Comparison Philips 49PUS6412 49 " vs Philips 49PUS6501 49 "

The maximum brightness of the image provided by the TV screen.

The image on the screen should be bright enough so that you do not have to strain your eyes unnecessarily to view it. However, too high brightness is undesirable — it will also lead to fatigue. The optimal brightness level depends on the surrounding conditions: the more intense the ambient light, the brighter the TV screen should be. So, on a sunny day, the screen may have to be “turned up” to the maximum, and in the evening, in dimmed light, a relatively dim image will be more comfortable. In addition note that large screens require higher brightness, since they are designed for a greater distance from the viewer.

Thus, the higher the number in this paragraph, the greater the margin of brightness this model has, the better it will show itself in intense ambient light. The lowest indicator sufficient for more or less comfortable viewing in any conditions is 300 cd/m² for models with a diagonal of up to 32", 400 cd/m² for models in the range of 32 – 55" and 600 cd/m² for large screens of 60" and more. In this case, the brightness margin anyway will not be superfluous. But with lower indicators, you may have to darken the room somewhat for comfortable viewing.

Dynamic Scene Index (DSI) provided by the TV screen.

DSI is a rather specific parameter that can be called "visible framerate". Its appearance is due to the fact that a high frame rate is highly desirable for dynamic scenes — it provides smooth images and good detail of moving objects. However, for technical reasons, it is not possible to achieve indicators above 200 Hz in most screens. In order to remedy the situation, manufacturers use special technologies that create the effect of increasing the frame rate.

Such technologies may have different names, but they have the same principle of operation — inserting additional frames between the "own" frames of the video being played. And the dynamic scene index describes the overall effectiveness of such technology used in a TV. For example, a DSI of 200 Hz means that the image quality on the screen approximates a frame rate of 200 Hz, although the actual frame rate is often as low as 50-60 Hz.

In the most advanced models, the dynamic scene index can be up to 3000 Hz, and options above 3000 Hz are considered to be TVs with a high dynamic scene index. However, it is worth noting that such specifications are more of an advertising ploy than a real advantage: in fact, the threshold for human perception is 400 – 500 Hz, a further increase in the DSI does not give a clearly visible improvement in the image.

Among the features of the TV, first of all, it is worth noting its communication features, which include AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi(in particular Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6), Miracast, Chromecast, MHL, DLNA, Bluetooth, in rare cases NFC. As a control, in addition to the classic remote control, there can be multimedia air mouse remote, voice control, voice assistant. As well as special features in the form of Ambilight from Philips. More about them:

— Airplay. TV support for AirPlay technology, usually in the AirPlay 2 version. Initially, this technology was created to broadcast multimedia content from Apple gadgets (iPhone, iPad, etc.) to external devices, including TVs. At the same time, it allows not only to play such content, but also provides many additional features — broadcasting additional information (title of the sound track, album cover), playback control from the TV remote control, etc. In AirPlay 2, in turn, the "multi-room" format was added — the ability to simultaneously broadcast several signals to compatible devices installed in differe...nt places at home (for example, a movie on a TV and an online radio programme on sound system in the kitchen). In addition, in this version, support for voice control via Siri has appeared and a number of technical issues have been improved (in particular, buffering of streamed content).

— Wi-Fi. The presence of a built-in Wi-Fi module in the TV; the supported version of this technology can also be specified in this section. Nowadays, Wi-Fi can be used both for wireless access to the Internet and local networks, as well as for direct connection with other devices (for example, broadcasting video from a smartphone/tablet). The specific application of the wireless connection may be different, depending on the functionality of the TV; in addition to Internet access, examples include DLNA (see below), receiving or transmitting video via Wi-Di or Miracast, and using a mobile gadget as a remote control. However, almost all models with this feature belong to Smart TV (see above).
As for Wi-Fi versions, the most relevant nowadays are Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Also note that, in addition to these Wi-Fi standards, earlier ones are usually supported — so compatibility problems does not occur.

— TV shows recording. The ability to record TV programmes viewed on the TV. In most cases, it is supposed to record to a USB flash drive or other external USB drive, but there are other options: if you have a card reader (see "Inputs"), recording to a memory card can be provided, and some advanced TVs are equipped with quite capacious own drives. But this feature can be useful in cases where you need to save the broadcast — for example, so that someone can watch it later, or to save a TV programme with a family member to your home collection. In addition, many TVs with this feature also provide a Time Shift mode: if you need to leave the room, you can “pause the broadcast” and the TV will start recording it, and upon returning, you can continue watching from the point at which it was interrupted. Note that some TVs may require the installation of additional software to record TV programmes; for such models, this function is not always indicated, although it is technically available.

— MHL support. TV support MHL interface. This interface is used in portable electronics (smartphones, tablets) to transfer high-definition video and multi-channel audio to an external screen. In fact, it is a combination of microUSB and HDMI (see below): from a portable device, the signal is output through the universal microUSB port, and the TV receives video and audio through the MHL-enabled HDMI port, while simultaneously charging the connected gadget. The MHL bandwidth is sufficient for high-definition video and multi-channel audio.

— Miracast. TV support for Miracast technology. This technology allows you to broadcast video and audio signals via Wi-Fi technology (both to the TV and from it to portable electronics), while both devices are connected directly (Wi-Fi Direct) and do not require additional equipment, and the bandwidth is sufficient for Full HD video transmission and 5.1 multi-channel audio. Some time ago, TVs used a similar WiDi technology, but nowadays it is almost ousted from the market, and most manufacturers use Miracast.

— Chromecast. Chromecast technology allows you to quickly and easily stream video and audio from your smartphone, tablet or computer to your TV. In fact, Chromecast is a network media player, because after setting up this function, you can wirelessly display the video recorded on your smartphone on your TV with just one touch.

— Bluetooth. Bluetooth technology (any version) is used for direct wireless communication between different devices. How it is used on TVs may vary, depending on the functionality of a particular model (and version of Bluetooth). So, it is almost mandatory for Bluetooth TVs to be able to transfer sound to wireless headphones or speakers. In addition, other use cases may be provided: connecting keyboards, mice and game controllers, direct file exchange with a laptop, remote control from a smartphone or other gadget, etc. These details should be clarified separately. As for specific versions, in many models these details are not specified at all — for use for the intended purpose, “just Bluetooth” is enough. However, there are exceptions, and here the following options are relevant for modern TVs:

• Bluetooth v4.0. A version that combines traditional Bluetooth 2.1, a high-speed standard for transferring large files, and "Bluetooth Low Energy" for small amounts of information. All subsequent versions are built on these three components (with various improvements), and v 4.0 was the first where they appeared all together.
• Bluetooth v 4.1. Improvement of version 4.0, in which compatibility with mobile devices of the 4G LTE standard has been improved — so that the LTE and Bluetooth modules do not create mutual interference while working nearby.
• Bluetooth v4.2. Further development of version 4.0; updates that are relevant for TVs include mainly improving the reliability and noise immunity of communications.
• Bluetooth v5.0. One of the key improvements in version 5.0 compared to previous editions of the protocol was the presence of two special “Low Energy” modes – increased range (due to reduced speed) and increased speed (due to reduced range).
• Bluetooth v 5.1. Update of the v 5.0 version described above. In addition to general improvements in the quality and reliability of communication, this update has implemented such an interesting feature as determining the direction from which the Bluetooth signal is coming. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to determine the location of connected devices with an accuracy of up to a centimeter (for example, a remote control).
• Bluetooth v 5.2. The next, after 5.1, is the fifth-generation Bluetooth update. The main innovations in this version are a number of security improvements, additional power optimization in LE mode, and a new audio signal format for synchronized parallel playback on multiple devices.
• Bluetooth v 5.3. The Bluetooth v 5.3 wireless protocol was introduced at the beginning of 2022. Among the innovations, it accelerated the process of choosing the communication channel between the controller and the device, implemented the function of quickly switching between the state of operation in a small duty cycle and high-speed mode, improved the throughput and stability of the connection by reducing the susceptibility to interference. In case of unexpected interference in the Low Energy mode of operation, the procedure for selecting a communication channel for switching is now accelerated. There are no fundamental innovations in protocol 5.3, but a number of qualitative improvements are seen in it.

