Philips 42 Inch LCD HDTV: A Review of the Popular Low Cost TV

Philips has recently begun to aggressively market their low cost flat panel televisions in the United States. They have long been a household name with other small consumer electronics but they've been slow to break into this market. With great deals on big screen full HD LCD televisions there's no question as to why they're starting to make a little head way into the market. The 42PFL3603D27 is a 42" LCD HDTV from Philips that has made an especially large splash in the market. With little review data out there about it I thought it would be a good excuse to spend some time with this television.

Styling: 4/5

Picture Quality: 3.5/5

Value: 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Product Overview:

The Philips 42PFL3603D27 has a great looking exterior that truly rivals any manufacturer in the market place. The glossy black bezel is a perfect accent for the 42" screen. The set has a sturdy feel and quality craftsmanship is immediately evident. The included base is made from the same glossy black plastic as the bezel and offers a firm foundation for this flat panel. The speakers can be found at the base of the frame and offer a fullness of sound that is rarely found in this price range.

The 1080p picture quality offered by the Philips 42PFL3603D27 is considered "full HD". By using a Playstation 3 to deliver a high definition BluRay signal I found the picture produced to be clear and crisp. My only concern was with the slight motion blur that appeared during fast paced action scenes. I found this to be a little more severe then average. Standard definition viewing was within the acceptable limits but seemed to have a good deal of "noise" in the picture. I did find that the screen performed very well in a brightly lit room and noticed that the picture didn't wash out in the slightest. Also noteworthy is the great viewing angle, and decent black levels for a budget LCD.

The connectivity is a little bit lacking. It does not have a standard PC input, but does boast a USB input for flash drives (and will display pictures). It also has several HDMI inputs which is the gold standard for high definition connectivity.

Product Value:

Currently priced very competitively at just under $700 this Philips 42" LCD HDTV 42PFL3603D27 is a remarkable deal. It is hard to find that much screen real estate for a better price. This is especially true when you consider the quality of the display as well as the intangibles like a great name brand.