- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 165Hz Brand: HISENSE Resolution: 3840x2160 System: VIDAA Model year: 2025
The Hisense U8Q is almost a flagship model in the offering of the Chinese manufacturer that aims to conquer the TV market. The combination of fantastic specifications with a surprisingly affordable price – for the premium segment – makes the U8Q appealing to those seeking top-tier quality without the need to spend a fortune. Is it worth buying, and how did it perform in our test? You’ll find the answer below!
HISENSE U8Q - Our verdict
8.0
Overall rating
Hisense U8Q is a television that makes it hard not to feel that the manufacturer approached the topic with the ambition of a top student. The picture is strong, vibrant, and contrasted – as if it’s shouting: “look, I can do more than most at this price!” And indeed, there is something to this. The secret lies in the large number of dimming zones in Mini-LED technology. Thanks to them, HDR doesn't just end with promises from the brochure, but can truly impress – especially during evening screenings. It's also hard to complain about motion smoothness. Watching matches and fast-paced games is enjoyable, and while the ball may leave a slight trail at times, it will be a negligible detail for 99% of viewers in everyday watching. Gamers also have reasons to be pleased here – although it should be mentioned right away that there is no HGiG feature. Other than that, it’s really good: low input lag, three HDMI 2.1 ports, and a full set of gaming features make the U8Q stand out as one of the more interesting Mini-LEDs for console fans. Of course, there are no perfect products. The television still carries some "miniLED" quirks, and the Vidaa system – although packed with features – can be less intuitive and has a more modest selection of apps compared to competing platforms. But are these serious flaws or rather minor drawbacks in the context of price and what we actually get? We leave that question for you to answer!
Advantages
Great blacks and contrast
Incredibly high brightness
Full package of HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Good motion smoothness - 165Hz panel
Exceptional usability in difficult lighting conditions (High brightness + New anti-reflective coating on the panel)
Many features for gamers, VRR, ALLM, HDMI 2.1, 288Hz for PC
All 3 ports in HDMI 2.1 standard (Finally!)
USB-C with video signal output capability (Displayport)
Many features in the Vidaa system
Support for DTS and Dolby Atmos
Disadvantages
Missing some apps on the Vidaa operating system
At maximum volume, the television slightly shakes
The television tends to "burn out" the image in 4K HDR content.
Movies and series in UHD quality8.0
Classic TV, YouTube7.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)7.2
Gaming on console8.6
TV as a computer monitor8.4
Watching in bright light8.2
Utility functions9.4
Apps7.7
Sound quality7.8
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HISENSE U8Q - Competing TVs in this price range
HISENSE U8Q - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Other inputs: Toslink (Optical audio), RCA (Chinch) Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: Premium
Stand type: Central
Kolor ramki: Graphite
- Regulacja podstawy: stand-Height Adjustment
- Montaż na płasko: Yes
- Akcesoria: accessories-Stand
The Hisense U8Q is a really interesting piece of engineering that clearly stands out against the competition. While most manufacturers today opt for minimalist designs, Hisense has chosen a bold, even cosmic aesthetic. The shape of the television is sleek and almost perfectly flat from the back, although it isn’t one of the thinnest models available. This is a result of the presence of speakers and an additional cooling system hidden in the side edges. Overall, it looks fresh and breaks the habits we've grown accustomed to in recent years. The slim bezel around the screen is, of course, present, and additionally, it draws attention with its central stand that has a distinctive trapezoidal shape. It lacks adjustability, but the design itself gives the television character. As a result, the U8Q looks very attractive and is definitely appealing.
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HISENSE U8Q - Contrast and black detail
8.6/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 2048 (32 x 64)
Result
1,024,000:1
Result
140,000:1
Result
35,000:1
Result
22,350:1
Result
22,300:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The unit we tested, the Hisense U8Q in 65 inches, is equipped with a VA panel that offers high native contrast on its own. However, this is not the biggest strength of this model—the key lies in the Mini LED backlighting. With the use of thousands of dimming zones and a well-tuned light management algorithm, the contrast in the U8Q can be described as excellent, especially for a TV of this technology.
The best results reach around a million to one—a result that is impressive and places the U8Q among the top Mini LED TVs. Yes, there are certain issues and even drops in contrast, but they are not as dramatic as with many other models in this class that we have tested on our portal. It's also worth noting that like every Mini LED TV, the U8Q is not completely free from typical imperfections—sometimes the picture can be dimmed too much, or there may be slight blooming effects with a halo. However, this does not change the overall impression: the contrast in the Hisense U8Q is stunning and is one of the greatest assets of this model.
HISENSE U8Q - HDR effect quality
7.6/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 97.5%, Bt.2020: 81.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
2195 nit
Result
725 nit
Result
1652 nit
Result
485 nit
Result
1541 nit
When it comes to HDR, the Hisense U8Q shows its claws. On paper, meaning in synthetic measurement tests, the TV can "push out" nearly 4000 nits of peak brightness. This is a value that most models can only envy. In practice, this translates to very strong light effects in movies – in some scenes we managed to measure real levels from 1500 to 2000 nits, which is a level usually reserved for the absolute top-tier TVs on the market.
Of course, it's not always so perfect. In small, point-like elements, brightness can drop – a good example is scene number 4 from the movie Sicario 2, where instead of thousands of nits we get about 500. But it's worth noting that the effect doesn't disappear completely – the light is still visible, and the image doesn't appear artificially dimmed. This is a typical issue with Mini LEDs, so it’s hard to consider it a major drawback.
However, a huge plus has to be granted for colour reproduction. Thanks to additional coatings improving colour saturation, the U8Q almost covers the entire DCI-P3 colour space (98%), and for the wider BT.2020 gamut it achieved over 80%. This is an excellent result that makes HDR films look juicy, intense, and just very cinematic.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
In comparison to top displays, the picture looks exemplary - at times nearly identical. The light effects, such as spectacular fireworks or strong flashes in the film Mr, were delivered excellently. Well, maybe a tad too strong – we had the impression that in a few shots they were slightly "washed out". But that's really a detail that won't matter to the average viewer, as the overall presentation is impressive. The secondary scenes also deserve credit. It sometimes happens that in Mini LEDs, background elements can be dimmed to enhance the contrast in the foreground. Here, we hardly had that impression – the details were shown naturally, and the image maintained consistency. The final effect is very cinematic, and it's hard not to be pleased with how the U8Q handles demanding segments of films.
HDR luminance chart:
Luminancja HDR
Luminance of RGB colors
The effect of slight image 'burn-in' was mainly noticeable when the TV was running in static HDR10. Fortunately, the Hisense U8Q supports all the most popular formats with dynamic metadata, namely Dolby Vision and HDR10+. These formats truly save this model in extreme conditions – dynamic metadata allows for the brightness and contrast to be appropriately adjusted to the specific scene. Thanks to this, even with the astronomical brightness of the panel, the image looks natural and doesn't lose detail. The most important thing is that most films on the largest streaming platforms are recorded in Dolby Vision, and some content can also be found in HDR10+. This means the U8Q will virtually always display the image in its full glory, utilising its capabilities to the maximum.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
7/10
We have to admit that when the U8Q arrived in our editorial office, we were slightly surprised… and in a good way. Usually, white balance in televisions immediately requires adjustment – it can be too warm or too cold, which immediately causes strange colour errors. Meanwhile, here the situation looks really good straight out of the box. Of course, we’re talking about our unit, so there’s no guarantee that every model will be tuned as well, but in our case, the first impressions were very positive. The only more noticeable issue was related to how the television manages brightness. Looking at the EOTF chart, it’s clear that the U8Q tends to brighten small elements on the screen. This, in turn, caused what we mentioned earlier – slight overexposure and the impression that the whole scene is a bit too bright. However, this is not a flaw that negates the picture, rather an effect characteristic of this model.
Color reproduction after calibration
8/10
Of course, we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t make adjustments to the white balance. After calibration, we managed to level the SDR signal to near perfection – older films, YouTube content, and classic television looked nearly ideal on the U8Q. It’s truly an impressive level that shows this model can do a lot if given a bit of help. Unfortunately, the situation is different with HDR content. The colours themselves don’t pose much of a problem, but the biggest issue with the U8Q remains the EOTF brightness characteristics. In practice, the television tends to "shoot" above how the image should originally look. It’s this slight "blowout" we noticed earlier in comparisons with the best screens on the market. It’s a bit of a shame that this characteristic can't be completely tamed – if we could maintain equally good brightness control in HDR as we do in SDR, we would be looking at an absolutely reference-level image.
