Compare: Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) vs Hisense U7S Pro

Sony Bravia 5 is the continuation of the iconic X90L model, and it's clear that the manufacturer aimed to take a step forward. A greater number of backlighting zones have been implemented, which makes the contrast seem better in many scenes, with deeper blacks than its predecessor. The 120 Hz panel and MotionFlow system allow you to tailor the fluidity of the image to your own preferences – from a slight cinematic texture to crystal smooth motion in sports and games. This is a device that is unafraid of any content, because regardless of whether we're watching a match, an action film, or a concert, the image maintains clarity and character. However, the true strength of the Bravia 5 remains its XR processor. It's what makes older materials look better than they should – upscaling works like magic here, smoothing out noise, improving gradation, and providing coherence even to content of lower quality. As a result, in everyday use, the Bravia 5 can surprise, because instead of battling with signal imperfections, it extracts the maximum from them. Additionally, there's excellent colour reproduction once calibrated, as well as dynamic tone mapping with Dolby Vision mode, allowing you to enjoy details even in challenging, high-contrast scenes. However, it cannot be hidden that at several moments, the Bravia 5 has let us down significantly. Despite the greater number of zones, brightness and contrast are not always better than in the X90L – sometimes they even perform worse. This raises a sense of wasted potential, as we were hoping for a greater qualitative leap. After all, we are talking about a true MINI-LED television here. Nevertheless, the Bravia 5 remains an excellent TV for those who want to enjoy quality image above all. If you're looking for a model that can impress with smooth motion, extracts details from difficult scenes, and works wonders with older materials, the Bravia 5 will easily meet these expectations. It's a television that sometimes cannot quite match the competition in certain respects, but still defends itself with what Sony does best – cinematic imagery.

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.

Bravia 5 is the entry-level TV in Sony's Mini-LED series for 2025, so naturally we start with the most important thing – how it performs with blacks and contrast. After all, the term "Mini-LED" today sounds almost like a magic spell. In theory, this means thousands of tiny diodes arranged in zones that are meant to work in harmony, dimming and brightening the image so that the viewer's eye perceives more depth than with a classic LCD. In practice, in the 65-inch Bravia 5, we counted around 200 backlight zones. Is that a lot? Definitely more than its predecessor, the legendary X90L model, but when you look at Chinese manufacturers who can pack in hundreds, sometimes even thousands of zones – it comes off as rather modest.

One might expect that combining a greater number of zones with the refined dimming algorithms that Sony has accustomed us to over the years would result in a qualitative leap compared to the X90L. Meanwhile – and this is where a slight disappointment arises – tests showed that the results are surprisingly similar to last year's model. Don't take this the wrong way: the contrast, for an LCD TV with local dimming, is really solid. In most scenes, bright elements are separated from dark ones with surgical precision, and the effect can be breathtaking. But when more demanding shots appear on screen – those that mercilessly test the capabilities of the backlight – it becomes clear that the hardware has its limitations.

Therefore, one could say that in terms of blacks and contrast, the Bravia 5 doesn't so much disappoint as rather fails to meet the hopes that the initial announcements ignited. We were hoping for at least a slightly better performance than its predecessor, and we got "only" good contrast. And that “only” is the key word here – because good contrast in Sony’s rendition still means a level that most competitors would be proud of.

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.

Looking at similar results in terms of black levels and contrast, we expected the same stable performance as last year's model when it comes to HDR content. Unfortunately – and this must be said plainly – there has been a regression here that is hard to miss. The paradox is that the peak brightness of the Bravia 5 can be impressive: in our synthetic tests, the TV reached around 1000 nits in HDR. Sounds great, right? The problem is that this power doesn't always have a real impact on all movie scenes. When small, pinpoint elements appear on the screen, something that in Sony's case was usually fine-tuned with surgical precision, this time it clearly falters. The algorithms try to maintain deep blacks around small objects, but the side effect is that details can be dimmed to the point of becoming barely visible. One only needs to bring up the example of the movie Sicario 2 – there, in some scenes, small light sources practically vanished as if someone had covered them with dark film.

