Compare: Philips PUS8359 (VA) vs Hisense U6NQ

Philips PUS8359 in the size of 50" is a fairly simple television, yet sufficiently advanced for a considerable number of consumers. Its most distinguishing feature (as is the case with the entire brand) is the Ambilight backlighting, which at this price point is definitely an added value and something that may encourage a purchase. In this price range, it is futile to search for something that provides impeccable picture quality, although we can look for models that offer something more. In our opinion, this is indeed the case with the tested television. In this context, we pay particular attention primarily to the quality of tonal transitions, colour accuracy after calibration, and the efficiency of the television when connected to a computer. Thanks to the low input lag, casual gaming will be quite enjoyable. However, we must also note the drawbacks of the unit. Undoubtedly, these will be the low luminance in HDR materials and the narrow coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Although it is worth noting that the dynamic tone mapping function works very effectively. We will also briefly mention contrast and black levels, which, although not outstanding, are certainly better than those in units based on IPS/ADS panels. The television's operating system can be considered one of the better ones, although it is still in development and lacks many features, as discussed in a dedicated section. It also does not have as wide a library of applications as its competitors, although this is likely to change soon. Who is PUS8359 for? One could say it is for anyone seeking a balance between quality and price.

Hisense U6NQ is really an interesting model from the Chinese manufacturer. It is the first MiniLED from the series for 2024 and the only one with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Starting with the picture quality, the MiniLED backlighting combined with the VA panel does its job – the contrast is good, and watching films in the evening is a pleasure. A stable HDR effect, support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, as well as solid colours mean that the television handles most everyday tasks well. The Vidaa system works smoothly – it is fast and intuitive, without any annoying stutters. A few popular applications, such as Spotify or Tidal, are missing, but most users will find what they need here, including the option to record programmes to a USB stick or external drive. What about motion fluidity? It's quite decent. The ability to choose between 4K at 60 Hz and Full HD at 120 Hz is a nice addition, especially if we are gaming on consoles that often do not offer perfect 4K at 120 frames. Features like VRR and ALLM further enhance the comfort of occasional gaming. However, there are some drawbacks. Issues with motion blur are noticeable in dynamic scenes, and the lack of any feature reducing this effect does not help. In terms of picture quality, this television strongly prioritises brightness, which sometimes leads to situations where black gains a slightly bluish tint in difficult conditions. In short: Hisense U6NQ is a decent choice for those looking for a television offering good picture quality and a convenient operating system. It is not equipment without compromises, but it performs really solidly for its price.

Philips PUS8359/12 in the 50-inch version is equipped with a VA panel. We emphasise this quite strongly, as the manufacturer is known for using these interchangeably with IPS/ADS panels depending on the diagonal size. This is particularly important in the context of contrast and black levels, which are the fundamental criteria in evaluating image quality. The panel itself uses direct backlighting (Direct LED), although it has not been supported by any local dimming system, which is rather obvious when looking at the device's price range. Nevertheless, the use of this type of screen allows for achieving several rows of better black levels and contrast compared to the aforementioned panels that do not possess advanced backlighting systems. The simple design of the television positively influenced the visibility of details in blacks. Our first test scene from the film "Oblivion" demonstrated quite good black levels, but also excellent light separation, which is not an easy task even for much more expensive units. The second prepared material from the film Sicario 2 also presented itself in a fairly decent manner. Indeed, due to construction flaws, one can notice some backlight bleed, however, the details themselves are clearly visible and it is hard to fault them. The fact remains that the black levels could be deeper.

The tested 55-inch model is equipped with a VA panel, which provides deeper blacks compared to IPS/ADS panels. The very use of this technology makes the contrast reach quite a decent level. It is also worth highlighting that the Hisense U6NQ, as a television with MiniLED technology in this version, has 160 local dimming zones, which significantly improves picture quality in many scenes. During testing, for example, in the film Oblivion, the television demonstrated good separation of the hologram lights, and the contrast remained at a satisfactory level. Unfortunately, in more demanding materials, such as the Pioneer Kuro test pattern, a noticeable drop in quality was observed. In such scenes, the dimming zones did not operate correctly, leading to a significant decrease in contrast. Similar issues occurred in scenes from the film Sicario 2, where the blooming effect was clearly visible, suggesting the television's difficulties with precise local dimming management. Despite these shortcomings, the overall contrast level of U6NQ can be considered solid, especially in this price category. The television performs well in most standard scenes, and its capabilities in displaying blacks are better than those of models with other types of panels.

