Philips unveiled its new TV range powered by the company’s new P5 processing engine at IFA 2017, and has also announced a Google Assistant update for its 2017 range.
First, the new P5 processing engine. Philips designed the P5 to enhance and manage on-demand content, HDR and 4K images. The chip is designed to correct imperfections, upscale content to 4K, intensify colors, expand dynamic range and smooth motion.
Philips 8602 introduces Quantum Dot technology
With the Philips 8602, the company has delivered its first 4K Quantum Dot TV. Quantum Dot technology is exciting for the wide color gamut and high peak brightness it can output: with the 8602, the sets are capable of a searing 1110 nits, which should be great for HDR content.
Available in 55-inch and 65-inch, the 8602 sets are powered by the P5 processing engine, have three-sided Ambilight, and are powered by Android. Audio is provided by two front-facing drivers built into the neat ‘floating’ soundbar, which is connected to the stand. No UK launch date or price has been announced.
Related: Quantum Dots Explained: What They Are and Why They’re Great
The 9 series expands the OLED range
The new 65-inch Series 9 OLED TV (model number 9603) is slated to launch in January 2018. With a new OLED panel and three-sided Ambilight, the 9 Series is Philips’ top-of-the-line TV. With perfect blacks and a peak white output of 900 nits, the 9 Series should be able to reproduce every detail in an HDR image.
Because OLED panels are so thin, mounting speakers for quality audio can be difficult. With the 9 Series, Philips’ answer is a 60W 6.1 system. The front-firing soundbase built into the TV’s stand contains six drivers and a rear-firing triple-rin speaker with an integrated bass port on the rear.
The 9603 is scheduled for delivery in January 2018, although pricing has not yet been confirmed.
Google Assistant will come to TVs in 2017
As Philips runs Android on its TVs, it is now able to bring the Google Assistant to its 2017 Android TVs. As with Google Home, Philips TV users can ask Assistant to help find content like Netflix, get the latest weather forecast and even control smart devices. The Google Assistant is operated via TV remote controls with built-in microphones; For the TV models that don’t have these remote controls, the assistant is available through Google’s Android TV Remote app.
Google Assistant will only be available on 2017 and newer TVs once they have been updated to Android Nougat. Philips estimates that the upgrade will begin in fall 2017, although the Google Assistant will be added later in spring 2018.