— NFC. TV compatible with NFC technology; the NFC itself, usually, is built into the remote control or is made as a separate tag; installing it in the TV case is not very convenient. This technology provides wireless communication over short distances, usually up to 10 cm. Theoretically, the methods of its application can be different, but specifically on TVs, it is mainly used to facilitate communication via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: just bring an NFC-compatible gadget (for example, a smartphone ) to the TV chip — and the devices will recognize each other automatically and either connect immediately, or the user will be required to confirm the connection. Anyway, it's easier than setting up the connection manually.

— DLNA support. The TV supports DLNA — Digital Living Network Alliance. This standard was created so that various types of home and portable electronics — smartphones, tablets, media centers, computers, etc. — was possible to combine into a single network and easily exchange content within this network, regardless of the model and manufacturer of individual devices. In the case of a TV, this means that you can directly stream video from other devices, such as a smartphone, to it via the network. The network itself is built on the basis of the usual local area network, both a wired LAN interface and wireless Wi-Fi can be used to connect to it.

— Ambilight. Screen backlight technology. In this case, the TV case illuminates the wall/partition located at the back, due to which a blurry halo appears around the screen contour in the colour of changing scenes. This effect visually expands the screen area, making watching TV more enjoyable. There are three types of backlighting in total: classic Ambilight (on the sides only), Ambilight Surround (on the sides and top), Ambilight Full Surround (from all sides). But manufacturers continue to work on improving the backlight. So, relatively recently, the Ambilight Spectra backlight has appeared, in which the colour matching algorithm has been significantly improved and the LEDs themselves have been optimized.

— Voice control. TV support for voice control allows you to dictate certain commands through the remote control. However, not all functions are covered by voice control and recognition accuracy may require re-entering the command. If you need a more extensive range of functions, then pay attention to the voice assistant.

— Multimedia (air mouse remote). Air mouse remotes are devices that have a gyroscope, which allows you not only to switch menu items with the “↑”, “↓” buttons, but to use the remote control as a mouse. By pointing it at the TV screen, a cursor will appear that moves in the direction of the remote control. This makes management easier and faster.

— Voice assistant. For a long time now, device control has been shifting to voice commands. For this, certain interfaces and systems are used. The most popular are Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as Samsung's own Bixby assistant. For "apple" devices, this is Apple Siri, but this technique is not presented on TVs. At the same time, unlike the voice control function, the voice assistant does not just turn on this or that function, mode, makes it louder, quieter, but allows you to perform certain operations in applications, whether it is to launch the desired clip in Youtube or display the weather in the browser.

Internet services supported by the TV. This list may include multimedia platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, Netflix, etc.), social networks (Facebook, Twitter), online TV broadcasting systems, as well as more specific resources, sometimes very far from the original purpose of TV (for example, a game centre for online saves and interaction with other players).

Support for a particular service usually means that the TV has a special application to access it (or several services at once). Many of these resources can also be accessed through a browser (see "Features"), but special support often provides additional convenience and extended capabilities.

File formats that the TV can play from external media (such as a USB flash drive) via a USB port. Modern televisions, usually, can work with a fairly extensive set of formats, including video, audio, pictures, and even text documents. At the same time, we note that within the same format, different encoding methods can be used, and some files may turn out to be unreadable even if they formally match in format. This is especially true for inexpensive and outdated TVs.

The TV's connectivity is based not only on wireless technologies (described above), but also on a wired connection. In particular, video transmission can be carried out through VGA, Component, Composite, SCART connectors. Some of them also provide sound transmission, in addition to which there may be a mini-Jack (3.5 mm). and other ports for interconnection with external devices. More about them:

— USB. Connector for connecting external peripheral devices. The presence of USB means at least that the TV is capable of playing content from flash drives and other external USB media. In addition, there may be other ways to use this input: recording TV programs to external media, connecting a WEB camera (see same paragraph), keyboard and mouse to use the built-in browser and other software, etc. The specific set of options depends on the functionality of the TV, it should be specified separately in each case.

— Card reader. A device for working with memory cards, most often in SD format. The main use of the card reader is to play content from such cards on a TV; such an opportunity is especially convenient for viewing materials from photo and video cameras — it is in such devices that memory cards are w...idely used. There may be other ways to use this function — for example, recording from the broadcast or even exchanging files between the card and the TV's storage. It is worth bearing in mind that SD cards have several subtypes — original SD, SD HC and SD XC, and not all of them may be supported by the card reader.

