Hisense U7S Pro vs TCL C7L

Direct comparison

U7S PRO / U77S PRO

Info

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

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

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: VIDAA

Model year: 2026

Complete the survey to find out the result

Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2026

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.7

7.8

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    7.3

    7.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    7.1

    6.8

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    6.8

    6.7

  • Gaming on console

    8.3

    8.8

  • TV as a computer monitor

    8.4

    8.4

  • Watching in bright light

    8.1

    8.8

  • Utility functions

    9.4

    7.8

  • Apps

    7.7

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    7.8

    7.7

Advantages

  • 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

  • Very high brightness

  • Good blacks and contrast (VA panel + mini-LED)

  • Excellent colour gamut coverage thanks to the new "Super QLED" filter

  • Full support for HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+

  • Top parameters for gamers (HDMI 2.1, low input lag)

  • High motion smoothness with low motion blur (up to 288Hz)

  • Google TV operating system (plenty of apps, Gemini voice assistant)

Disadvantages

No like
  • 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

  • Poor digital image processing due to the use of an older MediaTek Pentonic 700 processor

  • Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is shared with the eARC channel for audio, e.g., a soundbar

  • Sound losing dynamics above 40-50% volume

Our verdict

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.

TCL C7L is an incredibly successful Mini-LED television and a fully deserved successor to the hit model C7K. The list of advantages of this device is really long. At the top is the extremely high brightness of the panel. Thanks to this, the television handles brightly lit living rooms without any problems, offering a fantastic and dynamic image in HDR format. Huge applause is also due for the use of the new Super QLED coating – after professional calibration, the colours can be not only natural but also incredibly vibrant. The best part is that the screen does this regardless of what scene is displayed on the screen, which is often not the case for all TVs with RGB backlighting. C7L is also an excellent piece of hardware for gamers; you could even say it’s a true "multimedia powerhouse." It fully supports consoles and PCs, refresh rates up to 288 Hz, G-Sync, and low input lag that doesn’t increase even when enabling very demanding modes like Dolby Vision Gaming. The whole package is tied together by a well-optimised Google TV system, which in this generation of TCL devices runs noticeably smoother and more efficiently (at least that’s the impression we got during our tests). Of course, C7L is not a perfect device, and the manufacturer had to make certain compromises in this model. The biggest flaw of the C7L is the use of a less powerful image processor. Unfortunately, this translates to fairly mediocre digital processing and another construction limitation in the form of only two HDMI 2.1 ports. A more powerful setup has been reserved this year for the higher series, such as C8L. From a business perspective, this is fully understandable. Why? Because if TCL had put a better processor here, most people would probably see no sense in paying extra for the higher model. So even if some compromises exist here, the C7L series promises once again to be one of the most cost-effective Mini-LED televisions of the year. If you’re looking for a versatile, incredibly bright screen for movies, series, TV, or games – literally for everything – and at the same time don’t want to overpay for the top series, then yes... C7L is a brilliant choice that we can definitely recommend to you.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
Other inputs
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
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
Good
Good
Stand type
Central
Central
Bezel color
Graphite
Graphite
Stand
Height adjustment
Height adjustment
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

7.5/10

7.7/10

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

Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 1152 (24 x 48)

Contrast:

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

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

174,100:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

25,700:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

13,950:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

10,900:1

Review TCL C7L Contrast and black detail

Result

9,900:1

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 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.

TCL C7L is a Mini LED TV, which in the 65-inch variant we tested, is equipped with over 1000 local dimming zones. This, combined with the proprietary VA panel (called HVA 2.0 by TCL CSOT), delivers really decent results in terms of black levels and contrast. In most of the scenes we measured, the blacks and contrast looked really good, and in the easiest shots, the black was deep enough to almost resemble that seen on OLED screens. This is of course referring to the least demanding shots with a lot of black on the screen. However, when more bright elements appear on the screen, and black stops dominating as much, it is evident that TCL C7L – like most Mini LED TVs – has its issues with local dimming zone management.

This can be clearly seen, for example, on the black bars in films shot in the 2.35:1 panoramic format. Then, on the black bars or around small, bright objects, a pronounced halo effect, or a bright light glow, can appear. The contrast then drastically dropped – from laboratory values of around 200,000:1 to about 10,000:1, which is quite noticeable in a completely dark room. It’s worth remembering that this shouldn’t be treated as a flaw of the TV but rather as a characteristic of mini-LED technology. Of course, this effect becomes much less bothersome when we turn on at least some light in the room… which I definitely recommend doing during screenings on any LCD TV.

HDR effect quality

6.7/10

6.6/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 96.4%, Bt.2020: 81.5%
DCI P3: 97.3%, Bt.2020: 90.5%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

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

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

1236 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

401 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

831 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

352 nit

Review TCL C7L Brightness measurement

Result

1204 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 C7L

Hisense U7S Pro

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.

TCL C7L is undoubtedly an extremely bright television. In synthetic tests on static patterns, it can achieve peak brightness of around 2800 nits. This is a phenomenal result, considering the price range it occupies. Unfortunately, tests with real movie scenes are not as spectacular as measurements of white squares. Brightness in real HDR footage drops in the C7L model to around 1200 nits. This is still a very good result, as this is the value at which the vast majority of contemporary films are mastered. However, when small, point-like elements appear on the screen, the brightness of these details drastically drops – even to around 400 nits – which somewhat diminishes the HDR effect. The television does this intentionally to maintain a better black level and to avoid a huge light bloom. This is somewhat explainable, but it also shows that Mini LED technology is not completely uncompromising in this regard. As for the HDR effect itself – alongside brightness, colours are of course key here. And these, thanks to the use of new, “super” quantum dots, are simply outstanding and among the best on the market. The television can achieve around 90% coverage of the ultra-wide colour gamut BT.2020 and 99% of the DCI-P3 gamut, easily matching the best RGB MINI-LED screens. Best of all, the C7L can maintain such high colour saturation regardless of the scene being displayed, which can often be problematic in competing RGB Mini-LED televisions.

Factory color reproduction

4.7/10

5.6/10

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'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.

When it comes to out-of-the-box colours, a new feature in TCL TVs – including the C7L model – is the presence of a new picture mode called Filmmaker Mode. This is significant news, as such a mode was not previously available from this manufacturer. By design, as the name suggests, the picture in this setting is intended to be delivered with the full intent of the film's creator. After our tests, we can confirm that it is undeniably the best built-in mode in this TV if you value true-to-life colour reproduction straight out of the box. However, we certainly wouldn’t say it is perfect. Like most devices on the market, this C7L also had its factory faults. The white balance in Filmmaker Mode leaned towards a slightly greenish-yellow hue, mainly due to an excess of green component and a noticeable lack of blue. Of course, for the average viewer, this won’t be a drastic flaw, but if you value perfect whites, natural skin tones, and harnessing the full potential of these new "super" quantum dots from the structure, then the TV is begging for professional calibration.

Color reproduction after calibration

7.5/10

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.

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.

After conducting a professional calibration, we were able to greatly improve the situation in the factory Filmmaker Mode. Following our adjustments, the errors in the ColorChecker test and across the entire wide colour gamut dropped below the threshold of human perception – that is, below a value of 3, which is indeed a very good result. The TCL C7L definitely benefits from such a treatment in terms of colour fidelity, and it's hard to deny that. However, the management of brightness in HDR content after calibration appears to be a bit worse. As I described earlier – even though we set this model up properly, when we turn on real film scenes on the television, it can manage its brightness in quite a peculiar way. It often brightens certain elements on the screen in a manner inconsistent with the creator's intent, which is visibly apparent on the EOTF graphs measured in specific films. Despite this flaw – or rather, this specific characteristic of the television – one cannot take away from it: after calibration, the C7L was able to reproduce the colours flawlessly.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

9.5/10

8.6/10

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.

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.

The next element worth discussing is the fluidity of tonal transitions. Here, it must be honestly acknowledged that in the TCL C7L, it simply looks good. In most scenes – especially in those brighter shots – there are absolutely no issues with gradients. In native 4K HDR content, the image is clear, and the transitions between shades are very smooth. It looks just as good in Dolby Vision mode, where during testing we noticed no digital defects or ugly colour banding. One could nitpick about very dark shots where a heavily compressed signal is displayed on the screen. In such conditions, the C7L can sometimes show minor imperfections, but in this model, it's not something that stands out significantly. Especially during regular movie viewings.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7.8/10

5.5/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
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.

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.

This point could be called in a sense the Achilles' heel of the C7L model. Unfortunately, this television uses an older chipset from MediaTek – the Pentonic 700 – which has never been known for outstanding digital image processing. This is clearly visible in the functioning of the gradual smoothing feature, which is responsible for reducing jagged edges and removing digital noise. It simply works very poorly – when set to a low level, its effectiveness is practically none. The only small plus here is that the algorithm doesn't mess up anything else in the image and doesn't forcefully blur details. The upscaling, that is, the scaling of the image from lower resolutions to 4K, performs a bit better. It is simply adequate and does not stand out in any particular way against the competition. However, it cannot be denied that the C7L would greatly benefit in this aspect if the manufacturer decided to use the newer Pentonic 800 processor, which is now being found in an increasing number of competitive models.

