Not long ago, Philips launched a new representative of the Philips Ambient Light series – the Philips PML9308 Mini LED line. Nowadays, audiences are becoming more and more demanding in their desire for audiovisual experiences, from the simple requirement of a “big screen” to multi-faceted demands for picture quality, immersion and ease of use.
With this in mind, Philips is supporting this endeavor with both hands. On the one hand, the company creates a large MiniLED backlit screen with excellent images; on the other hand, it uses Ambilight as a new way to enhance immersion, bringing consumers an enhanced audiovisual experience. In the 55PML9308 / 12 4K HDR Mini LED Ambilight TV review, we will look at the functionality of the new product.
Philips PML9308 review
Design
The Ambilight series has always been an outstanding masterpiece of Philips TVs. The first impression of the Philips 55PML9308 TV is its frameless design. The metal frame is sleek and unobtrusive, and the full-screen design allows the viewer to focus on the image and ignore the physical limitations of the case.
The design of the rear of the case is equally simple, with the various ports divided into two areas and located on the side and bottom on the right side of the rear panel. This design maintains the integrity of the back panel, makes it easier to wall mount, and also helps the TV maximize heat dissipation. Unlike the Philips PML9008, there is a complex subwoofer at the back of the described model.
The stand, which is hollow at the front, is designed as a central base. The similar Philips PML9507 TV had legs instead. In any case, there are no problems with stability. And the articulated joint of the stand allows you to rotate the TV around a vertical axis by ±30°. The screen at the bottom is equipped with a sound panel covered with fabric. It is an anthracite gray color, darker than before, which makes it completely forgettable when watching programs in the dark.
The remote control is the same as the rest of Philips LCD TVs in 2023. The layout of the buttons has changed slightly, but they are still small and sometimes awkward to press. Only the dedicated buttons for video services are double in size. Along with the number buttons, there is also a microphone for voice control.
Ambilight
The Philips PML9308 TV body is surrounded on three sides by an Ambilight lighting system. LED ambient light beads on the rear panel allow the TV to provide different ambient lighting depending on the current image. And it, in turn, enhances the immersive effect with its colorful radiance.
Philips ambient light is more than just a “tent”: it can be allowed to follow video, audio or display shades of fixed or national flag colors. In everyday use scenarios, video synchronization is of greatest interest. By the way, the Ambilight settings menu has become simpler: it is a list of modes, and not a menu with submenus, as in previous models.
Unfortunately, this 2023 model no longer has the ability to sync the light signal with other Philips Hue equipment. A paid Hue Sync TV app does exist, but TP Vision has decided not to push this paid service. It’s a shame, because it really allows viewers to be immersed in a completely immersive visual atmosphere. Previous Philips TV models remain compatible.
Image quality
Important parameters for assessing the quality of a television picture are brightness, color gamut, refresh rate, etc., which we often hear about. The Philips MiniLED TV PML9308 series this time offers 1000 nits of brightness, 98% DCI-P3 color gamut, supports HDR10+ and DV, has a 120Hz panel and is equipped with a P5 processor for improved picture quality.
On paper he is already very good. Starting in 2023, Philips MiniLED TVs will be equipped with IPS matrices. Of course, everyone has already heard that VA matrices have a much higher intrinsic contrast, providing images with deep blacks. But the ADS version and IPS panels have improvements in this regard, especially with local dimming enabled, which is adjustable in 80 zones. And coupled with wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction, they are a good replacement.
The official nominal brightness of the sensor is 1000 nits, but measurements show peak brightness up to about 1100 nits. Color gamut represents the ability of a TV panel to display the number of colors. The higher the color gamut, the more natural and smoother the color transitions in the image will be, and you can avoid distortion of shades. In other words, a wide color gamut makes the picture you see closer to the real world.
Test results show that the PML9308 color gamut reaches 97% of the P3 color gamut. Taking into account possible errors in testing equipment, this result is basically in line with the official P3 rated color gamut of 98% and further proves that the model’s color saturation is excellent.
In a picture with a clear contrast between light and dark, the Philips PML9308’s picture contrast is very good and its overall light control ability is near perfect. The depth of field effect in photographs is excellent. In 4K video, the edges of the contours are very clear, and there are no halos around bright objects. At the same time, color transitions are smooth and natural, and shades are accurate.
As the main device in the living room, the TV plays a role that goes far beyond just watching melodramas. In the big screen era, it is becoming the mainstay for action movies and the monitor for competitive gaming. The Philips PML9108 120Hz panel combined with VRR and low latency ALLM technology delivers better effects in games and movies, and has been able to pass the official AMD Free Sync Premium certification.
During fast-paced games, the image is smooth, without obvious lag or screen tearing. And the high refresh rate also improves the viewing experience, creating a shocking effect on the screen. The 7th generation P5 Perfect Picture dual-core image processor is responsible for optimizing motion smoothness, color, clarity and contrast. The IPS panel allows you to see more image detail and experience the different flavors brought by movies and dramas.
Smart TV
Over the years, the requirements for the user interface of the TV operating system have come down to the fact that there is no need to invent anything, everything should be simple and convenient. Due to some difficulties regarding the use of Android OS, the company has developed its own Philips Smart TV system with guaranteed ease of use.