— LAN. Standard connector for wired connection to computer networks (both local and the Internet). Mostly found in models with Smart TV support (including Android TV devices; see related paragraphs). A wired connection is less convenient than Wi-Fi, not as aesthetically pleasing, so manufacturers place more emphasis on a wireless connection, as a result of which the speed indicators of the LAN connector are not indicated, and in some cases may be unacceptable for 4K broadcasts.

— VGA. Analogue video input, also known as D-sub 15 pin. Initially, the VGA interface was developed for computers, but due to the emergence of more advanced standards like HDMI (see below) and technical limitations (the maximum resolution is only 1280x1024, the inability to transmit sound), it is considered obsolete and is used less and less. So it makes sense to specifically look for a TV with such a connector mainly in cases where it is planned to be used as a monitor for an outdated computer or laptop.

— Component. Video interface with 3 connectors, each of which is responsible for its part of the video signal. This separation provides high bandwidth and noise reduction, making the component input the most advanced analogue video interface available today. So, it is capable of working with HD, and in terms of image quality it significantly surpasses S-Video and composite connector, closely approaching HDMI (see below).

— Composite. Combined analogue audio/video interface, it is this connector that is usually called the A/V input. Actually, there are usually three connectors in the composite interface — separately for video and the left/right channel of stereo sound (on TVs with one speaker that do not support stereo, one of the audio connectors is missing). The image quality when working through such an input is not high, and HD formats are not supported at all; on the other hand, the composite interface is extremely widespread not only in modern, but also in outdated equipment like VHS video recorders.

— SCART. The large universal multimedia connector, the largest connector used in today's consumer-grade video equipment. Works mainly with an analogue signal, which is why it is considered obsolete; however, still not falling into disuse. One of the reasons for this "longevity" is versatility: SCART does not have its "own" signal format, this standard only describes the connector. In fact, having the appropriate cables, you can connect different types of incoming signals to such an input — composite, S-Video, etc. Moreover, it is technically possible for such a connector to work as an output (for the same signal types). However the specifications of SCART connectors in different TVs may be different, so a specific list of compatible interfaces needs to be specified separately.

— COM port (RS-232). A connector originally developed for computer technology. It is used as a control on TVs: by connecting the device to a computer, you can control TV parameters and various settings, sometimes quite specific and inaccessible when using a conventional remote control.

— Mini-Jack (3.5 mm). A connector most commonly used as an analogue audio (line) input. One of the options for using such a connector is to connect audio for a video signal transmitted via VGA, S-Video (see above) or another interface that does not support audio transmission. However, with the appropriate cable, any audio source can be connected to the 3.5 mm mini-Jack port, including a mobile device like a smartphone or a pocket player. In this case, the sound can be played both through the speakers of the TV, and on external speakers connected to it. Another option for using this input is to connect a microphone for chatting via Skype.

The amount of memory installed in the TV to store content in the device. The larger size is especially relevant given that modern TVs allow the installation of additional applications that enhance the capabilities — and these applications also require space. However, do not forget that the TV system also requires space. And manufacturers by the volume can indicate both the total value and the free memory calculated for installing applications. And the volume itself can vary from 4 GB to 16 GB or more. However, a TV with 8 GB memory may be the best option.

Most TVs have a VESA wall mount which may vary in size. The basis for such mount is a rectangular plate with four holes for screws in the corners. The main characteristic of such a mount is the distance between the holes — it is measured along the sides of the rectangle and is expressed in two numbers. The original VESA format is 100x100, these mounts are used for most medium-sized LCD TVs. For small screens, 75x75 mounts are provided, for large ones — 200x200 and more (up to 800x400).

However, there are also models that are equipped with a standard (proprietary) mount from the manufacturer. Mostly these are either ultra-thin TVs or designer lines. Anyway, the mount in the kit is suitable only for the selected model.

The electrical power normally consumed by the TV. This parameter strongly depends on the screen size and sound power (see above), however, it can be determined by other parameters — primarily additional features and technologies implemented in the design. It is worth noting that most modern LCD TVs are quite economical, and most often this parameter does not play a significant role — in most cases, power consumption is about several tens of watts. And even large models with a diagonal of 70 – 90" consume about 200 – 300 W — this can be compared with the system unit of a low-power desktop PC.