Blur and motion smoothness

7.4/10

7.8/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
165Hz
144Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
OK
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI
60%
52%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

Blur (BFI function enabled):

Blur (1080P@330Hz):

Blur (4K@144Hz):

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.

TCL C7L features a native 4K panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which can even ramp up to 288 Hz at lower resolutions when using a PC. These are certainly very high and commendable figures on paper, but in everyday life, it's worth remembering that almost all dynamic content you display on this television will still revolve around a maximum of 120 Hz. To tame this dynamism, the TV menu includes a motion smoothing system called "Motion Clarity." It offers several predefined modes, including a user mode, which we highly recommend setting manually using our tried-and-true guides on our YouTube channel. You’ll find two key sliders available. The first one, "Motion Blur Reduction," is responsible for reducing blurring and improving sharpness in 60fps dynamic content, such as sports broadcasts. The second slider, "Flicker Reduction," allows for the addition of artificial frames in movies and shows recorded at cinematic 24 or 30 frames per second. This naturally allows for the complete elimination of the annoying stutter effect during camera movement shots.

Console compatibility and gaming features

8.5/10

9.8/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    48 - 330Hz
    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

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.

When it comes to gaming, the TCL C7L is simply an outstanding television for gamers. With the presence of two full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps, it provides access to all the key features that console and high-end PC owners require. We have a well-functioning ALLM mode with very low input lag and VRR frame synchronization, which operates within an impressive range from 48 to 288 Hz. Importantly, unlike some competitors, TCL has ensured a proper implementation of the console HDR10 HGIG profile and support for Dolby Vision in games. This is complemented by a very well-designed gamer panel, known as Game Bar, which even allows for editing its appearance and changing the theme to perfectly match the style of your console.

The only thing that can – and should – be critiqued here is the fact that the television only offers two full HDMI 2.1 ports, while the other two are older HDMI 2.0. This creates quite a significant logistical problem. Why? Because one of those fast ports also supports the eARC audio return channel. In practice, this means that if you connect a soundbar or home theatre system to the television, you’ll only have one available HDMI 2.1 port left. If you have two consoles or a console and a powerful computer at home, unfortunately, you’ll have to give something up or constantly juggle cables at the back of the unit while maintaining comfortable audio system control.

Input lag

9.7/10

10/10

SDR

1080p60
18 ms
11 ms
1080p120
9 ms
7 ms
2160p60
18 ms
11 ms
2160p120
9 ms
7 ms

HDR

2160p60
17 ms
11 ms
2160p120
8 ms
7 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
27 ms
11 ms
2160p120 DV
18 ms
7 ms

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.

It’s worth taking a look at the dry numbers here, because in terms of signal delay, the TCL C7L is absolutely top of the market. Our measurements showed that the input lag is extremely low, and for a 60 Hz signal, it’s only around 10 ms. When we step it up and fire up a game at 120 Hz, the lag drops to an almost imperceptible 6 to 7 ms. However, what’s even more important is that these values are maintained even after activating the Dolby Vision format in games.

Compatibility with PC

8.4/10

8.4/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Good
Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Average
Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
8ms
6ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
BGR
RGB
Max refresh rate
165Hz
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.

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.

When it comes to playing on PC, as I mentioned earlier, it's really seamless. The TV handles high refresh rates with ease: full 4K at 144 Hz, and at Full HD resolution, it can even ramp up to 288 Hz. Synchronisation systems like G-Sync and FreeSync work flawlessly here as well. So, for PC gamers, the C7L can serve as a great, massive monitor.

However, typical office work with text is a bit less impressive, all due to the panel behaving rather strangely in these conditions. When the highest refresh modes are activated, namely 144 Hz and 288 Hz, the clarity and sharpness of dark text on a light background are fairly average – the fonts become slightly blurred and jagged. Fortunately, this can be easily remedied by changing the screen refresh rate to a stable 120 Hz in the graphics card settings. Then, the text becomes perfectly sharp again, which is definitely worth remembering if you plan to use the C7L as a work screen.

Viewing angles

3.2/10

3.7/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
72%
78%

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.

Unfortunately, the powerful native contrast of the HVA 2.0 panel comes at a cost. We're talking about viewing angles, which in the C7L model are simply poor. This is, of course, due to the use of the aforementioned VA panel. It is a completely natural characteristic of this technology and something to consider when making a purchase. If you sit directly in front of the screen, the picture will impress you with its depth, but just shifting a few dozen degrees to the side on the couch will cause the colours to immediately begin to fade. By choosing this model, you're opting for a classic market compromise: you get brilliant blacks and fantastic contrast, but you lose out on viewing angles.

Daytime performance

8.1/10

8.8/10

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

Panel brightness

TCL C7L: 1327 cd/m2

Hisense U7S Pro: 903 cd/m2

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.

It's also worth mentioning how the TCL C7L performs during everyday viewing in a sunny lounge. As we've established, it's an extremely bright television, and it's this powerful luminance reserve (up to 2400 nits in SDR!) that allows it to perform brilliantly in very bright rooms – the picture simply cuts through the incoming light effortlessly. The only thing to be cautious about here is the direct reflections on the screen. The coating used this year on the panel is definitely more glossy than what we saw in last year's C7K model. The screen does a significantly poorer job of reducing point light reflections, which in unfavorable conditions – for example, when the window is directly opposite the television – can be quite annoying for some users. Nonetheless, in terms of raw brightness, the C7L is simply a powerhouse for bright lounges.

Panel details

Backlight Type
Mini-LED QLED
Mini-LED QLED
Software version during testing
V01.09.50D.Q0115
v8-0012T01-LF1V626.003089
Image processor
MT5896 2,5GB RAM

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Hisense U7S Pro TV Panel details
Review TCL C7L TV Panel details
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV Panel details
Review TCL C7L TV Panel details

Hisense U7S Pro

TCL C7L

TV features

9.4/10

7.8/10

  • System
    VIDAA
    Google TV
  • System performance
    Good
    Very good
  • HDMI inputs
    0 x HDMI 2.0, 4 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    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)
    Yes
    No
  • Recording programming
    Yes
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    No
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    Yes
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    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 U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review Hisense U7S Pro TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features
Review TCL C7L TV features

Sound connection options

  • HDMI audio
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
    eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI)
  • Other audio outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio)
    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
    Yes
    Yes
  • Font size adjustment
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio description
    Yes
    Yes

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.

Google TV and Smart TV

The heart of the TCL C7L multimedia system is, of course, the Google TV operating system, which provides access to a gigantic library of apps and all the most popular streaming platforms on the market. The Smart TV in this model works flawlessly, offering full support for useful networking features such as Apple AirPlay and Chromecast. However, a huge and pleasant surprise is the overall performance of the software. We noticed that Google’s system on the new C7L operates much more smoothly, fluidly, and quickly than on TCL models from last year. A lot of this is thanks to better optimisation at launch. Unnecessary stalls and minor interface stutters, known from older models, seem to have been forgotten.

TV Features

When it comes to traditional antenna or cable television, the TCL C7L does not offer many additional advanced features. It is simply a basic receiver. The manufacturer did not attempt any revolutionary solutions here, so aside from the traditional program guide, you won't find anything special. A great nod to traditional viewers is the classic remote control, which defies the prevailing trend towards minimalism by still being equipped with a full numeric keypad, greatly facilitating quick channel switching.

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

8.3/10

9.4/10

Supported photo formats:

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

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
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
Yes
Yes

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.

At the very end of the multimedia section, it’s worth mentioning the playback of files from external USB drives. During our tests, we didn’t encounter any unpleasant surprises here – the factory player handles all popular video and audio formats just as it should. Interestingly, the TCL C7L had no trouble playing photos saved in Apple’s native format, HEIC. This is an extremely rare feature in the factory apps of television manufacturers. And while the Google TV system obviously gives you unlimited capability to install external media playback programs, in the case of the C7L, the built-in tool is refined enough that installing additional software will probably not be necessary for anyone.

Sound

7.8/10

7.7/10

  • Maximum volume
    85dB
    77dB
  • 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
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    Yes
    Yes
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    Yes
    Yes

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.

TCL C7L performs quite well and correctly. In terms of sound quality, there has been virtually no change compared to last year's model C7K. The manufacturer still uses a speaker system branded Bang & Olufsen in a 2.2 configuration. The only thing that can be quite annoying during viewing is the fact that after increasing the volume to higher levels – around above 50% on the scale – the volume no longer matches the scale visible on the screen. The audio system from B&O works great for daily watching of news or series at moderate volume, but if you're looking for good sound, it's worth getting at least a basic soundbar for the C7L.

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements

85dBC (Max)

75dBC

77dBC (Max)

75dBC