Hisense U7KQ vs TCL C8L / QM8L

Direct comparison

C8L / QM8L

Info

Available screen sizes: 100”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”85”98”

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: VIDAA

Model year: 2023

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2026

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Overall rating

7.5

8.3

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.5

    7.7

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    7.3

    7.5

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.6

    7.2

  • Gaming on console

    8.2

    8.9

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.0

    8.6

  • Watching in bright light

    7.8

    10.0

  • Utility functions

    8.2

    8.3

  • Apps

    7.7

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    6.9

    8.1

Advantages

  • Very good black

  • High brightness of the panel

  • Stable and fast-operating system

  • Very good price-to-quality ratio in the 100" variant

  • Excellent black levels: Mini-LED backlight

  • High peak brightness: results reaching nearly 5,000 nits

  • Outstanding daytime performance: the powerful backlight easily cuts through reflections on the panel

  • Very good colours: new SQD quantum dots

  • Pentonic 800 processor: a noticeable improvement in upscaling and digital features

  • Four full HDMI 2.1 ports

  • Great gaming specs: impressively low input lag (below 10 ms), up to 288 Hz refresh with VRR, and support for HGiG and Dolby Vision Gaming

  • Google TV: the system runs fast and lets you install lots of apps

  • Good sound: audio by premium brand Bang & Olufsen

Disadvantages

No like
  • No music apps (Spotify, Tidal)

  • Poor HDR performance in dark scenes with small light sources

  • Average viewing angles

  • Lack of fidelity to the creator's intent: the TV tends to boost brightness

  • Slight smearing

Our verdict

Hisense U7KQ with a size of 100" is clearly a better television compared to the smaller variants. The proprietary VIDAA system has a similar interface to other TVs (e.g., with Google TV onboard). It operates quickly and smoothly. It doesn't freeze or contain errors. The built-in media player sometimes had difficulties functioning, though. It's worth looking at the app test, as not all of them were available at the time of writing this review. The TV's features are quite extensive, and nearly everything we tested was successful. During day use, the high brightness of the panel is commendable, handling even brightly lit rooms well. When watching in cinematic conditions, we can count on good blacks, thanks to the VA panel supported by multiple dimming zones. The screen handles low-quality content (e.g., SD channels or DVDs) reasonably well, but a downside is the lack of a function to reduce posterisation (which involves clearly defined tonal transitions). It looks much better with 4K HDR movies as we have a wide colour palette and strong light effects. Support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos is another advantage, although the speakers built into the screen are rather average. Sports enthusiasts will be pleased with the 120Hz panel featuring motion smoothing. When connected to a console, gaming on the television is very good due to the low input lag. Motion blur is moderate, meaning that very rarely can slight "trails" be noticed when there is dynamic movement against a dark background. The lack of HGiG mode diminishes the visual quality of games in HDR format, while the absence of local dimming in VRR mode renders the latter feature useless. Overall, the picture quality can be described as good and appropriate for its price. There aren't any obvious flaws or unexpected advantages here, but the large size is a significant factor.

The TCL C8L is without doubt one of the most intriguing Mini-LED TVs to reach our lab this year. It stands out above all for an excellent price-to-performance ratio. TCL has already got us used to aggressively priced screens, but with the C8 series the company pushes that even further. At a price that would typically only buy a mid-range model—or possibly two models like the C8K—here you get features and specs on par with top-tier sets. A new image processor, four full HDMI 2.1 ports, support for extreme refresh rates and huge peak brightness thanks to a very large number of dimming zones are hard to ignore.

That said, looking at the whole picture, we need to be honest about this TV’s character. The C8L is built more to deliver a “spectacular” image than a rigorously faithful one. What do we mean? The software and algorithms controlling the Mini-LED backlight zones are tuned to favour showiness, so the picture is bright, contrasty and strikingly saturated. And what does that mean in practice? The TV tends to interpret the image on its own rather than stick to certain studio standards. For most users seeking bigger thrills from films or games, that effect will be a plus. By contrast, purists and fans of perfectly natural images (people like us 😉) may find it too aggressive and at odds with the director’s intent. So we’ll leave the final judgement on that to you.