Philips PUS8359 did not impress us with its results in HDR materials. This model is capable of generating a maximum brightness of 320 nits, and often even less. Such results, combined with a lack of support for HDR Dolby Vision, mean that the image will be significantly darker compared to the source material. Therefore, playing SDR materials will be more beneficial for this television. This is also suggested by the rather low coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 83%, which results in significant colour deficiencies. The fact remains that the television supports the HDR format based on dynamic metadata, although HDR10+ is such a niche format that it does not bring any significant advantages.

Hisense U6NQ offers a stable HDR effect, which is a rarity in TVs with local dimming. On most streaming platforms, in films and series recorded in 4K, the television delivers consistent performance – in every tested scene, regardless of difficulty, the brightness is around 450 nits. This is a pleasant surprise, as in many models of this class, there are notable differences – some scenes are well-lit, while others are heavily dimmed by dimming algorithms. However, the Hisense U6NQ prioritises maintaining higher brightness, which comes at the expense of black levels, as mentioned in the contrast test paragraph.

The HDR effect on the U6NQ is satisfactory, offering a noticeable "burst" of light in bright moments, although it is worth noting the previously mentioned blooming, which may be visible in more challenging scenes. In terms of colours, the television also performs decently – the coverage of the DCI-P3 palette is 89%, and BT.2020 is 71%. Although these are not results that would impress more demanding users, for beginners in the world of high-quality materials, the U6NQ serves as a solid choice. Therefore, it presents an interesting proposition as an "entry-level" television for home cinema.

The best factory mode in terms of fidelity to the source material was "Film". This was the mode we used during our tests. Just like each of the factory modes in televisions, it had its shortcomings. We will check what exactly was wrong in both SDR and HDR materials. In both cases, the white balance showed excessive dominance of the green and red colour combination. This created a yellow tint that spread across the entire image, causing issues such as yellowed whites and problems with skin tones. This situation was perfectly illustrated on the "ColourChecker" palette, where each of the tested samples was pushed into its warmer counterparts. The foundation of the image is primarily contrast and black. These are represented by gamma charts and the EOTF curve. Looking at the first one, we can see a true rollercoaster, as we can observe both an elevated and a lowered gamma. The heavily elevated gamma caused visibility issues in blacks, while the lowered gamma led to a dramatic drop in contrast. In this context, the EOTF curve performed significantly better, only slightly brightening the image.

Hisense U6NQ in Filmmaker mode offers really decent colour reproduction, although it's worth noting that differences between individual units can be noticeable. The model we tested was pleasantly surprising, especially with HD content in SDR quality. The white balance was correct here, and errors around 3–4 ΔE should be acceptable for the average viewer. The television performed slightly worse with colour reproduction in 4K HDR materials. The dominance of blue shades led to unnatural cool tones on the Colour Checker chart, giving the image a "store-bought" character. Combined with issues in brightness characteristics – gamma and EOTF curve caused some parts of the image to be too dark – the Filmmaker mode loses some of its credibility in this case. Although the factory settings of the tested unit deserve praise, especially in SDR, there were still minor shortcomings that would require correction to fully exploit the capabilities of the television.

Philips offers a wide range of image calibration tools in both its more expensive and cheaper models. We utilised these tools and got to work, which was not as easy as many of you might think. While we were able to model the white balance, significantly improve the gamma, and refine the EOTF curve in both cases, the deltaE errors remained extremely high. There are several reasons for this situation, which are directly related to the low coverage of the DCI-P3 palette and the maximum brightness of the unit in HDR materials.

