I simply had the prospect to see the Philips OLED+908, which is the newest high-end OLED TV introduced by Philips as a part of its new vary, and makes use of the brand new next-gen OLED panel from LG Show that features Micro Lens Array tech for enhancing brightness, in addition to a brightness-boosting algorithm referred to as META.
We already knew about these elements of the OLED screens, partly as a result of we have already seen the expertise within the Panasonic MZ2000 and, unofficially, within the LG G3 OLED. (I say ‘unofficially’ as a result of it is successfully an open secret, however LG Electronics will not verify on the report that it is utilizing this panel within the G3. Nevertheless, it is the one factor that makes logical and technical sense, and I’ve spoken to individuals within the trade about it who’re sure that is the case.)
Nevertheless, what nobody had talked about to me till I spoke with Philips is that there is a third half to the brand new next-gen OLED panel – and seeing this in motion is what actually blew me away when trying out the brand new TV.
The third half is a brand new polarizer generally known as ‘Vanta Black’, and it makes a large distinction to how strongly the TV displays mild. Compared to the Philips OLED+907, which launched on the finish of 2022, reflections on the brand new panel look about half as brilliant to me.
There appears to be an much more dramatic roll-off of reflectivity when issues get darker – at one level, I stepped from mild right into a shadow whereas my reflection, and I disappeared fully. It is not simply that I went darker – I could not see myself in any respect.
And this has been achieved with out utilizing a matte end, or every other strategies that are likely to restrict brightness. In actual fact, as talked about above, the brightness has been improved in a approach that is instantly seen.
Whites pop much more from the Philips OLED+908, even when in comparison with the Philips OLED+907, which is on the market now, and makes use of essentially the most superior OLED panel that was obtainable final yr. It is the identical with colours – they’re extra vibrant and extra life like on the identical time (although the brand new Philips TV additionally has a brand new processor, which can contribute to that).
What this implies is that you simply’re getting a brightness double-whammy from the brand new OLED panels – they ship objectively brighter photos from the upper mild output, but additionally subjectively brighter photos, as a result of in a light-weight room, the image might be much less washed out by reflections.
The comparatively low brightness of OLED in comparison with Full Array LED (beforehand) or mini-LED (at the moment) has been its Achilles heel if you must watch in brilliant rooms – whether or not that is having a number of lights on your self that may mirror in it, or since you’re watching throughout the daytime. Whereas we fortunately charge OLEDs among the many finest TVs, they arrive with that caveat.
What I’ve seen from the Philips OLED+908 might be a game-changer right here, and as I discussed above, the tech is not distinctive to Philips; it is within the Panasonic MZ2000, it is within the LG G3, and it might come to many extra TVs.
However that is not going immediately, as a result of being a brand new high-end OLED panel means it is costlier. You will not discover this tech within the extra reasonably priced LG C3 – however after solely a short while with it, I am wishing onerous that it might be in additional of the finest OLED TVs.
My hope for subsequent yr is that even when LG Show (which is the one producer of this sort of OLED TV display) cannot make the high-brightness tech low cost sufficient to work in additional reasonably priced TVs, it would nonetheless deliver this new polarizer to its cheaper panels.
When I attempted the LG C3 at CES, I famous that it seems to be barely distinguishable from the at the moment obtainable LG C2. If this anti-reflection tech might be added to mid-range OLEDs, they’d get an ideal image high quality improve, even when their very own brightness would not change.
With Samsung’s QD-OLED expertise chasing down common OLED, that is precisely the type of innovation the older tech must survive – but it surely’ll should turn out to be extra accessible.