Compare: Sony X85L vs Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will continue to be available in the 2024 range from the Japanese manufacturer. Its biggest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the greatest access to applications, so we don’t have to worry about missing any of our favourite apps. The intuitive interface and voice control feature using Google Assistant make daily use of the television convenient and modern. As for picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very mediocre number of zones), black levels look quite decent. Additionally, its fairly high brightness allows for comfortable TV viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Moreover, the television offers a program recording feature from built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion smoothness, X85L also does not disappoint. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system provide smooth display of dynamic scenes, which will satisfy both movie lovers and sports fans. The television is also equipped with a range of features for gamers, including VRR, Game Bar, and G-Sync support, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. Of course, the television is not without its flaws. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode may be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and smoothness of the image when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is a decent piece of equipment that is particularly worth considering if it can be purchased on sale.

Hisense S7NQ Canvas TV is a very interesting option, especially for those who are looking for something in the style of a picture-TV but don't want to spend a fortune. At first glance, it stands out primarily because the gallery mode with artwork is completely free – there’s no subscription fee, unlike Samsung's The Frame. Moreover, the box includes a light brown frame right away, which will be an extra bonus and saving for many people. Although it is primarily a TV for displaying art, it surprisingly performs quite well in other applications as well. The 144 Hz panel, full HDMI 2.1, support for VRR and ALLM – all of this makes gaming on consoles entirely possible and quite enjoyable. The Vidaa system runs smoothly, and we find all the most important apps and features here, such as AirPlay, USB recording, or screen mirroring from your phone. But there are also things that fall a bit short. First and foremost – the actual images. Compared to The Frame from Samsung, they simply look more digital here. There's a lack of that depth, paint texture, and subtle details that really impress with the competitor. Even though at first glance we’re dealing with a similar, matte panel, in practice, it performs much worse at suppressing reflections. Colours and blacks fade much quicker, especially in a bright room. This could also be the effect of lower brightness – Hisense is simply darker than its Korean rival. Additionally, there are some minor software flaws – e.g., the lack of displaying external subtitles despite the option to configure them, or the not entirely effective image smoothing function with lower quality materials. In short: the S7NQ is a good TV in the form of a "picture" that can be a great alternative for those who don’t mind the lower quality of displayed artworks but value the absence of subscription fees, an extra frame in the package, and the full functionality of a typical TV. It's not an ideal product, but a reasonable compromise for Samsung The Frame.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which offers quite decent contrast on its own. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it includes 24 zones. Although this number isn’t impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially compared to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but they average out against the competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the movie Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs quite well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has been using in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be seen in scenes with the helicopter from the movie Sicario 2.

The Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV is a television equipped with a VA panel, which on its own provides decent contrast. Our test patterns confirm this – an average score of around 4000:1. It may not be an outstanding value, but for this class of device, it's quite decent. Perhaps the result would be significantly better if the television was equipped with local dimming technology; however, this model sadly lacks that feature. As a result, blacks in a completely dark room resemble shades of navy blue or grey more than true black. This situation causes a slightly noticeable clouding effect. Overall, it's okay, but without any real excitement.

The Sony X85L TV offers solid HDR performance with a brightness of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vibrant effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows you to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, like the scene from the film Sicario 2, the TV reveals its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits make the HDR effect lose its impressive quality and resemble ordinary SDR. Nonetheless, it is worth highlighting the very good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette at 95%, which definitely deserves praise and positively impacts the overall image quality.

When it comes to the brightness of the television and how it handles bright elements while watching films, it's just average – similar to the contrast. The average brightness level of the Hisense S7NQ is around 500 nits. This is a value that allows you to feel the hints of true HDR, but it's definitely not enough to speak of remarkable effects. However, the television should be praised for its colour gamut coverage – films look very colourful and vibrant. Thanks to the use of a PFS LED (QLED) coating, the device is able to cover more than 90% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and over 72% of the wider BT.2020 palette. For a television of this class – these are really very good results.

The television Sony X85L has been tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, while associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image consistent with the director's intent. The main issue is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue and significant deficiencies in red. As a result, the image becomes unnaturally cool and looks artificial. Errors in colour reproduction were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed significant discrepancies – colours were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly shows that the precision of colour reproduction leaves much to be desired.

The brightness of the image is one of the positive features of the television. The gamma for HD content is at an acceptable level, although minor errors occur, but generally it is quite good. However, the issue remains the brightness characteristic for 4K materials, controlled by the EOTF curve. It is evident here that very small, bright elements of the image are too dim, which is the result of the limited number of backlight zones due to the design of the television.

Let's check how the Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV performs in terms of colour reproduction in its best factory mode, which is Filmmaker. Right from the start, it’s clear that it’s definitely better than in dynamic or standard mode, but there are still a few things to nitpick. In terms of image quality from HD signals, the colours are slightly skewed – there’s a dominance of cooler blue tones and a lack of red. This makes the image seem a bit too cool.

A similar effect is noticeable in 4K content, but it’s more pronounced there. The excessive exposure of blue tones and lack of red makes the image appear distinctly cold. However, the biggest issue with this TV isn’t the colours themselves but the way brightness is managed. The unit we tested slightly increased brightness compared to the reference value. The result of this is indeed better visibility of details, but at the cost of significantly lighter blacks – which makes the entire image seem more "flat."

A similar phenomenon was observed in the 4K signal – the slightly inflated curve at the beginning of the EOTF graph indicates that the TV has a tendency to overexpose certain scenes. Fortunately, this effect can be improved through professional calibration, which we will discuss in the next point.

Thanks to the use of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, it has been possible to significantly improve the image quality. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours look more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it's not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic representation of colours, eliminating the earlier cool tone. The gamma, which already performed reasonably well, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively impacting the depth and detail of the image.

As for 4K content, despite efforts, the white balance still struggles with a lack of red, which can cause overly warm colours in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is fairly stable, with a slight boost in mid-bright scenes. However, in actual film material, the TV can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

Nonetheless, the calibration has brought significant benefits, particularly in terms of colour accuracy, improving overall image quality and providing a more natural and consistent directorial vision.

The results we achieved after calibrating the Hisense S7NQ are really very good. Thanks to the calibration, we managed to eliminate excessive blue tone exposure and deficiencies in red with HD signals. A similar, albeit slightly weaker effect was also achieved with 4K HDR content. Brightness management in HD materials has also improved – the television no longer struggles with brightening the image "overall".

However, there are things that cannot be circumvented. The character of the EOTF curve has hardly changed, and the lack of local dimming means that the smallest elements on the screen will always be slightly overexposed. You just have to come to terms with this when choosing a television with a similar type of backlighting. Nevertheless, the final effect is very good and should fully satisfy the vast majority of users.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in Sony X85L is at a good level – the colour gradation is smooth, even in more demanding areas, making the perception of scenes positive and natural. The biggest issues arise in shadow areas, where subtle colour joins can be visible. Despite this, the television performs well enough that most viewers should not notice these minor imperfections.

The fluidity of tonal transitions is one of those categories that even less advanced users can notice. If someone doesn’t know what this means – we’ll explain. It’s about whether the colours blend smoothly into each other or if their “sticking” is visible in the form of distinct bands. Good tonal transitions are those that are natural and smooth, without significant jumps in colour.

The Hisense S7NQ performs very well in this area, although it must be honestly admitted that it falls slightly short compared to Samsung The Frame. In very bright scenes, slight imperfections can be noticed, but you really need a trained eye to catch them. Overall – as with most “frame” style televisions – it still performs excellently.

In terms of smoothing tonal transitions, the Sony X85L television doesn’t offer any dedicated enhancement options, which is a bit of a downside. On the other hand, the image scaling performs quite well – the television adds a touch of artificial sharpness, which can make details such as tree branches more pronounced, although sometimes with visible jagged edges. This type of effect may appeal to some viewers who prefer a more detailed image.

Equally important is how the television handles tonal transitions with a poorer signal – for example, in older films, on television, or on YouTube. Unfortunately, despite the presence of the “Smooth and Gradient Picture” feature, which was supposedly meant to improve this aspect, its functionality is really poor. It’s barely noticeable that it has any real impact on the visibility of colour transitions.

The image scaling is also disappointing. Yes, you can see that the television is trying to “pull up” the quality, but the end result is far from ideal. The image often appears slightly jagged, which is particularly noticeable in the example of tree branches in the background. Additionally, the Hisense S7NQ has a clear tendency to crop the image at lower resolutions, which could result in missing subtitles in the news or finer details in the image.

Sony X85L, equipped with a 120 Hz panel, will meet the expectations of a wide range of users – from sports and gaming fans to movie enthusiasts. Movie lovers will surely appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, known as Motionflow. This system offers adjustment using smoothness and clarity sliders – smoothness is responsible for fluid motion, eliminating the stuttering effect, while clarity enhances the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

When it comes to motion fluidity, the television performs really well. Although the S7NQ was primarily designed for displaying static elements – such as images – the manufacturer has used a panel with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. As a result, sports or games look really good on it.

For content that is not recorded at a high frame rate, the manufacturer has provided two features that allow you to adjust the picture to your own preferences. “Motion blur reduction” and “blur” operate on a 10-point scale, enabling a choice between a more cinematic image – with characteristic frame jumps – and a smooth effect reminiscent of a “soap opera.” How to set this up? That’s a personal choice – we leave the decision to you.

Sony X85L offers a fairly solid set of features for gamers, making it an attractive choice for gaming enthusiasts. First and foremost, the television has a 120 Hz panel, which translates to smooth and dynamic image display, ideal for both fast-paced action games and more demanding sports titles. It is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s, allowing for the full capabilities of next-generation consoles to be utilised. Additionally, Sony X85L supports VRR (variable refresh rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, ensuring a smooth experience. The television also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for screen refresh rate synchronization with GPU performance, eliminating screen tearing. It’s worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to important game-related settings, such as VRR, brightness levels, or display modes, making it convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are some limitations. The television does not support HGiG, which may be a downside for some gamers, as HGiG optimises HDR effect rendering in games, providing a more authentic visual experience. Additionally, the Dolby Vision mode, although available, is not practical for gaming due to very high input lag.

Even though the S7NQ is an "image" type television, you can actually play games on it. Really. It has practically everything (except for HGiG mode) that a modern gaming television needs. The 144 Hz panel and two full HDMI 2.1 ports allow for seamless connection of two consoles, such as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.

The television supports Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) without any stutters or issues. It also handles high frame rates at lower resolutions without any trouble. A shoutout to Hisense for the very attractive Game Bar – it displays all available image options, and additionally, we have the ability to enlarge the minimap or turn on the crosshair (because sometimes someone might actually want to "aim" 😉).

The only missing element – as we mentioned earlier – is the lack of proper implementation of HGiG mode. This is the feature responsible for automatically setting the image in games as the developers intended. It’s a shame because it's the only thing that separates the Hisense S7NQ from being a full-fledged gaming "monster".

Generally speaking, the input lag on the Sony X85L is very good, which is crucial for smooth gameplay and quick reactions in games. In standard modes, particularly when using HDMI 2.1 and playing at 4K resolution at 120 Hz, the input lag is minimal.

Unfortunately, the Dolby Vision mode is an exception to this rule. In this case, the input lag reaches as high as 95 ms. Such a high level of latency makes the Dolby Vision mode practically unplayable, as responses to commands are noticeably delayed.

Input lag in the Hisense S7NQ performs well, though it can't be said to be exceptional – especially for the standards of 2024/25. Values around 30–20 ms aren't very high and the average player likely won't notice it, but those who spend a lot of time gaming may feel a bit of discomfort.

The situation looks significantly better when playing in Dolby Vision mode – then the lag is lower and the gameplay feels more enjoyable. The problem is that there are still very few games supporting this mode and they are mainly available on the Xbox console.

The collaboration of the television Sony X85L with a PC involves a bit of balancing between image quality and user comfort. If we want to use the TV for work, where clear fonts matter, we need to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz. In this mode, text looks good and doesn't strain the eyes, which is crucial if we plan to spend a longer time in front of the screen.

On the other hand, if the TV is intended for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must consider that the readability of the fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L works well for occasional connection to the computer, but if we need it daily for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

When it comes to working with a computer, the S7NQ Canvas TV performs really well. Gaming on it is smooth thanks to the presence of a 144 Hz panel and support for G-Sync with Nvidia cards. Input lag – as we mentioned earlier – is good, though not exceptional.

And how about productivity? It’s doable. The TV has a proper implementation of chroma 4:4:4, so fonts look quite sharp. You might nitpick about some minor issues with the thinnest letters on a dark background, but let’s be honest – rarely does anyone sit a metre away from a 55-inch screen reading small text.

Viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when you’re watching the TV head-on, but all it takes is a slight shift to the side to notice that the colours lose their vibrancy and the contrast noticeably weakens. This could be a problem if the TV is meant for watching in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who typically watch solo or from one central spot, it won't be a major downside, but the picture quality unfortunately drops when watching from the side.

Viewing angles here are typical for a VA panel. The S7NQ loses quite a bit when viewed from about a 45-degree angle – colours wash out and brightness noticeably decreases. It's a shame, as after all, it's a television that's meant to display works of art – it would be nice to be able to look at them from different spots in the room, not just straight on.

The performance of the television Sony X85L during the day is quite decent. Its satin screen coating handles light reflection moderately well, which means that in bright rooms there may be some glare, but it is not bothersome enough to significantly interfere. The brightness in SDR mode at 570 nits is sufficient for comfortably watching TV during the day, even with natural light coming in through the windows. This ensures that colours remain vibrant and the picture is clearly visible, making the television suitable for everyday use.

Hisense S7NQ Canvas TV is equipped with a matte screen that effectively reduces reflections – quite similar to its Chinese rival, TCL A300 NXTVision. Unfortunately, both constructions fall short in this category compared to Samsung's The Frame, which offers a significantly better anti-reflective coating. In the case of the Chinese models, including the S7NQ, colours fade considerably under light, and black levels perform poorly in such conditions. The brightness of the television reaches about 500 nits – which is quite a decent value for a matte screen, but still lower than that of the aforementioned The Frame. Generally, if someone prefers matte displays, then... it looks like it looks – Samsung simply did it better.

Sony X85L operates on the Google TV system, which is a significant advantage for many users. The television offers wide access to apps, and using streaming platforms is smooth and user-friendly. The interface is intuitive and easy to master, allowing for quick switching between apps and searching for favourite content. Google TV allows for personalization of the home screen, enabling each user to tailor it to their preferences. Google Assistant further enriches the experience by offering voice control and quick changes to settings or searching for films without using the remote.

In terms of user features, Sony X85L offers many useful options. The television has the capability to record programs, which is a great convenience for those wanting to watch their favourite content at any time. AirPlay support allows seamless streaming of content from Apple devices, which iPhone and iPad owners will appreciate. In addition, with built-in Bluetooth, various devices such as headphones or keyboards can be connected. However, one drawback is the absence of the PiP (picture in picture) function, which may disappoint users who prefer multitasking on the screen.

The design of the Sony X85L TV, while perhaps not the slimmest, is sturdy and elegant. The metal base with adjustable legs is one of its strong points, allowing for the height and width of the television to be adjusted to fit various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

As the Hisense S7NQ is a dedicated television, we'll start the description a bit differently – from the most important aspect of this type of model, which is displaying works of art. Like all "art" televisions, it features a special mount that allows for the screen to be installed completely flat. The biggest advantage over the Korean Samsung The Frame is the fact that despite fewer artworks available in gallery mode, all of them are completely free – there’s no subscription fee required. An additional bonus that comes with the S7NQ is the light brown frame. This is a significant plus, especially if someone was already planning to choose that colour – you can save a bit of money on both the frame and the subscription.

However, when it comes to the quality of the displayed images, it’s clear that Samsung The Frame significantly outperforms here. In the S7NQ, the images look more digital, whereas in The Frame, the Art Store mode offers true scans of artworks, showing even the texture of the paint or the brush strokes of the artist. And once again, we return to the old truth – for better quality, you simply have to pay.

Fortunately, the S7NQ is not just an "art piece", but also a normal television – and in this role, it performs really well. Like most Hisense models with the VIDAA system, it offers many basic functions such as USB recording, screen mirroring, and AirPlay support. As for apps – the most popular streaming services are present here, and you can find their complete list below.

Sony X85L handles playback of most popular file formats from USB without any issues, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it's worth mentioning a minor drawback – the built-in player does not allow for changing the font colour in subtitles, which may be troublesome for some. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive Google TV system, users have a wide range of options. Alternative media players can be easily installed, offering more personalisation options.

Hisense S7NQ has no trouble playing the vast majority of popular audio, photo, and video formats. So why is the rating in this category relatively low? Well, it's because of software issues. This is another Hisense television that didn't allow us to open external subtitles in movies. Regardless of whether we're talking about the .ass, .srt, .txt, or .sub format – the subtitles simply didn't appear.

The funniest (or rather the most frustrating) part about all this is that in the menu we can find options to change the font colour, size, and background… The problem is, the subtitles themselves are not visible at all.

The sound on the Sony X85L is good – it's clear across the entire scale, allowing enjoyment of both dialogue and music. The bass, though light, is noticeable and adds some depth to the overall sound. However, it should be emphasised that this is a subjective assessment – some may be satisfied with this sound profile, while others might require additional audio equipment to fully experience the stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

When it comes to sound, it presents itself... just like a television on the wall – rather flat. Despite the use of a 2.0.2 speaker setup with a total power of 36 W, we can't speak of any exceptional sound quality here. But as is often the case – buying even the simplest soundbar can dramatically change the situation.

On the plus side, it does support virtually all popular Dolby and DTS codecs. This means we can easily connect the television to a home theatre system without having to fiddle with settings or audio conversion.

Sony X85L vs Hisense S7NQ CanvasTV

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

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound