- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- Daytime performance
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Panel details
Philips OLED950 Review
OLED950 / OLED+
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Panel type: WRGB OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
The EISA awards return every year, and for manufacturers, it is always a big deal. It is there that televisions, audio equipment, and all consumer electronics compete for accolades awarded by a large group of editorial offices from Europe. In this review, we are taking a look at the winner of the Best Product 2025–2026 title in the category of best OLED television for home cinema. This is the Philips OLED950. The model uses a Tandem OLED panel, known from top-tier designs such as the LG G5, Philips OLED910, and Panasonic Z95B. The difference is that the OLED950 does not go for a large soundbar like the OLED910. Instead, Philips added stronger image processing and opted for a simpler, lower soundbar, while the entire "wow effect" comes from the four-sided Ambilight, which is an additional strip of LED lights around the screen.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Our verdict
8.4
Overall rating
Philips OLED950 is undoubtedly a technological showcase that redefines in many ways what we can expect from a home entertainment centre. The use of the groundbreaking Tandem OLED panel means we are at an absolute peak in terms of picture quality. The combination of infinite black and perfect contrast with brightness that can exceed the magical barrier of 2000 nits in HDR mode creates effects that are, at times, breathtaking. Whether we are watching films in a sunlit living room or gaming at night with the support of a 4-sided Ambilight system, the experience is simply phenomenal. This is a complete screen that will satisfy both the cinephile seeking fidelity in Dolby Vision and the gamer demanding 144 Hz and perfect motion response.
However, this admiration for the raw performance of the panel mingles with a certain feeling of inadequacy when we look at the manufacturer's promises regarding image processing. Philips heavily promoted the use of the "dual" P5 processor, suggesting that it would be a remedy for all the woes of digital signal processing. However, reality proved to be less revolutionary. In our tests, the difference compared to models equipped with the standard, single P5 chip was almost imperceptible in everyday use. Issues with the smoothness of tonal transitions or posterisation in difficult scenes, although rare, still occur. Given the astronomical price of this model, we were hoping for a significantly greater quality leap in this aspect that would justify such a high positioning of the equipment. The issue of cost-effectiveness thus becomes the biggest problem of this otherwise outstanding television. When we look at the market with a cool eye, the situation of the 950 model becomes complicated. It’s not even about the strong competition from cheaper flagship models like LG G5 or Samsung S95F, but about the "fratricidal" battle within Philips' own offerings. It turns out that the lower-positioned OLED910 model offers us practically the same brilliant picture generated by an identical panel. Moreover, the 910 model wins in the audio department, offering an integrated soundbar from Bowers & Wilkins, which is simply absent in the pricier 950 model in favour of a different design. We thus face a paradox: we get the same picture and worse sound, yet we must pay significantly more. Therefore, although the OLED950 is a fantastic screen, in 2025 the title of "Best Philips Television" and our recommendation goes to the model OLED910.
Advantages
Amazing peak brightness, exceeding 2000 nits on test screens (Tandem OLED panel)
Perfect black and infinite contrast
Support for all HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Excellent gaming features: support for 4K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and 144 Hz mode
Very low input lag
Impressive 4-sided Ambilight system
Google TV system offering access to a vast library of apps
Backlit remote, charged via USB-C connector
Disadvantages
Only two HDMI ports in standard 2.1
Remote control communicating via infrared (requires aiming at the receiver)
Very high price compared to market competition
Sound quality noticeably weaker than in the lower model OLED910
Slight issues with posterisation
Movies and series in UHD quality8.8
Classic TV, YouTube8.8
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.5
TV as a computer monitor6.5
Watching in bright light7.3
Utility functions6.5
Apps9.6
Sound quality8.2
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PHILIPS OLED950 - Competing TVs in this price range
PHILIPS OLED950 - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
In terms of design, the Philips OLED950 looks very good. The thin black bezels at the front draw attention, making the screen almost "hover" in mid-air. From the side, the television resembles most OLED constructions, featuring a characteristic, very slim panel that slightly protrudes at the top of the casing. The package includes elegant, metal and sleek stands. They add charm to the overall appearance and blend well with modern interiors, while those planning to mount it on the wall do not lose any of the device's aesthetic appeal. However, the most distinctive element is the back of the casing. In addition to the Ambilight system, which I will discuss shortly, we find bass speakers responsible for a noticeably deeper sound. It is these that allow the television to produce a fuller sound, with a better-defined bass, despite the absence of an external soundbar, which can be found in a television like the OLED910. Then there is the four-sided Ambilight. This solution is rarely encountered in Philips televisions, where we most often deal with the three-sided version. Here, the manufacturer has decided to add a lower light bar that dynamically reflects what is happening on the screen. The effect is hard to ignore. For many, Ambilight becomes a feature they quickly get used to and later find difficult to part with when returning to a television devoid of this solution.
