Sharp GP6765 vs Philips PML8709

In movie mode, the Sharp GP6765 reaches a brightness of 300 nits, which is relatively average. This level of brightness is more suited to standard SDR content than to the full HDR experience. As a result, the TV struggles to deliver the depth and dynamics typically expected from a good HDR mode. Visual effects that might appear sharp and detailed on other models could seem more subdued here, and high-contrast scenes won't be as striking. However, compared to other models in this price range, this is still a decent performance. A positive feature is the TV's support for a wide DCI-P3 colour gamut, covering 92.5%, thanks to the inclusion of quantum dots (Quantum Dot/QLED). This offers a solid improvement, particularly in this price bracket, resulting in vibrant and more saturated colours, although the limited brightness still prevents a fully immersive HDR experience.

Looking at the contrast results, we expected that the algorithms responsible for the zones in the Philips PML8709 would be at least decent. However, what we encountered during testing is hard to explain. The maximum brightness we were able to achieve was only 350 nits, which is definitely too low to fully enjoy HDR effects. In practice, the TV barely stands out against an average SDR. The situation becomes even more surprising in the case of test scenes, such as the second one from the movie Life of Pi or Sicario 2. Small light elements reach only 120 nits there, making them practically invisible. Such a level of brightness is completely inadequate to modern HDR standards and significantly diminishes the viewing experience of high-quality content. The only bright spot in this category is the very good coverage of wide color gamuts – 97% DCI-P3 and 83% BT.2020. This ensures that colors are saturated and well reproduced, which can improve the overall viewing experience of HDR materials, even if just a little. However, the lack of appropriate brightness means that even this cannot save the Philips PML8709 in this category.

The Sharp GP6765 was launched in movie mode, which offers the best settings for colour reproduction. However, despite this, the quality remains far from ideal. In SDR mode, the white balance graph shows significant increases in the red colour, making the image appear somewhat yellowish and distorting natural skin tones. This results in some scenes looking unnatural, and colours losing their authenticity. In HDR mode, the issue worsens as blue becomes the dominant colour, which negatively affects the colour balance and causes a loss of detail in cool tones. As a result, the image can appear cold and unbalanced, highlighting the TV's inability to achieve optimal colour reproduction. Tests with the Colour Checker tool confirm these shifts across several samples.

In terms of contrast, the HD mode shows a significant jump at the start of the graph, but it remains close to the reference line at 2.4. This means that in most scenes, the TV delivers a satisfactory level of contrast, enhancing details in shadows and adding depth to the image. However, in HDR mode, the EOTF curve fluctuates significantly at both ends of the graph, leading to inconsistencies in bright and dark areas of the image. In scenes with intense light, such as explosions or dynamic actions, key details may be lost, and the image may appear blurry. Similarly, in darker scenes, the lack of clear differences in shades may cause details to merge into a uniform spot, reducing overall quality. While movie mode offers the best factory settings for the GP6765, there are still significant issues with colour reproduction and contrast.

Although theoretically the Filmmaker mode on the Philips PML8709 should provide natural color reproduction, in reality it resembles a store mode more. In the white balance, both for HD and 4K content, there is a clear dominance of blue. This makes the image appear washed out and cold, which is particularly noticeable in the comparison picture below.

The brightness characteristics also leave much to be desired. Both the gamma and the EOTF curve show excessive screen brightness. As a result, there is a loss of detail in both the brighter and darker parts of the image, which further diminishes its credibility and naturalness. Bright elements appear unnaturally flat and little varied.

These significant problems in white balance and brightness characteristics lead to noticeable color reproduction errors, which can be easily seen in films as well as in the Colour Checker test. The colors are imprecise, affecting the overall image quality and visual experience. The factory settings require substantial improvement to fully enjoy the potential of this television.

After calibration, the Sharp GP6765 television shows marked improvement in film mode, particularly in SDR content. The white balance now closely aligns with the reference line, offering more natural and true-to-life colour reproduction. While not perfectly straight, the results are still satisfactory for the price range, significantly enhancing the overall visual experience and immersion in movies. The colour gamut shows some improvement, with the initial jump in the graph persisting but being less noticeable, leading to a more consistent and enjoyable image.

For HDR content, while the white balance performs somewhat worse than in SDR, it is still a notable improvement compared to pre-calibration. The calibration ensures better colour consistency, though some shortcomings remain. As for contrast, no major gains were observed. The lack of control over dynamic tone mapping prevented significant improvement in EOTF, resulting in uneven brightness reproduction.

Despite some limitations, particularly in HDR content and dynamic tone mapping, the Sharp GP6765 reveals a more polished performance after calibration. The improved white balance and colour reproduction in SDR make it more visually appealing. While further refinement is needed, it still provides a satisfying visual experience, making it a strong contender in its price category.