HISENSE U8Q - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.8/10
When it comes to tonal transition fluidity, the Hisense U8Q left a really great impression on us. Even in the darkest scenes, where usually other TVs show ugly banding and unpleasant transitions, here the picture remains smooth and cohesive. Nothing is separating, there's no "banding" effect – everything looks just as it should. Similarly, in brighter shots – it's also very good. Sure, if we were looking through a magnifying glass, we might find some minor flaws, but in normal viewing, it's hard to pick on anything. Overall, it performs very, very well!
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
8/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Hisense U8Q handles lower quality materials quite well. The television can smooth tonal transitions thanks to the “Smooth and Gradient Picture” feature – it works best on the Medium setting. It nicely dims unwanted bands and irregularities in the image, but importantly, it doesn't remove the film grain or fine details.
The upscaling itself is also at a good level. Image from lower resolutions appears smooth and soft, sometimes a bit too much – we get a plastic effect that may not appeal to everyone. Fortunately, this can be easily corrected with the sharpness slider, allowing you to adjust the image to your personal preferences.
HISENSE U8Q - Blur and motion smoothness
7.8/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 165Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 120Hz (double contours)
BFI function 120Hz: Yes, 240Hz (double contours)
Brightness drop with BFI: 60%
Hisense U8Q has a panel that can refresh the image up to 165 Hz in 4K resolution. In practice, this will mainly benefit PC gamers, but as they say – better to have it than not 😊. For movies and series, we have a built-in smoother called Ultra Motion Smoothing. In the settings, it can be easily adjusted to your own preferences – whether you want a more ‘cinematic’ frame rate or a smooth, theatrical spectacle.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (1080p@288Hz):
Unfortunately, due to the VA matrix used, the U8Q doesn't handle ghosting perfectly. This is most noticeable in dark scenes – during the "ufo" test, a distinct glow trailed behind the object. The manufacturer added a BFI function that can reduce the blur effect, but in return, there's a problem with split contours. It's hard to call this a real benefit – the ghosting effect just has to be accepted.
HISENSE U8Q - Console compatibility and gaming features
8.5/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 288Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
Correct implementation of HGIG:
No - 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
In terms of features, the Hisense U8Q has practically everything one would expect from a modern gaming television. Thanks to the new processor, the manufacturer has managed to implement three HDMI 2.1 ports, so there’s no trouble connecting multiple consoles or a computer. On top of that, it includes all the key technologies – Game Bar with parameter previews, variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic game mode (ALLM)… in a word, a complete set.
But as often happens with Hisense, it’s missing just a bit from perfection. The biggest drawback remains the lack of support for the HGiG format, which allows the TV's brightness to be adjusted to the console and gets the most out of HDR in games. It’s a shame because if this feature were included, we’d have a device practically made for gamers. As it stands, the U8Q remains “only” a very good choice 😉
HISENSE U8Q - Input lag
9.8/10
The Hisense U8Q really performs well in terms of signal delay. In 120 Hz mode, the input lag is around 10 ms, and with 60 Hz content, it hovers around 18 ms. These are values that place it among the fast televisions, and in practice, it's hard to have any significant reservations about them. The reaction is instant, controlling a character or a car on screen occurs without noticeable delays. Regardless of whether someone is playing dynamic shooters or calmer narrative titles, the U8Q will perform excellently.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 18 ms | 2160p60: 17 ms | 2160p60 DV: 17 ms |
| 1080p120: 10 ms | 2160p120: 8 ms | 2160p120 DV: 8 ms |
| 2160p60: 18 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 9 ms |
HISENSE U8Q - Compatibility with PC
8.4/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Average
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 9ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 165Hz
G-Sync: Yes
As we mentioned regarding the features for gamers – the Hisense U8Q also communicates well with computers. The 4K display with a refresh rate of 165 Hz is impressive on its own, and at Full HD resolution, it can even "overclock" to 288 Hz. This is great news for e-sports fans, where speed of reaction counts more than the highest quality of image. Additionally, it supports G-Sync and FreeSync, making gameplay smooth, without stutters or annoying frame tearing.
A pleasant surprise is the presence of a USB-C port with DisplayPort functionality for laptops or even phones. This is a true novelty in televisions, and it’s quite possible that Hisense will be a pioneer here, setting the direction for the competition.
However, when it comes to working with text, we must mention one minor inconvenience. Although the U8Q correctly handles chroma 4:4:4, it has difficulty displaying very thin, horizontal fonts. This means that some subtitles or interface elements may be hard to read. Most people aren’t buying this model with the intention of office work, but if someone had such a plan – it’s worth keeping this in mind.
HISENSE U8Q - Viewing angles
3.2/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 71%
In terms of viewing angles, the Hisense U8Q performs averagely – typical for VA panels. It's a classic compromise: in exchange for much better blacks and contrast than with IPS panels, we have to accept that viewing from a wider angle doesn’t look as good. Colours start to lose their intensity, and the image lightens a bit. For someone sitting directly in front of the TV – it's fantastic. For someone who sits a bit off to the side – not so much.
HISENSE U8Q - TV efficiency during daytime
8.2/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
Hisense has introduced a new anti-reflective coating called Anti-Reflection PRO. It aims to improve viewing comfort in difficult lighting conditions – and it really does the job. Reflections don't disappear entirely, but they are well controlled and do not interfere with everyday viewing. However, the highlight is the brightness in SDR – around 1000 nits! That's a result that would make top super premium models proud. As a result, the U8Q performs excellently in sunny rooms and can definitely be considered one of the best televisions for daytime viewing.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Hisense U8Q: 914 cd/m2
HISENSE U8Q - TV features
9.4/10
System: VIDAA
System performance: Good
- HDMI inputs: 0 x HDMI 2.0, 3 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Other inputs: Toslink (Optical audio), RCA (Chinch)
- Outputs: eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
- Recording programming: Yes
- Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: Yes
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV: Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Wyszukiwanie głosowe: Yes
- Voice search in native language: Yes
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
Classic Features
Hisense U8Q runs on the VIDAA system, which can still be considered a newcomer in the European market, but it must be acknowledged – the manufacturer really has a lot to offer here. You'll find classic features that many people still find useful: USB recording, a clear EPG guide, and the ability to connect wired headphones, which will be particularly appreciated by seniors. A nice addition is the presence of an audio jack – a connection that is slowly disappearing from televisions, but has been retained here.
USB-C in the TV!
A new feature in the U8Q is the USB-C port with DisplayPort support. This is a non-standard but very practical solution – it allows you to connect a laptop or phone with a single cable, even if those devices don't have an HDMI output.
Smart Features: VIDAA
When it comes to smart features, VIDAA operates smoothly. The interface is fast, apps open without significant delays, and network functions – such as screen mirroring or AirPlay – work very well. Sure, there are some minor shortcomings, but these are more details than real problems. The Achilles' heel remains the somewhat limited app library. However, it's worth remembering that the list of available programs can change from day to day – some disappear, others appear, so the situation may improve.
HISENSE U8Q - Apps
7.7/10
HISENSE U8Q - Playing files from USB
8.3/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
The built-in media player in the Hisense U8Q will be completely sufficient for most people. The television opens popular video and audio formats and also handles photos. However, there is a small caveat – not all photo resolutions are supported. Therefore, if we have photographs saved in a very high number of megapixels, they may simply not open. It’s worth bearing this in mind to avoid unpleasant surprises during the family photo show.
HISENSE U8Q - Sound
7.8/10
88dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The Hisense U8Q performs really well in terms of sound. The audio is pleasant, with a slight bass and quite decent mid tones, so it’s perfectly adequate for everyday viewing of movies, series, or gaming.
It does get a bit worse when we crank the volume up to 100%. That’s a rather rare scenario, but it’s worth mentioning. With very strong bass, the rear speakers start to work so intensely that the TV can slightly “rattle,” and the sound takes on an unpleasant, plastic echo. Therefore, it’s best to keep the volume between 70–80% – at that level, the U8Q sounds clear and enjoyable, without any unwanted effects.
Acoustic Measurements:
88dBC (Max)
75dBC
HISENSE U8Q - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: V0000.09.01T.P0528
Panel uniformity:
Backlight Type: Mini-LED QLED
Founder and originator of the "ChooseTV" portal
Journalist, reviewer, and columnist for the "ChooseTV" portal
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