Philips has launched the extremely affordable 50-inch 50PUS7608/60 Smart TV with 4K resolution. The Philips PUS7608 series consists of five models with diagonals from 43 to 70 inches. To keep the price as low as possible, Philips abandoned the well-known Ambilight and also saved on the operating system.
Instead of the popular Android software, the inexpensive TV comes with New Philips’ own Smart TV operating system. Otherwise, everything that can be expected from a modern Smart TV is on board, with the exception of some nuances. What else did the manufacturer save on, and is it worth buying PUS7608? In our Philips 50PUS7608 / 60 4K HDR review, we’ll look at the pros and cons of this TV and find out what it’s really capable of.
Philips PUS7608 review
Design
From the outside, the Philips 50PUS7608 TV looks quite high quality. The matte black body and thin frame framing the screen fit perfectly into any interior. The included legs enhance the look and provide a secure fit. The depth of this TV is quite decent. At its widest point it reaches almost 9 cm.
However, when the TV is on a stand, few people try to look at it from behind. If you prefer to mount the 50″ model on a wall, you will need a suitable VESA 200 x 100 wall mount, which is not included in the package. In addition to the TV and stand, the kit includes a power cable, remote control and a quick start guide.
Equipment
In terms of hardware, everything important that you would expect from a smart TV these days is available. It is an operating system with all the common streaming services, including Amazon Video, Netflix and Disney+, as well as numerous applications and media libraries.
Unlike more expensive Philips models, which have an Android operating system, for the inexpensive PUS7608 series you have to make do with New Philips Smart TV’s own operating system. The Linux-based operating system runs smoothly but offers a smaller selection of applications. Philips is also equipped with a tuner for television reception.
This means that the Philips PUS7608 TV is suitable for all types of reception such as satellite, cable and DVB-T2. Changing channels is quite fast. Switching from one channel to another does not take more than 2 seconds. On the rear panel there is a CI+ slot for pay TV channels. Classic teletext and electronic program guide are also included.
Sound quality
The 50PUS7608 TV has only two small speakers, the total power of which is 20 W. They are enough for watching television programs, but there is no real home theater feeling. However, Philips has tuned the speakers well as they provide fairly clear sound.
However, you will have to do without high frequencies and deep bass. At least voices and dialogue are reproduced clearly. You should also note that most TVs with 2.0 sound systems don’t sound any better.
For multi-channel audio lovers, you should consider purchasing a suitable soundbar. One simple and inexpensive solution to this problem could be the Philips TAB5305 soundbar with 2.1 sound, a wireless subwoofer and a total power of 70 W.
Image quality
Even in the lower price segment, you can’t do without a clear, sharp image with rich colors. The affordable 50-inch PUS7608 TV convinces with accurate colors and decent depth of field, both on a gaming console and on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
The 2023 PUS7608 series supports an expanded color space with more than 1 billion colors ( 8 bits + FRC ). This is especially noticeable in computer games and modern blockbusters. The picture looks brighter and has good contrast thanks to the VA matrix with Direct LED backlighting . People’s faces look realistic.
They are not too reddish. The football field shines with lush greenery, and the sky is a brilliant blue. When viewing white against a black background there is a slight bloom. This is due to the lack of local dimming, which is only found in more expensive models. When viewing HDR content, things are much worse.
On the one hand, the manufacturer positions the Philips 50PUS7608 TV as a model that supports all major HDR standards. That is, in addition to HDR10 and HLG, the device simultaneously supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+. On the other hand, the peak brightness of such TVs usually does not exceed 300 nits.
This is not enough to see a change in the image for the better. In other words, when viewing HDR content, the image will look almost the same as in SDR mode. Overall, the picture of the Philips 50PUS7608 looks very good, especially if you watch this TV in a dark room at a right angle.
Connections
The range of connections in this price category can be called very rich. On the rear panel there are 3 HDMI 2.0 inputs, two USB ports, an optical digital output, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There is also an RJ-45 port for connecting to the Internet, antenna inputs and CI/CI+. Wireless connections include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Conclusion
It is worth adding that it doesn’t have to be expensive for everyday TV viewing. The budget 50-inch model offers almost everything you’d expect from a modern smart TV.
The only thing that’s really missing at this price point is the ability to control using voice commands. Also, don’t expect this TV to improve the picture when watching HDR content. Overall, the PUS7608 is worth its price.