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PHILIPS OLED950 - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
There is not much to elaborate on here. As with every OLED television, the black and contrast quality in the Philips OLED950 is simply perfect. Regardless of the film scene being watched, night shots, or materials in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio with black bars, you can count on perfect black without any halos or brightening. This is one of the greatest advantages of OLED technology over LCD and Mini-LED televisions. There is no game of local dimming algorithms or compromises here. Black always remains black. The only thing we noticed in our tests is the helicopter scene from the film Sicario 2. The OLED950 quite clearly highlights details in the shadows. However, this is a feature of our test sample, more related to the character of image reproduction than to the black quality itself. In this regard, everything here is at the highest level.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
PHILIPS OLED950 - HDR effect quality
8.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.7%, Bt.2020: 82.4%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1910 nit
Result
2084 nit
Result
2194 nit
Result
2179 nit
Result
1370 nit
The OLED950 is a phenomenal television for consuming content in HDR format, primarily thanks to the innovative Tandem OLED panel. With this technology, the screen can generate astronomical brightness levels, reaching over 2000 nits in film scenes (on test patterns). This is an exceptional result that places the OLED950 among the world’s top displays available on the market. However, it is important to note a specific characteristic of this solution – at moments when full-screen bursts of light appear on the screen, brightness can drop by as much as half. It is worth emphasising, though, that values above 1000 nits on a full screen are still an outstanding result. This allows for the HDR image to be displayed exactly as filmmakers would wish, maintaining the dynamics and impact of bright scenes.
The use of the Tandem OLED panel has also brought tangible benefits in terms of colour reproduction, improving elements that traditional WOLED panels struggled with compared to their QD-OLED competition. For the OLED950, the colour gamut coverage is broader than in classic WOLED panels, reaching nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space and a solid 82% of the demanding BT.2020 palette. Although these results still do not match the high standards of QD-OLED panels, the difference diminishes during real-world use. We cannot deny that in the vast majority of films, colours look simply fantastic on this model – they are saturated, vibrant, and full of depth.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
As one might expect from a screen with such impressive colour gamut coverage and incredible brightness, the detail reproduction in HDR is at a remarkable level here. We can count on the display to reproduce every nuance with the highest precision. It is worth noting an important technical aspect: televisions with such a powerful brightness reserve do not essentially need to rely on aggressive or complicated tone-mapping systems. In practice, the OLED950 is capable of displaying images in their native form in nearly every scene, without the need for artificial adaptation to hardware limitations. The screen is simply bright enough to meet the demands of the source material, which makes the image look fantastic on it.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Luminance of RGB colors
With such a bright television, the topic of Dolby Vision practically takes a back seat. The OLED950 does not require dynamic metadata to display a bright, clear, and impressive image. Even in HDR10, most content looks exactly as it should, without struggling for detail or brightness balance. Differences can mainly be detected on very specific test patterns with heavily saturated whites. In such extreme conditions, Dolby Vision can show a bit more detail. However, these are situations that are not encountered during normal home movie watching, but rather in test materials. In everyday use, the OLED950 is bright enough that HDR10 is completely sufficient, and the advantage of Dolby Vision remains more of a technical curiosity than a real difference during viewing.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
5.5/10
We tested the OLED950 model in Film mode. Although it is theoretically the best and most faithful preset on this television, in practice it proved not to be free from flaws. Interestingly, in the unit we tested, the biggest challenge was not the white balance itself – although it did show a slight tendency to give the image a pinkish hue. The main issue lay in the way the television managed brightness, both in everyday SDR content and in demanding HDR scenes. The analysis of the gamma graph and the EOTF curve leads to one key conclusion: the television excessively exposes brightness in the lower registers. This results in the image appearing less contrasty than the panel technology allows. Details in dark areas that should remain perfectly black (characteristic of "OLED black") are simply unnecessarily highlighted and brightened. Fortunately, these errors can be corrected using the appropriate tools, which is why – as always – we proceeded with professional calibration.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.4/10
As can be seen, the OLED950, after a professional calibration process, transforms into an absolutely phenomenal display that, without a shadow of a doubt, can be placed alongside the best televisions currently available in the world. This equipment only needed a professional touch to show its full potential and eliminate factory shortcomings. The minimal errors in reproduction in the Color Checker tests and the fidelity of the colour palette speak for themselves. We are dealing with an almost perfect device here. A true window to the world, offering image quality of the highest order.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.1/10
If we were to point out the weaker aspect of the OLED950 model in comparison to market competitors like the G5 and S95F, it would be the digital signal processing – just like with most televisions from this manufacturer. Although the processor used here is termed “dual,” our practical tests did not reveal significant changes compared to the lower-positioned OLED910 model. The differences are, in fact, symbolic, which was reflected in only a cosmetic increase in the rating in this category. In very demanding, particularly dark scenes, one can still occasionally notice issues with slight posterisation. However, it must be clearly stated that this is a “flaw” that the average viewer will very rarely notice during normal usage, and the overall perception remains at a high level.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.1/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Upscaling
In terms of the image upscaling, the proprietary P5 processor performs just as well as in most models from this manufacturer. Low-resolution content takes on a very soft and plastic character. This kind of presentation will certainly appeal to many people. However, if you prefer sharper contours, you can lightly enhance them with the appropriate slider in the television's menu. It's really hard to find fault in this aspect. The image simply looks very good and additionally there is no issue with the phenomenon of overscan.
