Compare TCL C655 Pro vs Philips PML8709

TCL C655 PRO is an extension of the basic model from this series, and although the name may suggest only minor differences, the "PRO" suffix actually means a lot. The biggest change compared to its less advanced sibling is the picture quality. The manufacturer opted for the implementation of local dimming technology, which significantly improves black levels and contrast. The television is capable of offering a more refined picture. Thus, TCL C655 PRO clearly outperforms the more budget version in this respect. The applied QLED panel further enhances the coverage of a wide color palette, delivering vibrant and saturated colors, which works great for both movies and dynamic content such as games. In terms of gaming, just like the basic version, TCL C655 PRO offers a range of useful features for gamers – including ALLM, VRR, and Game Bar – which greatly enhance the gaming experience. The television can also adjust the screen refresh rate to lower resolutions, meaning that despite supporting 4K at 60 Hz, in Full HD or 2K, one can enjoy a smoother image thanks to 120 Hz. In everyday use, the Google TV operating system performs excellently. The intuitive interface, personalized recommendations, and wide access to streaming applications such as Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+ make the TV enjoyable to use. This makes it easy to overlook the lack of recording features and picture-in-picture (PiP), which is not a major issue given the rich offering of applications. If we can afford that small difference in price, we definitely recommend the TCL C655 in the PRO version.

Philips PML8709 is a model that stands out in the offering of the Chinese-Dutch manufacturer due to its unconventionality. Instead of the classic operating system from Philips - TitanOS, we find here the already known Google TV, which provides extensive customization options and access to a rich library of applications. This is a television that, on one hand, tempts with very good contrast, and on the other – surprises with several unusual design decisions. When it comes to image quality, the PML8709 offers very good contrast, which, combined with wide color gamut coverage, ensures excellent color reproduction – especially after calibration. Despite the 60 Hz panel, the television also performs well in occasional gaming thanks to support for features such as ALLM, VRR, and a low input lag of around 13 ms. On the other hand, Philips has stripped this model of one of the biggest advantages of its televisions – the Ambilight system. This is a surprising decision that may disappoint many fans of the brand. Another weak point is performance in HDR – despite promising contrast results, the television performs average in this category. Maximum brightness and issues with detail in brighter scenes give the impression that something has evidently gone wrong in the implementation of this feature. The Philips PML8709 is a television full of contrasts. On one hand, it offers solid black quality and interesting solutions for gamers, on the other – some limitations, such as the lack of Ambilight or average brightness, mean that it is not a model without flaws. It is a good choice for those who appreciate the versatility of Google TV and are looking for a television for everyday use.

The TCL 655 PRO television, equipped with a VA panel, provides solid contrast; however, the key role in improving image quality is played by local dimming technology. The tested 55-inch variant has 84 zones of backlighting, which significantly enhance contrast compared to the model without the "PRO" suffix, and this effect is clearly visible in the first three tested scenes. It is worth adding that larger versions of this television naturally have more zones, which translates into even better contrast. Of course, as with any LCD television, certain drawbacks remain—particularly noticeable in the tested scenes 4 and 5, where smaller bright elements lose quite a bit of quality. Nevertheless, considering the price of the device, the TCL 655 PRO makes a strong impression and stands out well in the category of black levels and contrast.

The model name 8709 "PML" refers to Philips mini-LED technology, but can we really call its backlighting that? In the 65-inch version, we counted only 96 local dimming zones. For mini-LED standards, this number seems too low, raising questions about whether we are actually dealing with a full-fledged mini-LED here. However, if we look at the quality of black, the TV performs quite well. On the first two test screens, as well as in less demanding scenes, the image is quite decent – blacks are deep and the contrast is satisfactory. Problems start to arise in more complicated scenes, such as the last three test screens, where small light elements appear on the screen. The local dimming algorithm seems to "get lost," unable to decide whether to brighten or darken a certain area. The result is visible errors – reduced black quality and unevenness of the image. An example of the local dimming zones in action can be seen in a scene from the movie Sicario 2. You can see how the dimming zones try to reproduce details, but at the same time it leads to slight lightening around the helicopter lights. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, the blacks in the Philips PML8709 perform quite well, especially considering its price class.