Although the factory settings of the Filmmaker mode on the Hisense U6NQ were quite good, we decided to carry out a calibration to fully assess the capabilities of this model. Only after such an adjustment can one see how the television performs under ideal conditions. In the case of SDR content, which was already at a high level, we managed to further improve the white balance. However, the most significant change came from correcting the brightness characteristics – the gamma was optimised and no longer causes excessive dimming of the image, which improves its naturalness.

For 4K HDR content, the calibration also produced positive effects. We eliminated the blue dominance issue, resulting in a more balanced and natural image. However, managing brightness in HDR materials remains a more complex matter. The EOTF curve, while having problems with dimming the image in the 10–30% brightness range in laboratory conditions, reveals other shortcomings in real scenes. The television tends to excessively brighten the smallest elements on the screen. As a result, this leads to visible halo effects around bright objects. This phenomenon, which we mentioned earlier in the context of contrast and HDR, arises from the technological limitations of the particular model and is often difficult to eliminate.

In short: although the Filmmaker mode with factory settings performed decently, calibration allowed us to extract an even better effect – minor adjustments resulted in a more balanced image, especially in HDR content. For users seeking the highest quality picture, calibration will be a beneficial step.

The fluidity of gradation in PUS8359 is at a good level. Practically every scene has preserved tonal transitions. The most challenging scene, the second one from the film "The Green Knight", did not prove to be the proverbial "killer" and allowed us to demonstrate that the tested television, considering its price range, performs excellently. The only issue we could "pick at" is the darkest scenes, where some inconsistencies can be seen here and there; however, this is rather selective. Either way, we rate the fluidity of tonal transitions very well. We must also mention that this function is not available in HDR materials.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Hisense U6NQ is at a very good level. In most scenes, there are no visible issues with colour blending, which ensures a pleasant and cohesive visual experience. However, a more discerning eye may spot slight imperfections in specific instances, such as the scene with the blue sky in Kingsman or the final scene with the red background. These subtle shortcomings are, however, small enough not to affect the image perception for most users. Overall, the television performs very well in this category.

In this paragraph, we will take a look at two functionalities. We will once again examine the feature responsible for tonal transitions, but we will also check how the television performs with image scaling. The option responsible for smooth gradation is called "Distortion Reduction". As we have established, it quite effectively smooths out the inconsistencies. However, we must point out two things: we cannot enable it for HDR materials and that it blurs details in films.

The tested television cannot boast of the best image scaling. There is a noticeable overall blurriness of the image, but worse still, it blurs details. This is particularly evident on the branches and the model's hair. A characteristic white halo around the character is also visible.

With high-quality materials, such as 4K, tonal transitions on U6NQ look really good – the colours blend nicely, and the image is coherent. Unfortunately, when we move to content in lower resolutions, the television does not offer any additional features that could improve this aspect. An example is the test with the light bulb, where it is clearly visible that the television has a problem with rendering subtle tonal transitions.

However, digital processing performs quite well. The image looks pliable, is pleasantly soft, and free from excessive banding. Moreover, thanks to the sharpness settings, it can be adjusted according to personal preferences – whether towards a softer or sharper image. Overall, although scaling lower quality materials could be better, the television handles image processing effectively.

Philips PUS8359 will not be the best television for sports. The reason for this is the lack of implementation of even the basic motion smoothing feature, which was to be expected given the price of the device. We also note that we are dealing with a VA panel, whose sharpness is not of the highest standard. This type of panel is mainly associated with high contrast, which goes hand in hand with quite a slow response time, as clearly indicated by the matrix analysis results. As you can see from the images captured in rapid motion, the picture is typically blurred for this type of panel. Although it may not be the ideal option, it can be used conditionally for watching sports; however, one must keep in mind the less than optimal sharpness in motion. It is worth mentioning that films will exhibit judder, as the television does not have any motion smoother, even the simplest one.

Hisense U6NQ offers native 60 Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, but the manufacturer has added a feature that allows the refresh rate to be increased to 120 Hz, at the cost of reducing the resolution to Full HD. This solution, which we have seen before in TCL televisions, such as the C655 or C655 PRO. This gives the user the choice – higher motion fluidity or full resolution. This is a sensible approach, especially considering that many games on next-generation consoles do not achieve full performance in 4K at 120 Hz.

As for movies, the television is equipped with a motion smoothing feature that allows you to adjust the motion characteristics to your own preferences. This allows for a more cinematic effect or increased fluidity in dynamic scenes. Overall, Hisense U6NQ offers reasonable solutions in terms of motion fluidity that should satisfy both gamers and movie enthusiasts.

It will not be a surprise if we write that Philips PUS8359/12 only offers the most basic support for consoles. Once the console is connected, we can count on features such as: VRR and ALLM. This is quite pleasing in the case of the former, as experience has shown that even in more expensive units there can be issues with this. A nice touch is the implementation of a special GameBar that allows for changing settings on the "fly," so we won't have to exit the game and unnecessarily distract ourselves. This feature also allows for adapting gameplay to the needs of people with disabilities, which will certainly be extremely useful.

Hisense U6NQ offers the option to choose between 4K at 60 Hz and Full HD with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This solution may appeal to gamers who want to decide what is more important to them – higher resolution or smoothness. The television supports features such as ALLM and VRR, which help in achieving smoother gameplay. A nice addition is the GameBar – an easy-to-use panel that allows you to quickly change picture settings and check statistics. There is also a Dolby Vision Game mode, which operates with low input lag, which is a big plus for console enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it lacks HGiG, which could further enhance HDR quality in games. Nevertheless, the Hisense U6NQ performs quite well as a gaming television, especially for those who play occasionally and do not require the highest refresh rates in 4K. It is a solid choice for less demanding users.

The measured input lag after connecting to the console was very good and there was nothing to complain about. Both at the FHD and 4K settings, we measured delays at the level of 12ms, and by adding the HDR format at the higher resolution, the lag dropped to 11ms. Each of these results should be considered more than satisfactory, as such a level allows for gameplay that is virtually without delays at the level of controller-eye-screen.

The television Hisense U6NQ offers a very low input lag of 14 ms, making it a good choice for gamers, especially those who prefer fast-paced titles. It is also worth noting that the Dolby Vision mode in games works really well here. This is a pleasant surprise, as on many other televisions this HDR mode performs only averagely.

Connecting the Philips PUS8359 to a computer will not pose significant complications in the context of gaming. The latency is at a very good level, and working with 4K HDR settings was associated with an 11 ms input lag, which is a value that is imperceptible along the eye-screen-mouse line. The tested television also supports chroma 4:4:4, which means working with text files will not create any inconveniences. This model does not support G-Sync and offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which may be a considerable drawback for PC gamers. The rating in terms of gaming is therefore lower, although the device performs excellently in everyday office tasks.

As a screen for working with a computer, Hisense U6NQ performs quite well. The fonts are sufficiently clear, making it adequate for everyday writing or browsing the internet.

When it comes to gaming, the television supports G-Sync, but only at 4K resolution at 60 Hz. Unfortunately, if anyone was hoping for 120 Hz fluidity in 1080p with G-Sync enabled, they may be disappointed – this television does not offer that. It's somewhat unfortunate, as it could have been a decent solution for gamers who prefer smoothness over resolution.

The drop in brightness at an angle of 45 degrees is 65%. This means that even a slight shift from the centre of the screen can cause discomfort associated with colour degradation and image washing out. This is rather a characteristic feature of the vast majority of VA panels that do not have an angle coating.

The viewing angles on the Hisense U6NQ are average, which is typical for VA panels. Thanks to this technology, we gain better contrast and deeper blacks, but at the cost of image visibility at wider angles. It's a classic compromise – in televisions with IPS panels, the situation is reversed, where viewing angles are wider, but contrast and blacks suffer in quality.

The screen Philips PUS8359/12 has a satin finish. Such a finish allows for quite good efficiency in keeping light reflections under control and provides a fairly comfortable viewing experience during the day. It is worth mentioning that the maximum brightness of the television in SDR content is around 320 nits, which is a reasonably good result, especially considering that the brightness is maintained even at 100% screen fill with white.