Combined with an acceptable memory capacity of 3+64 GB, it also allows you to freely select and install various TV applications. Once you get acquainted with the tiled interface of the 55PML9308 TV, you will see that it uses the same Google TV techniques. There is a home page, there is an application store tab, as well as settings and account selection buttons. It’s easy to get started, the overall interface is uncluttered, and the workflow doesn’t slow down.
In terms of various system settings, the Philips PML 9308 also provides many options to help you choose the TV mode that suits you. From ambient light adjustments to picture settings, various settings commonly used in everyday life are combined to provide precise control to suit your needs.
Voice control of the PML9308 TV is carried out using Alexa and Google assistants. Through the Google Home application, PML9308 series models can work in a smart home system, controlling various compatible devices. The SymplyShare function allows you to pair your TV with any external device that is part of your home Wi-Fi network.
Sound
The TV has a soundbar at the base and a subwoofer flanked by two passive radiators at the rear. This is a 2.1 channel system with a total RMS power of 64 Watts. In more detail, the soundbar contains 4 speakers of 8.5 W each and a bass speaker of 30 W. The system is compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats.
Overall, the sound produced by the Philips PML 9308 TV is very accurate and the soundstage is relatively wide. The sound is very clear and dialogue is perfectly intelligible even at low volumes. The whole thing can be lacking in bass, especially in scenes with big explosions, but you can add a subwoofer if needed for a richer, more immersive result.
Connections
The connections are identical to the Philips OLED908 series . There are two HDMI 2.1 inputs, one of which is eARC compatible (48 Gbps up to Ultra HD 120 Hz), two HDMI 2.0b inputs, two antenna jacks, a subwoofer output, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output, and three USB ports (including one 3.0) and a headphone jack. Also note the PCMCIA slot for pay channel cards. The TV supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac.
Conclusion
It can be said that the hardware configuration of the Philips PML9308 is a sharp argument for the TV to enter the high-end market. In the actual process, it provides “unique” imaging capabilities. Not only that, but with Ambilight ambient lighting, it gives us an immersive viewing experience unmatched by other TVs. If we had to look for a definition to describe the Philips PML9308, we could call it “the essential audiovisual entertainment center for the home.”
Philips PML9308 Specifications:
| Ambilight | |
| Version | 3-way |
| Options | Muffled light |
| Ambilight Music | |
| Game Mode | |
| Adaptation to wall color | |
| Relaxation mode | |
| Screen | |
| Type | 4K Ultra HD MiniLED |
| Size | 55″ 139 cm |
| Permission | 3840 x 2160 |
| Update frequency | 120 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| CPU | P5 Perfect Picture Gen 7 AI |
| Image enhancement | Ultra resolution v.2 |
| Local Dimming Micro Dimming Premium, 80 zones | |
| Wide color gamut 98% DCI/P3 | |
| Dolby Vision | |
| HDR10+ | |
| CalMAN support | |
| Perfect Natural Motion Feature | |
| Supported Resolution | |
| Signal from PC to all HDMI | Up to 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 @120Hz |
| HDR10+ / HLG supported | |
| Video signal on all HDMI | Up to 4K UHD 3840 x 2160 @120Hz |
| Any HDR supported | |
| Smart TV | |
| operating system | Philips Smart TV |
| Inner memory | 16 GB |
| Installed applications | YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, Ambilight Aurora |
| Interactive TV | HbbTV |
| Duplicating screen | Yes |
| Programming | USB recording |
| Gaming Features | ALLM, HDMI VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium |
| Voice assistants | Compatible with Alexa, Google |
| TV tuner | |
| HEVC support | Yes |
| Digital TV | DVB-T/T2/T2-HD/C/S/S2 |
| MPEG support | MPEG2, MPEG4 |
| Video system | NTSC, PAL, SECAM |
| TV guide | 8-day electronic |
| Signal strength indicator | Yes |
| Teletext | 1000 pp., hypertext |
| Dual tuner | Yes |
| Sound | |
| output power | 64 W |
| System | 2.1 |
| Speakers | Mid-tweeter Bowers & Wilkins 8.5 W x 4; subwoofer 30 W |
| Codecs | AC-4, Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Digital MS12 V2.6.1, DTS:X |
| Connections | |
| HDMI 2.1 | x2 (2nd eARC) |
| HDMI 2.0 | x2 |
| HDCP | Yes, 2.3 |
| USB | x3 (1st 3.0) |
| Wireless connection | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 2 x 2, 2-band | |
| Pay TV slot | Common Interface Plus (CI+) |
| Digital audio output | Optic |
| LAN connector | RJ-45 |
| Service connector | Yes |
| Headphone output | Yes |
| Antenna sockets | Terrestrial and satellite |
| Nutrition | |
| Options | ~ 220 – 240 V 50/60 Hz |
| Annual consumption | 161 kWh / 1000 h |
| Pending consumption | <0.3 W |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) without stand | 1233 x 767 x 85.1 mm |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) with stand | 1233 x 793 x 291 mm |
| Weight with stand | 16 kg |
| VESA mount | 300 x 300 |