Philips PUS8359 (VA) vs Sharp GR8

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.

Sharp GR8 in its promotional materials boasts of "very high brightness" at a level of 500 nits. Unfortunately, our tests showed that the reality is somewhat different – the average luminance value we managed to achieve was around 360 nits. This is rather an average result, especially in the context of the manufacturer's claims. Such brightness does not allow for a full enjoyment of HDR effects. The image is a bit more defined than in standard SDR, but it is difficult to speak of true richness and depth in bright elements here. However, praise is due for the DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage at a level of 95%. This is a result of the application of an additional PFS layer, known from QLED technology. As a result, the colours are vivid and have a pleasant, natural tone, which somewhat compensates for the deficiencies in brightness.

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.

At the outset, it is worth noting that colour reproduction tests are always conducted in the best factory picture mode. In the case of Sharp GR8, this is the “Film” mode. As for white balance, which affects how we perceive colours on the screen, in SDR mode, there is an immediate noticeable dominance of blue. This results in an unnatural cooling of the image – blue elements take on a purple hue, and skin tones acquire a pinkish glow, as we can see in the comparative photo from the film STAR WARS. During the Color Checker test, it was clear that the colour samples deviated from the reference values, confirming considerable errors in colour reproduction. The gamma was also not ideal – it caused excessive brightness throughout the entire image, resulting in a lack of depth and appropriate tonal transitions in the scene.

In 4K HDR mode, the situation looks significantly better. The dominance of blue is much less noticeable, although there are minor issues with the combination of red and blue. This causes some shades to appear somewhat unnatural. The EOTF curve, responsible for the brightness of the image in 4K HDR content, revealed another problem – the television tends to excessively dim the image across the entire surface of the screen.

In summary, the “Film” mode in Sharp GR8 would require a few adjustments to fully utilise the potential of this television. Fortunately, we took care of that and proceeded with calibration.

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.

Sharp GR8 is one of those televisions that truly gains a second life after proper calibration. Both in HD and 4K content, the white balance performs very well, especially when considering the price segment of this model. The image becomes much more aligned with what the director intended to show – colours look natural, and skin tones acquire the appropriate depth and warmth. The brightness characteristics also make a very positive impression. Both gamma and the EOTF curve display really solid values. While minor imperfections can be noticed, they are subtle enough that they are difficult to detect during everyday viewing. In summary, calibration allows the Sharp GR8 to showcase its best features, offering an image that is not only pleasant to the eye but also faithfully reflects the creators' intentions.

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.

Sharp GR8 has been equipped with the "10-bit colour reproduction" feature, which theoretically should improve the smoothness of tonal transitions. In practice… well, the effect is surprising, but not in a particularly positive way. Even at the highest settings, it is difficult to notice any impact on the actual tonal transitions. Instead, the feature surprisingly smooths out what it shouldn't – walls, shirts, or other flat surfaces look almost like they have been freshly ironed. In the test, we had to note that there is simply no actual impact on tonal transitions.

As for image scaling, here Sharp GR8 performs significantly better. The television can give the image a plastic, smooth characteristic, meaning even lower resolution content looks quite good. Of course, with more demanding details, such as thin tree branches in the background, one can notice slight jaggedness, but it is not something that would significantly affect viewing comfort.

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.

This is where Sharp GR8 has the chance to stand out from the competition in its price segment. The television is equipped with a 144 Hz refresh rate panel, which is an impressive achievement, especially if we plan to use it for dynamic content such as action films, sports broadcasts, or video games. Additionally, the manufacturer has ensured the presence of motion smoothing technology, commonly referred to as a “smoothness enhancer.” The user has three levels of adjustment at their disposal, allowing them to tailor the effect to their own preferences – from subtle smoothing to a more aggressive intervention in the smoothness of the image. This is a nice addition, particularly for those who mainly watch films and care about smooth, cinematic sequences without irritating stutters or frame drops.

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.

If the television has a 144 Hz panel and two full HDMI 2.1 ports, it is clear that it has been designed with gamers in mind. The Sharp GR8 offers exactly that – high refresh rates and the appropriate connections that will allow you to get the most out of modern consoles and PCs. It also features ALLM, which automatically switches the television to low latency mode, and VRR, which ensures the image does not stutter even during more demanding moments. In practice, everything works as it should, and it is hard to find fault with anything. However, there are some shortcomings. It lacks support for HGiG, which is a feature that better adjusts HDR for games, as well as Game Bar, which makes it easier to quickly adjust settings without leaving the game. Despite these drawbacks, the Sharp GR8 is truly a solid option for gamers.