Compare: TCL MQLED85 / C765 vs Philips The One (PUS8959 / PUS8919 / PUS8909 / PUS8949

TCL MQLED85, or model C765, is a television that can truly surprise, especially in this price range. It is one of the cheapest models with mini-LED technology, which is immediately evident from the picture quality. The blacks are deep, and the brightness is sufficient even in a brightly lit room. Thanks to the large number of dimming zones, watching films in the evening is a pure pleasure – the blacks are genuinely deep, and the image in dark scenes appears clear. However, it is not perfect – in some shots, you can notice minor issues with small bright elements, but this is really a trifle compared to what this model offers. Google TV works excellently here – there are plenty of applications, and using the system is simply convenient. Voice control in Polish operates flawlessly, which can be particularly useful if you don’t want to type film titles using the remote. Of course, there are minor shortcomings, like the lack of recording features, but these are not things that hinder everyday use. For gamers, it is also a great option. Support for HDMI 2.1, VRR, and low input lag make the television handle consoles well and compete effortlessly with more expensive models from Korean or Japanese manufacturers. It's hard to find something better in this price range concerning smooth and responsive gameplay. During testing, we encountered a few minor software issues, but it's difficult to say if this is a significant drawback. We hope that TCL will release updates, so there is a chance this issue will be resolved quickly. TCL MQLED85/C765 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a television with good picture quality and modern features at a reasonable price. This model combines accessible mini-LED technology with a convenient Google TV system, while also performing exceptionally well in gaming. The minor software shortcomings are something you can live with, especially considering what this television offers in its class.

Philips PUS8959, also known by other designations under the abbreviation PUS89 (depending on the sales network), is a model from the popular series The One. Its biggest distinguishing feature is the Ambilight system, which continues to make a great impression. The three-sided lighting adapts to the picture on the screen, making films, series, or games literally spill over the edges of the television. The One is also a good option for gamers. The 120 Hz matrix and low input lag ensure that games run smoothly, and motion on the screen is clear. We tested several dynamic titles on the console, and the television handled them without any issues – no stutters or delays. Additionally, support for HGiG allows for better reproduction of HDR effects in games. This is an excellent solution if we care about consistency of the image with what the creators intended. The picture quality is at a good level, especially during the day. With a brightness of 550 nits, The One performs well even in well-lit rooms, and Dolby Vision in HDR films delivers vibrant colours and sharp details. However, the ADS matrix has its limitations – the black in dark scenes resembles a grey shade more, which can be noticeable when watching in a darkened room. When we watched films with the lights off, the lack of depth in the blacks was somewhat striking. The operating system Titan OS is something that still requires refinement. It is fast, but the limited number of applications can be frustrating for those accustomed to more robust platforms, such as GoogleTV. For daily use of Netflix or YouTube, it works flawlessly, but if we expect more advanced features, the system may not meet our expectations. Generally, Philips The One is a good choice in its price class. The Ambilight system impresses and significantly enhances the viewing experience, especially in the evening. It is also a solid option for gamers, thanks to the fluidity of the image and low input lag. While the black isn't perfect, and the operating system needs improvement, the television performs well in everyday use. For fans of unique solutions, such as Ambilight, it is a proposal that definitely deserves attention.

TCL MQLED85/C765 stands out due to its use of a VA panel and Mini LED backlighting, which makes a significant difference compared to traditional backlighting systems. Mini LED, with its considerably smaller diodes, allows for more precise control of the screen's backlighting, resulting in much better contrast and deeper blacks. The 55-inch model we are testing has an impressive number of over 700 local dimming zones, providing exceptional precision in image display. However, it is worth noting that the number of backlighting zones may vary depending on the screen size – for larger diagonals, the number of zones naturally increases due to the larger screen area, allowing larger displays to achieve better results in terms of contrast and black levels. Thanks to the vast number of zones, the TCL MQLED85/C765 achieved a performance comparable to OLED screens on our first test scene from the film "Oblivion," offering nearly reference-level contrast. But what happens when we test this model in even more demanding conditions? How will the television perform in more challenging scenarios? Overall, the TCL MQLED85/C765 performs very well in displaying blacks, but in some cases, the local dimming algorithm is not perfect. On dark backgrounds, smaller bright elements can lose clarity and brightness, as confirmed by our recent test scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Despite some imperfections in the local dimming algorithm and the slight occurrence of the HALO effect (which is a bright halo around bright objects on a dark background caused by screen local dimming deficiencies), the results achieved by the TCL MQLED85/C765 are impressive, especially considering its price. This television offers contrast and black depth that can compete with models that are even half again as expensive.

