Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum (58PFL9955H) review

Philips second-generation 21:9 TV adds 3D and LED backlighting

Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum (58PFL9955H)
With a true widescreen aspect ratio, this TV is one for home cinema enthusiasts

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Philips cinema 21:9 platinum (58pfl9955h)

The original 21:9 was so nearly a brilliant TV, but was let down by a somewhat plasticky design and bog-standard CCFL lighting system. Philips has addressed those issues and brought full HD 3D into the mix. The result? A brilliant TV.

We liked

The three-sided Ambilight and the 21:9 format combine to make watching widescreen movies a real immersive experience. 3D movies are presented with visual pop and little in the way of crosstalk.

It's neatly designed and full of features. Even the remote control and the TV's audio performance deserve plaudits.

We disliked

The absence of a Freeview HD tuner takes some getting used to, and the TV is also a little bit chunkier than some of its rivals. Ambilight doesn't suit 3D playback. There's no 2D-3D conversion technology on board.

Final verdict

Philips' Cinema 21:9 platinum is undoubtedly the most technologically advanced screen you can buy and challenges Samsung's UE55C9000 as the most desirable. It takes superb pictures, boasts solid audio and extensive features and wraps them in a gorgeous, uniquely-shaped frame.

Really, the only thing wrong with it is its lack of a Freeview HD tuner – but that doesn't stop it bagging full marks. It's not a question of should you buy one, it's just whether or not you can afford to.

Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview