Philips PUS8500 vs Hisense U7Q

Direct compare

PUS8500 / PUS8560 / PUS8510 / PUS8600

Info

U7Q / U78Q

Info

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”85”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”100”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Titan OS

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: VIDAA

Model year: 2025

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Overall rating

5.6

7.2

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    5.6

    6.7

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.2

    6.8

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    5.2

    6.5

  • Gaming on console

    6.7

    8.0

  • TV as a computer monitor

    5.6

    8.6

  • Watching in bright light

    4.9

    6.2

  • Utility functions

    4.8

    8.9

  • Apps

    4.6

    7.7

  • Sound quality

    6.2

    7.2

Advantages

  • Ambilight System

  • High native contrast - VA panel

  • Low input lag

  • Basic gaming features: ALLM and VRR

  • Full support for audio formats: Dolby Atmos and DTS

  • Backlit remote control with numeric keypad

  • Great contrast and deep blacks

  • Very good fluidity of tonal transitions (close to reference level)

  • High brightness

  • Support for 4K 144 Hz and even 240 Hz in Full HD

  • VRR, ALLM, G-SYNC – a complete package for gamers

  • Low input lag

  • Pleasant sound with light bass

  • Many classic TV features built into the VIDAA system

Disadvantages

No like
  • Average panel brightness

  • The TitanOS system seems unfinished (some features do not work, missing applications)

  • Infrared remote control

  • Issues with font readability (PC)

  • No support for HGiG (makes setting HDR on consoles difficult)

  • Brightness management issues

  • Poor viewing angles – typical for VA panels

  • Closed VIDAA system – lack of certain applications

Our verdict

Ambilight, as this is what we need to start with, is the biggest reason why it's worth buying the PUS8500. The three-sided backlighting of the television looks fantastic, especially in the evening. It creates an atmosphere, masks contrast shortcomings, and makes watching a film simply more enjoyable. Even if the black levels aren't perfect, the native VA panel offers decent performance at high contrast. Additionally, there’s quite a good input lag and several features for gamers such as ALLM and VRR. Although HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz panel are absent, playing casually should be a pleasure. Especially since it feels responsive and without delays. Let’s also mention the full support for audio formats – both Dolby Atmos and DTS are included, so soundbar owners can also rejoice.

However, we won't sugarcoat it – this is still a budget television, and at times it’s clearly evident. The brightness is average – not weak enough to prevent viewing, but on an exceptionally sunny day, watching without curtains can be problematic. Nevertheless, in our opinion, the biggest disappointment of the PUS8560 is the Titan OS operating system. Despite the fact that the system debuted some time ago, certain functions simply refused to work – for instance, screen mirroring from a phone despite the manufacturer claiming that such a feature is present. There are fewer apps than in the competition, and the system itself operates rather clumsily. Generally, while it does have some features, it evidently lacks refinement.

Of course, this isn’t a television meant to compete with top models. But if someone is looking for something simple, with a great atmosphere provided by the Ambilight system, it is quite a fair proposition. You just have to know what to expect and accept the numerous compromises present here.

The Hisense U7Q is one of the most interesting Mini-LED televisions in its price segment, clearly demonstrating that Hisense is beginning to make a mark in the market not only through its price-to-performance ratio but also due to its increasingly refined picture quality. Let's start with what truly impresses: the contrast and black levels are at a level that not long ago was unattainable in this price range. Combined with smooth tonal transitions, solid brightness, and a fast 144 Hz panel, the U7Q becomes a television that excels in both movies and gaming. Gamers will find almost everything they could expect here – variable refresh rate (VRR) support, automatic low latency mode (ALLM), very low input lag, and even 240 Hz in Full HD. All of this makes the U7Q compatible with both next-gen consoles and PCs. However, there are some weaker points. With HDR content, one might say: "untapped potential" – you might ask why? The television, due to its algorithms, dims small bright elements or over-emphasises them, which can ruin the viewing experience. There is also a lack of support for HGiG, a feature that would allow for better calibration of the console with the television regarding HDR. In summary, briefly – the Hisense U7Q is a very versatile and complete television that has its imperfections but makes up for them in many key aspects. For gamers, for the occasional movie viewer, for someone looking for good equipment for everyday use – it is one of the most cost-effective offerings in 2025. You just need to know what compromises you are signing up for – and then it will be hard to be disappointed.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Average
BuildQuality-Good
Stand type
Legs
Central
Stand type
stand-type-Graphite
stand-type-Graphite
Stand
stand-Base Adjustment
stand-Fixed
Accessories
accessories-Stand
accessories-Stand

Contrast and black detail

6.1/10

7.5/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 220 (10 x 22)

Contrast:

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

6,000:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

6,250:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,750:1

Review Hisense U7Q Contrast and black detail

Result

278,000:1

Review Hisense U7Q Contrast and black detail

Result

28,800:1

Review Hisense U7Q Contrast and black detail

Result

11,100:1

Review Hisense U7Q Contrast and black detail

Result

10,800:1

Review Hisense U7Q Contrast and black detail

Result

6,250:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

The Philips PUS8560 in the size we tested is equipped with a VA panel. As a result, black levels – as far as LCD televisions go – can be deemed decent. And that is exactly the case with this model. Both black levels and the overall impression of contrast in the film scenes we tested were really quite good – the image does not bleed, and details are visible even in challenging sections.

But the panel alone is not everything. Unfortunately, the PUS8500 does not come with local dimming (which is a given considering the television segment), so one must be aware that in completely dark conditions, the black can resemble shades of navy more than true black. On the other hand – and here’s a plus for Philips – the Ambilight system does an excellent job. The backlighting genuinely affects the perception of contrast. Therefore, even if technically the black is not perfect, subjectively the viewing experience becomes much more pleasurable. For many people, this is enough to make an evening screening truly impressive.

The U7Q is a television with Mini-LED backlighting – just like the PRO version. The difference? The version without the suffix simply has fewer dimming zones. In our 65-inch model with a VA panel, we counted 220 of them. And although this doesn't make as much of an impression as in the U7Q PRO, it still looks very good on paper for this price range. Alright, but how does it perform in practice? Surprisingly well. The contrast in the U7Q can reach as high as 300,000:1, which gives a really solid black effect. In many scenes, it's hard to find fault – the picture has depth, and the highlights are well separated. Of course, Mini-LED is not OLED – so there are certain limitations. In very challenging scenes with a lot of dark details, the television sometimes either "eats" them, leaving a nice black, or slightly brightens the background, which can cause a halo effect. This is normal in this technology, and one must take it into account. Despite these minor drawbacks – the contrast in the U7Q performs really well.

HDR effect quality

4.8/10

4.6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 90.4%, Bt.2020: 65.8%
DCI P3: 93.5%, Bt.2020: 70.5%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

273 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

300 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

324 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

343 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

334 nit

Review Hisense U7Q Brightness measurement

Result

521 nit

Review Hisense U7Q Brightness measurement

Result

160 nit

Review Hisense U7Q Brightness measurement

Result

351 nit

Review Hisense U7Q Brightness measurement

Result

98 nit

Review Hisense U7Q Brightness measurement

Result

674 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

HDR luminance chart:

Hisense U7Q

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

Philips PUS8500

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

When it comes to the HDR effect on the PUS8560, it can fairly confidently be stated that it is very average. The panel brightness is around 350 nits, which we consider to be the absolute minimum for watching content in this format. However, this is not a result that will astonish a viewer searching for the best possible picture.

On the plus side, it is worth noting that the PUS8500 series – including the PUS8560/12 we tested – is advertised as a QLED television. And indeed, we can expect a wider colour spectrum here. This model is equipped with an additional filter (PFS), and a DCI-P3 colour coverage of around 90% should suffice for the majority of users. This filter works very similarly to quantum dots. As a result, the colours are quite well saturated. It is not an outstanding result, but it is entirely sufficient for watching films and series from streaming platforms.

Since the algorithms responsible for blacks are performing quite well, we expected a similarly good effect regarding brightness and overall HDR quality. Unfortunately – here we have to disappoint you a bit.

The U7Q is a sufficiently bright television – under the best conditions, it can achieve around 800 nits, which indeed impresses on some scenes, especially in scenes like those from the film The Meg. Bright areas can shine, and the HDR effect is noticeable. The problem arises when there are very small, bright elements on a dark background – for example, in Sicario 2 or in the second scene from the film Life of Pi. In such moments, the dimming algorithms work too aggressively. Yes, the blacks look great then, but the brightest points can almost completely disappear, causing the HDR effect to vanish and the details to be barely visible. It's just the nature of this technology in this price segment.

As a consolation, it's worth mentioning that the U7Q is marketed as QLED (in practice, a PFS layer is used, which works very similarly), and it is indeed capable of displaying a wide colour palette – a DCI-P3 coverage of around 94% is a very good result for this class.

Factory color reproduction

6.2/10

6.3/10

Factory Mode

After calibration

Factory Mode

After calibration

We tested the television with the best available factory settings, namely in Film/Filmmaker mode – this is the mode we recommend for everyday viewing. Unfortunately, it is not without its flaws. Both in HD and HDR content, the image had a noticeable tendency to a pink tint, caused by an excessive amount of red and blue in the white balance. Another issue turned out to be excessive brightness in the image, which was confirmed by both the gamma chart and the EOTF curve. This feature was responsible for loss of detail and washed-out colours in more challenging HDR scenes that we mentioned earlier. The overall result led to significant colour reproduction errors – in extreme cases, the delta E value exceeded 7, while the threshold for visible errors for the human eye is around 3. This situation can be improved with calibration, and you can read about its effects below.

We tested the U7Q in the best possible picture mode, which is Filmmaker Mode. This is the mode that is supposed to provide the most "filmic" and creator-intended experience – right out of the box. Unfortunately… even this professionally sounding name does not guarantee a perfect picture.

In our unit, the problem lay in the incorrectly set white balance. Both in HD and 4K content, the picture had too much blue and red, which caused the screen to take on a slightly rosy tint. It didn't look terrible, but it was noticeable – especially in bright scenes and white backgrounds. This alone could perhaps be forgiven, but the biggest problem is managing brightness in HDR content. The EOTF curve from measurements confirms what we saw earlier during scene tests: the television can overly darken the smallest bright elements, causing them to nearly disappear, or on the contrary – excessively brighten the brightest ones, which affects the naturalness of the picture.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.4/10

7.4/10

The Dutch manufacturer offers quite a sizable amount of settings in its products, so as usual, we decided to tinker with them a bit. The effects are immediately noticeable – we managed to correct the white balance, which made the image stop appearing excessively pink. The brightness characteristic has also been partially evened out, of course, within the limits set by the television itself. The image is no longer overly exaggerated, and the overall reception after calibration is definitely better than in the factory settings of the Filmmaker mode.

One could only critique the EOTF curve characteristic, which still indicates that the image has a tendency to brighten HDR materials. Despite our efforts, the darkest parts of scenes are still sometimes too bright, and the brightest ones do not always achieve their full contrast potential. However, it must be clearly stated that we are dealing with a typically budget construction – one cannot expect reference-level reproduction of HDR content from it.

Calibration has definitely helped this model – it improved the balance, toned down the aggressive colour palette, and brought the image closer to what one might expect from a well-configured movie mode. However, there are certain limitations that cannot be overcome.

Thanks to specialised tools, we managed to correct the colour quality in SDR content to nearly perfection. In materials with lower dynamic range, the delta E errors dropped below 0.5, which can be regarded as an almost reference result. The picture on television, YouTube, or classic Full HD looks really very good after calibration. Alright – but where did we not manage to improve the image so easily? Primarily, it concerns HDR quality content. Although we managed to somewhat 'tame' the white balance and eliminate pink tints in most scenes, unfortunately, we no longer had full control over brightness management. We set the local dimming settings according to the best observations – SDR: Medium, HDR: High – but the U7Q still did everything a bit its own way. There were still cases of excessive dimming or brightening of details that calibration simply could not eliminate. And although the overall reception of the content is significantly better, one must reckon that the U7Q will always have something to say at the end with an 'but'.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

6.3/10

9.9/10

The PUS8560 handles colour transitions into smooth gradients very well. During tests, the image appeared coherent and natural, and serious issues with tonal transitions occurred only in very dark scenes – for example, in a shot with red water, where subtle cuts between colours could be noticed. However, these are rather exceptions that do not spoil the reception of most content. It is worth mentioning another phenomenon that more significantly affects the quality of the image – the so-called dithering, which refers to a slight "tingling" visible on uniform backgrounds. This effect can be particularly noticeable in high-quality materials and can somewhat spoil the impression of image clarity. It is for this flaw that we deducted some points in our evaluation.

The U7Q performs remarkably well when it comes to tonal transitions – we can confidently say that it is at an almost reference level, which is why this television receives one of the highest possible ratings in this category from us. Colour blending is smooth, clean, and without visible bands. In the majority of scenes, everything looks simply perfect, and any minor imperfections may only appear in very specific shots – although we hardly noticed any during our tests.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.1/10

6/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
OK

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Philips PUS8560 offers a function for reducing posterization, hidden under the name "distortion reduction". And although it indeed fulfills its role by smoothing out problematic tonal transitions, it works a bit too broadly. In practice, it affects not only colourful gradients but also softens faces, the textures of clothing, and the surfaces of furniture. This compromises the authenticity of the image – especially in films where natural texture is very important. However, if someone is looking for smoothing at all costs, it's best to set this option to "Low". For cinema image enthusiasts – we definitely do not recommend it.

On the positive side, the quality of upscaling older materials is noteworthy – the PUS8560 model handles them surprisingly well. The image retains its natural softness, without artificially boosted sharpness. It is also worth mentioning that the television correctly displays content with very low resolution, avoiding issues with image edge cutting (so-called overscan).

There are situations where we would like to smooth out tonal transitions a bit, especially in older materials – those with limited source quality. The U7Q is equipped with a feature called "Smooth and Gradient Image," but unfortunately... it works very poorly. In the "Low" option, the effects are practically unnoticeable, and other settings smooth details but do not improve tonal transitions. The only positive aspect is that the feature does not interfere with film grain, so it does not ruin the natural structure of the image.

Fortunately, upscaling content performs quite well. The image is not excessively sharpened, and there is no artificial clarity – and although it is known that this is not the level of high-end televisions, the U7Q handles displaying really old content in a completely acceptable manner without any issues.

Blur and motion smoothness

4/10

7.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
144Hz
Film motion smoothing option
No
OK
Blur reduction option
No
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Nie
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
Nie
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
77%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Smużenie ():

Smużenie (1080p 240Hz):

The Philips PUS8560 is a television equipped with a panel featuring a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which immediately limits its capabilities in terms of displaying dynamic content. Watching sports or playing on a console is not particularly enjoyable. The situation is further worsened by the lack of any option to improve the smoothness of films. In the menu, we won't find settings that would allow us to enable a motion smoother or even a slight motion smoothing for films recorded at 24 frames per second. You can imagine the effect. The image can appear jerky, especially in shots with panoramic camera movements.

U7Q is indeed a very fast television, just like its more powerful version "PRO". At a resolution of 4K, it supports up to 144 Hz refresh rate, and if someone wants even more – in Full HD, you can achieve up to 240 Hz! This will mainly benefit PC gamers, but it is worth appreciating – it is a rarely seen feature in this price segment. Right from the start, it is clear that the U7Q has been designed with dynamic content in mind, such as games or sport. In films, we are not left "out in the cold" either – the U7Q offers an "Ultra Motion Smoothness" feature, where using two sliders you can adjust whether you prefer a smoother, theatrical image or something closer to a cinematic style with a visible film frame. It is good that, as with most manufacturers, we have a choice here as well and can adjust it to our own preferences.

Console compatibility and gaming features

4.7/10

8.5/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 60Hz
    48 - 240Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    No
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

Although the Philips PUS8560 is not designed with gamers in mind, the manufacturer has decided to equip it with a few features that may prove useful when connecting a console. On board, we find automatic switching to game mode (ALLM), as well as a simple connection status information bar – the so-called Game Bar. It does not make a particularly strong visual impression, but it serves its purpose. The presence of variable refresh rate (VRR), operating in the range of 48 to 60 Hz, may come as a surprise. While this is not a wide range, in the case of less demanding games or titles with unstable frame rates, VRR can help reduce screen tearing. However, this is the only element that could be considered beyond the minimum.

It must be made clear that the PUS8560 is not equipment for gamers looking for a responsive screen and full support for modern console features. It lacks HDMI 2.1 ports, the refresh rate is limited to 60 Hz, and the response time of the panel is not among the fastest. This model may be suitable at most for casual gamers who want to enjoy the Ambilight system.

The Hisense U7Q is a television designed with gamers in mind – and this is immediately evident from its gaming capabilities. It has practically everything you could wish for: variable refresh rate (VRR) – check, automatic game mode (ALLM) – check, and on top of that, high refresh rates of up to 240 Hz in Full HD and support for various resolutions, not just 4K. This is truly a great set of features that makes the U7Q perform well both in fast-paced first-person shooters on consoles and in more demanding titles on PC. Of course – as with most Hisense models – there is a lack of proper implementation of the HGiG feature. It's a shame because HGiG allows console brightness to be matched to a specific television, which in practice makes displaying HDR games according to the creators' intent much easier. Without this, you simply have to reckon with certain limitations in the final HDR image in games.

Input lag

10/10

9.7/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
17 ms
1080p120
9 ms
2160p60
13 ms
17 ms
2160p120
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
12 ms
17 ms
2160p120
9 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
28 ms
2160p120 DV
19 ms

The input lag on the PUS8560 is very good. When we previously mentioned that this screen is rather for the "casual gamer," there is nothing to be ashamed of in this regard – even when compared to screens aimed at gamers. Results around 12 ms are truly outstanding, allowing for an enjoyable responsive gameplay experience. It doesn't matter whether we are playing in Full HD or 4K – the lag remains equally low, so if you value a quick response time, the PUS8560 will definitely not disappoint in this aspect.

The input lag on the U7Q is really impressive. With 120 Hz content, we measured around 9 ms, and with 60 Hz – around 17 ms. These are exceptional results that make the television excellent for even dynamic games requiring quick reactions. It's hard to criticise anything here. Of course, as is often the case, the Dolby Vision mode in games seems to be a bit slower compared to classic SDR or HDR. This will be particularly noticeable for users of Xbox Series X/S consoles, which are the only ones supporting Dolby Vision Gaming. Fortunately, the input lag remains below 30 ms, so in practice, this is still an acceptable level even for more demanding gamers.

Compatibility with PC

5.6/10

8.6/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Poor
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate)
13ms
9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
60Hz
144Hz
G-Sync
No
Yes

When it comes to working with a PC on the PUS8560, it looks... quite strange. Chroma 4:4:4 is present in "Monitor" mode, but there is a problem with grey fonts – not all subpixels are lit, which results in the text appearing jagged. On the other hand, in "Game" mode – chroma 4:4:4 disappears, but the grey fonts look correct. In practice, we are therefore forced to juggle settings if we want to have perfectly readable text at all times. And what about gaming on the computer? Our opinion remains the same as for consoles – it is doable, but without fireworks. There is no variable refresh rate for G-SYNC graphics cards, and the refresh rate itself remains relatively low. However, we can once again highlight the very low input lag, which saves the situation in dynamic games.

The U7Q communicates excellently with the computer. For gamers, this is great news – we have high refresh rates, low input lag, and G-SYNC support, making gameplay from a PC pure enjoyment. But the U7Q also performs well in everyday tasks. If someone uses the computer for word processing, browsing the internet, or office work – there’s nothing to complain about. The TV correctly handles chroma 4:4:4, so fonts look sharp and clear, without blurriness or odd contours. Both small and capital letters are simply readable – just as it should be.

Viewing angles

3.3/10

3/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
68%
74%

The viewing angles on the PUS8560 are precisely what one would expect from a VA panel - it's not the best. The image loses quality even with a slight shift off-axis – colours become washed out and black begins to resemble a dark navy. This is, of course, the price paid for the better contrast that VA offers when viewed directly. In the case of our 55-inch model, this is still acceptable, especially if the television is positioned perfectly opposite the sofa. However, with larger screen sizes or a less central placement in the living room – it could become a problem for comfortable viewing.

The viewing angles on the U7Q are rather poor – this is simply characteristic of VA panel qualities. Directly in front, everything looks very good: blacks are deep, colours are saturated, and contrast is high. However, just moving slightly to the side causes the picture to start losing quality – colours become washed out, and blacks begin to resemble dark grey. Compared to televisions with IPS panels, the U7Q performs worse, although on the other hand, it makes up for it with better contrast and deeper blacks.

TV efficiency during daytime

4.9/10

6.2/10

Matrix coating
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Decent
Good
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Hisense U7Q: 519 cd/m2

Philips PUS8500 : 331 cd/m2

The PUS8560 performs moderately during the day. The satin matrix coating quite effectively dampens reflections, which means that light from windows or lamps does not interfere too much. The blacks also look decent for a VA panel – even in daylight, there are no significant losses in contrast. However, all the charm fades when it gets really bright. The panel's brightness is around 300 nits, which is definitely too little to speak of full comfort in a heavily lit room. In such conditions, the PUS8560 simply needs to be aided by blinds – otherwise, the image begins to look rather pale.

The U7Q performs quite well in a sunlit room. The brightness in SDR mode averages around 520 nits, which practically means that even on a sunny day, it is easy to comfortably watch television – without the feeling that everything is drowned in reflections. Additionally, thanks to the satin coating on the panel, the television does a good job of suppressing reflections.

Details about the matrix

Backlight Type
PFS LED
Mini-LED PFS LED
Software version during testing
TPN256E_V056.002.127.051
V0000.09.01T.P0523
Image processor

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Philips PUS8500

Hisense U7Q

TV features

4.8/10

8.9/10

  • HDMI inputs
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    Yes
  • Recording programming
    No
    Yes
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen)
    No
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    Yes
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV
    Yes
    Yes
  • Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker
    No
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    No
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    No
    Yes
  • Wyszukiwanie głosowe
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    No
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes

Classic TV Features:

If you are looking for a television that "works" in the most basic sense – the PUS8560 will fulfil that role. In terms of classic features, we have a rather minimalist set. On the plus side, there is an electronic programme guide (EPG), teletext, a backlit remote control with a classic numeric keypad, and a headphone jack input. It sounds a bit like a dream set for seniors – and there is some truth to that. However, it must be stated clearly: this is a television with very limited capabilities. We will not find recording functions from DVB tuners to USB here, nor is there a PiP mode or other conveniences known from more expensive models.

Smart TV:

How does the SmartTV perform on the PUS8560? Well, this is where it gets a bit more complicated. The PUS8560 runs on the Titan OS, which in this particular implementation posed significant problems. Some features, although present "on paper," simply did not work. For example: Wireless screen mirroring functions, such as Chromecast or Miracast – we tried to activate them from several different phones and laptops… without success. Perhaps this will be fixed in the future, but at the time of testing – it did not work. Additionally, the system's speed left much to be desired – switching between applications or home screens was simply slow. A considerable portion of the menu functions seems to be well hidden in the depths of a poorly organised system. To make matters worse, the library of available applications is quite limited. Even though the situation with applications is better than last year, it is still far from ideal. The situation tries to be salvaged by a modern remote – slim, elegant, backlit, and really well made. Unfortunately, it operates on classic infrared, so you have to aim it at the screen. The only exception is voice control, which works via Bluetooth… it’s just a pity that it doesn’t support Polish.

Classic features of U7Q

Hisense U7Q has quite a lot to offer when it comes to classic TV features. You can record programmes to USB, connect external devices via Bluetooth without any hassle, and the interface – such as the EPG – is clear and easy to read. It may sound like something mainly appreciated by seniors, but the truth is that U7Q has practically everything needed for watching traditional television. The only thing missing here is the PiP (picture-in-picture) feature.

Smart TV U7Q: Vidaa

As for Smart features, the U7Q runs on the proprietary VIDAA system. And it must be admitted – it operates really smoothly. Voice search in Polish? No complaints. AirPlay and screen mirroring? They work without any issues as well. Of course, one must be aware that VIDAA is a closed system, so – as is often the case – it lacks some popular applications, especially those related to music. Therefore, before purchasing, it is worth checking whether all the applications you use regularly are available.

Playing files from USB

8/10

8.2/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
No
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
Yes
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
No
No
12 Mpix
No
No
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
No
No
24 Mpix
No
No
28 Mpix
No
No
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

The PUS8560 handles the playback of most popular video and audio formats from a USB memory stick without any major issues, so there’s no point in detailing the compatibilities one by one. In everyday use, it should simply work – and it does. The only thing worth noting is the handling of images. Although the television easily recognises popular file extensions, there are instances when some images simply do not display when the graphic files have very high resolutions. This may not be a huge problem, but it’s good to keep it in mind, especially if we want to view photographs straight from the camera. Apart from that, the PUS8560 shouldn’t pose any significant issues with playing files from USB.

The built-in player in the U7Q fully meets the needs of most future users. The television handles Polish characters effortlessly and supports most popular video, audio, and image formats. If we had to nitpick, it would only be about the limited support for certain image resolutions – there are instances when files from a camera are not displayed correctly. So it's worth keeping this in mind if you plan to present photos straight from a DSLR or phone.

Apps

4.6/10

7.7/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Player_TVN
No
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
No
Apple_TV_Plus
No
SkyShowtime
No
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
No
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
No
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
No
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
No
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
No
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
No
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
No
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Sound

6.2/10

7.2/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    82dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    Yes

The television sounds quite pleasant and can confidently be regarded as having sufficient sound levels for most users – both for watching everyday programmes and for an evening viewing of a series. Moreover, a pleasant surprise is that even in this budget-friendly series, Philips has chosen to acquire licenses for full audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS. This is great news for owners of home cinemas and soundbars, as it means full compatibility and no need to "fiddle around" with connecting external devices.

Sound is one of the bigger advantages of the U7Q. The television sounds really pleasant – there is a slightly noticeable bass, good tone balance, and definitely something more than just for "daily news watching." You can easily play music on it and simply sit back and enjoy the sound – of course in an entertaining form, not an audiophile one 😉. Full support for the most important audio codecs also deserves a big plus, as they worked flawlessly. A small exception is Dolby Atmos in TrueHD version, which didn’t fully play when connected to the home cinema, so if someone uses this format – it’s worth keeping in mind – it might be a software issue.

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

82dBC (Max)

75dBC