Philips TVs build in Chromecast, 4K and HDR, start at $530
The PFL5922 series serves up the latest TV technology and appeals to people who prefer to cast Netflix, YouTube and the rest from their phones.
Philips hopes you'll prefer using your phone to stream to its new TVs.
The PFL5922 series uses a technology called Chromecast built-in to allow you to "cast" apps like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu from your phone to the TV. It works exactly like Google's $35 Chromecast dongle, but you don't have to hang it off the back of the TV -- or remember to select its input. It's built right in.
Like a Chromecast, the TVs will also accept limited voice commands from Google Home speakers, for example, to play videos on YouTube. More Google Home functionality, including onscreen weather and calendar reports is coming soon.
Vizio has been selling TVs equipped with this feature for the last couple of years, and I'm not a huge fan. TVs with Chromecast built-in lack an onscreen menu to select apps, which I find more convenient than using your phone (although later this year Vizio will add an onscreen apps menu to its TVs). And Amazon Video, an extremely popular streaming TV service, doesn't work with Chromecast built-in.
The Philips sets are equipped with 4K resolution and HDR capability, promising improved image quality, but I don't expect the same level of performance as I saw with those Vizio sets like the M series. The main reason is that the PFL5922 lacks local dimming, a technology that improves contrast and picture quality with all sources. Philips' its "macro dimming" dims the whole backlight, which isn't as effective. The Philips also lacks the Dolby Vision HDR support found on many competing TVs.
Unlike those Vizio TVs, however, the PFL5922 does include a built-in tuner for over-the-air TV reception, so it may appeal more to cord-cutters.
The Philips PFL5922 series is available now at prices similar to Vizio's 2017 M series and a bit higher than TCL's 2017 P series.
Philips PFL5922 series
Model | Size | Price |
---|---|---|
43PFL5922 | 43 inches | $530 |
50PFL5922 | 50 inches | $600 |
55PFL5922 | 55 inches | $700 |
65PFL5922 | 65 inches | $1,200 |
Philips PFL5922 key specs
- Chromecast built-in
- Google Home voice control
- 4K resolution
- High dynamic range
- 3 HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2
Updated with details on local vs. macro dimming.