Philips unveils 2023 OLED TVs: OLED908 with up to 2100 nits (MLA), OLED808 adds 42"

Philips unveils 2023 OLED TVs: OLED908 with up to 2100 nits (MLA), OLED808 adds 42"

07 Feb 2023 | Rasmus Larsen |

Philips has today announced its 2023 OLED TV line-up that includes OLED708, OLED808, and OLED908 in sizes ranging from 42 to 77 inches. FlatpanelsHD is in Amsterdam to see the new models demonstrated and will report back with our hands-on impressions later. Here is what Philips has told us so far. The highlight of the show is the OLED908. It features the new MLA (Micro Lens Array) OLED panel (in 55, 65 and 77 inches) – known as META OLED – which will also be found in LG's G3 and Panasonic's MZ2000. 908 will be available in 55, 65, and 77 inches this autumn. - "The new META OLED panel uses a Micro Lens Array layer and a META brightness boosting algorithm to offer a potential peak light output of 2100 Nits, representing an increase of 70% while also offering a wider viewing angle and an energy efficiency improvement," announced Philips. We expect the 2100 nits to relate to the 'Vivid' picture mode but not the movie modes with a more accurate color temperature and colors. It also features the 'Next Gen' 3-sided Ambilight that was first introduced in late 2022 and a 3.1ch sound system from Bowers & Wilkins.

Philips OLED908. Photo: Philips

The step-down range is OLED808 which does not feature MLA technology (still OLED EX) but instead adds a smaller 42 inch size in addition to the 48, 55, 65, and 77 inch sizes. OLED808 builds on last year's OLED807 and features the more advanced version of Ambilight (3-sided) and a 2.1ch 70W sound system – not from B&W. Like the OLED908, it features HDMI 2.1 eARC, IMAX Enhanced, VRR, AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, ALLM, and other advanced gaming functions. A more affordable OLED708 range will also launch later this year as the successor to the current OLED707. Philips has not made any announcements in regard to OLED TVs larger than 80 inches or 8K.

Philips OLED808. Photo: Philips

7th Gen P5 processor with 4K120 Dolby Vision

All 2023 OLED TVs from Philips are built on an upgraded SoC from MediaTek, namely the Pentonic 1000. It is a more powerful chip which should translate into a number of benefits for consumers including improved performance in apps. There is also an upgraded video processor. The headlining feature of the 7th generation 'P5 AI' processor is version two of 'Ambient Intelligence' that can adjust brightness, gamma and colors to match your ambient lighting conditions using an improved light sensor built into the TV. Another benefit of upgraded chips is support for Dolby Vision in 4K 120Hz, up from 4K 60Hz in previous models. Dolby Vision at 120Hz already works with select games on Xbox Series X and is expected to come to other devices and media players in the future. Unfortunately, MediaTek's promise that the Pentonic 1000 SoC would offer four HDMI 2.1 ports did not pan out. It is technically true but only because the HDMI organization now refers to everything as HDMI 2.1, but only two of the ports in OLED708, OLED808 and OLED908 have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 4K120, Philips confirmed to FlatpanelsHD. eARC remains on one of these two.

Google TV, new remote control

Philips is switching from Android TV to Google TV this year. The TVs are still running Android underneath and the refreshed Google TV homescreen now has curated results from supported streaming services, but also a higher ad load. Google TV has additional features such as kids profiles and will get new features later this year that will not make it to older Android TVs. OLED908 comes bundled with a new remote control with a built-in battery that is rechargeable over USB-C. The remote has backlit buttons and a motion sensor to automatically illuminate the buttons when you lift it. We will have more to say on the switch to Google TV and the remote control after we get a chance to see everything in action. OLED908 has a "super-slim dark metal bezel matched by the dark Kvadrat Audiomix cloth speaker grill and with a new black sheen, metal open frame stand" while OLED808 has a "razor thin, zero bezel design with an outside dark metal frame" and "a new central, elegant metal satin chrome swivel stand", except the 77 inch version which does not have swivel stand. Pricing details will be announced later. We refer to the table below for more specifications in the TV Database (click the model names).