Overall, despite this character, the TCL C8L is a TV we can, and in fact must, recommend with a clear conscience. It’s above all a premium product that gets practically everything right, almost to the point of pain. We’d treat certain imperfections simply as characteristics of the set rather than faults—mainly because of technological limits that all Mini-LED TVs from every manufacturer have already taught us to expect. Ultimately, software polish has done a lot for the new C8, giving us a mature, assured and nearly complete TV.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
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, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
Premium
Stand type
Legs
Central
Bezel color
Graphite
Silver
Stand
Fixed
Height adjustment
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

8/10

8/10

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 1620 (30 x 54)

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 2040 (34 x 60)

Contrast:

Review Hisense U7KQ Contrast and black detail

Result

124,650:1

Review Hisense U7KQ Contrast and black detail

Result

56,350:1

Review Hisense U7KQ Contrast and black detail

Result

24,550:1

Review Hisense U7KQ Contrast and black detail

Result

15,600:1

Review Hisense U7KQ Contrast and black detail

Result

12,600:1

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Contrast and black detail

Result

156,600:1

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Contrast and black detail

Result

59,250:1

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Contrast and black detail

Result

17,400:1

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Contrast and black detail

Result

23,650:1

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Contrast and black detail

Result

9,250:1

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.

The television is equipped with a VA panel, which has high contrast even without the support of local dimming technology. With the additional support of Mini-LED technology, the television is able to offer really good blacks, both in subdued, dark scenes and in mixed scenes where black is interspersed with bright elements. Suffice it to say that even in the most challenging test sequences, it achieved a result above 10,000:1. In a fully darkened room, zone dimming can sometimes be visible, appearing as a slight halo effect around text or bright areas lightening up when a bright object moves quickly across the screen. However, this is a normal phenomenon that isn't bothersome. The television, like most LCD screens with local dimming, has a moderate tendency to darken the image, particularly small light sources in dark scenes.

One thing the C8L certainly can't be denied is its impressive specification. In the 65-inch variant we tested: the manufacturer squeezed in as many as 2,040 independent local dimming zones (that number of course rises or falls with the screen diagonal). Such a dense packing of light-emitting elements has a direct impact on black depth. The contrast we measured in film scenes reached impressive five- and six-figure-to-one values, which for LCD is an outstanding result. Is the algorithm perfect? Not entirely. On small bright elements shown on a dark background a trained eye will still notice a slight halo effect and moments when zones wake up, which is a natural characteristic of Mini-LED technology. That said, the black levels on this model will be more than satisfactory for most viewers.

*Our review applies to the 65-inch variant. We believe results will be similar for larger sizes. The exception may be the 55-inch version, which has the weakest specifications in the series.

Size

Local dimming zones

55C8L

1,008 zones

65C8L

2,040 zones (tested model)

75C8L

2,584 zones

85C8L

3,200 zones

98C8L

4,032 zones

HDR effect quality

6.3/10

7.3/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 96.0%, Bt.2020: 76.0%
DCI P3: 97.4%, Bt.2020: 90.3%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Hisense U7KQ Brightness measurement

Result

985 nit

Review Hisense U7KQ Brightness measurement

Result

343 nit

Review Hisense U7KQ Brightness measurement

Result

737 nit

Review Hisense U7KQ Brightness measurement

Result

298 nit

Review Hisense U7KQ Brightness measurement

Result

1170 nit

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Brightness measurement

Result

1637 nit

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Brightness measurement

Result

701 nit

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Brightness measurement

Result

1428 nit

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Brightness measurement

Result

405 nit

Review TCL C8L / QM8L  Brightness measurement

Result

1728 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).

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

Dynamic: Dolby Vision

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:

TCL C8L / QM8L

Hisense U7KQ

Describing the HDR effect in the hundred-inch model Hisense U7KQ is not straightforward and requires a broader context. As can be seen, the results are highly variable, depending on the type of scene and the intensity of the bright effects that the television has to reproduce. In bright scenes, the device achieves over a thousand nits of brightness, translating to vivid and realistic images – these are exactly the effects we expect from equipment of this class. Unfortunately, the situation worsens in darker scenes. In mixed shots, such as those in the film "Gemini Man," the television still offers good brightness at around 700 nits, allowing for high-quality viewing. However, problems arise in very dark scenes where small light sources play a major role. The television does not fully utilise its capabilities here to avoid degrading the black levels in adjacent areas. As a result, there is no spectacular "WOW" effect, and such shots often do not give the impression of being realised in HDR technology.

When it comes to HDR, the TCL C8L turns out to be a hellishly bright television – and I mean that literally. On a synthetic test pattern of 5%, our measuring equipment indicated a result exceeding 4500 nits. That's an almost cosmic result, considering that reference director's monitors, which we often refer to in our materials, usually operate around 4000 nits. Does this mean the C8L breaks barriers and climbs to the technological peak of Mini-LED? Not quite. Dry synthetic tests are one thing, and real film images are another. In real, varied scenes, the C8L hits around 1600 nits at its peak. That's still a very good result, ensuring a very high level of HDR dynamics, but it's clearly lower than what the manufacturer boasts in the specifications. The trouble begins with very small bursts of light – then the brightness can drastically drop to around 600 nits. The algorithm does everything it can to maintain deep blacks and minimise halo effect, but it does so at the cost of HDR impact. This is ideal evidence that laboratory test patterns rarely correlate with what we ultimately see on the screen.

Huge applause is due for colour reproduction, all thanks to the new generation of SQD (Super Quantum Dot) quantum dots. The coverage of the DCI-P3 palette reaches 97%, but the jaw-dropping measurements come from the notoriously demanding BT.2020 space. The C8L achieves an impressive 90% in this area, placing it alongside today’s top screens that feature RGB backlighting. Importantly, unlike some screens with Micro/Mini RGB backlighting, this effect is stable regardless of the scene being displayed. Of course, it’s important to remember that content mastered for such a wide gamut in films or series is still a rarity. However, the very fact that the panel has such a "reserve of colours" deserves huge admiration.

Factory color reproduction

5.5/10

5.3/10

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

The best factory mode we measured was “Filmmaker”. Despite this, its characteristics left a lot to be desired. Let’s take a look at the gamma chart, which is responsible for the depth and contrast of the image. First, we'll note the orange line running through the middle of the graph, starting at point 2.4. This is the reference value of the REC.709 standard. Now let’s look at the measured value, marked by a white, connected multi-point. Such a clear drop in gamma to a value of 2.0 meant a significant reduction in contrast, resulting in the image lacking appropriate depth, and the so-called “milk” effect was noticeable. The next thing we tested was the white balance. Though seemingly minor, if poorly adjusted, it can change the entire characteristic of the image. While the beginning of the chart looked quite promising, as we progressed further, the chart began to be dominated by two colours: red and blue. Due to the current state of affairs, all the materials we used for testing had an unpleasant tint in those colours. However, thanks to rich calibration tools, such as an advanced colour management system (CMS) and 2- and 20-point grey scale adjustments, we were able to significantly improve the display's performance in SDR materials, as confirmed by low deltaE errors and very well-modeled gamma and white balance.

We tested the TCL C8L in the best factory mode available in the TV's menu for picture fidelity. I’m of course talking about Filmmaker Mode, which was introduced into this brand’s software relatively recently (a year ago in the K series). Thanks to it, the average user can get pretty good colour reproduction straight out of the box, although it’s certainly not perfectly tuned. Looking at the factory white balance of our unit, in both SDR and HDR content, there was a clear lack of the red component, which made the picture noticeably cooler and slightly shifted towards bluish‑green hues. The issue of brightness management is also ambiguous, as we mentioned earlier. While in SDR content the linearity of the gamma parameter is really good and consistently holds the reference value of 2.4, things are much worse in HDR. Tracking the EOTF curve clearly shows the TV’s brightness is considerably boosted across the range, which can make the final image overly bright and inconsistent with the creators’ intent, and that is in a mode that by definition should avoid this. Of course, like every unit in our lab, this one was also subjected to professional calibration, and you can find the results below.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.8/10

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.

In SDR mode, after calibration, the Hisense 100U7KQ television performs excellently. There is nothing to fault in terms of colour reproduction - both pastel and deeply saturated hues are displayed according to the Rec. 709 standard. This ensures that the image looks natural and in line with the director's vision. As a result, viewers can enjoy an authentic visual experience, with colours and tonal subtleties faithfully represented.

In HDR mode, however, there is a noticeable boost in bright tones. The television tries to enhance the image, which can lead to artificial brightening. This phenomenon becomes even more apparent in real scenes, where bright parts of the image can be excessively amplified. Although colours in HDR are generally good, they are intentionally boosted too much by the manufacturer, which may affect their naturalness.

This manufacturer's approach to displaying images in HDR mode may not be to everyone's taste, especially those who value authenticity and fidelity to original colours. However, for those who prefer more dynamic and vivid images, this bright tone enhancement can be an appealing solution, adding extra sparkle and impact to scenes.

As you can see, the results of a professional calibration of the TCL C8L are genuinely promising, thanks to the extensive adjustment tools the manufacturer made available in the menu. Most importantly, we were able to fully correct the white balance, eliminating a lack of red so the image finally stopped drifting into unwanted, cool tones. After this step, errors in the ColorChecker test fell to near-reference values, regularly sitting below a Delta E threshold of 2, which is under the level noticeable to the human eye.

Since the test patterns look so perfect, you might ask: why then the lower final score in this category? The answer lies in the brightness management discussed earlier. Although the menu includes sliders that let you precisely straighten the EOTF curve on synthetic signals, when confronted with real film material (I recommend turning the EOTF filter on when watching films), it becomes clear that the TV in most scenarios still responds to HDR metadata in its own way. As a result, the image can be a touch too bright and not in line with the creators' intent, and it was precisely for this lack of repeatability with real-world films that we had to dock the C8L a few points.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

10/10

9/10

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.

Tonal transitions on the tested television can be described in one word: perfect. Throughout the testing sequence, where we played back very dark gradients from the most challenging scenes we know, there was not a hint of discontinuity or layers distinguishing themselves from each other. These impressive results testify to the high quality of the panel and advanced image processing algorithms. Of course, the ideal experience is maintained as long as we watch the television straight on – at an angle, dark shades can become quite pronounced, which is discussed in detail in the dedicated paragraph. It’s also worth noting that such a problem can be observed with lower quality materials, but this is not the television’s fault; rather, it's the lower quality of the source itself.

We rate the C8L's tonal transitions as almost exemplary. A well-tuned panel together with the algorithms means the TV handles posterization, that ugly, banded separation of individual shades, very well. Subtle, minimal errors and small shortcomings in gradation are noticeable only in extremely dark, demanding scenes. Overall, when watching high-quality content at native resolution, colour transitions are exceptionally smooth and natural.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

6/10

8/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
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.

Despite the television being equipped with a function to reduce posterisation called "Smooth Gradation", we did not notice a significant effect of its operation. Materials subjected to heavy compression, such as YouTube videos, still showed choppy, abrupt tonal transitions, which did not look particularly appealing. While this is due to the material itself and not the television, it would be good if there was a function to mask these issues, similar to those found in competing brands.

Image scaling, which is crucial when playing lower resolution content, we rate as average. Details are not overly blurry, and the image is not "smudged", however, there is noticeable jaggedness on the edges of objects, such as branches, and a halo effect around characters and text. While the television performs quite well, there is still room for improvement, especially in the context of displaying lower quality materials.

This year the C8 series and the higher-end models have probably received the biggest and most eagerly awaited upgrade in TCL's history, and it's to do with digital image processing. The C8L is the entry-level model in the manufacturer's line-up to be fitted with the latest flagship MediaTek Pentonic 800 chipset (shown in the menu as MT9655). It is thanks to its processing power that the feature called "Gradual Smoothing" finally works the way it should. The algorithm effectively removes unwanted posterization (ugly tonal transitions / colour banding) from the picture, doing so intelligently enough that it does not degrade the sharpness of other details.

The processor also handles upscaling lower-resolution content to 4K very well. Although judging this element can be purely academic, because the differences between today's TVs in this class are very subtle. The most important point is that TCL finally has nothing to be ashamed of compared with the competition.

Blur and motion smoothness

7/10

7.7/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
240Hz
144Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
OK
BFI function 60Hz
No
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
No
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
-%
32%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Blur ():

Blur (1080p@288Hz):

The TV correctly receives a 4K signal up to 144 Hz, allowing for very smooth images in high resolution. When limited to Full HD resolution, the TV can handle even 240 Hz, but such a signal can only be obtained from a PC. Unfortunately, the use of this feature is limited by several factors.

Firstly, Full HD resolution on a large TV screen may seem insufficient, affecting image quality. Furthermore, the response time of the panel in this model is not short enough to fully utilise the refresh rate of 240 Hz. As a result, at such a high refresh rate, there is significant overdrive, which causes noticeable smearing and so-called "ghosting" behind moving objects.

It is also worth noting the motion smoothing feature in the TV, which operates up to 120 Hz. This is particularly useful when watching sports and movies, where motion smoothness is crucial. The TV offers stable operation of this feature, minimising the amount of generated artefacts. Motion smoothness can be adjusted using two sliders – one for smoothness in movies and the other for reducing smearing in sports content.

In summary, although the TV Hisense U7KQ offers impressive capabilities in image refresh rates, limitations related to the response time of the panel and appropriate resolution may affect the actual benefits of these features. Nevertheless, the motion smoothing function works very well, enhancing the experience of watching dynamic content.

The TCL C8L is equipped with a fast panel with a native 144 Hz refresh rate. That spec will be most appreciated by demanding PC gamers, while most users, relying on consoles or TV broadcasts, will use a steady 120 Hz. And it is at 120 Hz that the motion-processing algorithms take care of image processing for films, series and sports. In the TV's menu you'll find a "Motion Clarity" option that lets you customise the motion smoothing to your preferences. The algorithms handle both cinematic productions at 24 or 30 frames per second and fast-paced sports broadcasts at 50 or 60 frames per second, maintaining the right level of smoothness.

Console compatibility and gaming features

8.5/10

9.8/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 144Hz
    48 - 288Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    No
    Yes
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    Yes
  • Game bar
    Yes
    Yes

The Hisense U7KQ TV supports all the key features for gamers that users of Xbox or PlayStation consoles might expect. These features include support for high refresh rates, low input lag, and a game bar. Generally speaking, most of these features work well, providing a satisfying gaming experience.

However, the VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology does not function optimally. When VRR is activated, the TV disables local dimming, which significantly reduces image quality. In VRR mode, there is a lack of good contrast and high brightness in HDR mode, resulting in unsatisfactory image quality. In practice, this means that the VRR mode may be rarely used by gamers due to these limitations.

Additionally, the TV does not support the HGIG (HDR Gaming Interest Group) mode, which is designed to optimise HDR image quality in games. The absence of this mode leads to issues with double tone mapping—once in the TV and again in the console. As a result, the quality of HDR gaming is lower, which can affect the overall gaming experience.

In summary, while the Hisense U7KQ offers many features for gamers, certain key aspects, such as optimal VRR performance and support for HGIG, may not meet the expectations of more demanding users. Nevertheless, the TV still provides good support for most standard gaming features, making it a suitable choice for a wide range of gamers.

For gamers – especially for owners of powerful PCs and multiple consoles simultaneously – the TCL C8L is a true beast. This is the first model in this manufacturer's lineup that is equipped with four full HDMI 2.1 ports with a maximum bandwidth of 48 Gbps. This is directly due to the use of the new Pentonic 800 processor, which we've mentioned before. Additionally, the TV seamlessly supports practically every gaming feature. It has an automatic game mode (ALLM) that reduces latency to minimal levels, as well as full variable refresh rate (VRR) operating in an impressive range of up to 288 Hz. It also supports standards such as G-Sync and FreeSync from Nvidia and AMD. When it comes to image display standards, there are no compromises either: the C8L offers complete support for HDR formats in gaming, including gaming Dolby Vision and the HGiG profile. We can conveniently manage all these features from a very readable gamer bar (Game Bar), which we can customise according to our own preferences. From a purely gaming perspective, the C8L really has no flaws – well, maybe apart from the previously mentioned slight ghosting. But other than that? It’s a no-nonsense machine for gamers.

Input lag

9.8/10

10/10

SDR

1080p60
16 ms
14 ms
1080p120
8 ms
8 ms
2160p60
16 ms
13 ms
2160p120
7 ms
8 ms

HDR

2160p60
16 ms
13 ms
2160p120
8 ms
8 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
16 ms
13 ms
2160p120 DV
8 ms
8 ms

The Hisense U7KQ TV features very low input lag across all picture modes, which is crucial for gamers who require quick screen response. Regardless of the signal type – whether it's 4K, Full HD, 60 Hz, or 120 Hz – the lag remains below 20 ms. This result is excellent and ensures that even the most demanding gamers will not experience any delays while playing. As a result, this TV deserves the highest rating for gaming performance.

In lab tests we measured Input Lag at under 10 ms. For gamers this means a completely imperceptible delay. Importantly, that result can be improved further by forcing the PC to use a refresh rate above 120 Hz. We also give a big plus to the Dolby Vision Game mode, where the lag is just as low as in standard SDR or HDR10 modes.

Compatibility with PC

8/10

8.6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Good
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
16ms
7ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
RGB
Max refresh rate
240Hz
144Hz
G-Sync
Yes
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.

The Hisense U7KQ television works excellently with a PC, thanks to several key features. First and foremost, it supports chroma 4:4:4, which is essential for displaying text and graphics in the highest quality without losing details. This ensures that images and texts are clear and sharp, which is particularly important for users who use the television as a monitor for work or gaming.

Additionally, the Hisense U7KQ features very low input lag in PC mode, meaning minimal delays between actions taken on the computer and the displayed image. This is crucial for gamers who need quick screen response to gain an edge in dynamic games. The low input lag ensures that every action is immediately reflected on the screen, enhancing the overall user experience.

Despite using a BGR pixel arrangement instead of the more traditional RGB layout, the readability of fonts on the screen is at a good level. BGR (Blue-Green-Red) is a configuration where the subpixels are arranged in a different order than in standard RGB. This can sometimes affect text quality, depending on the operating system settings.

In summary, the Hisense U7KQ is a good choice for PC users, offering support for chroma 4:4:4, low input lag, and good text readability, making it a versatile device for both work and entertainment.

The TCL C8L is very well suited as a large-format monitor. The TV supports refresh rates up to 288 Hz at Full HD resolution, which esports fans and owners of less powerful graphics cards in AAA games will appreciate. It also works seamlessly with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync frame synchronisation systems. Importantly for text work, the C8L renders most fonts correctly and legibly. Up close you can notice minimal errors in the rendering of letter edges and a slight grain around them, but the issue disappears (or rather becomes much less noticeable) once you sit at a normal, recommended viewing distance from the screen.