Hisense U6NQ performs well in bright rooms thanks to the satin finish on the panel, which effectively suppresses reflections. The average brightness on SDR content, such as standard television, is 488 cd/m², which is more than sufficient for comfortable viewing even under slightly challenging lighting conditions.

It is impossible not to mention the manufacturer’s biggest distinguishing feature of their televisions first. Of course, we are talking about the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which, located on the back of the device, displays colours adapted to what is happening on the screen, often allowing for an even greater immersive experience. The operating system responsible for the television’s operation is Philips' proprietary system charmingly named TitanOs. It is definitely more closed off and limited in terms of available applications compared to the televisions from this manufacturer that are based on GoogleTV. Besides the lack of significant applications, its closed nature is also evident in another respect. We will not be able to perform such basic functions as programming recordings or recording to USB. Users of Apple devices may also feel disappointed by the absence of the AirPlay feature, which allows for easy screen streaming. Fortunately, there is no shortage of the option to connect a keyboard and mouse for more efficient navigation through the television menu. It is also worth mentioning that there is the possibility to connect headphones, but only wired ones. If we connect them, we can also play sound through the television's speakers. It is also worth adding that the control of the television occurs via IR, not Bluetooth, which is quite inconvenient these days.

In summary: TitanOs has quite a few "buts", especially when we are aware users needing and using many streaming platforms. It is rather an option for those limiting themselves to the so-called holy trinity, namely Netflix, YouTube, and CDA.

The Vidaa system, on which the Hisense U6NQ operates, is probably one of its stronger points. It is quick, runs smoothly, and most importantly – it doesn’t suffer from any stuttering that can be irritating in other televisions. It’s great that voice search is available in Polish, which makes operation significantly easier. There are plenty of apps here, but unfortunately, there is a lack of music apps such as Spotify or Tidal. It’s a shame because a television is not just for films and series – some would probably happily use it for listening to music as well.

Among the additional features, we have the option to record television programmes onto a USB drive or external hard disk. There is also AirPlay and Miracast, so it’s easy to stream images from a smartphone. The built-in Bluetooth is also useful, allowing you to connect headphones, a mouse, or a keyboard. The only thing that is really missing here is the PiP (picture-in-picture) feature. If it were added, the television would be complete in terms of functionality. Nonetheless, the Hisense U6NQ offers a lot and is more than sufficient for most users.

The default media player built into Philips PUS8359/12 offers quite a wide range of capabilities, but it also has its limitations. It plays virtually all video formats, with the obvious exception of Dolby Vision and the less obvious .asf, which is not commonly encountered. However, the issue lies in the lack of support for the H.265 HEVC codec at high bitrate. When it comes to photos, the player performs adequately, but it lacks support for some popular resolutions and formats, such as HEIC, which is used on Apple devices. The player excels at audio playback, where there is nothing to complain about. Unfortunately, due to system limitations, there is no option to expand the features, meaning we are left with what the manufacturer has provided.

The built-in media player in Hisense U6NQ should satisfy most users. It supports Polish characters and allows for easy editing of displayed subtitles, which is a big plus. Unfortunately, it lacks support for the AV1 codec, which may be an issue for those looking to play newer video formats. However, for less demanding users, the features of the player will be fully adequate.

The built-in audio system in Philips PUS8359 consists of a basic connection of speakers, 2x 10 W each. As you can probably guess, not much can be expected from such a configuration. Nevertheless, if we do not exceed 50% of the maximum volume, it will not present negative thoughts. We definitely recommend connecting even cheaper soundbars. These, due to a range of codecs provided by the manufacturer, will certainly work very well. The implementation of Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio is worth mentioning.

Hisense U6NQ is equipped with a standard set of speakers with a power of 20 W, which is a typical solution in this class of televisions. The sound is adequate but does not stand out in any particular way. However, it is worth noting the support for all popular audio codecs, including DTS and Dolby Atmos. This allows us to easily connect a home cinema system or soundbar, achieving significantly better sound experiences than from the built-in speakers.

Philips PUS8359 (VA) vs Hisense U6NQ

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