Buying guide

Which Philips TV to choose in 2026? A guide based on your budget and how you'll use it

From the PQS8601 at €529.99 to the OLED+911 at €2,999.99, the Philips range covers every budget. The right choice depends on your room, what you watch and your consoles. Here are our practical recommendations, with the models we sell.

By Clément, TV specialist at Nimestore · 5 min read · Published 16 October 2026
In brief
  • Under €700 : PQS8601, Ambilight in 4K
  • Gamer : OLED811 or The One PQS9001, not 60 Hz
  • Cinema at night : OLED851 or OLED+911
  • Trap: the PQS7801 has no Ambilight

The four questions to ask yourself

  1. Where will the TV go? A bright room during the day calls for a bright screen; a dark room in the evening shows off the OLED and Ambilight.
  2. What do you watch? Films, sport, news channels, video games: each use has its own model.
  3. Do you play on a recent console? If so, you need 120 Hz and HDMI 2.1, so the OLED811 or the PQS9001.
  4. Which apps do you use? On Titan OS, there's no Auvio, Pickx or Telenet. If you rely on them, plan for a set-top box.

By budget

BudgetOur Philips picksPublic priceWhy
Under €40032PQS6901 or 40PQS6901319,99 € / 399,99 €Full HD with Ambilight, for a bedroom
€400 to €60043PQS8601 or 50PQS8601529,99 € / 579,99 €4K, Ambilight, HDR10+
€600 to €90055PQS8601 or 55MLED910649,99 € / 799,99 €Ambilight in 55 inches; the MLED910 for better contrast
€900 to €1,30065PQS9001 or 75PQS90011 099,99 € / 1 299,99 €Large screen, 144 Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports
€1,300 to €1,70042OLED811, 48OLED811 or 55OLED851€1,399.99 to €1,649.99The 165 Hz OLED with Ambilight
€1,700 to €2,20055OLED911 or 65OLED8511 999,99 € / 2 099,99 €Premium in 55 inches or OLED in 65 inches
Over 2 500 €65OLED911 or 77OLED8112 999,99 €The big OLED: B&W sound or 77 inches

Recommended prices checked on nimestore.com on 15 October 2026. The product page prevails, and Nimesclub members often get a reduced price.

By size and distance

For a 4K TV, the right viewing distance is about 1.5 times the screen diagonal. For Full HD, allow roughly 2.25 times. The top third of the screen should be at eye level.

Sofa-to-TV distanceRecommended sizePhilips in store
Less than 1.5 m32 to 43"PQS6901, 43PQS8601, 42OLED811
1.5 to 2 m48 to 55"48OLED811, 55OLED851, 55PQS8601, 55PQS9001
2 to 3 m55 to 65"65OLED851, 65OLED911, 65PQS9001
More than 3 m65 to 77"77OLED811, 75PQS9001, 75PQS8601

More details in our TV size guide.

By room

Dark room, in the evening

OLED851 or OLED+911

Perfect blacks, no halo, and Ambilight really comes into its own in the dark. The best of the Philips range.

55OLED851 · €1,649.99

Bright room

55MLED910 or OLED+911

Mini LED copes better with sunlight. The OLED+ models are the brightest Philips OLEDs. Avoid entry-level PQS models facing a picture window.

55MLED910 · €799.99

TV on all day long

PQS9001 The One

No risk of burn-in from static news channel logos, and a large screen at a good price.

55PQS9001 · €899.99

Philips OLED811 on the wall of a dimly lit living room, purple Ambilight
In a dark room, OLED and Ambilight work wonders.
Philips The One PQS9001 in a large family living room, blue Ambilight around the screen
The One PQS9001: the right choice for a large family screen.

By usage

Film and TV series

Choose one OLED with Dolby Vision: OLED811, OLED851 or OLED+911. Avoid the PQS8601 and PQS7801: no Dolby Vision, and limited contrast in dark scenes. If you don't have a soundbar, the OLED+911 and its Bowers & Wilkins system make a real difference.

Sport

Smooth motion matters: the 120 Hz of the PQS9001 or OLED811 helps with football and tennis. In a bright room during the day, a PQS9001 or MLED910 is more comfortable than an entry-level OLED. Ambilight in video mode makes a match very immersive.

Gaming: PS5, Xbox and PC

ModelMax HzHDMI 2.1VRROur verdict
OLED811 / 8511654FreeSync Premium, G-SyncThe best choice for gamers: PS5, Xbox and PC
OLED+9111654YesExcellent, if the budget allows
PQS9001 The One144 (VRR)4Yes, ALLMVery good for consoles on a large screen
PQS860160NoALLM, VRRFine at 60 Hz, not for 120 Hz
PQS780160NoALLM, VRRNot for demanding gamers

The 42 and 48-inch OLED811 also make excellent PC desktop monitors. Remember to enable the screensaver and hide the taskbar. See our gaming TV guide.

Bedroom

The PQS6901 in 32 or 40 inches is ideal: Ambilight, AmbiSleep to help you drift off, and a 'sunrise' wake-up. It's Full HD, which is more than enough at this size and short distance. For 4K, the 43PQS8601 keeps Ambilight, or the 2025 43PUS8450 at €399.99.

C
Clément's tip

My Philips trio for 2026: the 50PQS8601 at €579.99 to discover Ambilight without breaking the bank, the 65PQS9001 for a large family screen and consoles, and the 55OLED851 for films and gaming. If your budget allows, the 55OLED911 saves you buying a soundbar.

Our recommended Philips TVs

Is Philips the right choice for you?

A good salesperson also knows when a brand isn't the right one. Philips is an excellent choice if itAmbilight appeals to you, if you want a full OLED for gaming at a price often more affordable than the competition, or if you mainly watch TV through your set-top box. However, we'll point you elsewhere in three cases:

  • You watch Auvio or Pickx every day, without a set-top box or streaming device : a TV running Google TV, webOS or Tizen will be simpler day to day.
  • You want a very large, very bright screen on a small budget : in 75 or 85 inches, a TCL or Hisense Mini LED offers more brightness and contrast than a Philips QLED at the same budget.
  • Your living room faces a large picture window : a screen with a matt anti-reflective coating will be more comfortable in broad daylight.

In all other cases, a well-chosen Philips will give you plenty of enjoyment, and Ambilight quickly becomes essential. To compare the technologies, read OLED, Mini LED or RGB Mini LED.

Detail of the stand and Bowers & Wilkins soundbar on the Philips OLED+911
The OLED+911: the Bowers & Wilkins sound means you don't need to buy a soundbar.

Pitfalls to avoid

PQS7801 and Ambilight: the PQS7801 series does not have Ambilight, even though some retailers state it. If Ambilight is the reason for your purchase, go for a PQS8601 at minimum.
  • Confusing The One with a Mini LED : the PQS9001 is a QLED with Micro Dimming, without local dimming. For cinema in the dark, an OLED does much better.
  • Buying a 60 Hz TV for the PS5 : the PQS8601 and PQS7801 don't go up to 120 Hz. A 75-inch PQS8601 costs €1,099.99, the same as the 65PQS9001, which does have 120 Hz and four HDMI 2.1 ports.
  • Forgetting Belgian apps : on Titan OS, there's no Auvio, Pickx or Telenet. VRT MAX, Streamz, VTM GO, RTL play and Play are available. Check before buying.
  • Believing in 2,500 nits : it's a theoretical peak. The OLED811 is still very bright, but a living room in full sun sometimes calls for a Mini LED.
  • Counting on Dolby Vision 2 straight out of the box : it is promised via an update, due in late 2026.
  • Buying a Full HD set that's too big : the PQS6901 is ideal in 32 or 40 inches, but not larger.

To review each series in detail, read the Philips 2026 range. To compare with other brands, see the best TVs by budget or return to the Philips space.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Philips TV for the PS5?

The OLED811 or OLED851: 165 Hz, four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR and instant responsiveness. For a tighter budget or a very large screen, the PQS9001 The One also offers 120 Hz and four HDMI 2.1 ports.

Which Philips TV for a very bright living room?

Avoid dimmer entry-level models. The OLED811 from 55 inches and the OLED+911 are very bright for OLEDs. For a room flooded with sunlight, a Mini LED such as the 55MLED910 copes better with light.

Which Philips for a bedroom?

The PQS6901 in 32 or 40 inches, with Ambilight and the AmbiSleep feature to help you fall asleep. If you want 4K in 43 inches, the PQS8601 keeps Ambilight.

Should you buy a Philips OLED to watch TV all day long?

If news channels with static logos stay on for long hours every day, an LCD such as the PQS9001 is more reassuring. For varied use, OLED is no problem.

Which Philips TV size should you choose?

For 4K, allow roughly one and a half times the diagonal as your viewing distance: a 55-inch at around 2 m, a 65-inch from 2.5 to 3 m. If in doubt, go one size up: it's rarely a regret.

Need advice?

Come and compare the screens in person

At our Temploux shop, we switch on TVs side by side with your content. Or ask our expert salesperson online, right now.

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