Philips 55OLED+903 Evaluation

The brightest photos within the OLED world mix with a few of the finest sound within the OLED world. All for a really approachable worth.

Execs

• Stunningly vivid, vibrant photos for an OLED TV
• Exceptionally sharp 4K and upscaled HD photos
• Excellent sound high quality

Cons

• Occasional image noise in richly colored areas
• The soundbar basically prices £500
• Occasional pores and skin tone points

Key Specs

• Evaluation Value: £2499
• 4K OLED TV
• HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ HDR assist
• Ambilight expertise
• Philips P5 image processing engine
• Multimedia playback through USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

What’s the Philips 55OLED+903?

The £2499 Philips 55OLED+903 is the model’s new flagship 55-inch TV. It earns that standing for 3 predominant causes. First, it makes use of an OLED display somewhat than an LCD one. Second, it makes use of essentially the most highly effective video processing engine Philips has ever developed. Lastly, it carries a built-in soundbar that’s been designed together with acclaimed British audio model, Bowers & Wilkins.

As you’d hope, this mix of high-end options outcomes is one severely good TV.

Associated: Philips TVs 2018 – Each new OLED, LCD, 4K and HD mannequin defined

Philips 55OLED+903 – Design and construct high quality

You’ll be able to’t accuse the 55OLED+903 of being shy. In any case, Philips’ Ambilight expertise, means colored mild explodes forth unapologetically from its left, proper and prime edges.

This mild might be set to a single tone, or to trace the content material of the images on-screen. For those who select the latter, you’ll be greater than thrilled by the way in which LEDs on the TV’s rear match the tone and placement of various colors within the image.

Ambilight all the time sounds a bit gimmicky when described. Within the flesh, nonetheless, it’s as immersive as it’s efficient.

The 55OLED+903’s chassis may be very simple on the attention, too. As typical with OLED expertise, the depth on the unit’s edges is extremely skinny – extra like a bank card than a cutting-edge tv. Using loads of metallic in its development ensures that the TV nonetheless feels sturdy and inflexible, although.

For those who’re not wall-hanging the 55OLED+903, it’ll sit on two remarkably small toes; simply squared-off shiny metallic bars which are round a centimetre in diameter. For the reason that toes face straight out, they’re just about invisible from a head-on viewing place.

Wrapping up the 55OLED+903’s opulent design is a full-width, felt-covered soundbar that’s hooked up to its backside edge. It seems to be fairly unassuming – however seems to be might be misleading. As I’ll clarify later, tucked contained in the TV’s compact kind is an actual beast of a sound system.

Associated: OLED vs LED LCD – What’s the very best show expertise?

Philips hasn’t saved all its design efforts for the 55OLED+903’s display. The set additionally ships with a novel “metallic wand” distant that bears only some buttons on its higher edge. This feels lovely to carry and is definitely fairly efficient for day-to-day use. Particularly because it incorporates a mic for Google Assistant voice management/recognition.

Additionally transport with the 55OLED+903 is a second distant management. That is of a extra commonplace form and carries buttons galore – together with a full QWERTY keyboard on its rear. That is the distant to make use of throughout setup.

Philips 55OLED+903 – Options

The 55OLED+903 works significantly onerous to separate itself from the fast-growing OLED TV horde. Its Ambilight-driven design will get the ball rolling, however that actually is simply the beginning of the set’s distinctive points of interest.

The soundbar alongside the underside edge, for example, is something however an everyday TV speaker. Designed in partnership with UK speaker model Bowers & Wilkins, it deploys quite a few high-quality supplies – together with titanium dome tweeters, glass-fibre cone mid drivers, and a twin passive radiator woofer – to wring each final drop of sound high quality from its 50W, 2.1-channel output configuration.

Philips’ improved P5 image processor, in the meantime, extends its tendrils into each a part of the 55OLED+903’s picture high quality. As with the primary P5 system, the brand new model matches each processing aspect onto a single chip somewhat than splitting them throughout two. This makes the system extra environment friendly, and permits it to use its dozens of processes in the simplest order.

A couple of new components have been launched to P5 for Philips’ OLED+903 and OLED803 units. Sharpness and element screens now work repeatedly to optimise the TV’s element enhancement instruments. A Sparkle and Darkle system, in the meantime, is designed to reinforce the depth of the brightest components of HDR photos. Philips has additionally launched a brand new course of for bettering color tone mapping with HDR, in addition to a variety of different refined distinction enhancement options.

Lastly, the brand new P5 system introduces a brand new Excellent Pure Actuality system for improved commonplace dynamic vary to excessive dynamic vary conversion. This received’t trouble purists preferring to look at SDR on the mild and color ranges for which it was designed. Nonetheless, many TV homeowners discover it onerous to stay with native SDR as soon as they’ve skilled HDR.

Associated: What’s HDR? Excessive dynamic vary TVs and telephones defined

The 55OLED+903’s good options are constructed on the Android TV platform. Sometimes, this isn’t one thing I’d be ecstatic about. Android TV’s full-screen, clunkily organised menus, want for normal giant updates, and hit or miss app assist are all the time aggravating. Nonetheless, the 55OLED+903 does run Android extra slickly and stably than most Sony Android TVs.

The 55OLED+903 is seemingly set to obtain Android Oreo assist through firmware replace in some unspecified time in the future. Accessible already on Sony’s new Grasp Sequence TVs, Oreo delivers a much less bloated OS and a more practical structure.

With regards to HDR assist, the 55OLED+903 is appropriate with the usual HDR10 format, the HLG system for broadcasting, and the brand new HDR10+ system. This latter HDR method makes use of further scene-by-scene image information, in order that TVs have extra info to go on when rendering their photos. However there’s no assist for the same however extra extensively accessible (in sources) Dolby Imaginative and prescient system.

The Philips 55OLED+903 carries a powerful suite of connections, together with 4 HDMIs, three USBs and the now important (on flagship TVs, anyway) Bluetooth and Wi-Fi choices.

Associated: What’s HDR10+?

Philips 55OLED+903 – Setup

As is common with Philips TVs, I have to spend a bit extra time on this part than I usually would. It is because Philips enables you to management virtually all components of its subtle processing system.

This will likely alarm technophobes, I suppose. Personally, although, I believe it’s smart to let customers form their TV’s photos to their very own tastes.

Some features of the 55OLED+903’s settings run counter to what we’d usually count on. As an illustration, I’d say you need to strongly think about using its Vivid image preset.

With previous Philips TVs this could have been a nasty thought (as it will with comparable modes on different TVs, really). In any case, it deploys the P5 processor at just about full pressure – and operating previous Philips TVs with a lot processing in play would have left the image wanting overly processed and synthetic.

Nonetheless, the P5 engine’s new noise discount and movement enhancement processes drastically cut back the distracting negative effects I’d usually count on to see in a Philips Vivid mode.

Much more surprisingly, the Vivid mode additionally delivers essentially the most all-round efficient color palette. Pores and skin tones, specifically, look their finest in Vivid, which is just about the polar reverse of what we’d count on.

You’ll be able to flip off a lot of the 55OLED+903’s processing just by switching to the Film preset. For me, although, this makes the picture look a lot duller that utilizing it sort of nullifies shopping for such a robust TV within the first place. That is very true now that Philips has lastly discovered methods to ship all the great components of video processing with far fewer unfavourable negative effects.

For those who actually do discover the Vivid mode a contact too sturdy on your tastes, I’d advocate the Normal setting over the Film one – even once you’re watching a film. Vivid and Film presets may need been name – however, unusually, the Normal mode that may have fitted this invoice disappears once you’re watching native HDR film content material over HDMI.

Whereas exploring the 55OLED+903’s menus, be sure that noise discount settings aren’t operating on most. And perhaps think about turning them off altogether with good high quality 4K sources.

The “Film” movement setting of the movement processor is your finest guess when watching something that’s enjoying at 24fps. This reduces horizontal judder with out leaving the picture wanting like a house video. It’s additionally winningly freed from undesirable processing negative effects.

Flip off all Eco-related options for those who don’t need the image to finish up wanting too darkish for a lot of the time, and ensure the TV’s Distinction mode is about to Finest For Image.

Players, in the meantime, ought to flip to the Sport image preset to scale back the TV’s enter lag to round 38ms. This isn’t as little as the figures you get from some rivals, but it surely isn’t dangerous.

Philips 55OLED+903 – Efficiency

No different 55-inch OLED TV can at the moment ship the identical diploma of HDR ‘wow’ because the Philips 55OLED+903.

For starters, that “Sparkle and Darkle” characteristic proves way more severe than it sounds. The best way it manages to make the brightest highlights of HDR photos look extra intense and vivid than they do on any rival OLED TV is spectacular. Even when in comparison with the second-most dynamic OLEDs on the town, LG’s C8 sequence.

Reflections of solar on automobile bodywork and windshields; avenue lights in opposition to an evening sky; the glimmer in an actor’s eye; direct photographs of the solar or moon. All these traditional HDR highlights and extra stand out extra punchily than they ever have earlier than on an OLED TV.

You’ll be able to even measure this to some extent, for the reason that 55OLED+903 notches up temporary measurements of 900 nits or so on 10% white HDR home windows, in contrast with 820-840 nits on LG’s newest premium OLED TVs. It’s price noting that another OLED TVs wrestle to get previous 650 nits in comparable take a look at circumstances.

The Philips 55OLED+903’s peak mild benefit is a very large deal for an OLED TV, provided that the primary concern with OLED expertise usually is that it may possibly’t get vivid sufficient to unlock HDR’s full brightness potential. As an illustration, many 4K Blu-rays are mastered to peak mild ranges of 1000 nits, whereas some push proper as much as 4000 nits.

Making the 55OLED+903’s excellent – actually – peak brightness efficiency all of the extra thrilling is the way in which the TV’s OLED panel permits the brightest picture components to sit down proper alongside stunningly deep, constant black colors with no compromise between the 2 extremes. If any OLED TV even dreamt of having the ability to ship this diploma of localised mild management, it must get up and apologise.

The 55OLED+903’s HDR benefits aren’t restricted to its mild peaks, although. It additionally manages to ship the next baseline brightness degree with HDR content material than some other OLED TV.

This raise to very vivid HDR movies corresponding to Mad Max: Fury Street is extraordinarily welcome. Partly as a result of it delivers extra of that natural-light really feel – one in all HDR’s raisons d’etre – and partly as a result of it reduces the potential for comparatively darkish objects foregrounded in opposition to vivid backdrops to look shadowy and missing intimately.

The additional brightness on show with the 55OLED+903 feeds into its color efficiency, too, unlocking extra of the total color vary you get with HDR sources than some other OLED TV. In Vivid mode, no less than, the 55OLED+903’s color palette is genuinely dazzling. Crucially, for more often than not this vibrancy nonetheless feels balanced and genuine.

It’s the identical cope with the Philips 55OLED+903’s sharpness. The P5 processing is so achieved at optimising the impression of the display’s 4K decision that it may possibly really make good 4K sources look even greater decision than that. But once more, it does this with out the ensuing image wanting pressured or unnatural.

As an illustration, there’s no ghosting across the edges of sharply contrasted objects. There’s no extreme grain, or exaggeration of different supply noise, corresponding to compression artefacts. The image simply seems to be sharper and extra detailed when put next aspect by aspect with an LG OLED C8.

The Excellent Pure Actuality system retains the great instances rolling by doing a reasonably spectacular job of turning humble SDR photos into HDR. What’s significantly intelligent is the way in which it applies its color and brightness expansions intelligently. In different phrases, somewhat than simply ramping up the entire image’s dynamics uniformly, completely different components of the image are handled individually. The result’s a extra authentic-looking HDR expertise.

Inevitably, the outcomes aren’t nearly as good as these the TV can produce with a local HDR supply. However they’re a lot adequate to permit HDR followers to probably dispense with having to ever watch native SDR once more.

Nonetheless, for those who’d somewhat persist with a extra native SDR expertise then worry not. The Philips 55OLED+903 can also be a pleasure to look at when operating in a much less vivid, extra SDR mode. Its distinction remains to be exemplary, and its color finesse brings out each refined tone of which SDR is succesful. As typical with an OLED display, these color and distinction abilities stay intact when watching from just about any angle.

I suppose some would possibly discover the 55OLED+903’s photos a bit too aggressive for his or her tastes. For me, although, they’re simply pushing for a extra thrilling and correct HDR expertise –and I’m effectively and really onboard with that.

This leaves a quartet of comparatively small image complaints. First, there’s the trouble you’ll ideally put in to its settings to all the time get the very best image outcomes. Second, refined color noise in some photos might be barely exaggerated now and again, particularly within the typically most watchable Vivid mode. Third, pores and skin tones often look a bit “off” – shifting barely an excessive amount of in direction of brown or orange. Nonetheless, a current firmware replace appears to have improved this concern significantly.

Lastly, whereas Philips’ movement processing is mostly sturdy, it may possibly trigger a unusually staccato impact with very stylised movement. For instance, throughout a few of the most frenetic sections of Mad Max: Fury Street.

The 55OLED+903’s strikingly impactful photos are partnered with impressively potent audio, courtesy of Bowers & Wilkins’ work on the TV’s built-in sound bar.

The sound this produces is much extra direct, highly effective and dynamic than something you’d count on to listen to from such a fantastically designed TV. For starters, treble element is exceptional, bringing out just about each tiny subtlety of the mid and higher vary of movie combine. However there’s some actual bass right here, too – particularly for those who can place the TV fairly near a wall, to get the utmost impression from its rear-mounted bass unit.

Dialogue sounds convincing and authentically positioned within the speaker’s environment, and by no means turns into swamped by something occurring round it.

So good is the 55OLED+903’s audio, the truth is, that it may possibly even be considered fairly respectable hi-fi music system. It isn’t usually we get to say that a couple of TV’s built-in sound.

Associated: Finest soundbar

Why purchase the Philips 55OLED+903?

For those who’re attracted by OLED’s distinctive distinction, but additionally like the thought of LCD’s HDR-friendly brightness, the 55OLED+903 is arguably the right compromise.

Regardless of seemingly utilizing the identical LG panel as different OLED TVs this yr, it in some way manages to provide photos which are comfortably extra vivid and intense than these of any rival. It additionally delivers distinctive 4K sharpness for an OLED display.

Furthermore, it does all of this with out photos wanting unnaturally exaggerated or untidy.

The 55OLED+903 must also be in your checklist if you need a set providing good-sound high quality. The truth is, it sounds good that you could  cross off including a soundbar to your AV buy checklist.

Nonetheless, the speaker system does probably characterize a motive to not purchase a 55OLED+903. If you have already got a soundbar or different exterior sound system, otherwise you’re contemplating getting a high-end one, you would possibly as effectively get the Philips 55OLED+803 as an alternative. This set does away with the B&W soundbar design, however ought to supply the identical image high quality for £500 much less.

A evaluate of the 55OLED+803 will likely be coming quickly.

Verdict

The Philips 55OLED+903 is a really excellent and revolutionary TV. The truth that Philips has in some way managed to get even larger brightness out of its present OLED expertise is a sight to behold, whereas its hi-fi-inspired soundbar will likely be music to your ears.

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We take a look at each TV we evaluate completely over an prolonged time frame. We use trade commonplace checks to match options correctly. We’ll all the time inform you what we discover. We by no means, ever, settle for cash to evaluate a product.

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Used as the primary TV for the evaluate interval

Examined for greater than every week

Examined utilizing trade calibrated instruments, discs and with actual world use

Examined with broadcast content material (HD/SD), video streams and demo discs

Trusted Rating

Rating intimately

• Options 9

• Worth 8

• Sensible TV 7

• Picture High quality 9

• Design 10

• Sound High quality 9

Options

Connectivity

Bodily Specs