Smoothing and Distortion Reduction
The function for smoothing tonal transitions performs somewhat worse. In the settings, we find an option called "Distortion Reduction." This allows for three levels of adjustment of the processor's interference. Unfortunately, the Minimum setting works poorly and the smoothing effects are negligible. The Medium level gives a decent result, but it also starts to smooth out actors' skin details. On the other hand, the Maximum setting works too aggressively. It definitely removes too much detail from the faces and background elements, and can even take away the film grain. To achieve the optimal effect, it's worth experimenting with these settings at home and adjusting them to your preference. It may seem that the Medium option is the best compromise here.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
The motion reproduction in the OLED950 model is virtually perfect. This is typical for screens of this type (OLED 120Hz+), as the panel shows no blurring at all. This allows us to enjoy perfect sharpness in practically any conditions. Much of this is thanks not only to the specifics of organic technology. Equally important work is done by the smoothing systems implemented by the manufacturer.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (4K@144Hz):
In the "Motion" menu, we will find two main sliders that allow you to adjust the image to your needs. The "Smoothness" option regulates low frame rate materials, such as movies and series (up to 30 frames per second). We recommend setting this slider to a value in the range of 3 to 5. On the other hand, "Motion Blur Reduction" improves fluidity in sports broadcasts at a frame rate of 60 Hz. In this case, we recommend setting it to the maximum value. This will eliminate any unwanted effects often arising from poor quality signals from the broadcaster.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The OLED950 is nearly the perfect television for gamers. This is not only due to the unique atmosphere created by the Ambilight system during gameplay. The most important aspect here is the robust hardware support. You will find literally everything you should expect from a modern gaming display. The manufacturer has implemented two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. This gives us access to gaming in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. Of course, support for VRR technology and the automatic ALLM game mode is also included. The device handles any HDR signal without difficulty, whether we are using Dolby Vision or the HGiG standard.
Access to all settings is available from one place thanks to the special Game Bar overlay. Although this interface may not be the most visually appealing on the market, it fully accomplishes its purpose. It displays all the important signal parameters and offers useful extras. Gamers can take advantage of the minimap zoom feature or add a permanent crosshair on the screen, which can be seen as a small aid in online competition. The contrast range adjustment also proves to be useful, as it allows you to brighten shadows and gain better visibility of enemies hidden in dark corners of the map.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Input lag
10/10
As we have come to expect from televisions in this segment, the signal delay in this model is practically negligible. Our measurements indicated almost reference values: just 5 ms at a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 12 ms for a 60 Hz signal. This means an instantaneous response to every command issued via the controller, mouse, or keyboard. With such low results, the only limitation during dynamic online gameplay is now just your own reflexes and lack of "skill," not the hardware. 😉
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 12 ms | 2160p60: 12 ms | 2160p60 DV: 12 ms |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | 2160p120 DV: 5 ms |
| 2160p60: 12 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
PHILIPS OLED950 - Compatibility with PC
6.5/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): No
Font clarity: Average
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BWRG
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
In this category, the situation looks quite specific. If we look at the OLED950 through the lens of a gamer, we get a phenomenal display. It performs excellently not only with consoles but also in combination with a powerful computer. Here we have access to an additional 144 Hz mode, full support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, as well as very low input lag. One could therefore risk stating that for PC gamers, this is an almost ideal monitor.
However, problems arise when we look at the readability of the fonts. We are not just referring to the unusual subpixel arrangement of WOLED panels (BWRG), which causes a specific colouration of the text edges in all TVs of this type. The tested model has trouble properly displaying Chroma 4:4:4 sampling. This is mainly visible when we display colourful text on another colourful background. The letters then gain strange shading, unnatural contours, and unwanted artefacts. It's a bit of a shame, although we must honestly admit that this is a very specific flaw. For 99% of you, no one is likely to notice this during normal entertainment. However, if you belong to that 1% of people planning to purchase the OLED950 strictly as an office monitor, you may feel disappointed.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Viewing angles
7.6/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 29%
As is fitting for organic technology, the viewing angles here are practically very good. We can enjoy a great picture regardless of where on the sofa we are looking at the screen. The only reservation arises when directly comparing the Tandem OLED matrix used here with the competition's solutions. In comparison with last year's LG panels equipped with MLA filters or the best QD-OLED screens from Samsung, the angles in the OLED950 are slightly weaker. They are not as perfect as those of the mentioned rivals. Nevertheless, they generally still maintain a very high level, and in everyday use, it is hard to consider this a disadvantage.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Daytime performance
7.3/10
Panel finish: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The OLED950 model will perform well in very bright rooms without any concerns. A key advantage here is the previously mentioned very high brightness of the panel. The performance is impressive for OLED technology. It can confidently be stated that in this respect, this television is capable of competing with mid-range Mini-LED models. In the world of organic panels, this is not at all obvious, which is a significant advantage of the tested device.
However, there is a certain drawback that can be described as a Achilles' heel. Similar to most Tandem OLED panels, the manufacturer has applied a glossy screen coating here. Unfortunately, it does not handle direct light reflections very well. It is worth bearing this in mind when planning the position of the television in relation to windows, as reflections may be noticeable.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips OLED950: 615 cd/m2
PHILIPS OLED950 - TV features
6.5/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No - Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): Infrared
- Backlit remote control: Yes
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: No
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): No
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Smart Features
The biggest plus of the OLED950 is the Google TV system — the manufacturer is increasingly moving away from it in cheaper models in favour of TitanOS, but here we are fortunately still provided with a full Android-based environment. This means access to a vast library of applications, a voice assistant, and convenient features like Chromecast. For unknown reasons, we have once again been unable to launch Windows Miracast in the editorial office, despite the manufacturer's claim that this option is available. On the positive side: Apple device users can rest easy, as the television supports AirPlay.
Classic Features
In terms of "classics", the television offers a rather basic set: teletext and Bluetooth connectivity. The most objections arise regarding the remote control. On one hand, it is sensibly designed with backlighting, "hybrid" switching between typical functions and a numeric keypad, and charging via USB-C. On the other hand, enthusiasm quickly wanes when it turns out that you need to aim it at the screen, as it operates on infrared.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
- Stereo (Mini-Jack): Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
- DTS Play-Fi: Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
- DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
PHILIPS OLED950 - Apps
9.6/10
PHILIPS OLED950 - Playing files from USB
9.5/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The factory file player in the OLED950 model works simply brilliantly. During our tests, the device handled virtually every format we provided. Whether they were video files, audio tracks or photos, the television played them without issue. It is difficult to find weak points in the handling of the most popular standards. However, if someone still feels something is lacking (which seems unlikely), the operating system comes to the rescue. With the presence of Google TV, we are not solely dependent on default solutions. At any time, we can enter the app store and install an external player, such as the popular VLC or Kodi. This gives us the assurance that the television can handle literally any file from our home library.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Sound
8.2/10
85dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The 2.1 speaker setup used here, with a total power of 70 W, provides a really solid dose of proper sound. It plays clearly, and thanks to the additional subwoofer at the back of the enclosure, the sound is deep and has a definite impact. This element is often missing in cheaper designs, where bass is virtually non-existent. However, we must face the truth when comparing it to the OLED910 model. That television, equipped with a built-in Bowers & Wilkins soundbar, simply sounds much better. Was it a good decision? In our opinion, the outstanding audio from the 910 model adds greater value. Choosing the 950 model makes sense mainly if you are big fans of Ambilight, and you deal with sound through an external home cinema or soundbar anyway.
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
No acoustic data
PHILIPS OLED950 - Panel details
Image processor: MT5896
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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