I’m sure you’ve heard it before…
“Don’t buy a Hisense TV.
Hisense TVs aren’t worth your money.
Hisense TVs use cheap parts.”
But my Hisense TV lasted for 6 years without any problems.
So, what’s that about?
Is Hisense TV a good brand? Or a flop?
Keep reading to discover:
- 5 credible reasons why Hisense TV is a good brand.
- If a Hisense TV is worth spending your money’s worth on.
- Whether Hisense TVs are a better choice than TCL or not.
- 4 common issues you should consider before buying a Hisense TV.
- And so much more…
Is Hisense a good TV brand?
Hisense is a good TV brand that offers better price value than its competitors. The Chinese TV brand also delivers well on core features needed for a TV. That includes 4K resolution, smart features, and HDR support. Lastly, their TV lineup caters well to single-person, family, and even gamer needs.
5 reasons why Hisense is a good TV brand
#1: Great price value
If I could describe Hisense TVs in one word, it would be: affordable.
Sure – Samsung, LG, or Sony are TV brands worth considering.
But when I happened to think about purchasing my first TV, I wanted one that was price-friendly.
Of course, price isn’t the only deciding factor.
I also consider the following standards:
- TV size.
- Sound quality.
- Life span and reliability.
- Picture quality (4K resolution or HDR support).
- Functionality. (smart features and compatibility).
And above all, Hisense meets those standards with great value.
When I say value, I don’t mean stellar ratings for all those standards.
But personally, I lean more towards balanced standards. That means I’m willing to compromise on a few meh qualities.
In your case, life span might be more important than anything else.
For others, picture quality reigns supreme.
Either way, the affordability that Hisense offers is just the tip of the iceberg.
And it’s not the only great thing about the brand.
To give you a little more insight, here’s a table that compares prices between Sony, Samsung, LG, and Hisense.
| TV Models | Hisense 55U6G | LG Nanocell 80Series | Samsung Q60A | Sony X85J |
| TV size | 55 inches | 55 inches | 55 inches | 55 inches |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Display technology | QLED | LED | QLED | LED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Price | $449.99 | $596 | $697 | $748 |
As you see, the difference is quite clear.
Considering that all the TVs listed above have similar specs, Hisense is cheaper.
You’re looking at $146 to $298 worth of savings compared to other brands.
Not to mention, at a price of roughly $450, you’re getting all the core features you need in a smart TV.
With a QLED display, 4K resolution, smart features, and a good TV size, Hisense drives a great bargain.
But what about refresh rate?
I’m sure you’ve noticed that Sony’s refresh rate is a lot higher than other TV brands.
However, this won’t matter as much unless you plan to use your TV for gaming.
If you’re playing any fast-paced shooting game, for example, refresh rate matters.
And at 120 Hz, that’s value right there.
But if you’re simply looking for a good TV brand to watch your shows, refresh rate hardly counts.
#2: A strong suit for innovation
Hisense takes leaps and bounds to innovate their TVs.
One example is their ULED TVs.
Think of it as an upgrade from your LED TV.
You might be familiar with LG’s OLED TVs. Well…
ULED is somewhat the competing display that Hisense developed.
With a ULED display, you get the following benefits:
- Wider display of colors.
- Sharper and more detailed images.
- Smoother transitions (fast action films are less blurry).
- Greater contrast and clearer picture for movies with dark backgrounds.
But wait – because there’s a lot more Hisense has to offer.
In the recent CES 2022, Hisense announced a new lineup of TV models:
- U6H.
- U7H.
- U8H.
- U9H.
Okay…but what do those numbers mean?
Think of each of those numbers as new-and-improved models of Hisense’s previous TV models:
- U6 Series.
- U7 Series.
- U8 Series.
- U9 Series.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Hisense’s new TV lineup:
Hisense U6H
The improved U6H models promise the following benefits:
- Far-field voice control.
- Google TV OS upgrade.
- New voice assistant feature.
That’s not all.
The biggest improvement to Hisense’s U6H model is its picture quality.
Quantum Dot, Dolby Vision IQ, and Dolby Atmos are a few of the many picture quality upgrades.
Hisense U7H
With the upgraded U7H model, it gets even better.
The original U7 series had a ton of high-tech features already.
But the U7H? It has 3x more features packed into 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, or 85-inch TVs.
Some of these include the following:
- ATSC 3.0.
- Dolby Atmos.
- Dolby Vision IQ.
- IMAX Enhanced.
- 120 Hz refresh rate for better & smoother gaming.
- FreeSync technology to eliminate screen tears or stuttering in gaming.
Hisense U8H
The Hisense U8H model will have all of the same upgrades as the U7H except…
It gets an additional display upgrade that uses mini LED and ULED technology.
And most of all, enhanced peak brightness.
Think of the U8H as a mega-improved picture-quality TV model.
Combined with its other improvements, it’s no wonder the U8H TV lineup has the tagline…
“Best all-around TV.”
Hisense U9H
You’re looking at the best of the best.
But what else could Hisense improve that’s not already in the U8H?
Well, I’m inviting your brain to think even bigger.
No – it’s not a bigger TV screen.
The Hisense U9H packs all the upgrades in the U6H, U7H, and U8H models. Plus…
The best picture quality.
Yes – better contrast, better peak brightness, better color accuracy, and so on.
With all that said, it’s evident just how much effort Hisense puts into innovation.
Most of these innovative endeavors came about due to consumer reviews. These reviews mentioned issues like:
- OS system glitches.
- Picture quality inconsistencies.
- Average sound and audio quality.
This goes to show that Hisense Group listens to its consumers and takes action to improve.
Editor’s pick: Is Hisense A Smart TV? 7 Questions Answered
#3: Supports gaming technologies
Hisense understands that TVs aren’t just for well…
Binge-watching 11 seasons of Modern Family.
“Guilty as charged.”
For gamers, TV resolution matters too.
And when you have a 65-inch TV to play any game on, well…
Let’s just say it’s much more appealing than on a smaller screen with mediocre specs.
Hisense adds gaming technology to their TVs, such as HDMI 2.1.
This allows your TV to support important gaming features like…
- Higher refresh rates.
- Variable refresh rate.
- Auto low-latency mode.
All these combined make for a seamless game-playing session.
#4: Delivers high-tech features and technology in mid-range TVs
With most mid-range TVs in the 43-inch to 55-inch range, you don’t expect as many features.
But with Hisense, that’s far from the case.
Hisense’s mid-range TVs have all the core features you need in a smart TV and…
- High-tech gaming features.
- Dolby Atmos (for better sound quality).
- Dolby Vision and HDR 10 (better picture quality).
- ULED display (better contrast, color, and image quality).
In fact, Samsung hasn’t even released any Dolby Vision HDR format in their mid-range TVs.
You’ll normally find these in their higher-tier or top-of-the-line models.
From that alone, it’s proof that these high-tech features add even greater value to Hisense’s price tag.
Not to mention, Hisense’s 4K mid-range TV line will have IMAX Enhanced audio and faster refresh rates.
How’s that for $500 and high tech?
#5: Comes with the option of using the Roku TV platform
I’ll be honest.
Hisense has their own OS system: Vidaa.
And well…
It’s just okay.
So, it’s a good thing Hisense also offers TVs that come with a Roku TV platform.
Rather than spend an extra $30 to $60 for a streaming stick, why not get a TV with Roku already?
Roku’s OS is much smoother than Vidaa and has more shows available at your fingertips.
I like how Hisense didn’t just “force” users to stick to their own Vidaa OS.
Giving users the option to choose between a Roku OS, Android OS, and Vidaa OS is a benefit indeed.
4 common Hisense TV problems
#1: Peak brightness not so great
Hisense TVs offer great value and affordable price tags.
But there are a few problems worth mentioning.
One of which is its peak brightness.
Think of it this way.
When there’s a lot of sunlight in the room, your TV gets a little less clear.
It’s completely different from watching in a dark room, right?
I tried watching Batman: The Dark Knight in broad daylight.
And let me tell you…
The sunlight ruined all the scenes that had dark backgrounds.
Don’t you wonder why some laptop screens appear so dim outdoors but so bright in a dark room?
My point exactly.
You could set the brightness to its max setting.
But if the peak brightness is low, it won’t improve your viewing experience.
And this is where Hisense TVs don’t perform as great in.
Samsung and LG TVs have 2x more peak brightness than Hisense TVs.
Considering you’re also paying less for a Hisense TV…
This may be one component Hisense compromised to make up for the lower price tag.
#2: Mid-range TVs have chunky and okay designs
Okay, okay.
The mid-range TVs Hisense offers are attractive when it comes to high-tech features.
But the construction itself?
Chunky as peanut butter.
The design?
It’s passable but Hisense could definitely do better.
Now, this isn’t as big of an issue because TVs are mostly set in place.
It’s not like you’ll move your TV to a new space in your room every week.
But the downside of a chunky design is it covers a large space footprint.
That makes it harder for you to install. Especially if you already have furniture lying around.
#3: ULED models have narrow viewing angles
Picture this.
You just bought a 75-inch TV to install in your living room.
You even invested in a brand new couch to make it comfortable for a big group.
So you invite 6 of your friends to watch the latest NBA highlights.
You’re sitting at the right side of your living room and then realize…
Why isn’t your TV as clear or as sharp as it’s supposed to be?
And here lies another problem with Hisense: its narrow viewing angle.
In other words, an image on your TV screen might appear inaccurate when you’re watching from the side.
If you have a wide seating arrangement, the ULED TV models tend to have narrower viewing angles.
So if you decide to get a 75-inch ULED Hisense TV, don’t set your seats too far off on the side.
It’s not as bad as it sounds, though.
After all, it’s hard to miss a lot when you have an 80-inch TV.
But it’s still worth pointing out.
Why?
Because Samsung uses viewing angle technology to address these issues.
Hopefully, Hisense’s upgraded TV lineup this June 2022 will address these issues too.
#4: Sound quality could be improved
Sound quality matters to me… a lot.
Especially when I’m watching shows that have a lot of important conversations in between.
Shows like Peaky Blinders, The Crown, and Suits.
If the audio quality is crap, here’s what could happen.
You’d end up rewinding 10 seconds every time you feel like you misheard something.
Frustrating, right?
Sad to say, Hisense TVs have average sound quality.
That means it’s not bad, but it’s not great either.
This was a disappointing feature for me, to be honest.
Hisense TV’s built-in speakers are meh quality.
But, at the same time, I’m also glad it lead me to get a soundbar.
If you’re in the same boat as I am, you’d need to improve your speaker system.
Trust me – it’s worth the extra Benjamins.
People also ask:
Is Hisense a reliable TV brand?
Hisense TVs are reliable enough to last you 6 to 8 years provided they’re well taken care of.
In addition, you’re getting…
- Affordability.
- Great resolution.
- Solid picture quality.
- Wide TV model selection.
Granted, some reviews might have led you to believe that Hisense TVs don’t last as long.
However, this is a case-to-case basis.
Yes – Hisense may have cheaper components.
However…
This doesn’t speak for the reviews that claim to rate Hisense with 4 to 5-star ratings.
You’ll find a lot of affordable products today that cost much lower than the average…
And yet, surpass your expectations.
After all, Hisense is the new kid on the block compared to Samsung, LG, or Sony.
It’s only natural for newer brands to adjust and have design flaws along the way.
Samsung, LG, and Sony are no strangers to sudden breakdowns or defects, wouldn’t you agree?
Which brand is better: TCL or Hisense?
TCL is better when it comes to affordability while Hisense has a better smart TV interface.
However, it’s not as simple as price and smart home features.
TCL and Hisense are both budget-friendly TV brands.
But there are some aspects TCL outperforms better than Hisense in besides price.
Similarly, Hisense also outperforms TCL in other aspects.
For example, when comparing screen displays, TCL is a better option.
Why?
Most of TCL’s screens use QLED while Hisense leans more towards LED or ULED.
QLED is better at providing brighter and more vibrant colors to your screen.
Not to mention, QLED displays have a higher peak brightness.
Now, if you prefer sharper images and better contrast, Hisense is a better option.
Surprisingly, Hisense also has better audio quality than TCL.
And to think, Hisense’s built-in speakers aren’t exactly the best out there.
But when it comes to price and durability, TCL is more affordable and has a better design quality.
Further reading: Hisense Vs TCL: Which TV Brand Is Better?
Overall, here’s how to decide between the two.
Choose Hisense if you prefer…
- Better viewing angles.
- Decent audio/sound quality.
- An intuitive and user-friendly smart TV interface.
- Higher contrast ratio (for improved picture quality).
- Multiple ports for gaming or entertainment purposes.
Choose TCL if you prefer…
- Faster applications.
- More affordable options.
- Sturdier and stable design.
- Watching TV in dark environments.
- Dynamic picture ideal for cinema purposes.
- Machine learning optimization (enhances low resolution to achieve 4K quality).
Is Hisense made by Samsung?
Hisense is made by Hisense Group, which also manufactures Toshiba and Sharp TVs.
Hisense Group is a Chinese multinational appliance and electronic consumer goods manufacturer.
The company was founded in 1969. Its main headquarters are located in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
Samsung, on the other hand, is a South Korean electronics brand.
Samsung doesn’t make any Hisense products and in fact, both are rivals in the TV industry.
It’s possible to think that perhaps Hisense outsources components from Samsung.
As a result, the assumption arose that Samsung makes Hisense products.
But this isn’t true.
Hisense manufactures the majority of its components in-house.
In other words, Hisense makes its own parts, including LED screens.
In the past, Hisense outsourced its OLED screens from LG.
However, seeing as how the OLED lineup of Hisense didn’t perform as well, this was discontinued.
In effect, Hisense released their own version: ULED.
As it stands, Hisense only outsources its flash memory chips from Intel. Apart from that, everything else is manufactured by Hisense.