Sharp JP7765 is yet another offering in the market that attempts to prove that Mini-LED technology doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The low price comes hand in hand with an exceptionally high brightness – a peak of 1000 nits in HDR is a result that simply impresses in this price range. Although the proprietary processor doesn’t always manage the backlighting perfectly in demanding scenes, support for Dolby Vision effectively saves the situation. Thanks to dynamic metadata, the picture becomes plastic, deep, and simply attractive to the eye. Adding to this the Google TV system, extreme volume, and the now-rare jack headphone socket, we get a device that is a brilliant option for seniors or less demanding viewers transitioning from a regular, cheap LCD. In such a scenario, the Sharp JP7 presents itself as a really decent and cost-effective choice. However, it must be stated clearly: contrary to marketing slogans, this is not equipment for everyone. Gamers or sports fans will definitely not find themselves here. The biggest drawback of the JP7765 model is the slow, 60-hertz panel and significant motion blur, which essentially disqualifies this television for watching dynamic matches or playing fast-paced titles. The picture loses sharpness during rapid movements to such an extent that for a football or racing fan, it may be an unacceptable barrier.
So, for whom is the Sharp JP7765? It is a sensible choice for budget-conscious individuals who do not have high demands regarding motion fluidity but value a “kick” of brightness. By choosing the Sharp JP7, you will definitely make a better deal than purchasing basic (non-dimming) televisions from the competition. Rivals typically offer ordinary LCD panels for a similar price, which cannot compete with the capabilities of even such a basic Mini-LED model as the JP7. Ultimately, it comes down to a simple arrangement: you accept lower motion fluidity in exchange for powerful brightness, which is hard to find from other manufacturers at this price.
The idea behind The One has hardly changed over the years and with the Philips PQS9001 this is both a strength and its biggest drawback. You still get a versatile mid-range television whose main distinguishing feature is Ambilight. The light that follows the picture can change the atmosphere of an evening viewing and for many people will be the main reason to buy it. It's easy to see why: once you like that effect, you often don't want to go back to watching without it. The picture quality itself is good, but a very similar level has been seen in this series in previous years. The VA panel delivers decent blacks, colours are nicely saturated and the brightness is sufficient for comfortable viewing in a typical living room. It's a pity, though, that Philips didn't take another step and at least implement some form of local dimming. In a dark room you can see a navy-black rather than true black, and HDR, though noticeable, is less impressive as a result. After so many years of The One on the market we'd expect more.
There is a clear step forward in Titan OS. Compared with last year, and especially the version from two years ago, the system has become much more pleasant to use. A few apps have been added, many small functions improved and the annoying bugs we complained about before have been fixed. Overall it runs respectably, although we're again bothered by a remote that has to be pointed at the television. Philips stubbornly sticks with infrared for basic control, even though voice control uses radio connectivity. That makes it harder to understand why radio wasn't also used for menu navigation. The One also has a lot to offer gamers. Four HDMI 2.1 ports and extensive features are one thing, but what impressed us most was the panel's response time. Our unit showed virtually no smearing, even on dark backgrounds, which is rare for LCD TVs with a VA panel. That deserves considerable praise. The ability to play in 4K at 144 Hz or in Full HD at 240 Hz further encourages connecting a PC. Unfortunately there's an unfinished element here too: Dolby Vision when gaming on Xbox incurs very high input lag.
The PQS9000 therefore leaves mixed impressions. It can surprise with excellent motion handling and shows that Philips has worked on the system, but the image quality lacks a similar step forward. This is a television we can recommend primarily to Ambilight fans. If that lighting is what convinces you to choose Philips, buying The One makes a lot of sense. It's worth checking, though, whether you can't find a Mini LED model with good local dimming at a similar price, which would offer deeper blacks and more striking HDR. Then you need to decide what matters more to you: the ambience created by Ambilight or better image quality itself.