Seriously vibrant imagery makes this fantastic Ambilight screen a superb option for non-purists
When it comes to picture processing, there’s a fine line between art and science, even in the best TVs: over-cranked enhancement may be a turn-on for techies, but, for the rest of us, the end result is often difficult to watch. Philips has found the sweet spot with its latest P5 image processor, which makes standard dynamic range HD look almost as good as 4K HDR.
Style and substance
Available in 55- and 65-inch sets (we tested the latter), the 803 is a typically stylish Philips creation. It’s minimalist but upmarket, with a virtually edge-to-edge glass front. Connections include four 4K-capable HDMI inputs with HDCP 2.2 support, which should be enough for your average living-room setup.
The TV comes with two remotes. One is a crazy-thin Bluetooth wand featuring (probably) the world’s smallest touch pad. The other is a more conventional remote, albeit one with a keypad on the reverse.
Whatever you watch (be it sports, movies or The One Show), images are smoother than a hipster’s latte. There’s also been an upgrade to the TV’s digital noise reduction, in order to reduce smearing caused when detail is misinterpreted. Images look remarkably clean at all times.
Explore the All Settings menu and you will discover a host of image processing adjustments. Your first port of call should be the advanced menu, where you’ll find the set’s Perfect Natural Reality mode. This is exclusive to Philips’ newest TVs, and it’s a doozy to use.
This story is from the November 2018 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2018 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CASE STUDY - Sennheiser Accentum Plus
The Accentum Plus rounds out Sennheiser's over-ear offering nicely by filling a gap in the audio-maker's line-up
FALSE HEIGHT - Samsung HW-Q600C
This bar-and-sub combo delivers big and bassy sound, but it's not the best when delivering height for Dolby Atmos
A BIG DELL - Dell XPS 16
Dell's latest 16-inch XPS is a sensational Windows laptop - if you're willing to sacrifice some portability for that extra size
NOTHING COMPARES - Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing's mid-range handset, the Phone (2a), is here to bring Android fans a dose of affordable cheer
M3 CHEERS - MacBook Air M3 13-inch
With its added M3 power, the latest 13-inch MacBook Air is an ideal portable laptop
Smart rings
Smaller and subtler than smartwatches, these nifty innovations can offer fulsome health advice - here we slip on three leading models
FIVE THINGS THAT MADE MY BUSINESS SOAR
Bobby Thandi shares his tips for building a thriving tech business
THE FUTURE OF MOBILE TECH
The highlights of Mobile World Congress, the year's biggest mobile tech show
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TECH
From in-flight entertainment to sailboat speakers, these are the best travel gadgets for planes, trains, automobiles and more
THE NEW FRONTIER OF EARBUDS
Think wireless earbuds are all the same? Think again. Spatial sound, lossless audio and multiple connections can all be part of the deal now - sometimes you don't even have to put them in your ears to listen...