Philips PUS8500 vs Hisense U7Q PRO

Direct compare

PUS8500 / PUS8560 / PUS8510 / PUS8600

Info

U7Q PRO / U78Q PRO

Info

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

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Titan OS

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: VIDAA

Model year: 2025

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Overall rating

5.6

7.4

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    5.6

    7.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    6.2

    7.1

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    5.2

    6.7

  • Gaming on console

    6.7

    8.3

  • TV as a computer monitor

    5.6

    8.2

  • Watching in bright light

    4.9

    6.2

  • Utility functions

    4.8

    9.4

  • Apps

    4.6

    7.7

  • Sound quality

    6.2

    7.8

Advantages

  • Ambilight TV System

  • High native contrast - VA panel

  • Low input lag

  • Basic features for gamers: ALLM and VRR

  • Full support for audio formats: Dolby Atmos and DTS

  • Backlit remote controler with numeric keypad

  • Great contrast and blacks - true Mini-LED backlighting with a VA panel (65")

  • Very good motion smoothness - 4K@165 Hz panel

  • Very high HDR brightness - even above 1500 nits

  • Perfect for gaming - Low input lag, VRR, ALLM, 4x HDMI 2.1, 288Hz at 1080p.

  • The Vidaa operating system has many features, e.g. Airplay, USB recording

  • Outstanding quality of tonal transitions

Disadvantages

No like
  • Average panel brightness

  • TitanOS system feels unfinished (some features do not work, gaps in applications)

  • Infrared remote control

  • Font readability issues (PC)

  • No support for HGiG

  • Average viewing angles

  • Missing apps on the VIDAA platform

Our verdict

Ambilight because that's where we have to start, it's the biggest reason to buy the PUS8500. The three-sided backlighting of the TV looks great, especially in the evening. It creates an atmosphere, masks the imperfections of contrast, and makes the viewing experience simply more enjoyable. Even if the black levels aren't perfect, the native VA panel's high contrast is just fine. On top of that, there's really decent input lag and several gaming features like ALLM and VRR. Although there’s no HDMI 2.1 or 120Hz panel, casual gaming should be a pleasure. Especially since it's responsive and latency-free. Additionally, there’s full support for audio formats – both Dolby Atmos and DTS, so soundbar owners can rejoice too.

But let's not kid ourselves – this is still a budget TV, and at times it shows. Brightness is average – not weak enough to make viewing impossible, but if you hit a particularly sunny day, watching conditions without blinds can be problematic. However, in our opinion, the biggest disappointment with the PUS8560 is the operating system, Titan OS. Despite the system debuting some time ago, certain features simply wouldn't work – for example, screen mirroring from a phone despite the manufacturer's claims that such a feature is present here. There are fewer apps than with competitors, and the system itself runs a bit clumsily. Overall, it seems to have some capabilities, but clearly lacks refinement.

Of course, this is not a TV meant to compete with top models. But if someone is looking for something simple, with a nice atmosphere that the Ambilight system provides, it is a quite reasonable offer. You just need to know what to expect and accept the many compromises present here.

The U7Q PRO is a television that, after just a few minutes, gives a clear signal: "speed matters here." Hisense surprised us with how much they managed to pack into a device that doesn’t cost a fortune. A refreshing rate of 165 Hz in 4K, and even 288 Hz in Full HD – not that long ago, such numbers were reserved exclusively for top gaming monitors. And here you go, we have a mid-range television with almost a full set of gaming features that confidently throws down the gauntlet to much more expensive competitors. However, it doesn't stop at speed-related qualities. The U7Q PRO also boasts a very bright screen, which peaks at even 1500 nits. Like every Mini-LED, it has its typical "moods" associated with this technology, sometimes slightly exaggerating the image, but the overall visual effect remains very positive – especially with HDR content. It's also worth mentioning the Vidaa operating system – fast, intuitive, and equipped with features such as AirPlay, a voice assistant, and a web browser. Although you won't find the full range of apps known from Android here, the system performs really well in everyday use. So why is it "almost" ideal for gamers? It’s just missing the HGiG feature, which allows for precise adjustment of brightness levels in HDR games. This is a minor flaw, but it may be significant for console purists. Nonetheless, the U7Q PRO remains a very solid offering – and at the same time proof that Chinese manufacturers have not only caught up with their competitors from Korea or Japan but have even begun to outpace them in some aspects.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Average
BuildQuality-Good
Stand type
Legs
Central
Stand type
stand-type-Graphite
stand-type-Graphite
Stand
stand-Base Adjustment
stand-Fixed
Accessories
accessories-Stand
accessories-Stand

Contrast and black detail

6.1/10

8/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 560 (20 x 28)

Contrast:

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

6,000:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

6,250:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,950:1

Review Philips PUS8500  Contrast and black detail

Result

5,750:1

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Contrast and black detail

Result

340,000:1

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Contrast and black detail

Result

62,850:1

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Contrast and black detail

Result

42,000:1

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Contrast and black detail

Result

11,100:1

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Contrast and black detail

Result

7,500:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

The Philips PUS8560 in the size we tested is equipped with a VA panel. As a result, the black levels – for an LCD television – can be considered decent. And that is exactly the case with this model. Both the blacks and the overall contrast impression in the film scenes we tested are quite good – the image does not wash out, and details are visible even in more difficult sections.

But the panel alone is not everything. Unfortunately, the PUS8500 is not equipped with local dimming (which is a given looking at the TV segment), so one has to reckon with the fact that with completely turned-off lights, the black can resemble more shades of navy than true black. On the other hand – and here’s a plus for Philips – the Ambilight system does a great job. The backlighting makes a real impact on contrast perception. Thanks to this, even if the black technically isn't perfect, the subjective viewing experience becomes much more enjoyable. For many people, that’s enough for an evening screening to be truly impressive.

The Hisense U7Q PRO is an mini-LED television with a VA panel and - in the 65-inch version we tested - 560 local dimming zones. It's worth noting that this number varies depending on the size - larger diagonals will have more zones, while smaller ones will have correspondingly fewer. But regardless of that, the dimming system itself works really solidly here.

The contrast performs really well, considering the price range this model falls into. Under the best conditions, the U7Q PRO can achieve results close to six-digit values, which until recently was reserved for much higher-end equipment. In practice - in scenes like the one from the movie Oblivion - the picture looks stunning. With a bit of light on in the room, it's hard at first glance to distinguish this television from organic screens. Of course, it's still an LCD with local dimming, so compromises are unavoidable. In more challenging scenes, where many small light sources appear, the U7Q PRO tends to dim too aggressively. Instead of a slight deterioration of black levels, some details that should be visible disappear. This is a side effect of the algorithm that strongly adheres to the principle of "black should be black," even at the cost of subtle image elements.

But all in all - contrast is one of the stronger points of this model.

HDR effect quality

4.8/10

6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 90.4%, Bt.2020: 65.8%
DCI P3: 94.3%, Bt.2020: 73.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

273 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

300 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

324 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

343 nit

Review Philips PUS8500  Brightness measurement

Result

334 nit

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Brightness measurement

Result

1129 nit

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Brightness measurement

Result

323 nit

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Brightness measurement

Result

721 nit

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Brightness measurement

Result

267 nit

Review Hisense U7Q PRO Brightness measurement

Result

736 nit

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

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

Static HDR10

Dynamic: HDR10+

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

HDR luminance chart:

Hisense U7Q PRO

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

Philips PUS8500

Luminancja HDR

Luminance of RGB colors

When it comes to HDR performance on the PUS8560, one can confidently say that it is quite average. The brightness of the panel is around 350 nits, which we consider to be the absolute minimum for viewing content in this format. However, this is not a result that will impress viewers looking for the best possible image.

On the plus side, it is worth noting that the PUS8500 series – including the PUS8560/12 we tested – is marketed as a QLED television. And indeed, we can expect a wider color gamut here. This model is equipped with an additional filter (PFS), and the coverage of the DCI-P3 color space at around 90% should be sufficient for the majority of users. This filter works very similarly to quantum dots. As a result, the colors are quite well saturated. It’s not an outstanding result, but perfectly adequate for watching movies and series on streaming platforms.

U7Q PRO is truly a bright television. In synthetic tests, it achieved over 1500 nits, which is an outstanding result for this price range. Such brightness – at least in theory – allows for displaying HDR content as intended by creators, even in more demanding scenes with strong light. In practice, it can be very good, but not always perfect. In bright scenes with a large surface area – such as the test screen with intense sunlight from the movie "Pan" – U7Q PRO makes a huge impression. It can almost blind with light, which is definitely an advantage in the context of HDR content. Unfortunately, this is not always maintainable when a lot of small bright details appear on a dark background. In such moments, local dimming algorithms decide to dim some bright elements to maintain good black levels – and the side effect is that some details simply disappear from the frame. This is a classic compromise in mini-LED televisions – and U7Q PRO is no exception. However, with such a large number of dimming zones, one could expect a somewhat more mature algorithm responsible for controlling them. Fortunately, the overall reception of HDR content is very positive. U7Q PRO is not only bright but also colorful; thanks to the PFS LED (QLED) coating, the coverage of the DCI-P3 color palette is at 95%, and BT.2020 is around 73%.

Factory color reproduction

6.2/10

6.2/10

Factory Mode

After calibration

Factory Mode

After calibration

We tested the TV on the best available factory settings, which is in Film/Filmmaker mode – this is the mode we recommend for everyday viewing. Unfortunately, it is not without its flaws. Both in HD and HDR content, the image had a clear tendency to appear pinkish, caused by too much red and blue in the white balance. Another problem turned out to be excessive brightness of the image, which was confirmed by both the gamma chart and the EOTF curve. This characteristic was responsible for the loss of detail and washed-out colors in more challenging HDR scenes, as we mentioned earlier. Overall, this led to quite significant color reproduction errors – in extreme cases, the delta E value exceeded 7, while the threshold of visible errors for the human eye is about 3. This situation can be improved through calibration, and you can read about its effects below.

We tested the U7Q PRO in the best possible picture mode that this model offers – Filmmaker Mode. And indeed, it is this mode that performs best in terms of color reproduction. But that doesn't mean it's perfect. In our test unit, both in SDR and HDR content, the image had a slightly cooled tone. The white balance was shifted towards blue, which made the overall impression feel a bit "cooler." It's not glaring, but definitely noticeable – especially on white backgrounds that, instead of neutral, appeared slightly bluish. Additionally – as we mentioned earlier – the television tends to slightly brighten and oversaturate the image, which is also confirmed by the gamma and EOTF charts. All of this together means that without calibration the image may seem a bit unnatural – too cool, with slightly exaggerated dynamics. That's why we decided to conduct our own calibration – and its effects and charts can be seen below.

Color reproduction after calibration

8.4/10

7.5/10

The Dutch manufacturer offers quite a large dose of settings in their products, so as usual, we decided to dig a little into them. The effects are immediately visible – we managed to correct the white balance, which made the image stop appearing excessively pink. The brightness characteristics were also partially balanced, of course, within the limits that the television itself allows. The image is no longer overly vibrant, and the overall reception after calibration is definitely better than in the factory settings of the Filmmaker mode.

One could only criticize the characteristics of the EOTF curve, which still indicates that the image tends to lighten materials in HDR format. Despite our efforts, the darkest parts of scenes can still be too bright, and the brightest do not always reach their full contrast potential. However, it must be clearly stated that we are dealing with a typically budget construction – you cannot expect reference-quality reproduction of HDR content from it.

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

Thanks to calibration, we managed to tame the white balance in both SDR and HDR content. For SDR materials, the effect is really very good – the image becomes neutral, consistent, and simply pleasant to view. Everything looks as it should.

The performance in HDR is a bit worse. Although the white balance looks correct and overall the image gains in naturalness, unfortunately, delta E errors remain noticeable. Why? Because Hisense does not give us full control over how the U7Q PRO manages brightness in HDR mode. This is where the limitation appears. When we look at the EOTF curve for HDR content, we can clearly see what we mentioned earlier – at the beginning of the graph, there is a noticeable drop, meaning the television dims the smallest sections more than it should. On the other hand, the brightest elements can be illuminated a bit too much. As a result, some details are lost, others are too aggressive, and overall control over brightness does not always align with what we are trying to achieve during calibration.

Does the image look better after calibration? Definitely yes, in terms of color. But when it comes to managing brightness in HDR, we have to accept that the Hisense U7Q PRO will do it its own way.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

6.3/10

9.5/10

The PUS8560 handles color blending into smooth gradients very well. During testing, the image appeared cohesive and natural, with more serious issues with tonal transitions occurring only in very dark scenes – for example, in a shot with red water, where subtle cuts between colors could be seen. However, these are rather exceptions that do not spoil the reception of most content. It is worth mentioning another phenomenon that has a greater impact on image quality – the so-called dithering, or slight "sparkling" visible on solid backgrounds. This effect can be particularly noticeable in high-quality materials and may slightly detract from the impression of image clarity. It is for this flaw that we deducted some points in the rating.

The U7Q PRO handles tonal transitions really well. Colors blend smoothly, without any banding, stripes, or strange artifacts. Even in more challenging scenes that usually bring out any imperfections—there was nothing to complain about here. The image simply looks clean. Gradients—both colorful and gray—are fluid, nothing tears, nothing distracts. It's one of those elements you don't notice while watching… certainly not in the case of the U7Q PRO.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6.1/10

7/10

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

Smooth transition function

Image without overscan on the SD signal

Philips PUS8560 offers a feature that reduces posterization, hidden under the name "distortion reduction." And while it indeed serves its purpose by smoothing problematic tonal transitions, it operates a bit too broadly. In practice, it affects not only colorful gradients but also softens faces, clothing textures, and furniture surfaces. This decreases the authenticity of the image—especially in films where natural texture is of great importance. However, if someone is looking for smoothing at all costs, it's best to set this option to "Low." For cinema image enthusiasts—definitely not recommended.

On the plus side, the quality of upscaling older materials should be noted—the PUS8560 model handles them surprisingly well. The image maintains a natural softness without artificially enhanced sharpness. It is also worth mentioning that the television correctly displays very low-resolution content, avoiding problems with cropping the edges of the image (so-called overscan).

If someone happens to come across older materials where the issue of color banding appears – Hisense has a solution for that. In the U7Q PRO, we find a feature called "Smooth and Gradient Picture." Set to the "Medium" level, it works really well – it eliminates most of the gradation issues while not smoothing out the entire image, like blur in Photoshop. 😉 Film grain remains, details do not disappear – this is exactly how it should work. Kudos for the implementation!

As for scaling weaker materials, it’s just good. It’s not at the level of the most expensive TVs with advanced upscaling, but older content looks good. There is some mild aliasing at very low resolutions, but that’s completely normal and hard to avoid. On the plus side – even with the oldest materials, there is no overscan effect; the image is not cropped or artificially stretched.

Blur and motion smoothness

4/10

7.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
165Hz
Film motion smoothing option
No
OK
Blur reduction option
No
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Nie
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
Nie
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
60%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Smużenie ():

Smużenie (1080p 288Hz):

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

“Speed” – this word was mentioned most frequently during our tests of the U7Q PRO. The television is equipped with a 165 Hz panel, which is impressive in itself – especially since we are talking about a model in the mid-price range. Of course, PC gamers will benefit the most from its full capabilities, but even during everyday viewing, it is evident that this is a fast and efficient panel. Like most modern televisions, the U7Q PRO can also enhance the smoothness of movies that are primarily shot in 24 frames. In the menu, there is a slider that allows you to adjust the effect to your preferences – from a more cinematic feel, with subtle motion, to stronger smoothing with the characteristic “soap opera effect.”

Console compatibility and gaming features

4.7/10

8.5/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 60Hz
    48 - 288Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    No
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

Although the Philips PUS8560 is not designed specifically for gamers, the manufacturer decided to equip it with several features that may prove useful when connecting a console. It includes automatic switching to game mode (ALLM), as well as a simple connection status information bar – the so-called Game Bar. While it does not make a particularly strong visual impression, it serves its purpose. The presence of variable refresh rate (VRR), operating in the range of 48 to 60 Hz, might come as a surprise. While this is not a wide range, in the case of less demanding games or titles with unstable fluidity, VRR can help reduce the stuttering effect. However, this is the only element that can be considered above the minimum.

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

The Hisense U7Q PRO is a television that seems almost designed for gamers. It has practically everything you could expect from a gaming screen: variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic mode (ALLM), and as many as four HDMI 2.1b ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. Additionally, there is a clear and quite functional Game Bar, as well as a well-implemented Dolby Vision GAMING mode that works seamlessly with Xbox Series S and X consoles.

Sounds like perfection? Well, almost. Unfortunately, Hisense has yet to implement the HGiG feature, which is the system's limit on tone mapping on the TV's side. This means that when configuring HDR brightness on the console, we do it "by eye" or look for settings in online guides because the screen doesn't show the real range of its brightness. It's a pity - because HGiG makes it easier to match the console to the TV and helps avoid clipping or overly dark scenes in HDR games.

Fortunately, the other elements work very well. Signal delay (input lag) is low, responsiveness is excellent, and the handling of other functions is flawless. And although not everything worked perfectly, the U7Q PRO can still be recommended to gamers without hesitation.

Input lag

10/10

9.8/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
18 ms
1080p120
9 ms
2160p60
13 ms
18 ms
2160p120
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
12 ms
18 ms
2160p120
9 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
18 ms
2160p120 DV
9 ms

The input lag on the PUS8560 is very good. When we previously wrote that this screen is more for "casual gamers," there's no shame in this regard – even compared to screens aimed at gamers. Results around 12 ms are truly exceptional, allowing for enjoyable responsive gameplay. It doesn't matter if we are playing in Full HD or 4K – the lag remains just as low, so if you care about quick reaction times, the PUS8560 will definitely not disappoint in this aspect.

In terms of signal delay, the Hisense U7Q PRO performs really well. For 120 Hz content, the input lag stays below 10 ms, which translates into lightning-fast response – the screen reacts almost instantly to our movements, something that console and PC gamers will particularly appreciate. For 60 Hz content, the situation is slightly worse, as the response time doubles – this is natural and applies to almost all televisions. Nevertheless, it still remains below 20 ms, which can easily be considered a very good result, almost close to perfection – and in practice, it’s hard to feel this during gameplay.

Compatibility with PC

5.6/10

8.2/10

Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Poor
Average
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate)
13ms
9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
BGR
Max refresh rate
60Hz
165Hz
G-Sync
No
Yes

When it comes to working with a PC on the PUS8560, it looks... quite strange. Chroma 4:4:4 is present in "Monitor" mode, but there is a problem with gray fonts – not all subpixels light up, which makes the text appear pixelated. On the other hand, in "Game" mode, chroma 4:4:4 disappears, but the gray fonts look correct. In practice, we are therefore forced to juggle settings if we want to have perfectly readable text all the time. And what about gaming on the computer? Our opinion remains the same as regarding consoles – it's doable, but without any fireworks. There is no variable refresh rate for G-SYNC graphics cards, and the refresh rate itself remains relatively low. On the plus side, we can again highlight the very low input lag, which saves the day in fast-paced games.

Playing on a PC using the Hisense U7Q PRO is pure fun. Low input lag, full 165 Hz at 4K, and even 288 Hz at Full HD – these are numbers we wouldn't expect from a TV at this price. In this regard, it's really hard to complain about anything. If someone is looking for a large screen for gaming from a PC, the U7Q PRO can confidently serve as a monitor. It performs a bit worse for everyday work with text. Although chroma 4:4:4 is present, so theoretically everything should look good. But in practice, gray fonts on a dark background look strange – vertical lines are sharp, but horizontal ones can blur, disappear, or look slightly dimmed. However, it must be honestly added that if you use the TV as usual – that is, from a few meters away – you probably won't notice this. The problem only becomes apparent when someone places the U7Q PRO on a desk, a meter from their face, and starts working with text or spreadsheets. If you plan to use it this way – it's worth keeping this in mind.

Viewing angles

3.3/10

3/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
68%
70%

The viewing angles on the PUS8560 are exactly what you would expect from a VA panel - they don't perform the best. The image loses quality even with a slight shift off-axis – colors become washed out, and the black starts to resemble a dark navy. This is, of course, the price paid for the better contrast that VA offers directly. In the case of our 55-inch unit, it is still acceptable, especially if the TV is perfectly positioned in front of the couch. But with larger screen sizes or a less central placement in the living room – it could be a problem for comfortable viewing.

In this regard, the U7Q PRO is average. The television is equipped with a VA panel, which is not known for its wide viewing angles. When we start to look at the screen from an angle, the image clearly loses brightness, and the colors begin to wash out. This is a completely normal phenomenon in VA panels without additional coatings to widen the angles – so if you plan to watch from the side or with a larger group, it's worth keeping this in mind. On the other hand, head-on – the image looks great, with deep blacks and very good contrast, much better than on IPS/ADS panels.

TV efficiency during daytime

4.9/10

6.2/10

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

Matrix brightness

Average luminance SDR

Hisense U7Q PRO: 472 cd/m2

Philips PUS8500 : 331 cd/m2

PUS8560 performs moderately during the day. The satin finish of the panel effectively reduces reflections, so light from the window or lamp doesn't interfere too much. The black also looks decent for a VA panel – even in daylight, there are no significant losses in contrast. But the charm fades when it gets really bright. The panel's brightness is around 300 nits, which is definitely too little to speak of full comfort in a brightly lit room. In such conditions, the PUS8560 simply needs to be supported by curtains – otherwise, the picture starts to look quite pale.

As we mentioned earlier – the U7Q PRO is truly a bright television, especially when it comes to HDR content. In the case of SDR material, the television dims a bit, but an average brightness of around 500 nits is still a very solid result. This means that you can easily watch TV or movies even in a quite bright room. Only in very extreme lighting – for example, strong sunlight directly on the screen – visibility may suffer a bit. Fortunately, Hisense has applied a satin anti-reflective coating that effectively reduces glare, and blacks maintain their depth even during the day. This makes a difference and allows for comfortable use of the television in various lighting conditions.