The Philips PUS8959 television is based on ADS technology, which offers slightly different parameters compared to popular VA matrices. In the tested images, the contrast measured around 2000:1, making the black levels far from ideal. ADS panels are known for their weaker contrast compared to VA matrices, which in practice means that instead of deep blacks, we see more navy or grey shades. However, the ADS panel is still better than a standard IPS panel, which cannot achieve such a level of contrast. Additionally, the Philips PUS8959 is not equipped with local dimming technology, which could improve these parameters. The absence of this function exacerbates the effect of shallow blacks, particularly noticeable in dark scenes, like those in the film "Sicario 2". Instead of intense blacks, the screen produces a silvery glow, which can be bothersome, especially when watching in darker conditions. All of this causes the visual experience to lose depth, and details in dark scenes are not as well visible as one might expect from higher-end screens. Despite the lack of local dimming, the television is equipped with something called Global Dimming. The television is capable of completely dimming the panel to achieve higher contrast, but at the cost of details that may blend together, for example, lights in the test image from the film Oblivion. It is worth mentioning that the model we received for testing has quite significant patches resulting from uneven backlighting, although this is not a rule, one must consider that we may receive a unit like this when purchasing.

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 handles HDR well. In the tested movie scenes where the screen is covered with 100% brightness, the model achieves impressive results of around 1000 nits, providing intense and realistic rendering of HDR content. However, similar to contrast, the dimming algorithm may exhibit certain limitations. Despite a large number of Mini LED zones, the television does not always manage to "wow" the user with brightness in very challenging test scenes. For example, in the scene from the film "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in another scene from "Sicario 2," where a very bright light effect is visible on a dark background, the television did not reach maximum intensity. For users expecting perfect HDR performance in such extreme cases, the TCL MQLED may be slightly disappointing. However, in terms of colours, the television stands out with very high coverage of the DCI P3 colour palette at 95%, which is an impressive result, comparable to much more expensive models. TCL MQLED85 / C765 offers support for various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is significant for cinema image enthusiasts. Although this model achieves brightness over 1000 nits, TCL MQLED85 may struggle to reflect details in very high-contrast scenes. For better HDR quality control, C765 is equipped with a dynamic tone mapping option, making the image more realistic and natural depending on the content.

The luminance chart for Philips PUS8959 shows that the television is capable of achieving around 550 nits of brightness, which can be considered a satisfactory level. This brightness allows for the effects of HDR to be experienced, particularly standing out in more demanding scenes. In the tested test patterns, the television performed quite well, even in challenging sequences such as those from "Sicario 2". Due to the lack of local dimming, the television does not dim small bright elements, and they shine with the full "power" of the television but at the expense of the silvery blacks mentioned in the paragraph about black levels. It is also worth praising Philips PUS8959 for its good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette, which amounts to approximately 94.5%. As a result, colours are vivid and close to the creators' intentions, which further enhances the quality of HDR effects and the experience of watching high dynamic range content.

The television TCL MQLED85/C765 was tested in movie mode, which, although it seems to be the best setting from the manufacturer, is not without flaws. The colour reproduction in HD/SDR mode MQLED85 shows some shortcomings. In the analysis of white balance, there is a significant lack of blue, which can affect the overall image quality, especially in bright scenes where blue shades are crucial for natural representation. The overall shape of the image may then appear too warm. Regarding gamma contrast, the graph shows a large jump above the reference line of 2.4 at the beginning, which may suggest significant dimming of brightness in darker areas, leading to loss of detail in black. Then, for most of the time, the values lie below this line, which may lead to loss of detail in brighter parts of the image. Such a distribution can negatively impact perceived image quality, particularly when watching regular television in HD quality.

In the case of 4K HDR image quality of the TCL MQLED85/C765, there is a noticeable excess of red in the analysis of white balance. This excess can significantly affect the viewer's experience, leading to several significant effects. Firstly, an excessive amount of red can make other colours, such as green or blue, appear muted or unnatural. This distortion of colour balance can result in an overall impression of "over-saturation," which detracts from the naturalness and authenticity of the image. As for contrast, the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) graph indicates that most values are above the reference line, suggesting an intense boost in brightness in bright areas of the image. However, there is an exception at the beginning of the graph, where the EOTF line is below the reference line, which can lead to excessive dimming of small light elements.

Users should be aware that despite using the best mode, which is movie mode, the television is not free from flaws in terms of image settings, so it is worth considering adjusting the settings to achieve better results.

The television Philips PUS8959 has been tested in the best, theoretically most precise picture mode – Filmmaker. Although the name suggests cinematic quality, it unfortunately falls short of perfection. The biggest problem in this mode is the white balance, both in HD and 4K content. It is characterised by a significant dominance of red colour and drops in green levels, resulting in unnatural colour reproduction. For example, white elements in the image have a noticeable pink hue, and the green is less vibrant, causing the overall image to lose its naturalness and colour balance. The ColorChecker test confirms these errors – it is clearly visible how the colour samples "deviate" from the correct values, which can be best observed on the sample squares that should accurately reproduce the colours. The lack of accuracy in this regard affects the realism and fidelity of the image, which is particularly undesirable in Filmmaker mode.

As for the brightness characteristics, the gamma chart resembles a true roller coaster – with small elements displayed on the screen, the brightness is excessive, causing details to become overly exposed. Conversely, at higher gamma values, the image loses contrast and becomes too dark, making the overall appearance lack dynamism. Similar problems can be observed in the EOTF characteristics – the television is unable to accurately reproduce brightness levels, negatively impacting the overall picture quality.

After the professional calibration of the television TCL MQLED85/C765, its colour properties in movie mode have significantly improved, resulting in a much more satisfying visual experience. Both in SDR and HDR modes, the white balance shows no serious errors, and the graph appears much better harmonised. Users can now enjoy natural colour reproduction, which is crucial for obtaining an authentic experience when watching films. It is worth noting that in HDR content, there may be slight colour reproduction errors at the end of the graph, but these are much smaller than before calibration. As a result, characters and landscapes become more realistic, enhancing the depth of immersion in the story.

In terms of contrast, the gamma curve, responsible for HD quality, has been completely free of drops below the reference line, meaning better detail visibility in dark scenes. Nevertheless, there is still a slight boost at the beginning of the graph, which may affect the perception of bright elements. For HDR content, the EOTF curve also exhibits smaller errors, although certain issues with medium tone reproduction may still be noticeable. The EOTF curve measured on actual movie scenes still shows a significant brightness boost, making the image appear more intense but artificially brightened. This is a typical problem for TCL televisions, which may appeal to inexperienced viewers, but can be irritating for those more familiar with an ideal image.

What benefits does professional calibration bring for film enthusiasts? Thanks to it, viewing becomes even more realistic and immersive, and each scene can be fully experienced, preserving details and natural colours.

After calibration, the television Philips PUS8959 shows a significant improvement in colour reproduction, especially in HD content. The white balance is exceptionally even, and the Delta E error values are below 1, which can be considered a remarkable result. Additionally, the gamma, responsible for brightness in lower-quality materials, performs very well, maintaining a stable level at 2.4, leading to an appropriate balance between bright and dark areas of the image.

As for 4K HDR materials, a significant improvement is also visible. The white balance, although not as perfect as with HD content, no longer exhibits issues with excessive red exposure, resulting in a more natural and harmonious image. Unfortunately, regarding the EOTF characteristic, it is difficult to speak of any significant improvement, which stems from the structural limitations of the television that prevent any substantial enhancement in this aspect.

Nevertheless, the overall performance is significantly better after calibration, making the Philips PUS8959 one of those televisions where it is truly worth dedicating time to precise calibration to achieve satisfactory picture quality.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the television TCL MQLED85/C765 is quite decent, although some issues are noticeable in both bright and dark test scenes. In particular, colour blending is evident in the scene from the film "The Green Knight", where the red colour of the water transitions to black. Despite these imperfections, the overall quality of gradation is acceptable and does not overly detract from the visual experience. The television handles most scenes well, offering satisfactory tonal transitions, which contributes to an overall pleasing visual experience that will not spoil our cinema enjoyment.

The gradation on the Philips PUS8959 television looks very good, offering smooth tonal transitions in most scenes. Sometimes minor issues can be observed, especially during transitions between certain colours, where slight unevenness is noticeable. However, these imperfections are subtle enough that they do not significantly impact the overall viewing experience and can be considered completely acceptable. In everyday use, the television provides sufficiently good gradation quality to satisfy even more demanding users, maintaining the naturalness of the image and a lack of glaring tonal distortions.

Let’s take another look at the tonal transitions in the TCL MQLED85/C765 television, but in the context of poorer image quality. Despite the presence of the "Gradual Smoothing" option, when set to "low," the effects are practically invisible, disappointing users expecting an improvement in image quality. On the other hand, the "high" setting produces minimal results, and worse still, it can blur significant details, negatively affecting the sharpness and clarity of the displayed image. However, in the context of image scaling, the television successfully displayed the image without overscan, meaning we do not lose any part of the view. The image looks rather decent, and details such as tree branches or the outlines of models do not exhibit significant jaggedness, which positively impacts the visual quality.

When it comes to smoothing tonal transitions, the "Distortion Reduction" function at its minimum setting performs quite well, effectively smoothing tonal transitions without excessive impact on other elements of the image. In tests, I did not notice that the reduction negatively affected the image structure, such as film grain or object details – everything remains in its place, which is a significant plus for users who appreciate the natural look of film materials.

As for digital processing, the image looks quite good, although it features very softened contours, giving it an almost "misty" character. This effect can evoke mixed feelings – some users will appreciate the fluidity and delicacy of this type of presentation, while others may find it too gentle, losing detail. It is a matter of individual preference, but it must be said that the Philips PUS8959 provides fairly subtle yet effective tools for improving tonal transitions without excessive interference in the natural character of the image.

TCL MQLED85/C765 is equipped with a panel featuring a standard refresh rate of 120 Hz, with the capability to increase to 144 Hz when connected to a powerful computer. The television also offers a multi-level motion smoother, primarily aimed at users wishing to enhance motion fluidity in films. It allows for the adjustment of effect intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, enabling precise tuning of image smoothness to individual preferences. The response time of the panel is decent, but not perfect. We can observe blurring occurring behind both dark and medium objects.

Philips PUS8959 TV is equipped with a 120 Hz panel, which should satisfy more demanding users, especially those who love watching dynamic sports broadcasts or playing games. Such a high refresh rate allows for significantly smoother images, being a key aspect during dynamic scenes and fast actions.

For those who prefer watching movies, the television offers an additional motion smoother that allows adjusting the film's frame rate according to personal preferences. The Philips PUS8959 features a 10-step adjustment for functions called "Smoothness" and "Motion Blur Reduction." The "Smoothness" function is responsible for increasing the number of frames through interpolation, making the motion on the screen smoother, resembling the effect of so-called "soap opera." Meanwhile, "Motion Blur Reduction" focuses on minimising ghosting and improving motion clarity, which is particularly noticeable in dynamic sequences, such as action scenes or fast-paced sports shots.

TCL MQLED85/C765 has received an impressive rating in the gaming features category, making it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts. The television supports all the latest technologies that significantly enhance the gaming experience. Among the key gaming features is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically switches the TV to low-latency mode, minimising response time and ensuring smooth gameplay. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) functioning in the range of 48 to 144 Hz eliminates stuttering and screen tearing in dynamic game scenes. Additionally, the TV supports Dolby Vision Game Mode, which provides better image quality in games with exceptional colour depth and contrast. TCL MQLED85/C765 also features a decent if not the best implementation of HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), optimising HDR game display; however, for TCL, it causes detail in whites to be brightened, resulting in some elements merging into a white blob - we can read more about this in the colour reproduction section. It supports various resolutions, such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, and 4K@120Hz, allowing players to enjoy higher image quality and better fluidity. The Game Bar feature allows easy switching between game settings and quick parameter control, greatly simplifying the adjustment of the television to individual needs. With support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, users of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards will be pleased with the refresh rate synchronisation capabilities, eliminating tearing and stuttering issues, thereby providing a smoother and more immersive gaming experience.

MQLED85/C765 is a television that combines advanced technologies and excellent support for gamers, making it the perfect choice for those who wish to maximise their gaming experiences.

Philips PUS8959 is a television that will certainly satisfy gaming enthusiasts. It supports most modern technologies useful during gameplay, such as HGiG, allowing for better reproduction of HDR effects in games. As a result, the image is closer to what the game creators intended to achieve.

The television also supports displaying images at 120 Hz, ensuring smoothness and dynamism, which is especially important during action games and sports broadcasts. The Game Bar feature allows for quick access to game settings, making it easier to adjust the image according to user preferences without interrupting gameplay.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode does not offer low input lag, which may be noticeable during dynamic scenes. Nevertheless, thanks to the HGiG feature and high refresh rate, the Philips PUS8959 remains an attractive choice for gamers, providing good image quality and adequate smoothness during gameplay.

The latency time on the TCL MQLED85 television reaches impressively low levels in all conditions. Even the most demanding gamers will surely appreciate the minimal input lag of just 8 ms at 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Moreover, the latency remains at the same level even with Dolby Vision HDR turned on, which is not the case for many competing models.

Philips PUS8959 TV offers impressive results in terms of input lag, making it an excellent choice for gamers. For content at 120 Hz, the lag is less than 6 ms, which is an absolutely outstanding result and allows for instantaneous reactions in games, especially in dynamic titles. For content at 60 Hz, the input lag is 15 ms, which is also an excellent result and ensures comfortable gameplay in most cases.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode does not perform as well, as the input lag increases to 31 ms. While this result may be acceptable for less dynamic content, it may be insufficient for demanding gamers, affecting precision and responsiveness. Nevertheless, in standard modes, Philips PUS8959 still offers remarkable performance, making it a competitive choice in the market for gaming TVs.

TCL MQLED85 will perform well as a computer monitor. With support for chroma 4:4:4, the text on the screen is sharp and legible, which is important for those working with word documents or spreadsheets. One of the greatest assets of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is just 8 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures fluidity and responsiveness, crucial for both gamers and those engaged in video editing. However, it is worth noting that there is a certain issue related to font display on dark backgrounds. When zooming in on the tested font image, one can see that the horizontal lines are darker compared to the vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the television do not fully illuminate in this case, which can affect the quality of the displayed text. Nevertheless, the overall performance of TCL MQLED85 as a computer monitor is very good and will certainly meet the expectations of many users.

Philips PUS8959 is excellent as a monitor for use with a PC. With support for chroma 4:4:4, it provides full colour clarity, which is crucial for working with text – fonts are sharp and legible, regardless of the background they are on. This makes using office applications, browsing the internet, and graphic editing comfortable and precise.

Additionally, the low input lag offered by the television ensures smooth and responsive operation, which is important both for everyday tasks and for more dynamic uses, such as gaming or media editing. Philips PUS8959 is an excellent choice for users looking for a television that will also serve as a PC monitor, offering high image quality and user comfort.

The viewing angles on the TCL MQLED85 television are not its strong suit. The use of a VA panel means that the picture loses a significant amount of brightness when viewed at an angle. Changing the viewer's position, especially when watching with a larger group, can cause colours to appear less saturated and the contrast to become less pronounced. For this reason, it is recommended to sit directly in front of the screen to fully enjoy the picture quality. Although the television offers excellent colour reproduction from a direct view, the loss of brightness and detail at an angle can be problematic for those planning to use the television in a larger room or from different locations.

Philips PUS8959, equipped with an ADS panel, offers quite good viewing angles, definitely better than those found in VA panels. The image maintains its quality even when viewed from a greater angle – colours are clear, and the contrast does not deteriorate as much as with televisions featuring VA panels. As a result, watching the television from different spots in the room still allows you to enjoy well-saturated colours and overall image quality, making the Philips PUS8959 perfect for larger rooms and for watching together with family or friends.

MQLED85 performs reasonably well in daytime conditions, and it is worth noting the satin finish of the panel. Although it doesn't handle reflections perfectly, it offers decent performance in various lighting conditions. An average brightness level of over 600 nits is an impressive achievement, allowing for comfortable viewing even in well-lit rooms. As a result, the television performs well both during the day and during evening movie sessions, providing satisfactory picture quality.

Philips PUS8959 features a satin finish on the screen that effectively reduces light reflections, which is beneficial when using the television in bright daytime conditions. However, such a finish causes blacks to take on shades of grey during the day, losing their depth and intensity, which affects the perception of image in darker scenes.

With a brightness level of 562 cd/m², it allows for comfortable viewing of the television during the day, even in well-lit rooms. The image is bright enough to cut through daylight, and the reduction of reflections provides decent visibility of content, making Philips PUS8959 a good choice for rooms where the lighting level cannot always be controlled.

TCL MQLED85 television offers many features that enhance user comfort, with the centrepiece of its functionality being the Google TV system. This modern interface allows for easy content searching as well as access to applications available in the Google Play store. Users can utilize voice search in Polish, which greatly facilitates navigation and allows for the quick discovery of interesting programmes, films, or applications. It is also worth noting that Google TV is currently the only system on the market that does not restrict Polish users in accessing applications, offering the greatest availability among all platforms. However, in the context of traditional television viewing, this television has its limitations. It does not offer recording functionality, which may be a significant drawback for those who would like to save their favourite programmes. Additionally, the absence of the Picture-in-Picture (PIP) option limits the ability to simultaneously follow several video sources. On the other hand, the television features the "MultiVision" function, which allows for screen division between the television and a mobile device. This enables users to use applications on their phone while simultaneously watching a television programme. This solution will certainly appeal to those who enjoy multitasking and want to watch television while using social media or browsing the internet on their smartphone. Despite certain limitations, the TCL MQLED85 presents itself as a solid option for users who value modernity and functionality.

Philips PUS8959 is equipped with a three-sided Ambilight system – the flagship patent of this brand, which has enjoyed a devoted fan base for years. Ambilight consists of dynamic backlighting of the wall behind the television, adapting to the content displayed on the screen, significantly enhancing the viewing experience, especially in a darkened room. This effect is unique and adds a certain kind of "magic" to watching, making many users choose Philips specifically for this feature.

As for the operating system, Philips PUS8959 uses Titan OS – a system that is still in its early stages of development. Here, we can see the issues of growing pains, especially since Philips has moved away from Android in most of its models. Titan OS has a limited number of available applications. This is frustrating for those accustomed to a broader ecosystem like GoogleTV. Additionally, the television lacks AirPlay functionality, which limits its compatibility with Apple devices and may be a drawback for users seeking a flexible way to stream content.

The usability features of Philips PUS8959 are a mix of advantages and disadvantages. The remote control that comes with the television is quite annoying – it requires aiming directly at the screen, which can be inconvenient. On the other hand, the voice function works without the need to aim, but it only supports the English language. On the plus side, the remote is backlit, making it easier to use in the dark. The television does not have Picture-in-Picture (PiP) functionality or the ability to record programmes, which is a significant drawback. However, the television is equipped with Bluetooth, allowing for the connection of headphones or a keyboard, which can be useful – especially due to the limited number of available applications, which may encourage use of the built-in web browser.

Thanks to the built-in player, the television is capable of playing most file formats found on external storage devices, making it a versatile tool for consuming multimedia. However, there may be certain limitations in supporting some formats, which could be annoying for more demanding users. Fortunately, the Google TV system allows the installation of other media players from Google Play, which helps eliminate compatibility issues. As a result, users have the option to choose applications that best meet their needs, significantly enhancing the functionality of the television.

Despite the fact that the Titan OS system in the Philips PUS8959 television is still in its infancy, it deserves praise for supporting Polish subtitles embedded in films, which is a significant convenience for users relying on external files. If we want to play a film from a connected USB device, the television will do so without major issues, providing comfortable viewing without the need for additional subtitle configuration.

When it comes to photos, the television should have no major difficulties playing them. It supports most popular formats, although there is a lack of support for less common standards, such as HEIC used in Apple devices. This means that some photos, particularly from newer Apple devices, may require prior conversion to a more standard format for them to be played on the Philips screen.

The sound of the television TCL MQLED85 can be described as decent, making it sufficient for daily viewing of films, television programmes, and games. The speakers branded by Onkyo offer surprisingly good audio quality, and the sound does not screech or distort even at higher volumes.

The sound in Philips PUS8959 unfortunately leaves much to be desired. Although low tones can be heard in the playback, the bass is very weak, which translates to an overall unsatisfactory sound quality. The television plays at an average level, especially when compared to more advanced sound systems available on the market.

Despite the average quality of the speakers, the television supports all essential audio codecs, which may please users using external home theatre systems. Thanks to compatibility with various audio formats, the Philips PUS8959 is able to provide good audio experiences if connected to the right external speakers or receiver, delivering a fuller, more cinematic sound.

TCL MQLED85 / C765 vs Philips The One (PUS8959 / PUS8919 / PUS8909 / PUS8949

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