Of course, not everything looks so dramatic. In simpler, brighter scenes, where the image is filled with more light, the Bravia 5 shows that it can shine: literally and figuratively. At those times, the TV achieves values in the range of 600–800 nits, which we saw both in synthetic tests and during movie screenings. The impression is really positive; the brightness adds dynamism, and the colours look vibrant and fresh. However, there remains a certain dissonance. We feel a slight confusion because it is evident that something has gone in the wrong direction. Technological progress – more zones, more backlight power – has not been supported by the kind of refined image management that we usually associate with Sony. Fortunately, there are elements that have not been compromised and are actually at a very high level. We are talking about colour reproduction. Thanks to the use of the PFS filter, the colour palette coverage is excellent – about 97% DCI-P3 and 75% BT.2020. These values allow for a truly wide colour reproduction, giving films a natural and cinematic character.

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.

Sony Bravia 5 was obviously tested in the best possible mode, which is the Movie mode. Right out of the box, it delivers the most natural colours, definitely better than anything offered by the "eco" or "dynamic" modes, which are more suited for a store display than a living room. However, the Movie mode alone does not guarantee that we can always expect cinematic picture quality. In SDR content, we had no significant complaints – the slightly warmed white balance gave the scenes a golden hue, but it was nothing that was glaring. However, a problem arose with HDR materials. Here, the colour reproduction simply looked bad. The white balance was heavily skewed – with an excess of blue and a clear lack of red. At times, it resembled the store mode of "super vivid picture," where everything is blown out and artificially boosted.

This situation made brightness management seem too aggressive as well. The EOTF graph clearly showed that the television has trouble with overexposing many scenes right out of the box. And while we know what Sony televisions are usually capable of, it was hard to remain indifferent here – that’s why we quickly decided to go for 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.

After calibration, the situation changed dramatically. We managed to tune the white balance so that entire scenes began to look more natural, and the image gained coherence and elegance. In HDR, we finally got rid of that unwanted clipping effect that had previously spoiled some shots. Suddenly, it turned out that the Bravia 5 can extract much more from films than the first contact "straight out of the box" suggested. Indeed, if we look at the graphs and compare them with the standards, we can see that the beginning of the EOTF curve slightly strays beyond the reference line. However, this is not so much a calibration error as it is a natural limitation of the Mini-LED technology that cannot be bypassed. Sony, rather than clinging tightly to perfect black, prefers to prioritise the visibility of details – and in practice, it’s hard to disagree with that. We prefer to see the texture of the material on the screen rather than a pitch-black spot where all nuances disappear.

The calibration itself was really beneficial. After about an hour spent on settings, we felt that the image resembled that of the best cinema halls – of course on a home scale, but with the same sense of quality and refinement. And in such moments, we remember why we love Sony televisions: because once we fine-tune them, they reward us with a picture that captivates for long hours.

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.

Tonality transitions are nothing more than the way a television handles blending colours and shades – from light to dark, from saturated to pastel. If the device struggles with this, you see characteristic "stairs" instead of smooth transitions, and the image loses its naturalness. It's those moments when instead of getting immersed in the film, we start glancing at the screen thinking, "hey, something's off here." Fortunately, in the Sony Bravia 5, such situations are practically non-existent. This is a huge advantage because nothing distracts our attention from the plot or the excitement of sports. The television performs best in bright scenes, where the colour transitions are smooth, and the blending of colours is nearly invisible. The effect is so good that sometimes it can feel like the image was painted in one brush stroke. Of course, there have been a few minor missteps. In darker scenes, certain imperfections can be noticed – slight banding or minimal gradation issues. For that reason, the Bravia 5 received a few negative points from us. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of situations, the television performs excellently and comes through this test with flying colours.

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.

Bravia 5 carries the genes of Sony, which remain intact – and thank goodness for that, because we're talking about absolutely exceptional digital image processing. It's no coincidence that for years, it's been considered that TVs from this brand set the standard for how a screen should handle lower quality materials. If someone still watches classic television, old films, or YouTube in lower resolutions, here they get equipment that can turn such content into a surprisingly enjoyable experience. On board, we find several tools worth activating. The first of these is "digital noise reduction." Set to a medium level, it works superbly – smoothing out tonal transitions that usually cause the most trouble in low-quality materials while introducing no artificial artifacts. Importantly, it also doesn't remove the cinematic character, which is the natural grain that is intentionally present in many productions. Another advantage of the Bravia 5 is the upscaling capabilities of the XR processor. The image presented after scaling is soft, yet sharp and clear. The outlines of characters are well-defined, and backgrounds maintain their texture without excessive artificial sharpening. It's hard to find a better TV for watching lower quality materials – Bravia 5 only confirms why Sony is considered the benchmark in this area.

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.

Bravia 5 has a 120 Hz panel, which in itself sounds like an invitation to watch sports, fast matches or spectacular action films. However, the real magic begins when MotionFlow – Sony's proprietary motion smoother – comes into play. Thanks to this feature, we can adjust the character of the picture to our own preferences. The "smoothness" slider allows us to transition from a cinematic feel with a slight "judder" to a theatrical fluidity, where every ball in the match glides across the screen as if on a string. The higher the value, the smoother and more fluid it is; the lower it is, the more film-like and natural it becomes. In the options, we also find an additional setting that Sony calls "clarity". This is nothing more than the BFI function (which inserts black frames) aimed at improving motion sharpness. It sounds great in theory, but in practice, it must be used with caution. Why? Because all higher settings cause brightness drops of up to half, and in some cases, contour doubling also appears. So if we want to use it, we recommend setting it to the lowest level – "1" out of the available ten. That way, we gain a bit better motion sharpness without risking losing half the brightness of the picture.

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.

In the Bravia 5, there is a significant improvement compared to the X90L model from two years ago. The television offers literally everything its predecessor had, but this time the issues that could frustrate gamers have been addressed. Problems with setting the variable refresh rate (VRR) have disappeared, and there are no longer issues with configuring HDR content in HGiG mode. In short: we get a device that simply works as it should, without any hassles. So, the Bravia 5 has everything you can expect from a modern gaming TV – and it can be confidently advertised with the slogan "ready for PS5." That's something we couldn't say about the X90L model. Well done, Sony!

It's just a shame that this relatively high-priced model lacks a full set of four HDMI 2.1 ports. In everyday use, this won’t be an issue for most people, but if someone has a console, soundbar, and additional equipment connected via HDMI, at some point they'll have to choose or juggle cables.

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 input lag, the Bravia 5 deserves a round of applause. Results of around 7 ms at 120 Hz content are nothing short of phenomenal – it's hard to imagine a gamer complaining about such responsiveness. Even at 60 Hz, where the lag increases to around 15 ms, we're still talking about values that absolutely don't spoil the fun and are practically unnoticeable. Moreover, Sony has finally tamed the Dolby Vision mode. In the X90L, it was practically unplayable – the delays rose to levels of even 150 ms. Meanwhile, the input lag on the Bravia 5 remains at the same low level as with other content. This is a huge improvement and further proof that this television can truly be called "gamer-friendly."

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.

In this category, the Bravia 5 deserves an exemplary rating. The ideal readability of fonts thanks to 4:4:4 chroma support makes working on this TV a pure pleasure. Whether we are opening Excel, browsing documents, or simply surfing the web – the text is sharp, clear, and free from that characteristic “haze” which can effectively take away the joy of use in many TVs. The letters look as they should: distinct, sharp, and readable even up close.

We also have good news for PC gamers. The Bravia 5 has no problems at all with handling 120 Hz, working with both Nvidia and AMD cards, supporting G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro technologies. The result is that the image is not only smooth but also free from tears or micro-cuts that can ruin the experience even in the best-optimised games. You can easily connect a powerful PC and enjoy gaming on the big screen – without compromises, without frustration, and with full comfort. The only thing we could complain about is the lack of additional modes for gamers with higher refresh rates.

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.

Bravia 5 uses a classic VA panel, and that means one thing – the viewing angles are not one of its strong points. For those with smaller screen sizes, this won’t be a problem, as sitting directly in front, the picture looks fantastic. However, with larger sizes, especially 85 inches, the situation becomes less comfortable. It’s enough to sit slightly off-centre on the couch to notice minor imperfections: the image begins to lose saturation, contrast weakens, and black takes on unwanted greys. It’s a shame that Sony did not opt for additional coatings, which in the case of VA panels can bring their capabilities closer to IPS levels. Such solutions exist, and some competitors make use of them. Here, they are missing, so one has to reckon with the fact that Bravia 5 best showcases its strengths when viewed head-on.

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.

Bravia 5 is a piece of equipment that really performs well in challenging lighting conditions. Its high brightness ensures that even in the middle of the day, with the blinds wide open and sunlight streaming through the windows, the picture remains clear and sharp. There’s no feeling that we're watching a "washed-out" screen. The satin finish of the panel also plays a significant role in effectively reducing light reflections. Yes, some reflections do appear, but they are not strong enough to interfere with viewing. They are more like subtle glows that can be noticed when we consciously look for them, rather than a real problem day-to-day. Because of this, the Bravia 5 works well not just in the evening in a dimmed room, but also in bright living areas, where other TVs can falter. One could say that it's a "universally bright" model – suitable for both evening screenings and for watching news or sports in full sunlight.

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.

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

Sony Bravia 5 runs on Google TV, and it must be said that this is one of the best-optimised systems in this brand's offering. The interface works smoothly, with no annoying bugs or bizarre translations, and navigating the menu doesn’t feel like walking through a minefield. Admittedly, there are moments when the whole system catches a slight breath – as if it has its “weaker moments” – but these are rare enough not to spoil the overall impression. We have full AirPlay support, voice search with Google AI assistance, and the ability to download practically any app that comes to mind. The only drawback in tests turned out to be the screen mirroring function, which theoretically should work with laptops and phones, but in practice proved almost useless – there was no stable image on Windows and Android.

User features

From the perspective of classic functionality, the Bravia 5 performs solidly and practically. A big plus is the presence of two remotes – one is a slim, modern smart remote, while the other, although operating via infrared, has a classic numeric keypad. This way, we can always choose which one suits the situation better. The EPG, or electronic programme guide, is clear and allows you to programme recordings to a USB drive – a seemingly simple solution, but incredibly useful. Additionally, the TV supports connecting a variety of devices: from an amplifier or soundbar via HDMI eARC, to headphones and other wireless accessories via Bluetooth. This is a set that makes the TV not just a screen, but a well-thought-out home entertainment centre.

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.

Bravia 5 handles multimedia playback from USB quite efficiently. In practice, nearly everything works – movies, music, photos – although of course we encountered some minor issues. Some subtitles can be troublesome, as can exotic photo formats, which were not always correctly recognised. However, this is standard in the world of televisions, and it's hard to take it too seriously. A significant advantage, though, is that thanks to Android, we are not limited to the system player. It's enough to install an external app, like VLC, and all restrictions disappear. This is the strength of this system – the manufacturer does not confine us to their ecosystem, but rather gives us the freedom of choice.

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.

Bravia 5 positively surprises in terms of audio. The sound is pleasant, with a slightly noticeable bass thanks to the proprietary Bass Reflex speakers. Overall, it plays loudly, clearly, and definitely above average for a television – 40 W power in a 2.2 setup is an impressive result in this class. The placement of the speakers on the sides of the casing also plays a significant role, as it allows the sound to fill the room and creates a sense of space. However, one should not get carried away with optimism. This is still not the level of even the simplest soundbar. The Bravia 5 performs excellently in everyday use, but for those who enjoy strong sound and a cinematic effect, additional audio equipment will be a must – as is the case with nine out of ten televisions available today on the market.

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.

Sony BRAVIA 5 (XR5) vs Hisense U7S Pro

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

Daytime performance

Panel details

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Sound connection options

Supported audio formats (external HDMI eARC audio):

Senior accessibility

GoogleTV and SmartTV features

User features

SmartTV: Vidaa / HomeOS

TV Features

Apps

Playing files from USB

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements