CR's Take
This 32-inch LED LCD TV from Philips, a 720p model, offers very good high-definition picture quality and a wider-than-average viewing angle for an LCD set. Its sound quality, though, was only fair. Also, while it claims a 120Hz "Perfect Motion Rate (PMR)," it was ineffective so the TV had noticeable blurring on some fast-moving scenes. The TV has Philips' fairly basic Net TV smart TV platform, with access to a few streaming services. It has three HDMI inputs and one USB port.
Highs
Lows
Detailed test results
PICTURE QUALITY. It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was very good, with images generally looking natural. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels were generally good, though not as dark as better performers on the darkest scenes. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the model did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. There was slight display non-uniformity that created brighter cloudy areas most noticeable on very dark scenes (or in the black bars of a letterboxed movie). We routinely see this issue with LCDs and severity can vary from model to model. Check your model and see if you find it a problem. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE. This Philips has a wide viewing angle overall, better than that of most TVs. It will provide the same picture quality, with fewer problems than most TVs, for typical viewing conditions -- say, if your family is seated across a long sectional or in chairs off to the sides. With brighter scenes, this model did a fine job maintaining accurate colors and contrast as we viewed it from the sides. The picture did show some dimming from the sides but not to any point we found distracting. With dark scenes this model didn't fare quite as well. When viewed from the sides, the depth of black levels varied depending on the vertical position of the viewer's head. As we moved closer to the screen this limitation became even more apparent, especially if seated on the floor looking upward where black levels brightened significantly. This model's wide horizontal viewing angle is best appreciated when the TV's picture is viewed at eye level. MOTION BLUR. This Philips TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes Philips's "120 PMR", a feature designed to reduce motion blur, we found it was ineffective. The visibility of blurring on typical program content is often subtle and may not bother most people, but keen-eyed viewers may detect some loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement. SCREEN REFLECTIVITY. Though not as mirror-like as on some models, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room. SOUND QUALITY. This model has fair sound quality with below average performance. It's acceptable for typical programming, but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding but background music and other sounds were slightly recessed. Bass was lacking, but treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was on the bright side thin and closed in. The volume from its speakers was limited -- just adequate for a smaller, quiet listening environment and without obvious distortion -- a plus if you'll be using this model in a large room or noisy environment. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system -- but if this smaller-screen set is a secondary TV, you might find its sound quality acceptable. EASE OF USE. Overall, it was fairly easy to setup and OK to do routine things. The dark labeling of the connectors on the TV console is very difficult to read. On first power up there is an on-screen guide that helps you through setting up the TV. It lacks the ability to add custom labels to different input sources. STAND ASSEMBLY. The TV's base does not come pre-attached, so some assembly is required. Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward, though the stand requires the assembly of one part before mounting. INTERNET FEATURES. This TV provides advanced Internet capabilities via its "Net TV" portal with access to a library of applications. Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Vudu, YouTube. CONNECTIONS. This model has three HDMI inputs--one supports MHL (Mobile High-definition Link), a component/composite shared input (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time). It also has one USB port, a coaxial digital audio out, a headphone out, an Ethernet port, a VGA video input. Wireless connectivity is built-in. DLNA: accesses files within your home network. Casting: control the TV from a smartphone that has the suitable app installed. The power cord is attached to this model, unlike most TVs. Note: HDMI and other cable connections made to the rear-facing panel will protrude beyond the panel's slim depth. INCLUDED IN THE BOX. A printed user manual. A quick start guide. A remote control with batteries. OPTIMIZED PICTURE SETTINGS. Our expert TV testers recommend the following settings for the Philips 32PFL4609 to get your image looking like the rated picture quality we saw in our lab. To access the picture controls find the Menu, Home, Settings, or "Gear" icon on your remote or on-screen display, and navigate to the picture settings menu where you'll see most of the controls. To find some other controls you may additionally have to enter the "advanced settings" or the "picture options" sub-menus (name may vary depending on model). Don't worry about making any "mistakes." You can always reset the picture settings to factory default if necessary. Consult your user manual for additional guidance. PICTURE SETTINGS. Picture Mode: Personal. Contrast (Picture): 95. Brightness: 53. Gamma: 0. Color: 42. Tint: -1. Sharpness: 0. Color Temperature: Warm. Backlight: 24. 120 PMR blur reduction: Off. Film Mode = Auto. TV FIRMWARE. All models are evaluated using the latest firmware version available at the time of testing. The firmware version of the Philips 32PFL4609 was: PHL-0CFX_047_1. ABOUT CR's OPTIMIZED PICTURE SETTINGS: Our fine-tuned picture adjustments are made with the support of special test patterns and reference videos to yield best image fidelity, and a professionally calibrated reference display is used for comparison. Whether you are watching movies on Blu-ray or sports from your cable box, these settings will ensure you are seeing the programs in the best quality that the model can offer, short of a professional calibration. To optimize the image, we typically turn off (or turn down) the settings from features that can often degrade performance, including; power saving modes (which often dim the image), sharpness, noise reduction (also known as DNR, a feature that can degrade image detail), and "motion smoothing", if present (an effect that can give movies a soap-opera video-like appearance). Optimal settings for your TV may vary a bit from ours due to slight variations between similar samples, or the model's firmware version. ABOUT CR's TV VIEWING CONDITIONS: Our picture settings are optimized for a dimmer home viewing environment. If the settings we recommend don't suit your taste or your environment, use the picture controls to achieve an image you consider "just right." ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), or USB port, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu, or home button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed. |
| About - Philips 32PFL4609 |
|---|
The Philips 32PFL4609 is a 32-inch LCD HD TV with a native resolution of 1366x768 (768p). Rather than the basic 60Hz, it has a faster 120Hz frame rate, a feature designed to reduce motion blur.
It is Internet-enabled and can access online content, including movie streaming and other services. The TV includes an Ethernet jack allowing for a wired connection to your home network. It is also WiFi capable, so you can connect it to your home network wirelessly. It is DLNA certified, so you can view digital photos stored on a compatible computer, phone, or other mobile device also connected to your home network. This TV has three HDMI inputs, and one component-video input. Which also doubles as a composite-video input. It also has one USB port, which may be used to play media--photos, videos, and music--stored on a flash drive. The Philips 32PFL4609 measures 18.9 inches high by 28.9 inches wide by 7.4 inches deep, including its base. The panel itself is 3.9 inches thick including any protrusions, and the screen has a glossy finish. The bezel framing the screen is gloss black. The warranty on this model covers parts for 12 months and labor for 12 months. |
| About This Brand |
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P&F Holdings, a subsidiary of Funai, is the exclusive TV Licensee for the Philips TV brand in the U.S. Philips-branded LED-backlit LCD TVs are offered in a variety of screen sizes, ranging from value-oriented 19-inch sets to full-featured LED-based 55-inch sets.
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| Read our Brand Reliability |
| Features & Specs - Philips 32PFL4609 | |
|---|---|
 Native resolution | 1366x768 |
| Overall height (in.) | 18.9 |
| Overall width (in.) | 28.9 |
| Overall depth (in.) | 7.4 |
| Frame rate (Hz) | 120 |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Streaming services | Netflix, Vudu, YouTube |
| HDMI inputs | 3 |
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