<?php
        $actual = date_create();
        $expected = date_create();
        $absDelta = abs(0.5);
        $delta    = new \DateInterval(sprintf('PT%dS', $absDelta));
        $delta->f = $absDelta - floor($absDelta);

        $actualClone = (clone $actual)
            ->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone('UTC'));

        $expectedLower = (clone $expected)
            ->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone('UTC'))
            ->sub($delta);


        $expectedUpper = (clone $expected)
            ->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone('UTC'))
            ->add($delta);
            
        var_dump($actualClone < $expectedLower, $actualClone > $expectedUpper);