- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- Daytime performance
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Panel details
Philips OLED950 Review
OLED950 / OLED+
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Panel type: WRGB OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: PHILIPS Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Google TV Model year: 2025
The EISA Awards return every year and for manufacturers, it is always a big deal. This is where televisions, audio equipment, and all consumer electronics compete for distinctions awarded by a large group of editorial teams from Europe. In this review, we take a look at the winner of the Best Product 2025–2026 award in the category of best OLED home theater television. This is the Philips OLED950. The model uses a Tandem OLED panel, known from top-tier designs — such as the LG G5, Philips OLED910, or Panasonic Z95B. The difference is that the OLED950 does not go for a large soundbar like the OLED910. Instead, Philips added stronger image processing and opted for a simpler bottom soundbar, while the whole "wow effect" comes from the four-sided Ambilight, which is an additional strip of LED lights around the screen.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Our verdict
8.4
Overall rating
Philips OLED950 is undoubtedly a technological showcase that redefines what we can expect from a home entertainment center in many aspects. The use of groundbreaking Tandem OLED technology means that when it comes to picture quality, we are reaching absolute heights here. The combination of infinite black and perfect contrast with brightness that can exceed the magical barrier of 2000 nits in HDR mode produces effects that, at times, take your breath away. Whether we are watching movies in a sunlit living room or playing games at night with the support of a 4-sided Ambilight system, the experience is simply phenomenal. This is a complete screen that will satisfy both the cinephile seeking fidelity in Dolby Vision and the gamer demanding 144 Hz and perfect motion response.
However, this admiration for the raw performance of the panel is mixed with some disappointment when we look at the manufacturer's promises regarding image processing. Philips strongly promoted the use of a "dual" P5 processor, suggesting that it would be a remedy for all the woes of digital signal processing. However, the reality turned out to be less revolutionary. In our tests, the difference compared to models equipped with the standard, single P5 chip was almost imperceptible in everyday use. Issues with the smoothness of tonal transitions and posterization in difficult scenes, although rare, still occur. Given the astronomical price of this model, we expected a much greater qualitative leap in this aspect that would justify such a high positioning of the equipment. The issue of cost-effectiveness becomes the biggest problem for this otherwise outstanding television. When we look at the market with a cool head, the situation of the 950 model becomes complicated. It's not just about the strong competition from cheaper flagship models like the LG G5 or Samsung S95F, but about the "fratricidal" fight within Philips' own offerings. It turns out that the lower-positioned OLED910 model offers us practically the same brilliant image generated by an identical panel. Moreover, the 910 model wins at the starting gate in terms of audio, offering an integrated soundbar from Bowers & Wilkins, which is simply absent in the more expensive 950 model in favor of a different design. Thus, we encounter a paradox: we get the same picture and worse sound, yet we have to pay significantly more. Therefore, although the OLED950 is a fantastic screen, in 2025 the title of "Best Philips TV" and our recommendation goes to the model OLED910.
Advantages
Amazing peak brightness, exceeding 2000 nits on test panels (Tandem OLED matrix)
Perfect blacks and infinite contrast
Support for all HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Excellent support for gamers: 4K@120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and 144 Hz mode
Very low input lag
Impressive 4-sided Ambilight system
Google TV system offering access to a vast library of applications
Backlit remote control, rechargeable via USB-C port
Disadvantages
Only two HDMI ports in standard 2.1
Remote control communicating via infrared (requires aiming at the receiver)
Very high price compared to market competition
Sound quality noticeably weaker than in the lower model OLED910
Slight issues with posterization
Movies and series in UHD quality8.8
Classic TV, YouTube8.8
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.5
TV as a computer monitor6.5
Watching in bright light7.3
Utility functions6.5
Apps9.6
Sound quality8.2
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PHILIPS OLED950 - Competing TVs in this price range
PHILIPS OLED950 - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Legs
Bezel color: Graphite
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
In terms of design, the Philips OLED950 looks very good. From the front, the attention is drawn to the thin black bezels that make the screen almost "float" in the air. From the side, the television looks like most OLED constructions, with a characteristic very thin panel that slightly protrudes at the top of the casing. In the package, we receive elegant, metal, and slim legs. They add charm to the whole and blend well with modern interiors, and those planning to mount it on the wall do not lose any of the device's aesthetics. However, the most distinctive element is the back of the casing. In addition to the Ambilight system, which we will discuss shortly, we find low-frequency speakers responsible for a noticeably deeper sound. It is they who make the television capable of playing fuller sound with better pronounced bass, despite the absence of an external soundbar, which we can find in a TV like the OLED910. And then there’s the four-sided Ambilight. This solution is rarely seen in Philips televisions, where we most often deal with a three-sided version. Here, the manufacturer decided to add a lower light bar, which dynamically reflects what is happening on the screen. The effect is hard to ignore. For many people, Ambilight becomes a feature to which they quickly get used and then find it difficult to give up when returning to a television devoid of this solution.
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PHILIPS OLED950 - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
There's no need to elaborate here. Like in every OLED TV, the black level and contrast in the Philips OLED950 are simply perfect. No matter the movie scene being watched, nighttime shots, or materials in 2.39:1 aspect ratio with black bars, you can count on perfect black without bleeding or washout. This is one of the biggest advantages of OLED technology over LCD and Mini-LED TVs. There are no algorithms for local dimming at play here, nor are there any compromises. Black always remains black. The only thing we noticed in our tests is the helicopter scene from the movie Sicario 2. The OLED950 quite clearly highlights details in the shadows. However, this is a characteristic of our test sample, more related to the nature of image reproduction than to the black level itself. In this regard, everything here is top-notch.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
PHILIPS OLED950 - HDR effect quality
8.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.7%, Bt.2020: 82.4%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1910 nit
Result
2084 nit
Result
2194 nit
Result
2179 nit
Result
1370 nit
OLED950 is a phenomenal TV for consuming HDR content, which is primarily due to the use of innovative Tandem OLED technology. With this technology, the screen is capable of generating astronomical brightness values, reaching over 2000 nits in movie scenes (on test screens). This is an outstanding result, placing the OLED950 model among the very top displays available on the market. However, it should be noted that there is a specific characteristic of this solution – at moments when full-screen bursts of light appear on the screen, the brightness can drop by as much as half. Nevertheless, it is worth emphasizing that values above 1000 nits on a full screen are still an outstanding result. This allows for HDR images to be displayed exactly as filmmakers would wish, maintaining the dynamics and impact of light scenes.
The use of Tandem OLED technology has also brought measurable benefits in terms of color reproduction, improving elements where traditional WOLED panels have had difficulties compared to QD-OLED competitors. In the case of the OLED950, the color gamut coverage is broader than in classic WOLED panels, reaching nearly 100% of the DCI-P3 space and a solid 82% of the demanding BT.2020 palette. Although these results still do not match the high achievements of QD-OLED panels, the difference diminishes during real-world usage. We cannot deny that in the vast majority of films, colors look simply fantastic on this model – they are saturated, vibrant, and full of depth.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
As one could expect from a screen with such an impressive color gamut and incredible brightness, the detail reproduction in HDR is at a remarkable level here. We can count on the display to capture every nuance with the highest precision. It's worth noting an important technical aspect: televisions with such a powerful brightness reserve essentially do not need to rely on aggressive or complicated tone mapping systems. In practice, the OLED950 is capable of showing the image in its native form in almost every scene, without the need to artificially adapt to hardware limitations. The screen is simply bright enough to meet the demands of the source material, which makes the image look fantastic on it.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Luminance of RGB colors
With such a bright television, the topic of Dolby Vision essentially takes a back seat. The OLED950 does not need dynamic metadata to display a bright, clear, and impressive image. Even in HDR10, most content looks exactly as it should, without struggling for details or balance in brightness. Differences can mainly be detected on very specific test patterns heavily saturated with white. In such extreme conditions, Dolby Vision can show a bit more detail. However, these are situations that are not encountered in normal home movie watching, but rather in test materials. In everyday use, the OLED950 is bright enough that HDR10 is completely sufficient, and the advantage of Dolby Vision remains more of a technical curiosity than a real difference during viewing.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
5.5/10
We tested the OLED950 model in Movie mode. Although it is theoretically the best and most faithful preset on this television, in practice, it proved to be not without flaws. Interestingly, in the unit we tested, the biggest challenge wasn't the white balance itself – although it did have a slight tendency to give the image a pinkish tint. The main problem lay in the way the television managed brightness, both in everyday SDR content and in demanding HDR scenes. Analysis of the gamma chart and EOTF curve leads to one key conclusion: the television excessively highlights brightness in the lower registers. This results in the image appearing less contrasty than the panel technology would allow. Details in dark areas that should remain perfectly black (characteristic of "OLED black") are simply unnecessarily highlighted and brightened. Fortunately, these errors can be corrected using the appropriate tools, so – as always – we proceeded with professional calibration.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.4/10
As can be seen, the OLED950 transforms into an absolutely phenomenal display after a professional calibration process, which without a shadow of a doubt can be placed in the same category as the best televisions currently available in the world. This equipment only needed a professional touch to show its full potential and eliminate factory shortcomings. The minimal errors in reproduction in Color Checker tests and the fidelity of the color palette speak for themselves. We are dealing with an almost perfect device here. A true window to the world, offering top-notch image quality.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.1/10
If we had to point out the weaker point of the OLED950 model compared to market competitors like the G5 or S95F, it would be, as with most TVs from this manufacturer, the digital signal processing. Although the processor used here is referred to as a "dual" processor, our tests did not show significant changes compared to the lower-positioned OLED910 model. The differences are in reality symbolic, which was reflected in only a cosmetic increase in the rating in this category. In very demanding, especially dark scenes, one can still occasionally notice issues with slight posterization. However, it should be clearly emphasized that this is a "flaw" that an average viewer very rarely notices during normal usage, and the overall reception remains at a high level.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.1/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Upscaling
In terms of image scaling, the proprietary P5 processor performs just as well as in most models from this manufacturer. Lower resolution content takes on a very soft and plastic character. Such a presentation will certainly appeal to many. However, if you prefer sharper contours, you can gently enhance them with the appropriate slider in the TV menu. In this aspect, it's really hard to pick on anything. The image simply looks very good and additionally there is no problem with the phenomenon of overscan.
Smoothing and Distortion Reduction
The tonal transition smoothing feature fares a bit worse. In the settings, we find an option called “Distortion Reduction.” This allows for three levels of processor intervention adjustment. Unfortunately, the Minimum setting works poorly and the smoothing effects are negligible. The Medium level gives a decent result, but it also starts to smooth out the skin details of actors. On the other hand, the Maximum setting works too aggressively. It removes definitely too many details from the face and background elements or can even take away the film grain. To achieve the optimal effect, it's worth playing around with these settings at home and adjusting them to your preferences. It might seem that the Medium option represents the best compromise here.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
The motion representation in the OLED950 model is virtually perfect. This is typical for screens of this type (OLED 120Hz+), as the matrix shows no blurring at all. Thanks to this, we can enjoy flawless sharpness in practically any conditions. A big part of this is not only due to the specifics of organic technology. Equally important work is done by the smoothing systems implemented by the manufacturer.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (4K@144Hz):
In the “Motion” menu, we find two main sliders that allow you to adjust the picture to your own needs. The “Smoothness” option regulates materials with a low frame rate, such as movies and series (up to 30 frames per second). We recommend setting this slider to a value in the range of 3 to 5. Meanwhile, “Motion Blur Reduction” is responsible for improving fluidity in sports broadcasts at a 60 Hz frame rate. In this case, we recommend setting the value to maximum. This will eliminate any unwanted effects that often result from poor signal quality from the broadcaster.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
OLED950 is almost the perfect TV for gamers. This is not only due to the unique atmosphere that the Ambilight system creates during gameplay. The most important aspect here is the solid hardware support. We find literally everything that one should expect from a modern gaming screen today. The manufacturer has implemented two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. This gives us access to gaming in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. Of course, support for VRR technology and the ALLM automatic game mode is also included. The device handles any HDR signal effortlessly, whether we are using Dolby Vision or the HGiG standard.
Access to all settings is available from one place thanks to the special Game Bar overlay. Although this interface may not be the most graphically attractive on the market, it fully serves its purpose. It displays all the most important signal parameters and offers useful additions. Gamers can take advantage of the mini-map zoom function or add a permanent crosshair on the screen, which can be seen as a small aid in online competition. Adjusting the contrast range also proves useful. It allows for brightening shadows and achieving better visibility of enemies hidden in the dark corners of the map.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Input lag
10/10
According to what we have come to expect from televisions in this segment, the signal delay in this model is practically negligible. Our measurements indicated nearly reference values: just 5 ms at a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 12 ms for a 60 Hz signal. This means an instantaneous response to every command issued via a controller, mouse, or keyboard. With such low results, the only limitation during dynamic online gameplay is now just your own reflexes and lack of "skill," not the hardware. 😉
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 12 ms | 2160p60: 12 ms | 2160p60 DV: 12 ms |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | 2160p120 DV: 5 ms |
| 2160p60: 12 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
PHILIPS OLED950 - Compatibility with PC
6.5/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): No
Font clarity: Average
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BWRG
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
In this category, the situation looks quite specific. If we look at the OLED950 through the lens of a gamer, we get a phenomenal display. It works excellently not only with consoles but also in combination with a powerful computer. We have access to an additional 144 Hz mode, full support for G-Sync and FreeSync technologies, as well as very low signal latency. One could therefore risk stating that for PC gamers, this is an almost ideal monitor.