In the HDR effect quality category, the TCL 655 PRO television shows decent capabilities, achieving 550 nits of peak brightness. This allows for enjoyment of HDR effects, which is clearly visible in scenes such as the first from the movie Life of Pi or the last frame from The Meg. However, the limited number of dimming zones causes some problems. While in bright scenes the television performs better than its lower model, in more demanding scenes, such as the second and fourth scenes from Sicario 2, it struggles. The dimming algorithm aims for deep blacks, but at the cost of brightness – which in these moments leads to a decrease in brightness by as much as half. In these more challenging scenes with small elements, it is hard to find any praise, and the HDR effect resembles rather SDR. Nonetheless, the coverage of the color palette deserves commendation, which, like in the version without the PRO suffix, is at a very good level.

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.

Each of our TV tests is conducted in movie mode, which usually offers the best color reproduction. Nevertheless, even this mode is not free from problems, as we noted with the TCL 655 PRO model.

In the case of HD content, the white balance clearly shifts towards red, and this effect becomes particularly noticeable in a scene from Star Wars, where the white elements of the scenery take on a pink hue. For 4K HDR material, the situation looks better, but there is a tendency to excessively enhance the blue color. As a result, the image can appear artificially sharp, which proves to be uncomfortable for the eye over a longer period. The brightness characteristic also leaves much to be desired. The Gamma chart indicates serious difficulties with excessive brightening, causing the overall presentation to look washed out. Additionally, the EOTF curve reveals significant issues with the reproduction of very small elements - they are excessively dimmed, as we detailed in the paragraph regarding HDR effects.

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 calibrating the TCL 655 PRO television, a noticeable improvement in white balance can be observed, having completely eliminated the tendency for the screen to have an excessive pink hue, which was previously visible in factory mode. The image has taken on more natural tones, especially in white and bright elements, positively affecting the overall perception of the picture. As for brightness characteristics, the Gamma chart has also improved – the screen is no longer excessively bright, which previously made the image look washed out. Nevertheless, there are still some issues with the EOTF curve that are difficult to eliminate due to the design of the television and its limited number of dimming zones. These limitations prevent achieving ideal results in this regard. However, despite this minor flaw, the overall effect after calibration is truly outstanding, providing high image quality and very good color reproduction.

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.

Tonal transitions are really fine and would deserve a high rating (8), however, the rating was clearly lowered for another reason - the image is artificially sharpened despite the "sharpness" parameter being set to 0. As a result, the image is unpleasant to look at.

The smoothness of tonal transitions in the Philips PML8709 is at a very high level. Color gradation is extremely smooth, and transitions between shades look natural and detailed. Even in more demanding scenes, the television performs excellently. Minor issues may arise with bright elements, where the gradation can be slightly less precise. However, these are such subtle differences that only the most demanding purists will notice them. For most users, the effects will be fully satisfying, and the image will maintain its impressive quality.

The TCL 655 PRO television handles tonal transitions in lower-quality materials quite well. The "Gradual Smoothing" feature at a low setting effectively smooths out tonal transitions; however, this comes at the cost of losing some important details, such as the texture of objects. A positive aspect is that it does not negatively affect film grain, which helps maintain the natural look of the image.

In the context of digital processing, the television adds artificial sharpness. This may appeal to users who prefer a more vivid image. However, those who favor a softer, subtler look may find this to be a drawback. Additionally, a downside is the image cropping due to overscan, which limits the field of view and trims the edges of the frame. This can be problematic in certain scenes - e.g., news tickers.

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.

The TCL C655 PRO TV is equipped with a 4K panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, making it ideal for watching movies. Additionally, the "Flicker Reduction" feature allows users to adjust the fluidity of the image, giving them the choice between smoother motion or a cinematic, choppy effect. Moreover, the TV handles lower resolution content well, such as Full HD and 2K, offering a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which will certainly appeal to gamers who can enjoy smoother images, albeit at the cost of lower resolution.