Viewing angles

4/10

4.5/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
71%
74%

The screen uses a VA panel, which unfortunately has its limitations in terms of viewing angles. Unlike some competing models, Hisense U7KQ does not have any coatings to improve this aspect, which means that image quality significantly decreases when viewed at an angle.

With even a slight deviation from the central axis, one can notice that the contrast of the image begins to deteriorate. Details in the dark areas of the image become overly pronounced, and colour saturation diminishes. These effects are typical of VA panels, and in practice, this means that the best viewing experience can only be obtained when sitting directly in front of the screen.

For users who plan to watch the television from different spots in the room, this can be a significant limitation. Reduced image quality at an angle may affect overall satisfaction with the product, especially when watching movies or shows with a larger group.

The TCL C8L uses a VA panel, which by nature isn't known for wide viewing angles. In this case the manufacturer has fitted its proprietary WHVA 2.0 panel from TCL CSOT. As a result the viewing angles are noticeably better than with typical VA panels, which is definitely a plus. Colour and contrast don't degrade as drastically when you move slightly off-axis as they do on most LCD screens. Overall it's still a step behind IPS panels, and even more so OLED screens, but for a VA LCD panel the improvement is quite marked.

Daytime performance

7.8/10

10/10

Panel finish
Matte
Glare
Reflection suppression
Average
Decent
Black levels during daytime
Good
Very Good

Panel brightness

TCL C8L / QM8L : 1651 cd/m2

Hisense U7KQ: 966 cd/m2

Hisense U7KQ does not have the best reflection handling properties, as its panel is equipped with a satin finish, which is not as effective in reducing glare as the matte finishes used in some other TVs, nor does it maintain as deep a black as glossy panels. It is somewhere in between these two effects. Light reflections may be visible, especially in brightly lit rooms, which can affect viewing comfort.

However, the high peak brightness values that this model achieves effectively compensate for these limitations. Thanks to this brightness, the image remains clearly visible even in sunny rooms. This means the TV performs quite well in challenging lighting conditions where other models may struggle to provide adequate picture quality.

The TCL C8L is one of the brightest TVs we've tested so far. As you can see on the brightness chart (or rather, you might not), its peak brightness reaches an astronomical 5,000 nits (exactly 4862)! Although that number falls to around 600 nits with a full‑screen white pattern, the TV's daytime performance makes it safe to say this screen is practically perfect for very bright, sun‑drenched living rooms. While the glossy panel used here doesn't suppress reflections as effectively as matte screens, the display's sheer output can cut through most unwanted reflections from windows or other artificial light sources such as lamps.

Panel details

Backlight Type
PFS LED
Mini-LED Super QLED (SQD)
Software version during testing
V0000.07.50T.N1222
V8-0015T01-LF1V080.000644
Image processor
mt9655 2,5GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Hisense U7KQ

TCL C8L / QM8L

TV features

8.2/10

8.3/10

  • System
    VIDAA
    Google TV
  • System performance
    Good
    Very good
  • HDMI inputs
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    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, 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)
    Yes
    No
  • Recording programming
    Yes
    No
  • 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
    No
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    Yes
    Yes

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    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 Hisense U7KQ TV features
Review Hisense U7KQ TV features
Review TCL C8L / QM8L  TV features
Review TCL C8L / QM8L  TV features
Review TCL C8L / QM8L  TV features
Review TCL C8L / QM8L  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
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    Yes

Senior accessibility

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

Hisense uses the VIDAA operating system, which is a proprietary solution from this brand. Although it doesn't offer as much expansion and as many apps as the popular Android TV, it has its advantages. The VIDAA system runs quickly and stably, meaning that users don’t have to worry about freezes or long loading times for apps.

However, VIDAA does have some limitations. There are quite a few apps available, but unfortunately, it lacks music apps like Spotify or Tidal. Nevertheless, VIDAA supports most standard features that might be needed, such as screen mirroring, voice search in Polish, the ability to connect a keyboard and mouse, and Bluetooth headphones.

The television also supports many other features that are important to users, such as the ability to record programs to USB and schedule recordings. However, it lacks some specific functions like teletext or the "Audio Only" mode, which allows listening to audio with the screen off.

In summary, while the VIDAA system is lesser-known and has certain limitations compared to Android TV, it offers stable and fast performance and supports most features that users might need. It is a solid solution for those looking for a simple and effective operating system in a television.

SmartTV: Google TV

You can still come across older comments online about the TCL brand where users complained about sluggish performance or occasional freezes of the Google TV interface. With the C8L model there’s clearly been a big step forward. Thanks to the new processor and a number of fixes, Google TV’s stability and responsiveness are at a very high level. We can easily compare the polish of this system with closed systems like Tizen or webOS found in competing flagship models. On board is a full feature set, led by the updated Gemini voice system.

Television features

When it comes to traditional TV duties, the C8L simply does its job reliably as a TV 😉. You’ll find classic, standard features such as a Bluetooth module for easy pairing of wireless headphones and the still-present teletext for the built-in tuners. It’s obvious, however, that this model is designed primarily for modern streaming platforms. You can see that in the minimalist, modern remote, which, unlike the cheaper C7L, has no traditional numeric keypad.

Apps

7.7/10

9.6/10

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
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
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

Playing files from USB

8.1/10

9.4/10

Supported photo formats:

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

Maximum photo resolution:

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

The built-in media player on the Hisense U7KQ television handles most popular video formats well; however, there may occasionally be issues with loading subtitles, which can be frustrating for users who prefer watching films with text.

It is worth noting certain limitations regarding the support for less popular codecs, such as AV1 and H266. While these codecs are not yet widely used, their lack of support could pose a problem in the future when they become more common. Currently, however, most users will not feel their absence.

Strange behaviour has been observed when playing photos – some files in specific resolutions may not load correctly. This can be problematic for those wanting to browse their photographs directly from a USB stick. For this reason, viewing photos on this television may be limited, as some files may not load at all.

In summary, although the built-in media player on the Hisense U7KQ performs well with most standard video formats, users may encounter certain limitations related to loading subtitles and photos in specific resolutions. Issues with the support of less popular codecs are currently minimal but could become more significant in the future.

The built-in USB media player handles everyday tests without a hitch. It's pleasing that the TV natively and efficiently opens even less common image formats, such as Apple's HEIC. We did run into a few formats that the stock app couldn't handle, but on Google TV that's not an issue. A huge advantage of this system is the ability to install any third-party player (e.g. VLC) directly from the Google Play store, which often completely solves file compatibility problems.

Sound

6.9/10

8.1/10

  • Maximum volume
    83dB
    78dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    Yes
    No
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    Yes
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    Yes

The Hisense U7KQ TV offers satisfactory sound quality, which is sufficient for most everyday uses. The sound system of this model features good volume and clarity, making dialogues and sound effects clear. However, the TV may not deliver the full audio experience that can be obtained from dedicated audio systems or soundbars. One of the main audio advantages of the U7KQ is its ability to reproduce sound with minimal distortion at higher volume levels reaching up to 83dB and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS.

It might seem that, sound-wise, the TCL C8L would perform exactly the same as last year's C8K. After all, on board you'll again find an audio system branded Bang & Olufsen in a 6.2.2 layout, with the same power and the same system features, namely Beosonic technology. Nothing could be further from the truth. The new generation sounded noticeably better in our listening tests. Why is that? Honestly, from a purely hardware point of view we don't know, but it's clear on the charts from our measurements. Perhaps TCL simply managed to improve the speakers' performance with a new software update and better speaker tuning.

But as we always say, they are still TV speakers. We believe anyone who wants to fully enjoy this TV's potential will still need to buy a good soundbar or a home theatre system. The C8L offers full support for audio codecs such as Dolby Atmos and the niche DTS. Only by connecting an external audio setup will you be able to get true, spatial sound from films and games and complement what you see on the TV.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

78dBC (Max)

75dBC

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