shapes (for example, thin branches), it still looked satisfactory. Additionally, Sharp GP7 offers a "10-bit colour reproduction" feature to smooth tonal transitions in poor quality materials. It is useful, but at the cost of some details, so we recommend turning it on only when we are truly watching something subpar.

The Philips PML8709 is one of the few models with mini-LED technology on the market, offering a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Although it is not a panel for the most demanding gamers, it should satisfy those who mainly watch films. The television is equipped with the "Motion Style" function, which is a motion smoother that allows you to adjust the smoothness of motion according to preferences – from a more "plastic" look to a cinematic aesthetic with clearly visible frames.

With a 60 Hz panel and an average response time, it’s hard to expect miraculous smoothness. In dynamic tests, such as the one with the “little green man”, it’s evident that the picture can stutter and occasionally lose sharpness. For watching films and series, this is acceptable, especially as you can make use of a motion smoother with three levels of adjustment. However, if we are keen on ultra-smooth sports broadcasts or super-responsive gaming, we may feel unsatisfied.

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

The television offers several gamer-friendly features, such as ALLM (automatic switching to game mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), which help deliver smoother visuals without annoying stutters. Furthermore, in terms of HDR, it includes an HGiG implementation that adjusts HDR effects to the specifics of games, providing a more natural image in properly optimised titles. Unfortunately, it lacks support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be noticeable in games that utilise this format.

A nice addition is the presence of a basic "Game Bar," which allows for quick viewing and modification of the most important gaming-related settings. This is a simple but useful feature, especially for those who often switch configurations between different types of gameplay. Despite some limitations, Philips PML8709 offers a solid set of features for less demanding gamers.

Let's not kid ourselves – GP7 Sharp is not a television for the most demanding console gamers. Yes, it has ALLM which automatically switches the TV to low latency mode, but it lacks VRR or G-Sync. We also won't find any advanced menu to assist in selecting settings during gameplay. Dolby Vision in games? It's there, but with such a high input lag that it's hard to speak of comfort. If we play occasionally and are not aiming for the highest standards, it can be managed, but fans of technological innovations will be disappointed.