Compare TCL MQLED85 / C765 vs Philips OLED809/819

TCL MQLED85, or model C765, is a television that can really surprise, especially in this price range. It is one of the cheapest models with mini-LED technology, which is immediately evident in the picture quality. The blacks are deep, and the brightness is sufficient even in a brightly lit room. With a large number of dimming zones, watching movies in the evening is a pleasure – the blacks are truly deep, and the image in dark scenes looks clear. However, it is not perfect – in some shots, minor issues can be noticed with small bright elements, but this is really a minor detail compared to what this model offers. Google TV works wonderfully here – there are plenty of apps, and using the system is simply convenient. Voice control in Polish works flawlessly, which can be particularly useful if you don’t want to type in movie titles using the remote. Of course, there are minor shortcomings, such as the lack of recording, but these are not things that hinder day-to-day use. For gamers, it is also a great option. HDMI 2.1 support, VRR, and low input lag mean that the television handles consoles well and competes without issues with more expensive models from Korean or Japanese manufacturers. In this price range, it is hard to find something better when it comes to smooth and responsive gameplay. During testing, we encountered a few minor software issues, but it’s hard to say if that’s a serious downside. We hope that TCL will release updates, so there is a chance that this issue will be quickly addressed. TCL MQLED85/C765 is an excellent choice if we are looking for a television with good picture quality and modern features at a reasonable price. It is a model that combines affordable mini-LED technology with a user-friendly Google TV system and also performs excellently in gaming. Minor software shortcomings are something one can live with, especially considering what this television offers in its class.

The Philips OLED 809 is a versatile television that caters to a wide audience. Its standout feature is the multicoloured Ambilight backlighting, which enhances immersion and engagement, particularly when watching films. As expected from an OLED TV, key aspects such as contrast, black levels, and colour reproduction are excellent, providing impressive visual quality.

However, the television has some drawbacks, such as the quality of tonal transitions and the inconsistent operation of the dynamic tone mapping function, which can occasionally distract more sensitive viewers. Despite these shortcomings, the Philips OLED 809 excels in two key areas: gaming performance and motion smoothing. Gaming performance is particularly noteworthy, with each implemented feature functioning seamlessly to create a highly immersive experience.

Motion smoothness is also impressive, with two effective sliders allowing users to customise the motion settings. The inclusion of the Google TV system further enhances the user experience, offering smooth and lag-free operation during tests. Overall, the Philips OLED 809 strikes a solid balance between its strengths and minor imperfections.

TCL MQLED85/C765 stands out with its use of a VA panel and Mini LED backlighting, which makes a huge difference compared to traditional backlighting systems. Mini LED, thanks to significantly smaller diodes, allows for more precise control of the screen's backlighting, resulting in much better contrast and deeper blacks. The 55-inch model we are testing boasts an impressive number of over 700 local dimming zones, providing exceptional precision in displaying images. It is worth noting that the number of backlighting zones may vary depending on the screen size - for larger diagonals, the number of zones naturally increases due to the larger screen area, allowing larger sizes to achieve better results in terms of contrast and black levels. Thanks to the vast number of zones, the TCL MQLED85/C765 achieved a result comparable to OLED screens on our first test slide from the movie "Oblivion," offering nearly reference-level contrast. But what will happen when we test this model in even more demanding conditions? How will the TV perform in tougher scenarios? Overall, the TCL MQLED85/C765 performs very well in displaying blacks, but in some cases, the local dimming algorithm is not perfect. On dark backgrounds, smaller bright elements can lose sharpness and brightness, as confirmed by our recent slide from the Pioneer Kuro test disc. Despite some imperfections in the local dimming algorithm and the slight presence of the HALO effect (a bright halo around bright objects on a dark background caused by imperfections in the screen's local dimming), the results achieved by the TCL MQLED85/C765 are impressive, especially considering its price. This TV offers contrast and black depth that can compete with models that are even half again as expensive.

The Philips OLED 809, true to its name, uses an OLED panel sourced from LG Displays, a common choice among major brands like Sony and Panasonic. This advanced panel technology enables the television to achieve outstanding results in contrast and black-level tests. The image produced is three-dimensional and entirely free of the blooming effect often seen in TVs with local dimming, where bright text on dark backgrounds can appear hazy.

This exceptional performance is due to the panel's structure, crafted from conductive organic polymers and controlled by electrical impulses. Unlike LCD TVs with layered filters, OLED technology allows individual pixels to turn off completely, creating true black levels with a value of 0. This direct control ensures the precise separation of bright and dark elements in the image.

In tests, the Philips OLED 809 showcased its ability to render contrasts with exceptional precision, such as isolating bright elements like headlights against dark backgrounds. This capability is one of the TV's strongest advantages, elevating its performance in scenarios where contrast and black levels are critical.

The TCL MQLED85/C765 television performs well with HDR handling. In the tested movie scenes, where the screen is covered at 100% brightness, the model achieves impressive results around 1000 nits, providing intense and realistic representation of HDR content. However, similar to contrast, the dimming algorithm may show some limitations. Despite the large number of Mini LED zones, the television does not always manage to "stun" the user with brightness in very challenging test scenes. For example, in a scene from "Life of Pi," where a bright moon appears against a dark background, and in another scene from "Sicario 2," where a very bright light effect is visible against a dark background, the television did not reach maximum intensity. For users expecting perfect HDR performance in such extreme cases, the TCL MQLED may be slightly disappointing. However, regarding colors, the television stands out with a very high color gamut coverage of DCI P3 at 95%, which is an impressive result comparable to much more expensive models. The TCL MQLED85 / C765 offers support for various HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is essential for cinema image enthusiasts. Although this model achieves brightness over 1000 nits, the TCL MQLED85 may struggle to reflect details in very high contrast scenes. For better HDR quality control, the C765 is equipped with dynamic tone mapping, making the image more realistic and natural depending on the content.

The Philips OLED 809 delivers a highly satisfactory HDR effect. The television can reach luminance levels exceeding 900 nits in most scenes, and in some cases, even surpassing 1000 nits. This brightness ensures a rich and immersive experience for HDR content with a wide tonal range. The only exception occurs in a scene from the movie The Meg, where a large amount of bright white occupies most of the screen, preventing the TV from reaching higher brightness levels. However, this is not a significant issue, as the performance is still a considerable improvement over its predecessor.

Overall, these brightness levels, especially for an OLED panel not equipped with MLA technology, impress. Coupled with excellent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour spectrum, the Philips OLED 809 offers a truly spectacular HDR viewing experience.

TheTCL MQLED85/C765 television was tested in movie mode, which, although it seems to be the best setting from the manufacturer, is not without flaws. The color reproduction in HD/SDR mode MQLED85 shows certain shortcomings. In the analysis of white balance, there is a significant lack of blue color, which can affect the overall picture quality, especially in bright scenes where blue hues are crucial for natural representation. The overall image may then seem too warm. As for gamma contrast, the graph shows a significant jump above the reference line of level 2.4 at the beginning, which may suggest significant dimming of brightness in darker areas, leading to a loss of detail in blacks. Then, for most of the time, the values are below this line, which can lead to a loss of detail in the brighter parts of the image. Such a distribution can negatively affect the perceived image quality, especially when watching regular HD television.

In the case of 4K HDR image quality of the TCL MQLED85/C765, there is a noticeable excess of red color in the analysis of white balance. Such an excess can significantly affect the viewer's experience, leading to several significant effects. First of all, too much red can make other colors, such as green or blue, appear muted or unnatural. This distortion of color balance can result in an overall impression of "oversaturation," which detracts from the image's naturalness and authenticity. Regarding contrast, the EOTF (Electro-Optical Transfer Function) graph indicates that most values are above the reference line, suggesting an intense boost in brightness in the bright areas of the image. However, the exception is the beginning of the graph, where the EOTF line is below the reference one, which may lead to excessive dimming of small light elements.

Users should be aware that despite using the best mode, which is movie mode, the television is not free from flaws in the context of picture settings, so it is worth considering adjusting the settings to achieve better results.

The best factory mode in which we performed all our tests was "Filmmaker," which is quite standard in televisions from this manufacturer. However, let’s first examine its characteristics before the calibration process. The first aspect we will focus on is white balance, as it is critical to ensuring the image remains free from any colour cast. The chart clearly shows that in both SDR and HDR materials, two colours dominated significantly: red and green, resulting in a strong yellow tint that affected the entire image. This was particularly noticeable on the "ColourChecker" palette, where all colours shifted towards their warmer counterparts.

The second aspect we will assess is what we consider to be the two most important charts for evaluating picture quality: gamma and the Electro-Optical Transfer Function (EOTF) curve. Both aim to maintain appropriate brightness and contrast. The first chart, which describes the brightness levels in SDR materials, shows that the brightness was significantly lower than the reference value marked by the orange line. This resulted in a sharp increase in brightness and a notable decrease in contrast, which was inconsistent with typical OLED television behaviour. The EOTF curve, on the other hand, showed greater "moderation," subtly brightening the overall image only up to 50% of the maximum brightness.

After professional calibration of the TCL MQLED85/C765 television, its color properties in movie mode have significantly improved, resulting in much more satisfying visual experiences. Both in SDR and HDR modes, the white balance shows no serious errors, and the graph appears much better harmonized. Users can now enjoy natural color reproduction, which is essential for achieving an authentic experience while watching movies. It is worth noting that in HDR content, there may be minor color reproduction errors at the end of the graph, but they are significantly smaller than before calibration. This makes characters and landscapes more realistic, enhancing the depth of immersion in the story.

Regarding contrast, the gamma curve, responsible for HD quality, has been completely free of drops below the reference line, which means better detail visibility in dark scenes. However, there is still a slight boost at the beginning of the graph, which may affect the perception of bright elements. For HDR content, the EOTF curve also shows smaller errors, although certain issues in reproducing midtones may still be noticeable. The EOTF curve measured on real film scenes still shows a significant brightness boost, making the image appear more intense but artificially brightened. This is a typical issue for TCL brand televisions, which may appeal to untrained viewers but can be annoying for those more familiar with the ideal picture.

What benefits does professional calibration bring for movie enthusiasts? Thanks to it, watching becomes even more realistic and immersive, allowing every scene to be experienced fully, maintaining details and natural colors.

Philips, like most leading manufacturers, has been providing advanced calibration tools for years. The inclusion of 2- and 20-point grayscale adjustments, along with an advanced CMS (Color Management System), has yielded extremely beneficial results and fundamentally improved the perceived image. Nearly every element previously mentioned has undergone a transformation and has been restored to its natural state. This is particularly noticeable in the "ColourChecker" palette, where the measured colour samples align harmoniously. Notably, the white balance has been excellently calibrated, ensuring a pure image free from unwanted tint in both SDR and HDR content. The previously problematic gamma has been well addressed, with only minor errors that do not impact the overall performance. Similarly, the EOTF curve has been refined, removing the subtle brightening effect, and now offers a truly reference-quality presentation.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the TCL MQLED85/C765 television is decent, although certain issues are noticeable in both bright and dark test scenes. In particular, color transitions are visible in a scene from the movie "The Green Knight," where the red color of the water transitions to black. Despite these imperfections, the overall quality of gradation is acceptable and does not overly spoil the visual experience. The television handles most scenes well, offering satisfying tonal transitions, which contributes to an overall enjoyable visual experience that will not ruin our cinematic impressions.

Equally important as colour accuracy, black levels, and contrast in the context of image quality is its purity. This includes the quality of tonal transitions. Many viewers will be familiar with the "stepping" effect of colours on older displays—a frustrating issue that can significantly disrupt immersion in films or series. Unfortunately, the Philips OLED 809 suffers from such a problem, and while it might be tempting to overlook, it warrants examination.

In almost every tested scene, a lack of fluidity between colours was evident. While this is somewhat acceptable in certain films, such as Kingsman, it becomes far more distracting in others, particularly in The Green Knight. In this film, the thick fog was rendered as horizontal stripes and indistinct geometric shapes rather than a smooth gradient.

Though some televisions handle tonal transitions with excellence, the Philips OLED 809 does not belong in that category. Tests revealed visible stepping effects in colours, especially in demanding scenes, which detract from the viewing experience. Even options designed to mitigate posterisation failed to deliver adequate improvements, making this a significant drawback of the model.

We will now take another look at the tone transitions in the TCL MQLED85/C765 television, but in the context of poorer image quality. Despite the presence of the "Gradual Smoothing" option, when set to "low," the effects are practically invisible, disappointing users expecting an improvement in image quality. On the other hand, setting it to "high" brings minimal results, and worse, it can blur significant details, negatively affecting the sharpness and clarity of the displayed image. However, in terms of image scaling, the television successfully displayed the image without overscan, which means we do not lose any part of the view. The image looks quite decent, and details such as tree branches or the outlines of models do not show significant fraying, which positively influences the visual quality.

Philips OLED 809 struggled significantly in the smooth tonal transitions test. Focusing on the TV's algorithms, particularly the feature responsible for removing posterisation, the results were disappointing. This function, which offers several adjustable settings, proved ineffective in practice. The highest setting, while it does mitigate inconsistencies, it simultaneously blurs the entire image, rendering it virtually useless.

When dealing with lower-quality content, the performance of image upscaling algorithms becomes crucial. In this regard, the algorithms implemented in the OLED 809 perform admirably. They enhance image quality effectively, with minimal visible artefacts. Although slight edge fraying can occasionally be observed, it is unlikely to be noticeable during typical viewing sessions.

TCL MQLED85/C765 is equipped with a standard refresh rate matrix of 120 Hz, with the possibility of increasing it to 144 Hz when connected to a powerful computer. The television also offers a multi-stage motion smoother, which mainly serves users who want to improve motion smoothness in films. It allows for the adjustment of the effect's intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, enabling precise matching of image smoothness to individual preferences. The matrix's response time is decent but not perfect. We can observe ghosting occurring behind both dark and medium objects.

The maximum refresh rate achievable on the Philips OLED 809 is 144 Hz, a feature that can be fully utilised when connected to a high-performance PC. However, when connected to consoles or used for standard television viewing, the refresh rate remains at typical values. For users seeking enhanced motion fluidity or wishing to eliminate the characteristic choppiness of films shot at 24 fps, Philips provides a sophisticated motion-smoothing system.

In the settings menu, there is a "Smoothness" slider designed to reduce choppiness, along with a "Motion Blur Reduction" option to enhance the sharpness of fast-moving elements. These features perform impressively and allow for granular adjustments, ensuring that each setting has a tangible impact on motion perception. Notably, the system operates effectively at a refresh rate of 120 Hz, taking advantage of multiples of video frame rates. With this comprehensive range of options, users can easily fine-tune the settings to suit their preferences. For example, slight smoothing without inducing the soap opera effect offers a balanced viewing experience.

Motion clarity on the OLED 809 is further bolstered by the exceptional response time of the OLED panel, measured at approximately 0.1 ms. This surpasses the performance of IPS/ADS or VA panels, making OLED technology unrivalled in this area.

TCL MQLED85/C765 has received an impressive rating in the gaming features category, making it an excellent choice for gaming enthusiasts. The television supports all the latest technologies that significantly enhance the gaming experience. Among the key gaming features is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically switches the television to low latency mode, minimizing response time and ensuring smooth gameplay. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) supported in the range from 48 to 144 Hz eliminates stuttering and screen tearing in dynamic gaming scenes. Additionally, the television supports Dolby Vision Game Mode, which provides better image quality in games with exceptional color depth and contrast. TCL MQLED85/C765 also features a decent but not the best implementation of HGiG (HDR Gaming Interest Group), optimizing HDR game display, but in the case of TCL, it causes bright details in white, resulting in some elements blending into a white spot - we can read more about this in the color reproduction section. It supports various resolutions such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, and 4K@120Hz, allowing gamers to take advantage of higher image quality and better fluidity. The Game Bar feature allows for easy switching between game settings and quick control of parameters, significantly facilitating the adjustment of the television to individual needs. With support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, users of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards will be pleased with the synchronization of refresh rates, eliminating tearing and stuttering issues, providing a smoother and more immersive gameplay experience.

MQLED85/C765 is a television that combines advanced technologies and excellent support for gamers, making it an ideal choice for those who want to maximize their gaming experiences.

The Philips OLED 809 fully supports all technologies included in the HDMI 2.1 standard, and during testing, each activated without issue. This makes the TV an excellent choice for gamers, whether on console or PC. Notably, it features HGIG mode as a strong alternative to Dolby Vision, which is less ideal for gaming on this model due to its high input lag.

The TV also includes a dedicated GameBar for monitoring gameplay parameters and adjusting settings quickly. Features like a crosshair overlay for sniper shots, shadow enhancement for better visibility, and a colour filter for gamers with visual impairments further enhance its gaming appeal.

In summary, the OLED 809 is a fantastic choice for gaming, equipped with VRR, ALLM, G-Sync, FreeSync, and HDR Dolby Vision gaming for a deeply immersive experience. The only drawback is the artificial sharpness in game mode, which cannot be fully softened, regardless of settings.

Input lag on the TCL MQLED85 television reaches impressively low levels under any conditions. Even the most demanding gamers will surely appreciate the minimal input lag of only 8 ms at 4K 120 Hz settings with HDR. Moreover, the delays remain at the same level even with Dolby Vision HDR turned on, which is not the case with many competitive models.

The input lag measurements on the Philips OLED 809 are impressively low across all signals and resolutions. Gamers will undoubtedly value the manufacturer’s efforts, as a game running at 4K120Hz with HDR achieves a latency of just 5 ms—virtually imperceptible, even in online gaming. Additionally, the game mode with Dolby Vision deserves praise, delivering a comparable response time of 13 ms. In this regard, the Philips OLED 809 earns top marks.

TCL MQLED85 performs well as a computer monitor. Thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support, text on the screen is clear and readable, which is important for people working with text documents or spreadsheets. One of the greatest advantages of this model is its exceptionally low input lag in "PC" mode, which is only 8 ms. This is a reference-level result that ensures smoothness and responsiveness, crucial for both gamers and those engaged in video editing. However, it is worth noting that there is a certain issue related to font display on dark backgrounds. When zooming in on the tested font image, it can be seen that horizontal lines are darker compared to vertical ones. This means that the sub-pixels in the television do not fully illuminate in this case, which can affect the quality of the displayed text. Nevertheless, the overall performance of TCL MQLED85 as a computer monitor is very good and will certainly meet the expectations of many users.

As in gaming, the Philips OLED 809 delivers excellent performance, but its capabilities falter with everyday text work. Despite its impressively low latency, the issue lies in its lack of chroma 4:4:4 support, leading to noticeable font blurriness regardless of the refresh rate. While this is not a problem during gaming, it can significantly affect text work by making fonts less readable and more straining to the eyes.

The viewing angles on the TCL MQLED85 television are not its strongest point. The use of a VA panel means that the picture loses a significant amount of brightness when viewed at an angle. When the viewer's position changes, especially when watching with a larger group, colors may appear less saturated, and the contrast may be less pronounced. For this reason, it is recommended to sit directly in front of the screen to fully enjoy the picture quality. Although the television offers excellent color reproduction from a direct view, the loss of brightness and detail at an angle can be problematic for those planning to use the TV in a larger room or from various positions.

An advantage of OLED panels is their excellent performance at sharp viewing angles, with no noticeable drop in contrast or color saturation. However, a characteristic feature of panels produced by LG Display, which are not used in top models, is the appearance of a teal or cyan tint when viewed from a wide angle.

MQLED85 performs decently in daylight conditions, and it's worth noting the satin finish of the panel. Although it doesn't excel at reducing reflections, it offers satisfactory performance in various lighting conditions. An average brightness level above 600 nits is an impressive result, allowing for comfortable viewing even in well-lit rooms. As a result, the television works well both during the day and for evening movie sessions, providing satisfactory image quality.

For many years, the efficiency of OLED TVs during the day has been a topic of debate, with many still believing these screens aren't suitable for daylight use. While that may have been true for older models, current technology has advanced significantly. Today, there are no major objections to recommending an OLED TV for daytime use. Despite the glossy panel, which might seem like a drawback, the real-world results speak for themselves. One aspect to consider is contrast which remains higher during daytime use, unlike QD-OLED panels or OLEDs with MLA technology. This is due to the absence of excited quantum dots and micro-lenses.

Brak funkcji PIP, obecne "MultiVision" czyli dzielenie ekranu między tv a urządzenie mobilne

Before we dive into the software that controls the TV, it’s important to highlight one of the standout features of Philips OLED 809 is the multicoloured Ambilight. This unique system, positioned on the back of the device, adjusts its colours according to what's happening on the screen, enhancing immersion and overall viewing experience.

The Philips OLED 809 runs on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage over some of the manufacturer's other models that use the proprietary TitanOS, a more closed system with fewer available apps. With Google TV, users can install virtually any application, from the store or via APK files directly from online repositories.

Additionally, Google TV offers convenient control options, such as easy integration with keyboards and touchpads for smoother typing and navigation. Voice commands can also be issued using the remote, with quick and accurate interpretation by the system.

In summary, Google TV is one of the most popular systems available today. Powered by a robust CPU, it operates smoothly and stably, without freezes or stutters. For those who want to make the most of their TV’s capabilities, Google TV offers the openness and versatility needed to enhance the overall experience.

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

The default media player on the Philips OLED 809 is of a high standard but has shortcomings. It excels in playing a wide variety of video files, with the exception of two less commonly used formats. A key advantage is the inclusion of options to confirm playback for various subtitle formats. The TV handles images of any resolution effortlessly, making it a great choice for browsing family albums or studio photos. In terms of supported photo and audio formats, the performance is satisfactory, with only a few outdated or rare formats being unsupported. However, this isn't a significant issue, as users can easily download an app from the store to handle those formats.

The sound of the TCL MQLED85 television can be described as decent, making it sufficient for everyday viewing of movies, TV shows, and games. The speakers branded with Onkyo offer surprisingly good audio quality, and the sound does not hiss or distort even at higher volume levels.

At the outset, it's important to note that sound quality is always subjective. In our opinion, the audio system in the Philips OLED 809 is of high quality. The bass is well-defined without overpowering the mid and high tones. From another perspective, considering the price range of this TV, most users will likely have an additional audio system. In this context, the television will not disappoint, as it supports nearly all major standards, including Dolby Atmos and, notably, DTS-HD Master Audio.

TCL MQLED85 / C765 vs Philips OLED809/819

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