However, problems arise when we examine the readability of the fonts. We're not just talking about the unusual subpixel arrangement of the WOLED panels (BWRG), which in all televisions of this type causes a specific coloration of text edges. The tested model struggles with correctly displaying Chroma 4:4:4 sampling. This is mainly visible when we display colored text on another colorful background. The letters then gain strange shading, unnatural contours, and unwanted artifacts. It's a bit of a shame, although one must honestly admit that this is a very specific flaw. For 99% of you, no one is likely to notice this during normal entertainment. However, if you belong to that 1% of people planning to purchase the OLED950 strictly as a monitor for office work, you may feel disappointed.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Viewing angles
7.6/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 29%
As befits organic technology, the viewing angles here are practically very good. We can enjoy a great picture regardless of where we sit on the sofa while looking at the screen. The only reservation comes when directly comparing the used Tandem OLED matrix with the competition's solutions. Compared to last year's LG panels equipped with the MLA filter or the best QD-OLED screens from Samsung, the angles in the OLED950 are slightly weaker. They are not as perfect as those of the mentioned rivals. Nevertheless, they still generally maintain a very high level, and in everyday use, it's hard to consider this a drawback.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Daytime performance
7.3/10
Panel finish: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The OLED950 model works perfectly well in really bright rooms without concerns. The key advantage here is the previously mentioned very high brightness of the panel. In terms of OLED technology, the performance is impressive. It can confidently be stated that in this regard, this television is capable of competing with mid-range Mini-LED models. In the world of organic panels, this is not at all obvious, which is a significant plus for the tested device.
However, there is one drawback that can be described as its Achilles' heel. Similar to most Tandem OLED panels, the manufacturer has used a glossy screen coating here. Unfortunately, it does not handle direct light reflections very well. It's worth keeping this in mind when planning the TV’s placement relative to windows, as reflections may be visible.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
Philips OLED950: 615 cd/m2
PHILIPS OLED950 - TV features
6.5/10
System: Google TV
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): No - Recording programming: No
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): Infrared
- Backlit remote control: Yes
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: No
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): No
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Smart Features
The biggest advantage of the OLED950 is the Google TV system — the manufacturer is increasingly moving away from it in cheaper models in favor of TitanOS, but here we fortunately still have a fully functional environment based on Android. This means access to a vast library of applications, a voice assistant, and convenient features like Chromecast. For unknown reasons, our editorial team was once again unable to launch Windows Miracast, despite the manufacturer declaring that this option is available. On the positive side: Apple device users can rest easy, as the television supports AirPlay.
Classic Features
In terms of "classics," the television offers a rather basic set: teletext and Bluetooth connectivity. The most criticisms are directed at the remote control. On one hand, it is sensibly designed, has backlighting, "hybrid" switching between the control of typical functions and a numeric keypad, and charges via USB-C. On the other hand, enthusiasm quickly fades when it turns out you need to point it at the screen, as it operates on infrared.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
- Stereo (Mini-Jack): Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
- DTS Play-Fi: Yes
Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: Yes
- DTS-HD Master Audio: Yes
Senior accessibility
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: Yes
- Audio description: Yes
PHILIPS OLED950 - Apps
9.6/10
PHILIPS OLED950 - Playing files from USB
9.5/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The built-in file player in the OLED950 model works wonderfully. During our tests, the device handled practically every format we provided. Whether they were video files, audio tracks, or photos, the TV played them without any issues. It’s hard to find any weak points in handling the most popular standards. However, if someone still finds something lacking (which seems unlikely), the operating system comes to the rescue. With the presence of Google TV, we are not limited to just the default solutions. At any moment, one can enter the app store and install an external player, such as the popular VLC or Kodi. This ensures that the TV can handle literally any file from our home library.
PHILIPS OLED950 - Sound
8.2/10
85dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The 2.1 speaker system used here, with a total power of 70 W, provides a solid dose of quality sound. It plays clearly, and thanks to the additional subwoofer at the back of the case, the sound is deep and has a distinct punch. This element is often missing in cheaper models, where the bass is practically nonexistent. However, we must face the truth when comparing it to the OLED910 model. That TV, equipped with a built-in Bowers & Wilkins soundbar, simply sounds much better. Was it a good decision? In our opinion, the outstanding audio from the 910 model adds greater value. Choosing the 950 model makes sense mainly if you're big fans of Ambilight, and the sound issue is taken care of by your external home theater or soundbar.
Sound Quality Test:
Acoustic Measurements
No acoustic data
PHILIPS OLED950 - Panel details
Image processor: MT5896
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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