Compare Philips OLED909 vs Haier Q80FUX

Philips OLED909 is undoubtedly a showcase of engineering by the Dutch manufacturer for 2024. When it comes to picture quality, the TV presents what one can expect from OLED technology – deep blacks and infinite contrast. Additionally, it is equipped with META technology (MLA micro-lenses), which significantly enhances its brightness and further improves the already excellent viewing angles of organic matrix TVs. As a result, HDR effects look phenomenal, and the TV will satisfy most users looking for great image quality in this class of devices. In terms of motion fluidity, the OLED909 does not disappoint either. The 144 Hz panel, combined with a full set of gaming features, such as HDMI 2.1, ALLM, and VRR, makes it an ideal choice for gaming enthusiasts. Both dynamic shooters and spectacular racing games will look smooth and responsive. Regarding usability, the TV is equipped with the Google TV operating system, just like the model OLED809. This solution is significantly better than TitanOS, which can be found in the lower series OLED769 from the Dutch manufacturer. It provides access to a vast number of applications, easy operation, and support for voice assistant functionality. In addition, there is a four-sided Ambilight system that adds magic to every movie night, creating a unique atmosphere. However, it is not a device without flaws. The biggest problem regarding the picture is the average smoothness of tonal transitions – color banding is noticeable in subtle gradients, which may be bothersome for more discerning viewers. In the context of PC collaboration, although it is phenomenal equipment for gamers, it may not be the best choice for text or graphic work due to the lack of chroma 4:4:4 support. In terms of usability, it's worth mentioning a few disappointments. The remote control in this model really impressed us – it is well-designed, and the backlit numeric keypad is a great addition, especially when using the TV in the evening. Unfortunately, it mainly operates on infrared, so we found ourselves irritated several times when we had to aim precisely at the screen. This is a bit strange, considering that in this price range we expected more modern solutions. The lack of recording features or picture-in-picture (PiP) also surprised us – these are features that are often standard in this segment. Despite these drawbacks, the Philips OLED909 is a TV that impresses with its picture quality, gaming features, and unique additions like Ambilight. The biggest question to ask oneself is: is it worth it? It is great equipment, but its high price raises the question of whether it is the best choice in terms of price to quality ratio.

The Haier Q80FUX TV is one of the most schizophrenic proposals we've had in our editorial office for a long time. On one hand, we have a solid piece of equipment: a VA panel that guarantees deep blacks, as expected in this segment, and a QLED quantum filter that can indeed generate juicy, eye-catching colors. This is the foundation on which a truly competitive mid-range receiver could have been built. Unfortunately, all this potential of the panel is systematically torpedoed by the software, which is a real ball and chain for this model. The biggest Achilles' heel of the Q80FUX is its total capitulation in the face of HDR10 content. The electronics seem to completely misunderstand how to interpret the signal, resulting in consistently blowing out the brightest parts of the image, turning them into a flat, milky blob. If we add the Google TV system, which – although functional – is unstable, full of errors, and irritating shortcomings, we get a picture of a raw product that clearly reveals the manufacturer's lack of experience. And just when we were ready to write this model off, we discovered its surprising niche. Once connected to a console, the Q80FUX undergoes a transformation. It turns out that this TV offers wonderfully low input lag, fully supports VRR, and can accept a 120Hz signal at Full HD resolution. In the gaming world, where responsiveness is everything, these parameters put it in a very good light. So we are dealing with a device of very narrow specialization. This is not a universal living room TV – it lacks stability and, above all, any correctness in handling films. It is more of a budget, large-format monitor for gamers who are able to consciously overlook all its software flaws in exchange for those few key attributes essential for console/PC at a relatively affordable price.

Philips OLED909 in the category of contrast and black presents exemplary achievements characteristic of OLED technology. Tests on five screens confirmed infinite contrast, making the television an ideal choice for movie lovers in darkened rooms. A scene from the film Oblivion impresses with the excellent separation of light from the lamp, allowing for full appreciation of the precise reproduction of even the smallest details. The scene from the film Sicario 2 also performs well, where the bright lights of the helicopter were perfectly separated from the dark background. However, in the same scene, the phenomenon of desaturation, or loss of color saturation, is noticeable. Although this is not directly related to the assessment of contrast and black, it is worth mentioning, especially if perfect color reproduction in every situation is crucial. Despite this minor blemish, the black generated by the Philips OLED909 remains incredibly deep and deserves the highest marks.

I must admit, when approaching a receiver in this price range, one instinctively crosses their fingers, hoping that at least the black won't be a gray blot. Meanwhile, the Haier Q80FUX, specifically the 55-inch model present in our editorial office, can very positively surprise in this regard. Its secret lies in using a VA panel, which by nature has an inclination for generating high contrast. And these are not empty promises. During screenings, in most film shots, the contrast consistently reported levels from 5000:1, often reaching as high as 8000:1. These are really strong results, considering the fact that this television does not possess any, even minimal, form of local dimming. Translating this into couch experiences: given its price realities, the Q80FUX offers simply solid blacks. Of course, it's not that perfectly velvety depth that makes the screen disappear into darkness. When we conduct a screening in conditions of complete isolation from light, we will notice that in the darkest parts of the image, the black reveals its budget origins, slightly shifting towards a bluish tint. However, this is a defect easy to mask – just a little light from a lamp in the corner of the room is enough for this nuance to become invisible, and the image to regain a satisfying depth.

The Philips OLED909 impresses with the quality of its HDR effect, achieving up to 1500 nits of peak brightness in tested scenes. This is an excellent result, placing this television among the best OLED models on the market. The MLA matrix, also used in models like the Panasonic Z95A and LG G4, plays a key role here, allowing for exceptionally bright and detailed reproduction of dynamic scenes. However, it's worth noting that in the most demanding scene from the movie The Meg, the brightness drops to around 700 nits. This is a typical phenomenon in OLED technology, where intensely bright full-screen images cause a limitation of luminance. Nevertheless, the HDR effect still looks very good, and the television performs better than most competitors under similar conditions. The wide color gamut coverage also deserves praise. The OLED909 offers 95% coverage of DCI-P3, ensuring the television can display vivid and realistic colors.

Alright, let's move on to the topic that generates so much discussion, namely the capabilities of the TV in HDR mode. Let's make it clear right away: the Haier Q80FUX is certainly not a brightness demon. The panel of this receiver can generate about 350 nits at peak, which in today’s reality is an absolute minimum to even talk about the presence of extended HDR tonal dynamic range. On the plus side, this power is at least stable – regardless of the test pattern or movie scene we used, the measurements invariably oscillated around 300-350 nits. These are therefore at best adequate results, definitely far from the stunning showcase of capabilities that we know from more expensive models. Fortunately, there is one aspect in which the Q80FUX makes up for these shortcomings and does so abundantly. After all, we are talking about a QLED TV (or more precisely, PFS LED), which means that thanks to the quantum dot filter applied to the matrix, it can generate really juicy, vibrant colors. These are not empty promises – a DCI-P3 color gamut coverage reaching nearly 95% is an impressive result that directly translates into very pleasant, saturated colors for the eye.

Like other televisions, the Philips OLED909 has been tested for color reproduction in factory modes. The best mode turned out to be Filmmaker Mode, but despite its name, it is not free of flaws.

The biggest problem is the white balance. Both in HD and 4K HDR content, there is a noticeable dominance of green and red shades, which causes a distinct yellowing of the screen. This effect is particularly visible in test materials, for example in the scene with Tom Cruise in the foreground, where the difference compared to the calibrated image is very clear.

Regarding brightness characteristics, the gamma in HD materials was boosted too much - it was below the reference value of 2.4, which gave the image a "milky" filter and affected the overall clarity. In the case of 4K HDR content, we noticed the opposite phenomenon – there is a clear drop at the beginning of the EOTF curve, indicating problems with reproducing the smallest details in dark scenes. Although the Filmmaker mode offers acceptable quality, noticeable errors in white balance and brightness characteristics show that the television requires additional calibration to fully reveal its potential in color reproduction.

Factory settings for film mode are rarely perfect, but in the case of the Q80FUX, we encountered a noticeable imbalance. In SDR content, the image was definitely too warm, which resulted from an excessive amount of red in the white balance, giving it a slightly sepia tone. Contrarily, in HDR materials, the television fell into the other extreme—the excess of blue created an unnatural, cold effect. However, it wasn’t the whimsical white balance that was the biggest problem with this TV. The real culprit, responsible for the previously described issues, was hidden deeper. It turned out that the Q80FUX had completely misaligned gamma values and, crucially for HDR, a poorly managed EOTF curve. It was these erroneous factory settings that caused notorious clipping of the brightest parts of the image, applying that characteristic milky filter over them. Thus, we found the source of the problem. This state of affairs led to overall, significant color errors that were easy to catch even for an untrained eye. Like every television we tested, we decided to calibrate this model as well, and you can find the results of those adjustments in the next paragraph.

Philips OLED909 offers tools for image calibration, which significantly improves its quality. After calibrating the Filmmaker Mode, the television presents a much more natural color reproduction. The white balance after calibration looks very good. Although we noticed slight deviations in the blue hue in HD content, the errors fall within acceptable limits, and the image looks much better than in factory settings. The brightness characteristics, including gamma and EOTF, have also been distinctly improved. The television no longer has issues with excessive brightening or darkening of the image. Both dark and light details are now rendered correctly, making the image look very good in every scene. After calibration, the Filmmaker mode in the Philips OLED909 offers excellent image quality that will meet the expectations of even the more demanding users. The calibration fully utilizes the potential of this model.

The results of our calibration efforts must, unfortunately, be considered twofold. Overall, the image is indisputably better than before the corrections, but the biggest winner of this process turned out to be SDR content. It is here, after clarifying the gamma and white balance graphs, that we obtained results that can confidently be called very good. After the setup, the Q80FUX truly shines in standard dynamics, showing only slight errors in the most challenging skin tone reproductions. Unfortunately, the weakest link still remains HDR content. And here lies the paradox: even though we managed to calibrate the white balance almost to perfection, the overall color errors still remain at a fairly high level. The reason is that the television still interprets the static HDR10 metadata "in its own way," stubbornly enforcing that unfortunate washed-out image effect, which inevitably leads to significant distortions. Although we successfully eliminated the factory excess of blue color, due to this electronic interference, the screen can still tend to fall into somewhat too cold tones. This television just has it this way.

The Philips OLED909 performs averagely in the category of fluid tonal transitions. The WOLED panel used in this model is not known for handling tonal transitions perfectly, and in the case of the OLED909, it appears to be slightly worse than competing models with similar panels. Subtle transitions and color connections are noticeable in bright and dark parts of the image, which may be particularly visible on more demanding scenes with subtle gradients. This effect can impact the perception of content, especially for users who pay attention to such details.

Analyzing the television's ability to handle subtle tonal transitions, known as "banding," leads us to interesting conclusions. The Haier Q80FUX skillfully blends neighboring colors in most scenes, creating a smooth, cohesive image. However, this is not an ideal process. During the tests, we noticed minor issues and imperfections in every test scene we used. These are perhaps not errors that aggressively catch the eye and spoil the movie experience, yet their presence is worth noting. Interestingly, this receiver shows no particular weaknesses or strengths in this regard – it handles this challenge exactly the same, whether displaying delicate gradients of a bright sky or dark transitions in shadows.

Philips OLED909 offers a distortion reduction feature aimed at smoothing tonal transitions. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this feature leaves much to be desired. Setting it to "Medium" yields some results, but it comes with the risk of blurring essential details in the image. For this reason, we do not recommend using this option unless you are focused on mitigating visible artifacts at the expense of detail.

When it comes to image scaling, the television presents a very pliable image, which may appeal to viewers who prefer a softer image. Those expecting sharper clarity will also find a solution, as image scaling can be adjusted according to individual preferences in the settings.

If there is one area where Haier clearly shows that it has quite a bit to catch up on compared to the market leaders, it is digital image processing. The upscaling, well... is just okay. And that's about all that can be said about it. It does what it is supposed to do: it ensures that lower resolution signals don't scare you with harsh pixelation on the screen and don't look like an overly enlarged postage stamp. However, it is far from the finesse and "intelligent" sharpening that more experienced players in this market have developed over the years. The biggest drawback of the Q80FUX software, however, is the almost complete lack of additional "cleaning" and smoothing functions for the image. The receiver does not offer any noise reduction or gradient enhancement mechanisms. This means that with older or more heavily compressed materials, we simply have to accept that any imperfections in tonal transitions or color blending, which we mentioned earlier, will constantly accompany us during the viewing.

The Philips OLED909 with a 144 Hz panel offers excellent image fluidity, which should satisfy both movie lovers and gamers. Additionally, the television is equipped with a smoothing feature called "Motion Style," which allows precise adjustment of image fluidity to personal preferences. In the settings, we find two sliders: "Fluidity," which regulates the fluidity of motion in movies, and "Motion Blur Reduction," which helps eliminate minor artifacts and distortions in dynamic scenes. This feature works well, making even fast movements on the screen clear and readable.

The issue of motion fluidity and blurring is largely predetermined by the use of a 60Hz panel, which naturally makes it difficult to recommend this receiver to enthusiasts of very dynamic content. Fortunately, in the Q80FUX, we find a few options (though, as we will see shortly, actually only one) designed to improve the experience with older film productions. There is a "De-Judder" slider available, which indeed affects the smoothness of the image and allows us to adjust it to our preferences: from raw, cinematic frame rates to a more theatrical, smoothed presentation. However, a genuine surprise awaits us right next to it in the menu. There is also a second slider, supposedly dedicated to eliminating blur – this is a feature we usually encounter in 120Hz panels, aimed at combating motion blur in sports. However, as expected, recalling memories from testing the K85F model, here too this slider is merely a facade. Moving it does absolutely nothing to the image and it simply looks like an oversight by the product engineers who left a non-functional option in the software for this type of panel.

The Philips OLED909 is a television that meets practically all the requirements of gamers. Equipped with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and support for Dolby Vision, it guarantees excellent gaming experiences. Additionally, the television offers very low input lag, ensuring that the response to player movements is instantaneous, which will be especially appreciated by fans of dynamic games.

The television easily supports any resolution at 120 Hz, and even higher refresh rates. The HGiG feature, responsible for the correct display of HDR content in games, works as it should, making the image in game mode balanced and tailored to the guidelines of console manufacturers.

The OLED909 also includes a Game Bar feature that allows for quick previewing and changing of game-related settings. Although the interface of this solution may seem less visually appealing than that of competitors, it serves its purpose well by offering all the most important options in one place.

Stepping into the gaming territory, the Haier Q80FUX proves to be quite a decent companion for the "casual gamer." On board, we find today’s highly desired features like VRR (variable refresh rate) and ALLM (automatic low latency mode). However, the biggest surprise is something else. Although we are not dealing with a 4K@120Hz panel, the TV can accept and display a 120Hz signal at a lower resolution (Full HD). This is a very useful feature, allowing the conscious switch of the console to a lower resolution mode in exchange for significantly higher fluidity, which is a perfectly acceptable compromise in the gaming world.

We won’t particularly complain about the lack of extras like the "Game Bar," as it’s just a nice addition. The most concerning issues arise when we enter the world of HDR in games. Due to the fact that the TV constantly adapts the signal "in its own way," setting the brightness on the console according to the HGIG standard is nearly impossible to accomplish as per the instructions. Worse still, in the Dolby Vision mode for games, the input lag rises to about 50 ms, which is a high enough value that essentially makes this mode unusable. However, generally, we wouldn’t recommend gaming on this TV in HDR mode, so these aren’t such serious shortcomings. The most pleasing aspect is the presence of 120Hz in Full HD, which makes the Q80FUX quite a nice TV for the occasional gamer.

Philips OLED909 achieves excellent results in the input lag category. Values of 13 ms at 60 Hz and 5 ms at 120 Hz are among the best results available on the market. Such low input lag ensures immediate response, which is crucial for gamers expecting maximum precision in dynamic games. The performance in Dolby Vision mode deserves special praise, where low input lag is also maintained. This allows gamers to enjoy not only smooth gameplay but also the full potential of HDR game visuals without any compromises. Philips OLED909 is, in this respect, one of the best choices for gaming enthusiasts.

If there is one category in which the Haier Q80FUX absolutely shines and shows its claws, it is input lag. In this area, the television presents results that are truly remarkable. In 120Hz mode (achieved, let’s remind ourselves, at a lower resolution), the input lag drops below 10 ms, which is an excellent value, worthy of high-end gaming monitors. Not much worse, and still at a very good level, is the classic 60Hz mode – here measurements steadily indicated around 12-14 ms. These are results that even significantly more expensive, gaming-specific designs would not be ashamed of. The only, but serious, drawback here is the Dolby Vision mode. As we established earlier, activating it raises the lag to an unacceptable level, so we definitely advise against using it during any interactive gameplay.

Philips OLED909 is a good choice for gaming on a computer. The television supports G-SYNC, provides very low input lag, and offers a refresh rate of 144 Hz in PC mode, making it an ideal solution for gamers who value smooth and responsive gameplay. However, for everyday work with text or graphics, the situation is a bit worse. While the readability of fonts is at an acceptable level, up close, it can be noticed that they appear slightly blurry. This is due to the lack of full implementation of chroma 4:4:4, which is responsible for perfect sharpness and clarity of fonts.

OLED909 will perform excellently in gaming applications, but for those planning to use the television mainly for text work, it may be less suitable. In such cases, it is worth considering a device with full support for chroma 4:4:4.

We also checked how the Q80FUX works when connected to a computer. And here’s another pleasant surprise – it handles this really very well. The most important thing is that the fonts are very readable, so nothing blurs and you can work on it normally. Additionally, just like with consoles: we can set a lower resolution here to achieve a high refresh rate of 120Hz in return. What’s super important is that in this mode, G-Sync started up and worked correctly. This just confirms that this television is really a successful and efficient piece of equipment for gaming, including on a PC.

Philips OLED909 offers one of the best viewing angles available on the market. OLEDs are renowned for their excellent picture quality from various angles, but the use of micro-lens technology further enhances this ability. As a result, the television maintains excellent colors, contrast, and brightness even when viewing the picture from a significant angle. In practice, the OLED909 performs so well that it can compete even with televisions equipped with QD-OLED technology, which also provides wide viewing angles. This makes the television ideal for large rooms and watching together from different positions, without fear of losing picture quality.

Anyone planning screenings with a wide, family group must be aware of the fundamental compromise that Haier has opted for by implementing a VA panel in this model. This technology has indeed provided us with deep blacks and high contrast, but its inherent feature is also a noticeable narrowing of viewing angles. Just sitting a bit further to the side on the couch is enough to immediately notice how colors begin to lose saturation and the picture fades. It’s simply a classic trade-off – we gain something (contrast) at the expense of something else (angles) – and the Q80FUX fits perfectly into this scheme.

Philips OLED909, despite the glossy surface of the panel, handles glare from direct light hitting the screen quite well. This is especially useful in brighter rooms where reflections can interfere with viewing. However, the use of micro-lens technology has its limitations – black levels during the day take on a slightly pinkish hue. A similar, albeit more pronounced phenomenon can be observed in QD-OLED panels.

When it comes to brightness, the OLED909 achieves an average brightness in SDR of 430 cd/m². This is enough to comfortably use the TV even in moderately challenging lighting conditions. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the brightness levels of OLEDs still fall behind TVs with mini-LED technology, which can be several times brighter.

The clash of the receiver with the everyday challenges posed by a bright living room turns out to be quite decent in the case of the Q80FUX, although it is certainly hard to call it ideal. The matrix itself is equipped with a coating that handles the suppression of most ambient reflections fairly well. Equally importantly, even in more challenging lighting conditions, the screen is capable of maintaining pleasantly saturated colors. However, the weakness of this construction reveals itself where the power of the backlight comes into play. The previously mentioned, rather moderate maximum brightness (around 350 nits) means that when confronted with intense natural light coming through the window, the screen often struggles to "break through." On a sunny day, the image may simply lack the necessary expressive power.

In the OLED909 model, Philips has abandoned its proprietary Titan OS system in favor of Google TV. This solution provides users with significantly greater possibilities, especially in terms of app availability. Google TV offers a vast library of programs to download, from popular streaming services to tools and games. The system also supports voice commands, making it easier to search for content and manage the device, enhancing the comfort of daily use.

In terms of usability features, the television also performs well. It includes support for AirPlay and Miracast technologies, which allow for easy streaming of audio and video from other devices. Additionally, the TV seamlessly supports external accessories, such as mice or keyboards, enabling it to act as a more versatile entertainment center. However, it is worth noting that the OLED909 does not include the PiP (picture-in-picture) feature or the ability to record programs from built-in tuners. A novelty in this model is the backlit remote, which looks attractive and operates in hybrid mode – it can function as a smart remote, and upon pressing the appropriate button, the numeric keypad is also illuminated. Unfortunately, its operation can be irritating, as it relies on standard infrared control, and the only function that supports RF (radio) technology is voice command functionality.

The Philips OLED909 also stands out from other models with its four-sided Ambilight system. This allows the TV to create dynamic lighting around the screen that adapts to the displayed content. This solution not only enhances the feeling of immersion but also improves viewing comfort in darker rooms. Ambilight remains one of the most distinctive features of Philips televisions, which is hard to find with competitors.

SmartTV on Haier Q80FUX: GoogleTV

First, let's tackle the smart layer, which is managed by the Google TV system on the Q80FUX. This is theoretically a huge advantage, opening access to an endless library of applications, facilitating screen mirroring from mobile devices, and offering convenient voice search. Unfortunately, just like in other models from this brand that we've tested, the implementation of this platform leaves much to be desired. It’s not even about drastic freezes or delays in navigation, but rather a festival of minor errors, oversights, and terrible translations in the menu. It’s hard to regard "Google TV" in Haier’s version as comparable to what we know, for instance, from Sony or TCL receivers, even though the same proudly sounding name appears on the box.

Classic Features

Moving on to the classic, practical functions of the television, the picture does not improve at all. The only commendable aspect is the presence of Bluetooth connectivity and an unusual yet useful relic from the past in the form of an analog headphone output jack. Other than that, it’s hard to find anything that would excite us. Due to problematic software, the receiver (just like its predecessors in our tests) was unable to find any terrestrial TV channels, while other TVs connected to the same installation had no issues whatsoever. The remote control itself is also strange – its design might appeal to some, but due to the lack of a numeric keypad and the absurd placement of some buttons on the side edge, it definitely cannot be called senior-friendly.

The Philips OLED909 has a built-in multimedia player that easily handles most popular video, audio, and subtitle file formats. However, it is worth noting that the pre-installed player does not support Polish characters in subtitles, which can be inconvenient when watching content from USB. Fortunately, thanks to the Google TV system, this flaw can be easily circumvented. You just need to download an alternative player from a wide range of available applications that will provide full support for Polish characters and additional features, such as more advanced subtitle settings or support for less common formats. This means that even minor shortcomings of the factory software do not pose a significant problem for users.

We must admit that after a series of setbacks we encountered when assessing the overall implementation of the Google TV system, we approached the multimedia player test with considerable caution. Meanwhile, in this one specific aspect, the Q80FUX served us a real surprise. The built-in application for handling files from USB drives works just great. This software component seems to be completely immune to the issues afflicting the rest of the system, opening virtually all the most important and popular video file formats we presented to it.

The Philips OLED909 stands out with its built-in soundbar featuring a navy blue fabric finish, branded with the renowned Bowers & Wilkins. At the bottom of the screen, we find a solid speaker system, additionally supported by a built-in subwoofer at the back of the casing. The sound quality is truly impressive for the class of this device. The soundbar delivers clear and detailed sound, effectively handling both dialogues and sound effects in movies and games.

Turning to the issue of acoustic "experiences," the Haier Q80FUX seems to adhere to the principle that sound should simply be. And it is – that’s about all that can be said about it. The built-in speakers produce sound that is exceedingly flat, lacking character, and most importantly, they lack any clear bass foundation. One comfort is the fact that the TV supports Dolby Atmos format. But let’s be honest: to truly take advantage of the benefits of this codec and hear the promised space, passive decoding capability is not enough. Connecting an external home theater system or at least a decent soundbar is, in this case, not just a recommendation but an absolute necessity.

Philips OLED909 vs Haier Q80FUX

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

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

SmartTV on Haier Q80FUX: GoogleTV

Classic Features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements