Philips 43 Uhd Smart Tv

TechRadar Verdict

When it comes to bang for buck, this Philips is right on target. We honey the provision of Ambilight, while 4K images are sharper than a box of tacks. But take claims of HDR support with a compression of salt. This UHD cheapie doesn't accept what information technology takes to actually dazzle.

Pros

+
4K resolution with HDR
+
Two-sided Ambilight
+
Great Grab-up Television
+
Deal price tag

Cons

-
Low brightness HDR
-
Predictably puny audio
-
Pocket-size screen size
-
Cheap build

The budget 4K TV aisles are getting crowded. Equally buyers gravitate to smaller screens, prices are plunging, even as feature specifications get more generous.

Philips is a prime agitator. Its latest pocket-modify half-dozen series screen doesn't skimp on features. In improver to UHD resolution and HDR back up, it offers Ambilight, the LED mood lighting organization which can now integrate with a larger Hue lighting scheme. And if that doesn't whet your eyeballs, then nothing will.

The 43-inch 43PUS6262 reviewed hither is the smallest in Philips 6000 series line-upwardly. It'south joined past the step-upward 50-inch 50PUS6262, 55-inch 55PUS6262 and expansive 65-inch 65PUS6262. You'll be hard pressed to find cheaper screens as well equipped. So what's the catch?

The bezel and stand look good, but closer inspection reveals a plastic construction. — The bezel and stand up await good, but closer inspection reveals a plastic structure.

Pattern

TV Specs

Screen sizes available: 43-inch, l-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch
Tuner: Freeview Play, generic satellite HD
4K: Yes
HDR: Yes
Panel engineering science: LED LCD
Smart Tv set: Yes, Philips Smart
Curved: No
Dimensions: 971.three ten 575.2 x 77.iii mm
3D: No
Inputs: 3 x HDMI, two x USB, component AV

Cosmetically, this 6 Series TV looks substantial plenty. Closer inspection though reveals that bezel and stand are lightweight gray plastic. Connectivity is proficient. All three HDMI inputs are 4K HDCP ii.ii compatible, a requirement for 4K UHD sources. In that location'south also a component AV input, two USB ports, plus an optical digital audio output. Ethernet and Wi-Fi are standard.

The Tv offers a choice of satellite and terrestrial tuners, the latter Freeview Play. For those who haven't been paying attention, this is the latest iteration of the ubiquitous non-contract Tv platform, able to seamlessly mix over-the-air channels with internet delivered grab-up.

A quad core processor keeps navigation snappy. The menus are standard Philips fare, and as such are reasonably intuitive. A convenient Home push button pulls upward a vertical list for channels, Freeview Play guide, sources and settings.

Design TL;DR: The sparse bezel and lightweight stand look smart plenty, only build quality is plasticky

A decent amount of streaming services are included.

Smart TV - Philips

Philips doesn't offer Android on this screen (information technology's available further upwardly the range), but its bones continued proposition is solid nonetheless. Freeview Play puts all the UK's main Catch Up Tv set services (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Demand 5) within like shooting fish in a barrel attain, via a 7-day TV guide, too as UKTV Play and BBC News and Sport apps.

A generic smart hub then offers Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Video and Vimeo, amid others. Netflix streams in 4K HDR, while Amazon is 4K. At that place'south also support for YouTube 4K streams.

Smart TV TL;DR: Not the virtually advanced Smart TV platform you'll discover, but information technology does the job

All three HDMI inputs are 4K HDCP 2.2 compatible, a requirement for 4K UHD sources. — All three HDMI inputs are 4K HDCP 2.ii uniform, a requirement for 4K UHD sources.

Hard disk/SDR Performance

Total Hard disk drive imagery looks well-baked and thank you to the pixel density of the 4K console has a photographic sheen which delights. This ready looks sharp with Freeview Hd and looks splendid with regular Blu-ray.

In keeping with its sub-£500 price indicate, panel brightness is limited. Which presents u.s.a. with an early caveat. A upshot of running HDR10 content into such a screen is that the set actually pulls down the average picture level, presumably as information technology attempts to tone map. This tin can brand some HDR content look surprisingly dark. Consequently, this set up actually looks consistently better with SDR content.

HD/SDR Functioning TL;DR: Total Hd and SDR wait neat here, with UHD pixel density adding a photographic smoothness to 1080p sources

4K/HDR Performance

All things considered, UHD image clarity is extremely practiced. The set zings with 4K from Sky Q. Nevertheless, every bit we've hinted, its HDR performance is more of a talking bespeak. Nosotros measured acme HDR luminance, with a 5 per cent window, at merely over 350 cd/m2 (aka nits), which is no different from an SDR LED LCD screen at a comparable price. With Star Trek Discovery (Netflix), the HDR lens flare and otherworldly highlights don't get beamed onboard. If you want bright spectral highlights, you won't find them here.

There are also predictable issues with black level. It'south non profound, and y'all'll find a lot of near black shadow detail has been crushed from sight. Simply these issues shouldn't surprise when you're buying on a tight budget.

Colours are lush. When Okja (Netflix, 4K HDR) frolics in a pool, information technology'due south invitingly blue, the surround forest is a rampant green.

You have a decent amount of control over the picture quality once you jump into the set's menus. — You have a decent amount of control over the pic quality once y'all jump into the set up's menus.

There'southward no shortage of viewing options. Modes include Personal, Vivid, Natural, Standard, Movie and Game; these become HDR Personal, HDR Vivid, HDR Natural, HDR Movie and HDR Game when triggered. In that location are deeper adjustments to be had, including dissimilarity, sharpness, brightness and motion.

Motion handling is a scrap arbitrary. Somewhat surprisingly, we encountered more overt artefacts using Standard and Smooth paradigm processing from the Motion Manner carte, than the Sports option. When watching films, the 'Off' or 'Movies' settings are the nigh cinematic. Select the Personal Motion Style and yous unlock the Natural Motility sub carte, just with Natural Move on Medium yous'll still see minor artefacts.

The screen itself is a tad reflective, so take intendance with placement. This tin work against contrast and clarity in a brightly light room.

4K/HDR Performance TL;DR: Sit close to appreciate the extra clarity offered past UHD, but don't await miracles when it comes to HDR delivery

Audio

The TV'southward audio functioning is acceptable. At that place's a variety of sound modes (Personal, Original, Movie, Music, Game and News), merely you lot'll not get too much variation with these. Ultimately, your ears volition benefit most from the improver of an external audio system, be information technology soundbar, two channel stereo system or soundbase.

Sound Quality TL;DR: As befits a bargain TV, the screen makes a functional racket. Just it'south worth budgeting for a footstep-up TV sound solution

Other panels to ponder

The forty-something 4K screen market is hotting upward, then you'll observe a number of sets competing aslope this Philips.

Hisense touts the 43-inch N5500 range at a similar price bespeak. They're besides HDR compatible and boast an integrated dbx-idiot box sound organisation for better audio. They're in line for a Freeview Play firmware update too.

Elsewhere, British Goggle box industry Cello has its new 4K Platinum models. These characteristic first-class sound out of the box, courtesy of an integrated soundbar, but you lot'll need to opt for a 50-inch model to get 4K resolution. They lack HDR though.

Finally, Samsung'due south 40-inch MU6400 suffers from similar pinnacle effulgence issues to the Philips, only its VA LCD panel offers some sumptuous colors, and its operating system is fast and responsive.

Verdict

When it comes to value for money, the 43PUS6262 deserves all the gongs. Its connected services are right on indicate, and the dazzler of ii-sided Ambilight will exist a deal clincher for many. The provision of HDR may ultimately exist a curate's egg (given the TV looks its best with SDR content), but at least you'll not feel like a second form UHD citizen when browsing Netflix, and fine item performance is black-tie sharp. Watching this screen, it's easy to forget just how cheap the price tag actually is.

Check out our guide to the all-time 4K TVs for our elevation recommendations.

Home entertainment AV specialist

Steve has been writing most AV and home cinema since the dawn of time, or more accurately, since the celebrity days of VHS and Betamax. He has potent opinions on the latest TV engineering science, Hi-Fi and Blu-ray/media players, and likes nothing meliorate than to crank upward his ludicrously powerful home theatre system to rampage-lookout man TV shows.