TP Vision has unveiled its first 2020 Philips OLED and LCD TVs destined for Europe. New features this year include an 'AI' video processor, a new remote control, and improved speakers systems.

Philips 2020 TVs
At its annual launch event in Amsterdam, TP Vision, who controls the Philips TV brand in Europe, unveiled a new range of 55- and 65-inch OLED TVs, available in two design versions (OLED805 og OLED855), as well as new 9 and 8 series 4K LCD ranges spanning 43 to 65 inches.

The TVs will, of course, feature the company's signature feature; Ambilight. The mood lighting system has become almost synonymous with a Philips TV and the company has in recent years added integration with Hue, Spotify, and more.



There are other recurring themes in 2020. The company is still one of Google's close allies. The TVs will come pre-installed with Android and everything it entails; built-in Chromecast, Google Assistant, and lots of apps, including Disney+.

A key feature for 2020 is the fourth generation P5 video processor (in OLED805 and OLED855) that now utilizes a neural network and machine learning to apply picture enhancement to pictures, the company said. Like LG and Samsung, Philips refers to it as an "AI" processor. The company explained that based on five pillars (source, color, contrast, motion and sharpness), it analyses the picture and applies enhancements to match the content type.

- "The in-house developed 4th Gen P5’s AI Functionality uses neural networks and machine learning to analyse millions of PQ test clips from a unique database created inhouse by the Philips TV, and now TP Vision, development team over the past 30 years," the company explained. "TP Vision’s PQ experts define the system’s overall parameters which the AI software then uses to divide content into five categories: Landscape/nature, skin tone, sports/motion, black/contrast and animation. The AI function selects the correct category and analyses all five PQ pillars, to adjust the balance between them."



Multi-HDR support
Philips was one of the first to pick HDR10+ in favor of the competing Dolby Vision HDR format. Last year, Dolby Vision was added to the portfolio - perhaps as a result of Dolby's strong momentum. The company points out that it now supports all four HDR video formats in the market; HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision.

The partnership with Dolby also covers audio and the TVs can decode Dolby Atmos from sources such as Netflix. The speaker systems are now more potent but of the new TV ranges announced for the first half of 2020 only the 9435 LCD range comes equipped with up-firing units for Atmos. The speaker system in 9435 has been developed in partnership with Bowers & Wilkins. The other TVs can output Dolby Atmos via the HDMI ARC port. The OLED805 (and OLED855) has four passive bass units as well as front-firing tweeters that should help produce clearer sound.



The company emphasized that its TV design have roots in European design traditions with "real" materials. However, in many ways a Philips TV anno 2020 is also the result of partnerships. With B&W, with Google, with Dolby. It is evidence of how modern TV development is driven by collaboration that spans regions and various fields of expertise. At the same time competing companies benefit from many of the same systems. TCL and Sony have Android, and Dolby's systems are now employed in TVs from many leading brands. On the other hand Ambilight and the P5 video processor are developed in-house and therefore unique to Philips TVs.

The company is also introducing a new backlit remote control covered in leather on both sides and underneath. We will get a chance to see it later today.



Additional TV ranges for the second half of 2020 will be unveiled later this year and we expect to see additional OLED ranges starting from the affordable 7 series and up. A development that we did not get an update on is the Saphi platform that powers some of the more affordable Philips TVs - perhaps to apply a little pressure to Google and Android TV. We did not get any updates on HDMI 2.1, Filmmaker Mode or AV1 decoding either. At CES, Philips was announced as a partner for Filmmaker Mode. FlatpanelsHD is in Amsterdam so we are chasing more details.

Philips OLED805 and OLED855 will be available in 55 and 65 inches from May 2020. We are also chasing details relating to larger and smaller OLED sizes. Besides the new 9 and 8 series LCD models, Philips will launch new affordable LCD TVs. Pricing details will be announced closer to launch.

Philips 2020 TVs - highlighted features
Philips OLED805 / OLED855
- Available in 55” and 65” sizes.
- Ultra Slim 4K OLED UHD TV.
- Includes the new 4th Generation P5 Processor with AI functionality. 
- 3-Sided Ambilight for more immersive viewing
- Perfect Natural Reality 
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ and HLG compatibility.
- Premium European design using ‘real’ materials.
- New high quality, back-lit remote control with responsibly sourced leather wrap by Muirhead 
- OLED805 features a new chamfered stand design, finished in dark chrome
- 55OLED855 has a new central stand angled to the table, in dark chrome, 65OLED855 has dark chrome T-arc stand
- New 50W Philips 2.1 Sound System
- Android TV Pie (9) OS with built-in Google Assistant and ‘Works with Alexa’.


Philips 9435 LCD
- Available in 55” and 65” models. 
- Premium 2.1.2 (50W) Bowers & Wilkins sound system includes upwards firing drivers 
- 3-Sided Ambilight for more immersive viewing
- P5 Perfect Picture Processing Engine. 
- Ultra Slim 4K UHD TV
- DLED and wide colour gamut panel
- Micro Dimming Pro, Natural Motion and Ultra-resolution.
- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos HDR10+ and HLG compatibility
- Anodized silver metal frame with slim dark chrome finish.
- New high quality, back-lit remote control with responsibly sourced leather wrap by Muirhead 
- Kvadrat  acoustically transparent speaker Cloth
- Android TV Pie (9) OS with built-in Google Assistant and ‘Works with Alexa.


Philips 9235 LCD
- Available in 43” 
- Premium 2.1 Bowers & Wilkins (40W) integrated sound system
- 3-Sided Ambilight for more immersive viewing
- P5 Perfect Picture Processing Engine. 
- Super-slim 4K UHD
- ELED with wide colour gamut panel
- Micro Dimming Pro, Natural Motion and Ultra-resolution 
- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos. HDR10+ and HLG 
- Highly polished silver metal frame 
- New high quality, back-lit remote control with responsibly sourced leather wrap by Muirhead
- Acoustically transparent  Kvadrat Speaker Cloth.
- Android TV Pie (9) OS with built-in Google Assistant and ‘Works with Alexa’.


Philips 8505 LCD - Performance Series
- Available in 43”, 50”, 58” 65” and 70” Screen sizes.
- 3-Sided Ambilight for more immersive viewing
- P5 Perfect Picture Processing.
- Super slim 4K with light silver metal bezel 
- DLED with wide colour gamut panel
- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ and HLG compatible. 
- Micro Dimming Pro, Natural Motion and Ultra-resolution 
- Android TV Pie (9) OS with built-in Google Assistant and ‘Works with Alexa’.
- Philips 2.0 Sound System (20W)
- 43”, 50” and 58” models have new silver central swivel stand angled to the table and designed to accommodate a 70mm high soundbar
- 65” set has a non-swivel light silver central arch stand suitable for a 70mm high  soundbar
- 70” model has silver ‘sticks’ stand with option to install the set at two different heights:  19mm for a low, slim look and higher to accommodate a 70mm soundbar.