P&F USA’s first Google Cast-equipped TVs arrive in June and July via a quartet of Philips-brand 4KUltra HD TVs featuring high dynamic range (HDR).
The four 6000-series models use Google Cast instead of a smart-TV OS to stream content from the Cloud. They’re priced from $649 to $1,499 in screen sizes from 43 to 65 inches, positioning them below two series of 4K TVs incorporating smart-TV OS. Those series are the 7000 series of 49- to 55-inch TVs at $1,199 to $2,499 and a single 8000-series TV with 65-inch screen and $3,999 price.
Philips is among multiple brands turning to Google Cast in lieu of a smart-TV OS to add Cloud-streaming services to 4K TVs. Vizio started the trend earlier this year, but Polaroid also plans summertime shipments of 4K Google Cast TVs, and Westinghouse plans models in 2017. Funai’s Magnavox brand has also signed up to offer Google Cast.
Unlike traditional smart TVs, Google Cast TVs don’t store apps. Instead, consumers use Google Cast-enabled apps running on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or Chromebook to select a Cloud service that streams content directly to the TV via the Internet. The mobile device can be used to search, queue and control the content that’s streaming to the TV. If a game is streamed to the TV, the mobile device acts as the controller.
More than 1,000 apps are Cast-enabled, including Netflix, YouTube and Vudu.
Because Google Cast-equipped TVs pull content from the Cloud instead of from a mobile device, users reduce the drain on their mobile-device battery, get better audio and video quality, and get the opportunity to use the mobile device for other activities without interrupting TV playback, Google has said. Google Cast offers more apps and frequent updates than many dedicated smart-TV systems, proponents add.
The lineup: The four Philips Google Cast TVs consist of the $649 43-inch 43PFL6621/F7 and $1,499 65-inch 65PFL6621/F7, both due in July, and the $799 49-inch 49PFL6921/F7 and $999 55-inch 55PFL6921/F7, both due in June.
All feature Open HDR high-dynamic-range technology, Wi-Fi 802.11ac with MIMO antennas, HDMI 2.0a with HDCP2.2 on all HDMI ports, and built-in 4K HEVC and VP9 decoders.
The TVs also feature Philips 120 Perfect Motion Rate technology to reduce motion artifacts, new BrightPro LED backlight technology to boost brightness, and Pixel Plus Ultra HD processing engine for sharper images, brighter whites and blacker blacks, the company said.
They also come with Sonic Emotion Absolute 3D sound technology to deliver immersive sound experiences with a precise soundstage and clear dialog, the company added.
P&F USA, a subsidiary of Funai Electric Co., is the exclusive North American licensee for Philips TVs and home video products.