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 TCL C655 PRO television offers an almost perfect set of features for gamers, supporting all key technologies that significantly improve the gaming experience. The ALLM feature automatically switches the television to low latency mode, resulting in better responsiveness and minimized signal delays – particularly important in dynamic titles. VRR synchronizes the screen refresh rate with the number of frames generated by the console, eliminating screen tearing and thus guaranteeing smoother gameplay.

Support for Dolby Vision in game mode allows for more detailed color and contrast reproduction in games that support this format, while the Game Bar provides quick access to important settings such as response time or latency level. Unfortunately, this model does not support 4K resolution at 120 Hz, which may disappoint the most demanding gamers. However, for those who can forgo 4K, support for Full HD and 2K at 120 Hz offers exceptionally smooth visuals, making it an attractive alternative for enthusiasts of higher refresh rates.

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.

The TCL C655 PRO TV offers an exceptional response time across all supported resolutions and frequencies. Particularly noteworthy is its support for Dolby Vision with a response time of 13 ms, which is rarely found among competitors. As a result, gamers can enjoy remarkable responsiveness even while using advanced HDR effects, significantly enhancing the gaming experience.

The Philips PML8709 performs very well in terms of input lag. With supported resolutions, results of around 13 ms are more than sufficient to ensure comfortable gameplay. Such a response time means that even more dynamic games do not cause annoying delays. This allows players to enjoy smooth gameplay without unnecessary stress.

Cooperation with the PC on the TCL C655 Pro television is quite good, especially due to the support for chroma 4:4:4, which ensures good readability of fonts. This is an important advantage if the television is to be used as a monitor for office work, where text display accuracy is crucial. Additionally, low input lag provides smooth operation, which will be appreciated by both gamers and users who require a quick response to mouse or keyboard movements.

One of the minor drawbacks that can be noticed is the fact that vertical lines sometimes exhibit a pixel dropout. This causes letters to appear slightly broken, which in certain situations may slightly reduce work comfort, although overall this issue should not be very bothersome for less demanding users. The television does not support 120Hz for its maximum resolution, hence the lower rating compared to higher models. However, TCL has ensured that users can enjoy smooth gameplay at 120Hz at lower resolutions such as 2K and Full HD.

Philips PML8709 offers a dedicated mode for PC, but its capabilities are highly limited. The TV does not support chroma 4:4:4, which significantly affects the readability of fonts – text appears blurred and is difficult to read, disqualifying this model for those planning to use it as a monitor for work or document browsing. Additionally, although the TV demonstrated compatibility in G-Sync tests, the image while using this feature is very unstable, with frequent stuttering. Such unpredictability eliminates the benefits that adaptive sync support should provide.

The only positive aspect regarding PC compatibility is the low input lag, which can be an advantage for those using the TV mainly for gaming. Nevertheless, the limitations in chroma support and issues with G-Sync mean that the PML8709 is not the best choice for PC users.

The viewing angles in the TCL C655 PRO, as with VA panels, are quite limited. Compared to IPS panels, which maintain image quality regardless of the viewing angle, the VA panel in this model quickly loses contrast and color saturation even with a slight deviation from the axis. Watching at an angle causes black to become more gray, and colors lose their depth and intensity. For this reason, the TV is better suited for rooms where viewing occurs mainly straight on. It is not a television that is an ideal choice for large spaces where viewers may be seated at different angles.

Philips PML8709, equipped with a VA matrix, offers average viewing angles typical of this type of panel. The picture loses quality when viewed from a larger angle – colors fade, and contrast significantly decreases. This is a characteristic feature of VA matrices and should be kept in mind, especially if we plan to watch the TV from different places in the room. For viewers sitting directly in front, however, the image remains clear and well reproduced.

TCL C655 PRO offers quite decent brightness, reaching around 520 nits, which makes using the television during the day comfortable. This brightness allows for good image visibility even in rooms with more sunlight. Although the television performs well in such conditions, the satin finish of the display has only average capabilities in suppressing reflections. In very bright environments, reflections may appear, which slightly worsen the visibility of the image, especially in scenes with lower contrast.