Details about the matrix

Backlight Type
PFS LED
Mini-LED PFS LED
Software version during testing
TPN256E_V056.002.127.051
V0000.09.01T.P0528
Image processor

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Philips PUS8500

Hisense U7Q PRO

TV features

4.8/10

9.4/10

  • HDMI inputs
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

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

Smart features:

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

Classic TV Features:

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

Smart TV:

How does SmartTV fare on the PUS8560? Well, this is where it gets a bit tricky. The PUS8560 runs on the Titan OS, which in this particular implementation caused significant problems. Some features, while present "on paper," simply did not work. For example: Wireless screen mirroring features like Chromecast or Miracast – we tried to activate them with several different phones and laptops… without success. Perhaps this will be fixed in the future, but at the time of testing – it did not work. Additionally, the system's speed left much to be desired – switching between apps or home screens was simply slow. A significant portion of the features in the menu feels heavily hidden in the depths of a poorly organized system. To make matters worse, the library of available applications is quite limited. While the situation with apps is better than last year, it is still far from ideal. The situation is somewhat saved by the modern remote – slim, elegant, and superbly made with a really great backlight. Unfortunately, it operates on classic infrared, so you have to point it at the screen. The only exception is the voice control, which works via Bluetooth… it's just a shame that it doesn't support Polish.

Classic Features of U7Q PRO

If you plan to use the television in a more "classic" way, meaning for watching daily programs or connecting headphones, the Hisense U7Q PRO has almost everything you could expect. The TV supports USB recording without any issues, you can connect headphones via Bluetooth, and the remote control is backlit, which still isn't standard even in more expensive models. While many people today forego these classic features in favor of streaming applications, it's good to know that the U7Q PRO still does this properly and without compromises (aside from the lack of a PiP feature).

SmartTV System: Vidaa

As for smart features, in Europe, this model operates on the VIDAA system. The system works smoothly, has a built-in web browser, supports voice control (also in Polish), and AirPlay, which will please users of Apple devices. However, it should be noted that VIDAA is a closed system, so you won't find all the popular applications that Android TV or Google TV have accustomed us to. Before purchasing, it's worth checking if the apps you actually use are available.

Playing files from USB

8/10

8.2/10

Supported photo formats:

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

Maximum photo resolution:

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

PUS8560 handles playback of most popular video and audio formats from USB memory without any major issues, so there's no point in detailing the compatibilities individually. In daily use, it should just work – and it does. The only thing worth noting is the way it handles photos. Although the television easily recognizes common file extensions, with very high resolution graphic files, some photos may simply not display. This is not a huge problem, but it's good to keep it in mind, especially if we want to view photographs directly from the camera. Aside from that, PUS8560 shouldn't have any major problems with playback of files from USB.

The built-in media player in the VIDAA system worked very smoothly and without any issues on our U7Q PRO unit. The television effortlessly read external video and audio files, as well as subtitles, making it convenient to watch movies from a USB flash drive or external hard drive. Most popular formats worked flawlessly, so there was no need to convert anything. The only point of contention is a certain selectiveness in handling high-resolution images – not all of them opened. Therefore, you will find an exact list of supported image resolutions (Mpix) in our comparison chart.

Apps

4.6/10

7.7/10

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

Sound

6.2/10

7.8/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    85dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    Yes

The TV sounds quite pleasant and it can confidently be stated that the sound level will be fully sufficient for most users – both for watching everyday programs and for an evening session with a series. Moreover, a nice surprise is that even in such an affordable series, Philips has decided to acquire licenses for full audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS. This is great news for home theater and soundbar owners, as it means full compatibility and no need to "fiddle around" with connecting external devices.

For the standards of built-in television speakers, the U7Q PRO sounds surprisingly good. The sound is clear, with distinct mid and high tones, and the bass – while obviously limited – does not completely disappear. One could say that for "TV speakers," the level is more than satisfactory. However, it’s worth noting that in our test model, we were unable to play DTS:X audio from local files – the television simply does not support it. This means that if you are counting on a cinematic spatial effect solely from its built-in speakers, there may be a bit of disappointment. Fortunately, the television seamlessly transmits DTS signal to an external amplifier, so if you have a home theater – just connect it, and everything works as it should.

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

85dBC (Max)

75dBC