Philips offers advanced image calibration tools in its televisions, which we decided to fully utilize. The effects? While we managed to improve many aspects, it was not without difficulties. White balance was one of the biggest challenges – despite our efforts, it can be called a battle against windmills. We managed to correct it significantly, making the image look much better than in the factory settings, but it is still far from perfect. Particularly in some scenes, a subtle dominance of blue is noticeable, though not as intense as before. We achieved significant improvement in brightness characteristics – gamma now presents itself much more stably. The EOTF curve looks correct at first glance; however, when analyzing film content, it becomes evident that the television has difficulty maintaining the appropriate characteristics. The algorithms "struggle" to adjust brightness, which may result from the limited number of dimming zones that do not always cope with more complex scenes. Overall, the image after calibration looks much more pleasant to the eye – colors are more natural, and errors in color reproduction have been minimized. Although it's still not perfect, the Philips PML8709 now presents itself much better than in the factory settings.

The Sharp GP6765 television delivers solid performance with its "10-bit colour reproduction" feature, particularly in the tested scene featuring light bulbs. Setting this option to "medium" provides satisfactory results, with no issues related to grain smoothing or the blurring of important image elements. Even the "low" setting performs well, delivering a clear image without compromising detail. These transition smoothing options enhance visual quality by providing more natural colour transitions.

In terms of image scaling, the Sharp GP6765 shows strengths, such as the absence of overscan when displaying test material. This ensures viewers can enjoy the full image without losing edge details. However, some weaknesses were noted in a tested scene featuring a model. Elements such as branches or trousers appear slightly jagged, indicating a lack of effective edge-smoothing techniques. This can cause certain details to look distorted, impacting the overall viewing experience.

The distortion reduction function in the Philips PML8709 smooths tonal transitions, but its effectiveness leaves much to be desired. We recommend setting this option to "Medium" – at this level, the effect is noticeable but not excessive. Unfortunately, compared to other Philips models, the smoothing effect is less effective, meaning that some tonal transitions may still appear slightly uneven. An additional drawback is that this function also smooths other details, such as material textures like shirts, which can affect image sharpness.

As for image scaling, the television performs very well. The image appears plastic and free of noticeable "jaggies." This effect may appeal to many users, although some may prefer a more pronounced look. Fortunately, the television allows for adjusting the sharpness parameter, enabling us to tailor the image to individual preferences.

When it comes to motion blur and movement fluidity, the Sharp GP6765 TV offers rather average performance. Equipped with a 60 Hz panel, it handles movies adequately. The TV includes a motion smoother called "Motion Enhancement," which allows users to control motion fluidity, enabling a choice between visible film frame interpolation or a smoother, more theatrical appearance. This feature should meet the needs of most users focused on movie viewing.

However, the TV's performance falls short in sports or gaming. In the tested UFO alien scene, noticeable blurriness indicates that the panel's low response time negatively impacts the sharpness of moving objects. This issue becomes particularly evident during dynamic sequences, where rapid movements are frequent. For viewers who enjoy sports or fast-paced video games, these limitations in motion handling can be off-putting, making the Sharp GP6765 less suitable for such content.

Philips PML8709 is one of the few models with mini-LED technology on the market that offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Although it is not a panel for the most demanding gamers, it should satisfy those who mainly watch movies. The television is equipped with the "Motion Style" feature, which is a motion smoother that allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion according to your preferences – from a more "plastic" appearance to a cinematic aesthetic with clearly visible frames.

The gaming functionality of the Sharp GP6765 leaves much to be desired. Although this model includes HDMI 2.1 ports, which theoretically promise modern features, the reality is far less impressive. The only feature that takes advantage of this standard is Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Unfortunately, the absence of key functionalities such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) significantly limits its appeal to gamers. VRR is crucial for eliminating screen tearing and stuttering, particularly in dynamic games where fluidity is essential. Similarly, HGIG ensures optimal HDR mapping, enhancing visual quality and immersion. While Dolby Vision might seem like a benefit, it proves useless for gaming due to the very high input lag in this mode.

The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports in the Sharp GP6765 feels like a marketing ploy, potentially misleading users into believing that the standard automatically provides all its associated benefits. Gamers expecting full functionality from HDMI 2.1 are likely to be disappointed.

Philips PML8709 is a television aimed more at occasional gamers, mainly due to its 60 Hz panel, which does not meet the expectations of the most demanding users. However, for those who appreciate gameplay at a more measured pace, this model may prove sufficient.

The television offers several gamer-friendly features, such as ALLM (automatic switching to game mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), which help in displaying images more smoothly without annoying stutters. Moreover, in terms of HDR, we find here the implementation of HGiG, which adjusts the HDR effect to the specifics of games, providing a more natural image in appropriately optimized titles. Unfortunately, there is no support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be felt in games that utilize this format.

A nice addition is the presence of a basic "Game Bar," which allows for quick preview and modification of key settings related to gaming. It's a simple yet helpful feature, especially for those who often change their setup between different types of gameplay. Despite certain limitations, the Philips PML8709 offers a solid set of features for less demanding gamers.