The Philips PML8709 is equipped with a satin matrix, which handles glare suppression moderately well. In moderately lit rooms, reflections will not be too bothersome, however, in very sunny conditions, the situation can become problematic. An additional challenge is the relatively low screen brightness, which is about 330 cd/m². This level may prove insufficient for comfortable viewing in bright rooms, where the image can appear too dark and unclear. The TV will perform better in controlled lighting conditions, but for those looking for a model that copes well during the day, this may be a significant limitation.

The TCL C655 PRO TV operates on the Google TV system, which is an extension of the popular Android TV. Google TV offers personalized content recommendations based on viewed materials and user preferences, providing easy access to movies, series, and apps. Thanks to its clear interface, navigation is simple, and access to popular streaming apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Disney+ allows enjoying a wide range of content. The system also supports integration with the Google ecosystem, enabling control of the TV using voice commands with Google Assistant and synchronization with other smart home devices.

The TCL C655 PRO offers additional features that enhance usability, such as support for Apple AirPlay, allowing for quick content streaming from Apple devices directly to the TV screen. Additionally, the ability to connect peripherals via Bluetooth – e.g., keyboards, mice, or headphones – makes usage even more convenient. Unfortunately, this model does not have the functionality to record content to USB or the picture-in-picture (PiP) option, which may be a disappointment for those accustomed to these conveniences in traditional television. Nevertheless, the TCL C655 PRO offers many modern solutions that facilitate daily entertainment.

The design of the TCL C655 PRO TV appears modern, with elegant and slim metallic bezels that add sturdiness and aesthetic appeal to the device. Overall, it looks very good and will certainly fit into most interiors. Although the bezels are minimalist, the TV itself is not among the thinnest on the market, especially compared to Korean competitors who often offer even slimmer designs.

The Philips PML8709 runs on the Google TV operating system. This is quite a surprising choice, considering it is not the flagship model of the brand. Fortunately, it has avoided the implementation of the less popular TitanOS, which can be seen as a plus. Google TV offers a well-known, clear interface and extensive capabilities for installing applications, making the television more versatile.

In terms of user functionality, the television performs solidly. Daily use of the device is enjoyable thanks to support for Polish voice search. The ability to connect peripheral devices, such as keyboards, mice, or headphones via Bluetooth, increases its functionality. Unfortunately, the PML8709 does not offer more advanced options such as USB recording or PiP (picture-in-picture) functionality, which may disappoint more demanding users.

An interesting fact, and also a significant surprise, is the lack of Ambilight technology, which Philips is widely known for. The decision to omit this technology in the PML8709 model seems incomprehensible, especially since Ambilight is often cited as one of the biggest advantages of televisions from this brand.

Thanks to the built-in player, the television is capable of playing most file formats available on external storage, making it a versatile tool for consuming multimedia. However, there may be certain limitations in supporting some formats, which can be inconvenient for more demanding users. Fortunately, the Google TV system allows the installation of other media players from Google Play, enabling the elimination of compatibility issues. This gives users the opportunity to choose applications that best meet their needs, significantly enhancing the functionality of the television.

The Philips PML8709 handles multimedia file playback from USB well. The TV should have no problem supporting most popular video, audio, and photo formats, making it a versatile tool for home entertainment. Files are read smoothly, and the interface of the built-in player is simple and intuitive.

However, a significant downside is the lack of support for Polish characters in subtitles, due to the incomplete implementation of the UTF-8 standard. Subtitles with Polish characters are displayed incorrectly, which can be irritating for people watching movies in their native language. This shortcoming means that users seeking full compatibility with subtitles may have to turn to external media players.

The sound on the TCL C655 PRO television is quite good, thanks to the 2x15W audio system supported by a 20W subwoofer branded by Onkyo. As a result, the sound is fuller, and the bass is deeper, positively impacting the overall sound quality. However, one should not get overly enthusiastic – the television cannot replace a dedicated soundbar, especially for more demanding users expecting cinema-quality audio.

The sound quality in the Philips PML8709 is average and standard for a television equipped with 2 x 10 W speakers. The sound is sufficient for everyday viewing, but it's hard to expect deep bass or clear details in more demanding scenes. On the plus side, it does support Dolby Atmos and DTS.

TCL C655 Pro vs Philips PML8709

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound