Blaupunkt UGC5500S vs Hisense U7S Pro

Direct comparison

U7S PRO / U77S PRO

Info

Available screen sizes: 43”50”55”65”75”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”100”

Panel type: LCD IPS

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: VIDAA

Model year: 2026

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Overall rating

5.0

7.7

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    4.2

    7.3

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    4.1

    7.1

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    4.1

    6.8

  • Gaming on console

    5.4

    8.3

  • TV as a computer monitor

    6.0

    8.4

  • Watching in bright light

    4.0

    8.1

  • Utility functions

    5.1

    9.4

  • Apps

    9.6

    7.7

  • Sound quality

    6.0

    7.8

Advantages

  • Google TV system: massive app library

  • Relatively low input lag

  • Good viewing angles: thanks to an IPS panel

  • PC compatibility: excellent font readability (Chroma 4:4:4)

  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz at Full HD resolution

  • Presence of a classic mini-jack output

  • Quite pleasant sound: clear and loud beyond "budget" standard

  • Very high brightness: Over 2200 nits in HDR

  • Good black levels and contrast: VA panel (65") + 960 Mini-LED zones

  • QLED: Wide colour gamut coverage

  • Outstanding upscaling: Very good processing of weaker signals

  • Perfect for bright living rooms: High brightness + matte panel

  • Rich format support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X

  • Powerful gaming features: 4x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps), up to 330 Hz, low input lag, Game Bar

  • Exceptional sound: Built-in subwoofer + Devialet tuning

  • Remote: Solar panel, USB-C, backlighting, numeric keypad

  • Recording programs to USB

Disadvantages

No like
  • Very weak blacks and contrast

  • HDR: low brightness (250 nits) and lack of real effect

  • System fluidity: sluggish performance and "dull" remote

  • Motion: total lack of digital smoothers in the menu

  • Image processing: noticeable overscan and motion artifacts

  • No support for HGiG format (consoles)

  • App deficiencies: Limited availability of some apps in the HomeOS / VIDAA system

  • Poor image at an angle: additionally, the matte screen loses its ability to minimise reflections

Our verdict

Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a textbook example of a very cheap television that has primarily two major advantages: the Google TV system and an extremely low price. It is these two elements that make it an attractive option for many people. During testing, we also found it has another great use, which is working with a computer. Thanks to exemplary font readability and good viewing angles of the IPS panel, Blaupunkt surprisingly performs well as a budget monitor. However, one must be aware that this device is typically budget-oriented, and that savings are reflected in the image quality. The panel is simply dark, making it difficult to perform well in tougher lighting conditions, not to mention creating any real HDR effect. Additionally, despite the good viewing angles, the black levels on this model leave much to be desired – in the evenings, it will tend to appear dark grey, which is a typical characteristic of the IPS technology used here. From a price perspective, this is a device that aims to compete in the market not on image quality, but rather on the amount on the receipt. Blaupunkt UGC5500S is perfectly suited as a secondary television in the home, equipment for the holiday house, or for a less important room, where the image just needs to be there, and we want to enjoy all the benefits and applications that Google TV offers.

The Hisense U7S Pro is undoubtedly a successful model, but it’s designed for specific tasks. Its absolute domain is bright, sunlit living rooms. Thanks to its powerful brightness (over 2200 nits in HDR) and matte screen, you can count on a comfortable picture during the day – no squinting or battling reflections. This excellent daytime performance goes hand in hand with rich features. We get great upscaling for lower-quality content (e.g. traditional TV), a brilliant remote, and sound refined by Devialet. Importantly, this bright screen also squeezes out maximum features for gamers, with four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, ALLM, and refresh rates up to 330 Hz! All these features make it a true monster for consoles or PCs, provided we overlook its lack of support for the HGiG format. However, while the TV shines (or “mattes”? 😉) during the day, certain compromises emerge after dark. Even though the screen received a significant upgrade compared to last year's model in terms of the number of Mini-LED dimming zones, there is no noticeable improvement in black quality in the new generation. Generally, it is good, but there are times when it feels like the algorithms can't quite handle such a large number of dimming points. It’s clear that – like every Mini-LED – the U7S Pro struggles against OLEDs during nighttime viewing. Nonetheless, it remains a very versatile, well-equipped television for everyday use. So, if you’re looking for a TV that will give you a satisfying picture at any time of day and don’t want to pay as much as for the top models, this one will be an excellent choice.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Average
Good
Stand type
Legs
Central
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Fixed
Height adjustment
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

2.2/10

7.5/10

Local dimming function: No

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 960 (24 x 40)

Contrast:

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,000:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,150:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,100:1

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Contrast and black detail

Result

1,050:1

Review Hisense U7S Pro Contrast and black detail

Result

346,350:1

Review Hisense U7S Pro Contrast and black detail

Result

13,500:1

Review Hisense U7S Pro Contrast and black detail

Result

19,050:1

Review Hisense U7S Pro Contrast and black detail

Result

9,950:1

Review Hisense U7S Pro Contrast and black detail

Result

6,450:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

To put it bluntly: when it comes to black levels, it's just very poor. Our measurements on test patterns only confirmed what we could see with the naked eye – a result around 1000:1 is, these days, even in this price range, a disappointing outcome. In movie conditions, that "black" simply doesn't exist. To avoid being all talk, we fired up one of our favourite test scenes – the helicopter flight in "Sicario 2" (you can actually see it in the video we've linked below). Instead of inky, deep night, we got an image that is... navy blue. Everything on the screen that should be dark and mysterious actually glows a dark blue. This is the price we pay for using an IPS panel. On one hand, we get quite decent viewing angles, so if you're watching TV with the whole family from different angles, the picture doesn't lose much in saturation. On the other hand, if you're planning evening screenings with the lights off, this lack of contrast is going to sting your eyes from the very first minute.

The U7S Pro in the 65" variant we tested uses a VA panel and has as many as 960 local dimming zones. Thanks to the combination of such a panel (which has a high native contrast) and a large number of zones, blacks are really very good here. In dark scenes, watched with a slight light on, the effect can even resemble OLED TVs – as our first test scene from the movie Oblivion brilliantly demonstrated. Unfortunately, when more fine, bright elements appear on a dark background, the local dimming algorithm begins to show its weaknesses. The contrast can clearly drop then, and a "halo" effect, or characteristic glow (known as blooming), becomes noticeable around bright objects. However, this is a natural feature of Mini-LED TVs resulting from the physical limitations of this technology – while there are many dimming zones, there will always be fewer than independent pixels in an OLED, so it is physically impossible to completely avoid this. Interestingly, although the new U7S Pro model has almost twice as many local dimming zones as last year's U7Q Pro, it did not bring any significant improvement in this aspect in practice.

HDR effect quality

3.8/10

6.7/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 60.3%
DCI P3: 96.4%, Bt.2020: 81.5%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

232 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

245 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

255 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

238 nit

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S Brightness measurement

Result

252 nit

Review Hisense U7S Pro Brightness measurement

Result

1041 nit

Review Hisense U7S Pro Brightness measurement

Result

458 nit

Review Hisense U7S Pro Brightness measurement

Result

1104 nit

Review Hisense U7S Pro Brightness measurement

Result

528 nit

Review Hisense U7S Pro Brightness measurement

Result

897 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

Hisense U7S Pro

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

We won’t beat around the bush here – if you’re looking for a TV strictly for cinematic HDR experiences, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Unfortunately, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is not a machine built for such challenges. This is primarily due to its very low brightness, which we measured during our tests. A result of around 250 nits on movie screens speaks for itself. It’s simply too little to even consider any real HDR effect. To be honest, everything displayed in this format can confidently be seen as a somewhat “enhanced” SDR mode. We expected this, as practically every device in this price range falls short in this area, but we feel it’s our duty to warn you. Manufacturers love to brag about HDR compatibility on the boxes, but in reality, this format simply doesn’t exist here – it lacks the “fuel” in the form of brightness.

The situation is further complicated for Blaupunkt, as we’re dealing with a panel that has very basic coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, reaching only about 80%. You won’t find any advanced coatings to expand these capabilities (like quantum dots), which means scenes that are supposed to burst with richly saturated colours appear simply underwhelming on this screen. Therefore, we have a particular piece of advice for you: don’t force HDR mode on this model. If you have the option in the streaming app settings – just turn it off. By sticking to the classic SDR mode, you’ll be sure that the TV won’t try to “enhance” something that it can’t handle hardware-wise.

Let's start with the fact that the U7S Pro is an impressively bright television – in calibrated mode, our measurement equipment indicated a staggering 2200 nits of peak brightness! This is an absolutely remarkable result, considering this model is positioned rather as a mid-range option.

However, as we know, peak brightness on test patterns is one thing, and actual movie scenes are another. Unfortunately, in real video materials, the backlight power clearly drops. Admittedly, in the most demanding moments, the television can still exceed the 1000-nit barrier – which is still an excellent result, perfectly aligned with the mastering standards of most HDR films – but the real challenge comes from aggressively tuned local dimming algorithms. Because of these, small bright details, such as stars or the moon in the night sky, become noticeably dimmed. The television tries to maintain deep blacks at all costs, which is of course understandable, but unfortunately, this comes at the expense of the dynamics and brilliance of the HDR effect itself.

It's worth praising the colour reproduction. The new U7S Pro is a QLED type construction that provides a very wide coverage of the colour palette. Unlike last year's model (U7Q Pro), this year's variant is a "true" QLED, not a solution based on a PFS filter. As a result, color saturation has significantly increased, and the coverage of the most demanding BT.2020 space has exceeded the 81% barrier.

Factory color reproduction

4.8/10

4.7/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

We also took a close look at how Blaupunkt handles colours in movie mode, and here the matter is, to put it simply, twofold. We must once again clearly separate what we see in the standard SDR format from what happens when HDR is switched on, as they are two completely different worlds. Let's start with the better side of the coin. If you're planning to watch traditional TV, YouTube, or older films on this television, you can count on really well-tuned colours. In our test sample, the white balance in movie mode performed exceptionally well, which honestly surprised us. Of course, to avoid being too rosy, we noticed some drawbacks. Looking at the gamma charts, we observed that the processor struggles with properly dimming the image in its brightest areas. Additionally, there is quite a strong, at times overly aggressive, red saturation, which resulted in visible errors in reproducing certain shades. Despite this, overall, the image in SDR is simply solid and watchable without a grimace on your face. Unfortunately, the magic fades when we re-enter the world of HDR. Here, Blaupunkt behaves as if we suddenly switched it to store mode, and in its worst rendition. The excess blue in the white balance is so significant that it’s glaring, ruining any realism in the scene. Furthermore, the television interprets brightness very loosely, which, upon analysing the EOTF curve, clearly showed that for most of the time, colours simply appear washed out and lacking depth. This is also perfectly evident in the colour errors that become apparent in this mode. Once again, we are left with the same conclusion: Blaupunkt in SDR mode looks significantly better and more natural than in HDR, which seems to be forcefully added without proper refinement.

We've tested the U7S Pro model – as we always do – in the best factory-tuned picture mode, which is Filmmaker Mode. We can assess the displayed colours in two ways. The most disappointing was the profile intended for watching SDR content, that is, traditional television, YouTube, and other less demanding materials. The picture was clearly too yellow, which was a direct consequence of a poorly set white balance. As our graphs show, there is a huge deficiency of the blue component here, which drastically affected the overall colour temperature. This is clearly evident on the ColorChecker charts and the colour palette graphs, where most samples leaned towards yellow. Fortunately, the factory HDR mode performed much better – there the colour errors hovered around a Delta E value of 3, which is already a really solid result.

Color reproduction after calibration

6.4/10

7.5/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

It may sound like a joke – pulling out professional measuring equipment for a TV that costs around a thousand złoty / 250 dollars, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t check it. The question is: does such cheap gear give us any leeway in terms of calibration? To your surprise, the answer is: yes, absolutely. In the Blaupunkt UGC5500S menu, we found surprisingly many options that allowed us to effectively work on the picture. These aren't just empty sliders; these are concrete tools that enabled us to make use of our measurement sensors and software. In SDR mode, the effects were visible to the naked eye. We successfully eliminated the problem we mentioned earlier – that excessive, almost artificial saturation of reds. We also fixed the issue with the incorrect dimming of the brightest parts of the image. After calibration, the picture in standard format became significantly more balanced and simply correct. When it comes to HDR, the situation was more complicated again. While we managed to “tame” that aggressive blue tint in the white balance, it was clear that we were fighting a bit of a losing battle. Even after changing the settings, the TV still tried to interfere with the picture in its own way, as if the electronics knew better than we did how the scene should look. To top it off, there's the hardware barrier that no slider can overcome – colours in HDR still remain undersaturated. This simply results from the quality of the panel itself; it physically cannot produce the most vivid colours. To summarise this point: if any of you ask whether it’s possible to calibrate a TV for “a grand”, we respond with complete conviction: it is possible.

We do know, however, that the company Hisense is capable of much more – as previous generations have proven – which is why we simply couldn’t leave the factory flaws of the U7S Pro model unaddressed in everyday content. As always in such cases, we had the television undergo professional calibration. The conclusions? This process brought about a colossal change. After manually adjusting the white balance and compensating for deficiencies in the blue component, the annoying yellow tint disappeared as if by magic. White became naturally clean, and skin tones gained the proper, healthy hue. Importantly, the calibration not only tamed the capricious SDR mode but also maximised the potential of the panel, reducing average colour reproduction errors to values nearly imperceptible to the human eye. The only thing we need to criticise after the whole process is the very nature of the Mini-LED backlighting and its specific interaction with the HDR signal. The aggressively tuned local dimming algorithms significantly interfere with the EOTF brightness curve. As a result, the backlighting doesn’t always work perfectly with the creator’s intent – depending on the scene being watched, the curve can noticeably run either above or below the reference, occasionally disrupting the ideal dynamic of HDR images.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

6.4/10

9.5/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

Looking at our test photographs, it’s really hard to pick at anything. Most of the colours in the attached images blend together almost perfectly, creating smooth gradients without noticeable "jaggies". And indeed, in most scenes where we took these shots, it looked surprisingly good. However, the problem arises when we stop analysing still frames and start simply watching the films. In motion, the situation changes dramatically. During dynamic scenes on screen, artefacts begin to pop up, which are a direct result of simply having a poor image processor here. Unfortunately, a static photo can't capture that "tearing" of colours, but you have to take our word for it: what looks clean and smooth in the photo can really stand out and simply irritate during viewing. This is where our rather low rating in this category comes from.

Digital image processing has been a true hallmark of Hisense for some time now. In the U7S Pro model, we did not notice any serious issues with so-called color banding, or posterization effect. The individual shades transition nearly perfectly and smoothly into one another, without the annoying effect of jagged edges or visible "steps" on gradients.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

2.5/10

7.8/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
No
OK
Smooth transition function
No
OK

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

If you're hoping that the processor in this model will magically "fix" the poor quality signal from your cable TV or old movies from YouTube, we must disappoint you. The capabilities of this television end at absolutely basic upscaling, which is simply stretching the image to a higher resolution. It does this correctly in that the image is not blurry, but there is no mention of any intelligent sharpening or adding details. Worse still, Blaupunkt is completely devoid of any functions to reduce unwanted tonal transitions. If the material being viewed shows what is known as banding (ugly "steps" instead of a smooth transition of colours, e.g., in the sky), this television will display them in all their glory. Additionally, the television has a tendency to slightly crop the edges of the image. Instead of displaying 100% of what the source sends, Blaupunkt slightly zooms in on the frame, causing us to lose details that are at the very edges of the screen. In summary: in the category of digital "enhancement" of the image, Blaupunkt simply performs poorly. We receive a raw, unprocessed signal, with all its flaws.

The digital processing of lower quality signals is at a very high level here, all thanks to the MediaTek Pentonic 800 processor used in the U7S Pro. The upscaling also performs well, which is the TV's ability to enhance lower resolution signals to 4K. We did not notice any unnatural, sharp contours on the screen, and our test image featuring a model simply looked appealing.

Blur and motion smoothness

3.7/10

7.4/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
60Hz
165Hz
Film motion smoothing option
No
OK
Blur reduction option
No
OK
BFI function 60Hz
-
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
-
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
60%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Blur ():

Blur (1080P@330Hz):

When it comes to motion fluidity, Blaupunkt has nothing to defend itself with. A 60 Hz panel at this price is standard, so none of us expected a perfectly sharp image in fast action scenes or during a match. However, the biggest drawback of this model is that you won’t find any digital motion smoothers in the menu. The manufacturer hasn’t given us any room for manoeuvre – nothing can be smoothed out or the image adjusted to our personal preferences. The picture is always "raw" and we receive it exactly as it is transmitted by the source. For fans of cinematic "jumping" images, this might be good, but the rest simply has to get used to the lack of any motion enhancement.

Hisense U7S Pro uses a panel with a maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz in 4K, and in gaming mode, it can even reach 330 Hz at Full HD resolution. However, it is important to remember that these highest numbers do not have much significance in everyday usage, as most content supports a maximum of 120 Hz (e.g., when playing on a console). Nevertheless, the TV handles motion quite well and performs really well for an LCD construction.

It's hard to fault the fluidity. In the menu, we find a motion smoother called "Motion Enhancement," which has two sliders: motion blur reduction and judder reduction. They allow for manual configuration of the smoother, which works well in both movies and sports, effectively enhancing the raw TV signal.

Console compatibility and gaming features

3.5/10

8.5/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    No
    Yes
  • VRR range
    No
    48 - 330Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    No
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    No
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    No
    Yes
  • Game bar
    No
    Yes

When it comes to gaming on the Blaupunkt, we weren’t expecting miracles and indeed – the list of features isn’t very long. However, there are two interesting points worth mentioning, as they might be significant for some of you at this price. The first advantage is that the TV quite smoothly detects the connected console. Thanks to the ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) feature, the device knows when you start gaming and automatically switches to low latency mode. This is convenient because you don’t have to fiddle with settings every time to ensure input lag doesn’t spoil the fun. The second point is a real curiosity that surprised us. Despite it being a 60 Hz panel, the Blaupunkt can display a 120 Hz image at Full HD resolution. Sure, we lose 4K details, but for those playing more dynamic, online shooters where smoothness is more important than resolution, this is a really nice and unexpected addition in such an affordable device. Other than these two points, you won’t find anything more here. There are no advanced smoothness enhancement systems for gamers or extensive gaming menu bars. It’s a simple screen for occasional gaming.

If you're planning to connect a console or PC to the U7S Pro, you'll be more than pleased – this TV is great gear for gamers. Hisense hasn't held back, featuring 4 HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gbps. So you don't have to juggle cables, as each port will handle the full suite of features. We have an automatic game mode (ALLM) and VRR, which operates over a wide range from 48 Hz to a whopping 330 Hz. Of course, that 330 Hz is currently just a gimmick for owners of powerful PCs, as consoles will cap at 120 Hz, but it's good to have that headroom for the future. The Game Bar also works really well when gaming. It's a handy menu bar for gamers, where you can quickly change the picture mode, turn on a crosshair in the middle of the screen, and even switch the display aspect ratio to ultra-wide, which PC simulation fans will appreciate. The only downside worth noting is the incorrect implementation of the HGiG format in games. The issue is that the TV ignores instructions from the console regarding the image generated in HDR10 and constantly butts in, trying to "enhance" the image in its own way. This makes proper HDR configuration in the console menu (where brightness is set on the logo/checkerboard) a bit more challenging.

Input lag

8.6/10

9.7/10

SDR

1080p60
36 ms
18 ms
1080p120
25 ms
9 ms
2160p60
13 ms
18 ms
2160p120
9 ms

HDR

2160p60
12 ms
17 ms
2160p120
8 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
27 ms
2160p120 DV
18 ms

An important point for every gamer is, of course, input lag, which is how quickly the television responds to our movements on the controller. Here, Blaupunkt has something to boast about, although the results are quite specific. At 4K resolution, the lag is only 12 ms. That's an excellent result. With such a lag, gaming is simply phenomenal, and the response is almost instantaneous. However, it's a bit disappointing that the situation changes when switching to 1080p. Here, the input lag increases to around 30 ms. Just to be clear: that's still not a terrible result. For most people, it will be "more than acceptable," and during casual gaming, you probably won't even notice it. Nevertheless, it's a pity that such good parameters couldn't be maintained as we saw with full 4K. Nonetheless, in the overall assessment, as a budget screen for console gaming, Blaupunkt really performs admirably in this regard.

When it comes to delays, it's really good. Results below 10 ms for content at 120 Hz are great news because the response to moving the stick or pressing a button on the pad is immediate. At the standard 60 Hz, the delay increases to around 18 ms – that's still low enough that even a hardcore gamer won't notice it. The only thing you could nitpick about here is playing with Dolby Vision turned on. In that case, the input lag can jump to about 30 ms. However, it must be honestly admitted that these are still not values we would consider bad or that would hinder comfortable gameplay.

Compatibility with PC

6/10

8.4/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Average
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
13ms
8ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
RGB
BGR
Max refresh rate
60Hz
165Hz
G-Sync
No
Yes

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

If you're planning to connect a computer to this television, it's absolutely crucial to find and enable the PC compatibility option in the menu. Once you do this, magic happens – the implementation of Chroma 4:4:4 and font readability jump to an exemplary level. The readability of text is simply excellent here. Of course, our editorial diligence wouldn't let us pass this equipment without taking a look "under the hood." In very specific tests with thin, dark text, we noticed that the horizontal and vertical matrix masks differ slightly in brightness levels. However, we want to reassure you: this phenomenon is so subtle that, during normal use, writing emails or browsing the web, you won't be able to notice it with the naked eye. We maintain our opinion that as a monitor strictly for dynamic gaming on PC, it isn't the ideal choice (as we mentioned in the context of the 60 Hz refresh rate), but if any of you are wondering whether you can comfortably work on such a Blaupunkt – we say: yes, it absolutely can be done.

U7S Pro, as we mentioned before, is great gear for gamers – including PC gamers. The TV has an impressive refresh rate of 165 Hz at 4K resolution, and when it’s switched down to Full HD, it can even reach 330 Hz! These values are typically found in monitors, not TVs! Plus, the TV works seamlessly with Nvidia or AMD graphics cards thanks to G-Sync and FreeSync.

Regarding text clarity on the desktop, it’s quite good – the TV supports full colour sampling (Chroma 4:4:4), so fonts should be sharp and clear. However, there is a slight catch: text readability significantly worsens when the TV is running in 165 Hz or 144 Hz mode. To fix this and achieve much better, sharper fonts, it’s best to simply change the refresh rate in Windows settings to 120 Hz.

Viewing angles

5/10

3.2/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
71%
72%

Here it's really very good. Whether we were sitting straight on or on the edge of the couch, the colours didn't lose their saturation. This is a big plus if you're planning to watch matches or movies with a larger group – no one will complain that the picture looks worse for them. Although IPS panels are known for their good viewing angles, in this particular model, when viewed from a sharp angle, the picture noticeably loses brightness. Interestingly, the colour saturation still remains in place, but the screen simply becomes darker. It's not something that disqualifies this television, but it's worth knowing.

Unfortunately, the U7S Pro does not offer the best viewing angles on the market. This is due to the VA panel used here, which, unlike IPS or ADS panels, shows significantly greater image degradation when viewed from the side. Colours lose their saturation, and contrast clearly drops. Interestingly, this characteristic applies not only to the panel itself but also to the external screen layer. The matte coating used here loses its "matte qualities" at large angles and starts to behave more like a glossy screen. Instead of diffusing light, it begins to reflect it more strongly, which can increase discomfort when used in a sunlit room. Therefore, to enjoy the best image quality and lack of reflections, it is best to sit directly in front of the screen when using the U7S Pro, if possible.

Daytime performance

4/10

8.1/10

Panel finish
Satin
Matte
Reflection suppression
Decent
Good
Black levels during daytime
Good
Good

Panel brightness

Hisense U7S Pro: 903 cd/m2

Blaupunkt UGC5500S: 245 cd/m2

In terms of daytime performance, Blaupunkt is simply average. It all comes down to the low brightness of the panel, which – as we mentioned, hovers around 250 nits. That’s definitely too low for the screen to comfortably "cut through" the strong light coming into the living room. As a result, in bright sunlight, the image loses its clarity and appears somewhat washed out. However, there is one bright spot in this category: the satin coating of the panel. Thanks to this, we don't have to deal with the mirror effect, which often means instead of watching a movie, we're seeing our own couch reflected. The satin nicely diffuses reflections, which somewhat saves the situation. Nevertheless, we can’t cheat physics: while the coating bravely fights against reflections, the low brightness ultimately capitulates in the face of the sun's rays. If you plan to watch something in the middle of the day in a very bright room, prepare yourself for the necessity of drawing the curtains.

The U7S Pro performs exceptionally well in brightly lit living rooms, thanks to the new matte screen coating. In this year's model, it effectively suppresses reflections from direct light hitting the television. While it may not be the deepest matte available on the market, it proves effective in most scenarios. However, it's important to keep in mind the aforementioned trait: when seated at an angle, the coating drastically loses its properties, and the screen begins to resemble a satin-gloss finish. So, if we have windows positioned at an unfortunate angle, those sitting on the side of the couch may struggle with noticeable reflections. Despite this minor inconvenience, the U7S Pro is still a fantastic choice for a bright living room. Besides the coating itself, its main advantage is its extreme brightness. In typical television content (SDR), the screen can achieve an average of up to 900 nits. This is an outstanding result that positions this model at the very top of the market.

Panel details

Backlight Type
White LED
Mini-LED QLED
Software version during testing
RTM9.241015.007
V01.09.50D.Q0115
Image processor
m7332 2GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV Panel details
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV Panel details
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV Panel details
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV Panel details

Blaupunkt UGC5500S

Hisense U7S Pro

TV features

5.1/10

9.4/10

  • System
    Google TV
    VIDAA
  • System performance
    Average
    Good
  • HDMI inputs
    3 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    No
    Yes
  • Recording programming
    No
    Yes
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    Yes
  • Teletext
    No
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    No
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    No
    Yes
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    Yes
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Blaupunkt UGC5500S TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features

Sound connection options

  • HDMI audio
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Other audio outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio)
  • Wireless audio
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    Yes
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    Yes

Senior accessibility

  • Numeric keyboard on TV
    Yes
    Yes
  • Font size adjustment
    No
    Yes
  • Audio description
    No
    Yes

In terms of Smart TV functionality, the Blaupunkt UGC5500S is a classic example of a device where the system is both its biggest asset and its greatest flaw. On one hand, we have full Google TV, which is a huge plus at this price point. We gain access to a massive library of apps and basically all the functionality we know from brands using this software. Nothing has been cut out forcefully, which is really refreshing in such an inexpensive TV. Unfortunately, it must be honestly admitted that in the case of Blaupunkt, this system operates quite clumsily. This is a typical issue with low-budget TVs running Google TV – the processor barely keeps up with the software. Navigating through the menu isn’t as smooth as we would like, and the remote can react with noticeable delays, giving the impression of being "dull." Of course, once you launch a specific app and start a movie, everything works steadily, but just browsing through the interface requires a bit of patience.

When it comes to classic TV features, Blaupunkt offers nothing extraordinary. It’s a simple device for basic tasks. The remote is a plus, featuring a traditional numeric keypad, which is just convenient for hopping through cable channels. We also have Bluetooth, so you can easily connect wireless headphones or a speaker. The TV also has a physical mini-jack headphone output. At a time when manufacturers are mass-eliminating this connection, the presence of a "jack" is a nod to those with older audio equipment or simply those who prefer classic wired headphones. It’s a small thing, but it’s appreciated.

SmartTV: Vidaa / HomeOS

Hisense U7S Pro on our European market traditionally relies on its proprietary system. This year, Vidaa underwent rebranding and changed its name to "HomeOS". When it comes to the appearance of the system itself, there are no major revolutions – instead of purple accents, we simply have yellow. The system operates really smoothly and responsively. The television supports all typical Smart TV functions, such as AirPlay, screen mirroring, and voice search. Interestingly, the new voice assistant is based on artificial intelligence, so its responses are primarily driven by AI. The only criticism that can be levelled at the Vidaa system is that it does not offer the broadest library of applications. At least, this is the case at the time of writing this review, which is in May 2026. (Application list at the bottom).

TV Features

The U7S Pro also performs well as a traditional television for watching regular broadcasts, mainly thanks to the remote control with a physical numeric keypad that comes in the box. With this, you can easily and quickly enter the number of the station you’re interested in. In the evenings, there's no need to click blindly, as the operational part of the remote is backlit. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about batteries – the remote is equipped with a solar panel, and if necessary, it can simply be recharged using a USB-C port. It’s also worth mentioning that the HomeOS system (i.e. Vidaa) offers a program recording function from the built-in tuner directly onto a USB stick or drive, as well as the option to schedule recordings. This is a big plus, as such functionality is quite rare these days, and it will certainly please those who use antenna television.

Apps

9.6/10

7.7/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce NOW
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
No
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
No
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
No
GeForce NOW
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

9.3/10

8.3/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
Yes
No
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
Yes
WebP
Yes
Yes
TIFF
No
Yes
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
No
12 Mpix
Yes
No
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
No
24 Mpix
Yes
No
28 Mpix
Yes
No
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

In terms of playing files from USB, Blaupunkt performs quite solidly. We tested several of the most popular formats and basically everything that matters worked without any fuss on the factory player. So you're not forced to immediately download additional software right after pulling the TV out of the box, because the equipment is simply self-sufficient ‘out of the box’. Nevertheless, taking advantage of the charms of Google TV, we still recommend installing some external software, like VLC or Kodi. The factory player is adequate, but it's in those external applications where you'll find the most configuration options, better subtitle support, or just a more convenient interface. Since the system gives you that freedom, it's worth taking advantage of it to get as much as you can out of your multimedia.

Playing files from a pendrive on the U7S Pro isn't much of a problem. The TV handles the majority of files in photo, audio, or video format without any fuss. However, we have some concerns about the resolution of supported images – it is quite limited. It's worth noting because during testing, images with resolutions such as 12, 20, or 24 Mpix simply wouldn't play from the built-in player.

Sound

6/10

7.8/10

  • Maximum volume
    85dB
    85dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    Yes

In terms of audio, Blaupunkt performs really well, especially considering it's a typical budget television. You can see, or rather hear, that the brand hasn't forgotten its roots and for such an inexpensive build, the sound is actually superb. Of course, there's a noticeable lack of bass, but overall it's loud, and surprisingly clear. What matters most to us – even at higher volumes, the sound isn't heavily distorted, which is rare and a pleasant surprise at this price point.

The sound on the U7S Pro is really good, definitely above average. Hisense has changed the design of the casing compared to the U7Q Pro model, and now at the back, we find a built-in subwoofer, which is a bass speaker. Thanks to this, the bass is well audible. The Chinese manufacturer is heavily promoting its collaboration this year with engineers from Devialet, who were responsible for the audio tuning in this model. Evidence of this is the previously mentioned logo on the casing. The only thing we have to criticise is the TV’s performance at full power. At maximum volume (set to 100%), the casing vibrates unpleasantly, and the annoying creaking of plastic is clearly audible. Fortunately, lowering the volume to around 80% completely eliminates this problem.

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements

85dBC (Max)

75dBC

85dBC (Max)

75dBC