Philips Releases Low Cost 65-inch OLED TV with Roku OS for U.S. Market

In late 2023, Sharp launched an OLED TV line for the US market with Roku built-in. Following up on that development, Philips (which has a large brand presence in Europe) has jumped on board with Roku to release a new 65-inch OLED TV (974 series) with Roku OS specifically being offered to consumers in the United States.

Pro Tip: All OLED panels used by Philips and other TV brands are made by the LG Display Company. An OLED TV uses Organic LEDs, which are self-emitting (no blacklight or LCD display panel required). OLED TV technology can display absolute black if needed, precise color, more refined contrast, and a wider viewing angle than LCD-based TVs. To dig deeper, read our reference article: WTF is an OLED TV?

What the Philips OLED Roku TV Offers

Roku OS: The inclusion of Roku provides access to a wide range of streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+, Max, etc…) as well as other smart features. Roku works with Apple AirPlay, Apple Home, and Google Home. The Roku OS is upgradable via periodic firmware updates. This means that the Roku OS used in this TV is the same as that used in all other Roku devices. Philips also adds additional picture and audio settings according to their needs.

Dolby Vision IQ: This is a variation of Dolby Vision HDR that dynamically adjusts and optimizes picture settings based on the room’s lighting for the best viewing experience. Other compatible HDR formats include HDR10 and HLG.

Gaming Support: The Philips/Roku OLED TV provides a 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium. This enables smooth gameplay for fast-paced action.

Built-in Sound System: A Dolby Atmos-compatible 2.1 speaker system is included – just keep in mind that Dolby Atmos content is downmixed from full surround to 2.1 channels. For best sonic performance, it is best to connect the TV to a soundbar, a pair of powered speakers, or an external home theater audio system. 

Roku Voice Remote: Easily control the TV from anywhere in the room with just your voice. Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit using voice commands.

Cabinet and Stand Design: The Philips/Roku OLED TV has a three-sided borderless display and sleek metal stands. 

Specifications

The Bottom Line

The TV category has become oversaturated, and what is interesting to point out is that Roku has been making a homegrown line of 4K UHD TVs with their built-in OS for a couple of years now and shows no sign of stopping. 

While Roku’s own TV offerings include LCD-based TVs (LED/LCD,  QLED, and Mini-LED models – refer to our Related Reading section below), they haven’t taken the plunge into OLED yet. However, they are offering an OLED TV reference design to third parties, including Sharp and Philips, which they seem to have embraced. 

It is also interesting that Sharp is offering several screen sizes of OLED TVs with Roku, while Philips is only offering one screen size (65-inches) so far. It will be interesting to see if they will expand their screen size offerings. 

Given the price points at which the sets from Sharp and Philips are being offered, I find it doubtful they incorporate LG Display’s latest OLED panels, such as those used in LG’s G4 and G5 Series TVs, but that could change if future models are pursued. 

It just seems odd that Roku is not making the choice to make their own branded OLED TVs, but if they see Sharp and Philips succeed, that could be their next TV announcement in the near future.

Price & Availability

The 65-inch 974 OLED Philips Roku TV is available nationwide in-store and online for $1,299 at Sam’s Club.

Related Reading

• Roku Announces the 2024 Roku Ultra Streamer: Preview
• 2024 Roku Pro Series MiniLED, QLED TV Features and Pricing Detailed
• Roku Announces Availability of Roku 4K Select and Plus Series TVs
• Roku’s Expanded Lineup Of Smart Home Products Can Protect Your Home