Compare: Sony X85L vs Hisense U7Q PRO

Sony X85L is a model from 2023 that will be continued in the offering for 2024 by the Japanese manufacturer. Its greatest advantage is the Google TV system. It currently provides the largest access to applications, so we need not worry that one of our favourite applications will be missing. The intuitive interface and voice control feature using Google Assistant make daily use of the television comfortable and modern. As for picture quality, Sony X85L performs well. Thanks to local dimming (albeit with a very average number of zones), black levels look quite decent. Additionally, its fairly high brightness allows for comfortable television viewing during the day, even in well-lit rooms. Furthermore, the television offers a programme recording function with built-in tuners, which is a great convenience for those wanting to control what and when they watch. In terms of motion smoothness, X85L does not disappoint either. The 120 Hz panel and Motionflow system ensure smooth display of dynamic scenes, satisfying both movie enthusiasts 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 faults. The lack of HGiG support and high input lag in Dolby Vision mode can be disappointing for more demanding gamers. Additionally, the compromise between font readability and image smoothness when connected to a PC may not appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, Sony X85L is a decent piece of equipment that is particularly worth attention if it can be purchased on promotion.

The U7Q PRO is a television that, after just a few minutes, sends a clear signal: "speed matters here." Hisense surprised us with how much has been packed into a device that doesn't cost a fortune. A refresh rate of 165 Hz in 4K, and even 288 Hz in Full HD – until recently, such numbers were reserved exclusively for top-tier gaming monitors. And here we have a mid-range television with almost a complete set of features for gamers, confidently throwing down the gauntlet to much pricier competitors. However, it doesn't stop at speed-related attributes. The U7Q PRO also boasts a very bright screen, reaching up to 1500 nits at its peak. Like every Mini-LED, it has its typical "quirks" associated with this technology, sometimes slightly exaggerating the image, but the overall visual effect remains very positive – especially in HDR content. It's also worth mentioning the Vidaa operating system – fast, intuitive, and equipped with features such as AirPlay, a voice assistant, and a web browser. While we won't find the full range of applications known from Android, the system performs really well in everyday use. So why is it "almost" ideal for gamers? The only missing feature is HGiG, which allows for precise adjustments of brightness levels in HDR games. This is a minor flaw, but it may be significant for console purists. Nevertheless, the U7Q PRO remains a very solid proposition – and a testament that Chinese manufacturers have not only caught up with their competition from Korea and Japan but in some aspects have even begun to surpass it.

The Sony X85L television is equipped with a VA panel, which in itself offers quite good contrast. Additionally, this model features local dimming technology – in the 55-inch version, it encompasses 24 zones. Although this number is not impressive, it naturally increases with the size of the television. The contrast in the X85L is good, though not the best, especially in comparison to other televisions also equipped with advanced local dimming technology. Results at a level of 8000:1 are satisfactory, but appear average in the context of competition. In some cases, such as the third scene from the film Arrival, the contrast is promising and performs fairly well. This is thanks to the very good dimming algorithm that Sony has employed in its televisions for years. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of local dimming zones, the television struggles with noticeable blooming, which can be observed, for example, in scenes with the helicopter from the film Sicario 2.

Hisense U7Q PRO is a mini-LED television with a VA panel and – in the 65-inch version we tested – 560 local dimming zones. It's worth noting from the outset that this number varies depending on the size – larger screens will have more zones, while smaller ones will have fewer accordingly. However, regardless of this, the dimming system works really well here.

The contrast performs exceptionally well for the price range in which this model sits. In optimal conditions, the U7Q PRO can achieve results close to six-figure values, which not long ago was reserved for equipment at a much higher level. In practice – in scenes like the one from the film Oblivion – the image looks stunning. With slightly dimmed light in the room, it can be difficult at first glance to distinguish this television from organic screens. Of course, it is still an LCD with local dimming, so compromises are unavoidable. In more demanding scenes, where there are many small light sources, the U7Q PRO tends to dim too aggressively. Instead of a slight deterioration in black levels – some details that should be visible disappear. This is a side effect of the algorithm that strongly adheres to the rule of "black should be black," even at the cost of subtle image elements.

But nevertheless – contrast is one of the stronger points of this model.

The Sony X85L television offers solid HDR performance with a brightness level of 750 nits, which is sufficient to enjoy vivid effects. In scenes of moderate difficulty, such as the first, third, or fifth test scenes, a brightness of around 600 nits allows one to fully experience the HDR effect. Unfortunately, in more demanding segments, like the scene from the film Sicario 2, the television reveals its limitations. Drops in brightness to 250 nits cause the HDR effect to lose its impressive quality, resembling rather ordinary SDR. Nevertheless, 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.

U7Q PRO is truly a bright television. In synthetic tests, it achieved over 1500 nits, which is an outstanding result for this price range. Such brightness – at least in theory – allows for HDR content to be displayed as intended by the creators, even in more demanding scenes with strong lighting. In practice, it is often very good, but not always perfect. In bright scenes with large areas – like the test chart with intense sunlight from the movie "Pan" – the U7Q PRO makes a huge impression. It can almost dazzle with its brightness, which is definitely an advantage in the context of HDR content. Unfortunately, it doesn't always manage to maintain this when many small bright details appear on a dark background. In such moments, the local dimming algorithms choose to dim some bright elements to maintain good black levels – and the side effect is that some details simply disappear from the frame. This is a classic compromise in mini-LED televisions – and the U7Q PRO is no exception. However, with such a large number of dimming zones, one could have hoped for a slightly more mature algorithm responsible for their control. Fortunately, the overall perception of HDR content is decidedly positive. The U7Q PRO is not only bright but also colourful, thanks to the PFS LED (QLED) coating, the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour palette is at 95%, while BT.2020 is around 73%.

The television Sony X85L was tested in IMAX Enhanced mode, which, although associated with world-class cinema, does not guarantee an image that aligns with the director's intention. The main problem is the white balance – there is a noticeable strong dominance of blue colour and significant shortcomings in red. As a result, the picture becomes unnaturally cool and looks artificial. Errors in colour reproduction were confirmed by the Colour Checker test, which showed considerable discrepancies – the colours were "scattered" like shots from a rifle, and only a few samples hit the target values. This clearly demonstrates that the accuracy 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 there are minor errors, but generally it is quite good. However, the characteristic of brightness for 4K materials remains a problem, 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 backlighting zones due to the design of the television.

We tested the U7Q PRO in the best possible picture mode offered by this model – Filmmaker Mode. And indeed, this mode performs the best in terms of colour reproduction. However, that doesn't mean it's perfect. In our test unit, both in SDR and HDR content, the image had a slightly cooler tone. The white balance was skewed towards blue, giving the overall impression of being a bit "colder". It may not be glaring, but it is definitely noticeable – especially on white backgrounds, which seemed slightly bluish rather than neutral. Additionally – as we mentioned earlier – the television has a tendency to slightly brighten and oversaturate the image, which is also confirmed by the gamma and EOTF graphs. All this together means that without calibration, the image can appear somewhat unnatural – too cool, with slightly exaggerated dynamics. Therefore, we decided to carry out our own calibration – and you can see its effects and graphs below.

Thanks to the application of calibration tools offered by Sony X85L, the image quality has been significantly improved. After calibration, the white balance for HD content is much more stable, making colours appear more natural and enhancing the authenticity of the image. Although it is not perfect, these changes allow viewers to enjoy a more realistic colour reproduction, eliminating the previous cool tone. The gamma, which was already decent, has been adjusted to an even better version. As a result, tonal transitions and brightness are more consistent, positively affecting 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 lead to overly warm colours in some scenes. Synthetic tests showed that the EOTF curve in HDR is quite stable, with a slight enhancement in mid-bright scenes. However, in actual film material, the television can still be too bright with fine, light details, which is a result of the limitations of large local dimming technology.

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

Thanks to the calibration, we managed to tame the white balance in SDR and HDR content. In the case of SDR materials, the effect is really very good – the image becomes neutral, cohesive, and simply pleasant to take in. Everything looks as it should.

HDR performs a bit worse. Although the white balance appears correct and the image overall gains in naturalness, unfortunately, the delta E errors remain noticeable. Why? Because Hisense does not give us full control over how the television manages brightness in HDR mode with the U7Q PRO model. This is where the limitation comes into play. When we look at the EOTF curve for HDR content, we can clearly see what we mentioned earlier – at the beginning of the graph, there is a distinct drop, meaning the television darkens the smallest areas more than it should. On the other hand – the brightest elements can sometimes be overly bright. As a result, some details get lost, others are too aggressive, and overall control over brightness does not always match what we are trying to achieve during calibration.

Does the image look better after calibration? Definitely yes, in terms of colour. But when it comes to managing brightness in HDR, we have to accept that the Hisense U7Q PRO will do it in its own way.

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

The U7Q PRO handles tonal transitions really well. Colours blend smoothly, without any banding, stripes or strange artefacts. Even in more challenging scenes that typically expose any imperfections – there was nothing to criticise here. The image simply looks clean. Gradients – both coloured and grey – are smooth, nothing tears, nothing distracts. This is one of those elements that you don’t pay attention to while watching… certainly not in the case of the U7Q PRO.

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

If someone happens to come across older materials where the colour banding issue occurs – Hisense has a solution for that. In the U7Q PRO, we find a function called "Smooth and Gradient Image". Set to the "Medium" level, it works really well – removing most issues with gradation while not smoothing out the entire image, like blurring in Photoshop. 😉 Film grain remains, details do not disappear – this is exactly how it should work. Well done on the implementation!

As for upscaling weaker materials, it is simply good. It is not at the level of the most expensive televisions with advanced upscaling, but older content looks good. There is minor aliasing at very low resolutions, but this is completely normal and hard to avoid. On the plus side – even with the oldest materials, there is no overscan effect, the image is neither cropped nor artificially stretched.

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 buffs will certainly appreciate the presence of one of the best motion smoothing systems, known as Motionflow. This system offers adjustment through sliders for smoothness and clarity – smoothness is responsible for motion fluidity, eliminating judder, while clarity improves the sharpness of fast scenes, reducing blur.

“Speed” – this word came up most often during our tests of the U7Q PRO. The television is equipped with a 165 Hz panel, which is impressive in itself – especially since we are talking about a model in the mid-range price category. Of course, PC gamers will benefit the most from its full capabilities, but even with everyday viewing, it's clear that this is a fast and efficient panel. Like most modern televisions, the U7Q PRO can also enhance the fluidity of films that were originally recorded at 24 frames. In the menu, we find a slider that allows us to adjust the effect to our own preferences – from a more cinematic look, with subtle motion, to stronger smoothing with the characteristic “telenovela effect.”

Sony X85L offers a quite 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 utilisation of next-generation consoles. Additionally, Sony X85L supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology, which helps reduce stuttering and artifacts during gameplay, providing a smooth experience. The television also supports G-Sync, which is particularly beneficial for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards, allowing for the synchronisation of the screen refresh rate with GPU performance, eliminating screen tearing. It is worth mentioning the Game Bar feature, which facilitates quick access to the most important gaming-related settings, such as VRR, brightness levels, and display modes, which is convenient and useful during gameplay.

However, there are certain 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, while the Dolby Vision mode is available, it is not practical for gaming due to the very high input lag.

The Hisense U7Q PRO is a television that seems almost designed with gamers in mind. It has practically everything one could expect from a gaming display: variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low latency mode (ALLM), and as many as four HDMI 2.1b ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. Additionally, there is a clear and quite functional Game Bar, as well as a well-implemented Dolby Vision GAMING mode that works seamlessly with Xbox Series S and X consoles.

Sounds like perfection? Well, almost. Unfortunately, Hisense has still not implemented the HGiG feature, which means the system limitation of tone mapping on the television side. This means that when configuring HDR brightness on the console, we do it "by eye" or search for settings in online guides, as the display does not show the actual range of its brightness. It’s a pity – because HGiG indeed makes it easier to match the console to the television and helps avoid overexposure or overly dark scenes in HDR games.

Fortunately, the other features work very well. Input lag is low, responsiveness is excellent, and the handling of other functions is impeccable. And while not everything worked perfectly, the U7Q PRO can still be recommended to gamers without hesitation.

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, especially when using HDMI 2.1 and playing at a resolution of 4K 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 much as 95 ms. Such a high level of delay makes the Dolby Vision mode virtually unplayable, as the responses to commands are noticeably delayed.

In terms of signal latency, the Hisense U7Q PRO performs really well. For 120 Hz content, the input lag remains below 10 ms, which translates to a lightning-fast response – the screen almost instantly reacts to our movements, something console and PC gamers will particularly appreciate. With 60 Hz content, the situation is somewhat worse, as the response time doubles – this is natural and applies to virtually all televisions. Nevertheless, it still remains below 20 ms, which can be confidently considered a very good result, even close to perfection – and in practice, it is hardly noticeable during gaming.

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

On the other hand, if the television is to be used for gaming, where we can take full advantage of its capabilities at 120 Hz, we must bear in mind that the readability of fonts noticeably decreases. The image becomes less sharp, and the text harder to read, which can be frustrating. In short – Sony X85L will perform well for occasional connections to a computer, but if we need it on a daily basis for work and gaming, this compromise may not appeal to everyone.

Playing on PC using the Hisense U7Q PRO is pure fun. Low input lag, full 165 Hz in 4K and even 288 Hz in Full HD - these are numbers we wouldn’t expect from a television at this price. In this regard, it’s really hard to fault anything. If someone is looking for a large screen for gaming from a PC - the U7Q PRO can confidently serve as a monitor. It performs slightly worse for everyday work with text. Although chroma 4:4:4 is present, so theoretically everything should look good. But in practice, grey fonts on a dark background look strange – vertical lines are sharp, but horizontal ones can blur, disappear, or appear slightly dimmed. However, it must be honestly added that if you use the television as usual – that is, from a few metres away – you probably won’t notice this. The problem only becomes visible when someone places the U7Q PRO on a desk, a metre from their face, and starts working with text or spreadsheets. If you plan to use it in that way – it’s worth keeping this in mind.

The viewing angles on the Sony X85L, as is often the case with VA panels, are not the best. The picture looks great when viewed directly, but as soon as you move to the side, you notice that the colours lose intensity and the contrast significantly weakens. This can be an issue if the television is meant for viewing in larger groups, where viewers are seated at different angles. For those who usually watch solo or from one central spot, this won’t be a major downside, but when watching from the side, the picture quality unfortunately declines.

In this regard, the U7Q PRO performs moderately. The television is equipped with a VA panel, which inherently is not known for wide viewing angles. When we start looking at the screen at an angle, the image noticeably loses brightness, and the colours begin to wash out. This is a completely normal phenomenon in VA panels without additional coatings that widen the angles – so if you plan to watch from the side or in a larger group, it’s worth keeping this in mind. On the other hand, directly in front – the image looks great, with deep blacks and very good contrast, much better than on IPS/ADS type panels.

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

As we mentioned earlier – the U7Q PRO is really a bright television, especially when it comes to HDR content. For SDR material, the television dims a bit, but an average brightness of around 500 nits is still a very solid result. This means that it's easy to watch television or movies even in quite a bright room. Only in very extreme lighting conditions – for example, strong sunlight directly on the screen – can visibility be somewhat affected. Fortunately, Hisense has applied a satin anti-reflective coating that effectively suppresses reflections, and the blacks retain their depth even during the day. This makes a difference and allows for comfortable use of the television in various lighting conditions.

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

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

The design of the Sony X85L television, while perhaps not among the thinnest, is solid and elegant. The metal stand with adjustable feet is one of its stronger points, allowing the height and width of the television to be adapted to various furniture and spaces. This practical solution enhances the interior and adds a modern character to it.

Classic Features of U7Q PRO

If you plan to use the television in a more "classic" way, that is, for watching daily programs or connecting headphones, the Hisense U7Q PRO has almost everything you might expect. The television easily supports recording to USB, you can connect headphones via Bluetooth, and the remote control is backlit, which still isn't standard even in more expensive models. Although many people today forgo these classic features in favour of streaming applications, it's good to know that the U7Q PRO still does this properly and without compromises (apart from the lack of PiP functionality).

SmartTV System: Vidaa

When it comes to smart features, this model operates on the VIDAA system in Europe. The system runs smoothly, has a built-in web browser, supports voice control (also in Polish), and AirPlay, which will delight users of Apple devices. However, it's worth noting that VIDAA is a closed system, so you won't find all the popular applications that we have gotten used to with Android TV or Google TV. Before purchasing, it's advisable to check if the apps you actually use are available.

Sony X85L easily handles playback of most popular file formats from USB, which is a big plus for those who often access external content. However, it should be mentioned that there is a small downside – 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.

The built-in media player in the VIDAA system functioned very efficiently and without issues on our U7Q PRO unit. The television effortlessly read external video and audio files, as well as subtitles, making it convenient to watch films from a USB stick or external drive. Most popular formats worked flawlessly, so there was no need to convert anything. The only drawback was a certain selectivity in handling high-resolution images – not all of them opened. Therefore, you will find a detailed list of supported photo resolutions (Mpix) in our comparison table.

The sound in Sony X85L is good – it is clear across the entire range, allowing enjoyment of both dialogues 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 find such a sound profile satisfying, while others might need additional audio equipment to fully experience stronger tones and a more spacious sound.

Considering the standards of built-in television speakers, the U7Q PRO sounds surprisingly good. The sound is clear, with distinct mid and high tones, and the bass – although limited – doesn’t completely disappear. It can be said that for "television speakers," the level is more than satisfactory. However, it's worth noting that in our test unit we could not play sound in DTS:X format from local files – the television simply does not support it. This means that if you are counting on a cinematic spatial effect solely from its built-in speakers, there might be a certain disappointment. Fortunately, the television smoothly passes the DTS signal to an external amplifier, so if you have a home cinema – just connect it and everything works as it should.

Sony X85L vs Hisense U7Q 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

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Classic features:

Smart features:

Classic Features of U7Q PRO

SmartTV System: Vidaa

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound