Philips 806 OLED TVs get 4k120 and VRR in full resolution, OLED936+ not
TP Vision will update the 2021 Philips OLED706 and OLED806/856 so that they can display 4k120 in full resolution when using VRR. This combination now leads to a halving of the vertical resolution. Top model OLED936+ will not receive this update.
Three models from last year will receive an update to combine the 4k resolution with 120 images and VRR, without cutting the vertical resolution in half, TP Vision said in a statement to the website FlatpanelsHD. These are the OLED706, OLED806 and the OLED856. In fact, there are two models, because the only difference between the latter two is a different foot.
TP Vision says these 2021 “single chip” OLED TVs can all display 4k and 120Hz content in full resolution. This is not the case in combination with Variable Refresh Rate, but this year there will be an update to remove that limitation.
Philips OLED806
These models are not the top models within the Philips OLED television series that TP Vision released last year. Those are the OLED+936 and OLED+986. Thanks to the Evo-oled panel from LG Display, they have a higher peak brightness than, for example, the OLED806. The only relevant difference between these two top models from last year is the audio system and the accompanying foot; both have an integrated soundbar under the screen, but have different specifications.
An important detail here is that the OLED+936 and OLED+986 have a double P5 image processor, partly because these televisions have more image processing options than, for example, the OLED806. TP Vision states that with these top models it had to choose between a dual chip configuration without full resolution at 4k120 and VRR, or the application of a single image processor in addition to the MediaTek soc and thus the possibility to display 4k120 and VRR without restrictions. TP Vision says that given the “extremely limited availability of real content with 4k120 and VRR,” the image quality benefits of the dual chip configuration outweigh the capability of full-resolution 4k120 and VRR.
TP Vision makes it clear that the OLED+936 and OLED+986 will no longer have that option, but the manufacturer says it is exploring the possibilities of supporting 4k120 in full resolution in combination with VRR in future models with two chips.
Recently, TP Vision introduced some new OLED TVs that will be released this year, including the OLED807. That is the successor of the 806. The manufacturer now says that it is not yet certain whether the 807 already has the possibility of 4k120 in full resolution with VRR immediately upon release; it is possible that this will only be added at a later time by means of a firmware update.
Looking back: review of the Philips OLED806