Sony X90L vs Hisense A7NQ

HDR on the Sony X90L TV looks promising. The luminance chart showed that the television has a solid power reserve, reaching a maximum of 1000 nits in synthetic tests. However, how does this perform in real-world scenarios? In scenes such as the opening of Life of Pi or the final sequence from The Meg, the TV is able to deliver this power on HDR content, reaching about 800 nits. Unfortunately, displaying small light elements on a black background, as seen in the scene from Sicario 2, poses greater challenges for the X90L – here the results drop to around 600 nits. Despite this, when compared to competing models with mini-LED technology, the effect looks very good and can shine just enough to impress us. Notably, the colour gamut coverage is commendable, with a score of 96% for DCI-P3 and 76% for BT.2020, indicating good colour reproduction in HDR content.

We checked how the Hisense A7NQ performs with HDR, and there are no surprises here. The luminance graph showed a maximum brightness level of 370 nits. The result? Exactly what one could expect – average. At around 350 nits, HDR does not particularly stand out compared to SDR. Indeed, there is a subtle difference in more brightly lit scenes, but it is not an effect that leaves you stunned. As for the coverage of the wide colour gamut, the result was 92% for DCI-P3 and 70.2% for BT.2020. These are decent values for a TV in this class, which uses a PFS coating – the same one that is sometimes promoted as QLED. Colours look good, but we shouldn’t expect something that competes with the best screens on the market. HDR on the Hisense A7NQ is more of an addition than a "game changer." For those looking for solid image quality on a moderate budget – quite acceptable. However, if we expect full HDR capabilities, it is worth looking at models from the higher price range.

The best mode in Sony televisions is the IMAX Enhanced mode. Although IMAX is mainly associated with the cinematic experience, here the colour reproduction out of the box is average. In the case of lower quality content, such as HD – regular television or YouTube – it is worth paying attention to the white balance. It is characterised by a deficiency in red and an excessive dominance of blue, which gives the image a pinkish hue. The brightness characteristic, or gamma, for HD content is quite decent, but a slight boost could make the image appear washed out and look as if it is behind a light fog.

In 4K HDR content, the situation looks somewhat different. The white balance shows a significant boost in blue, which causes the image to become unnaturally sharp and seem artificial. Such an exaggeration in colour reproduction may not appeal to everyone, especially if one prefers more realistic shades. Additionally, the EOTF curve in Sony X90L appears quite correct at first glance. However, at the end of the graph, some fluctuations can be seen, suggesting that the television is trying to maintain appropriate brightness to avoid overexposing larger elements.

When testing the Hisense A7NQ in Filmmaker mode, we were hoping for compliance with the manufacturer's assumptions, but unfortunately, reality looks different. The main issue, as with most televisions, is white balance. In the case of the A7NQ, we noticed a clear dominance of blue, which affected both lower quality materials and 4K HDR content. The results of the Color Checker tests confirm this, and the comparative images speak for themselves – the leading actress in "factory" mode appears cool and pale. It looks as if she has been drained of life.

As for brightness characteristics, both gamma and the EOTF curve show that the image is excessively bright. As a result, everything appears flat, lacking depth and contrast. This state of affairs definitely does not work in favour of the A7NQ and makes the viewing experience in factory mode leave much to be desired. If we expect natural colour reproduction and appropriate image depth, the A7NQ in Filmmaker mode is unlikely to impress us. It is a television that requires considerable adjustment to bring out its potential.

Sony offers a range of tools for improving image quality, including two additional picture modes that we decided to utilise during testing and to apply calibration to. This solution significantly facilitates the calibration process and is very effective, provided the appropriate tools are available. In the case of HD content, the white balance was almost perfectly aligned – only one shade of grey exceeds the error value of "1", which is an excellent result. The same can be said for the brightness characteristic (gamma), which presents itself nearly perfectly, with microscopic deviations on the order of 0.01.

In the case of 4K HDR content, the situation is not quite so ideal. Although the white balance has been greatly improved, it has not been possible to completely eliminate the dominance of blue colour. Nevertheless, the errors on the Colour Checker test only occasionally exceed the value of "2", which means that image distortions are practically imperceptible. As for the EOTF curve, it is worth activating the filter in the top right corner "EOTF in Films" – the graph looks correct, but the television encounters difficulties when illuminating very small elements, which is due to the limited number of dimming zones. Despite these minor errors, it is thanks to the calibration that the IMAX Enhanced mode on the Sony X90L makes watching films feel like a true cinema experience.

Hisense A7NQ offers several tools that allow for improved image quality, so we decided to take matters into our own hands and "dig around" in the settings a bit. Thanks to professional tools and measurements, we managed to correct the white balance, eliminating the excessive dominance of blue colour in both HD and 4K materials. This is a significant step forward, as in the Color Checker test, the colour reproduction errors in lower quality content dropped to a much more acceptable level. Unfortunately, the 4K materials still fall short of perfection – the colour inaccuracies are considerable and stem from the limitations of the television.

As for the gamma, we managed to set it at the correct level, which significantly reduced the excessive brightening of the image. However, the issue with brightness characteristics in 4K content remains unresolved – the EOTF curve still shows excessive brightness across the entire screen. It’s possible that correct implementation of dynamic tone mapping could help here, but as we mentioned earlier, this feature in the Hisense A7NQ works rather poorly, rather than being helpful. Nevertheless, the calibration has significantly improved the overall image reception. The director's vision is now much better represented than in the factory settings, which will certainly be appreciated by more demanding viewers.

The Sony X90L television features a tone transition smoothing function known as Soft Gradation, which is extremely effective. Even at the "low" option, the effects are satisfactory, but at the "medium" setting, it works like a dream – we recommend using this option for the best results. The image scaling on the Sony X90L is simply excellent. The image is not overly sharpened, which provides a natural effect and ensures that everything looks cohesive. It's clear that the engineers really focused on this aspect, creating a solution that is impressive and performs well in daily use. Because of this, even when watching content such as regular television or YouTube, where the image is not inherently stunning, one can enjoy a smooth, cohesive, and visually pleasing experience.

The Hisense A7NQ impresses with the smoothness of tonal transitions in 4K content, but unfortunately, there is no feature here to improve this aspect in older materials of lower quality. In such cases, colour transitions become more visible, which can slightly detract from the overall image, especially in scenes with a lot of gradients.

When it comes to upscaling, the television performs surprisingly well. The image is noticeably improved, although there are some compromises. It can be seen that the television adds a bit of artificial sharpness, and background elements, such as branches, display slight "jaggies." However, these are details that will primarily catch the eye of those who pay attention to such nuances.

Sony X90L with a 120 Hz panel is an excellent choice for both gamers and cinema enthusiasts. The television is equipped with the Motion Flow smoothing feature, which allows for adjusting motion fluidity using two sliders: "smoothness" and "clarity." The "smoothness" slider controls the level of fluidity in motion, which helps reduce image stuttering, while "clarity" is used to minimize blur and enhance motion sharpness, which is particularly useful in dynamic scenes.

The Hisense A7NQ is equipped with a 60 Hz panel, which means that dynamic scenes – for example in sports or games – perform rather averagely here. This is standard for this class of equipment, but it must be acknowledged that watching more intense, fast-moving content can leave a lot to be desired. However, when it comes to films, the television offers a motion smoothing feature that operates on a 10-point scale. The "judder reduction" option allows you to tailor the smoothness of the image to your own preferences. At the lowest setting, we get a natural film frame rate, which will please cinema purists. Meanwhile, the maximum setting provides a very smooth, theatrical image that may appeal to those who prefer a more "smoothed" motion.

Sony X90L is a television that performs well in terms of compatibility with consoles and features for gamers. Its 120 Hz panel and two HDMI 2.1 ports with a bandwidth of 48 Gb/s allow for smooth playback of high-resolution games at a high frame rate. Gamers can also take advantage of the ALLM feature, which automatically switches the television to low latency mode, and VRR, which ensures smooth gameplay without image stuttering. The Game Bar is an additional advantage – an intuitive tool that provides quick access to the most important gaming settings and features, facilitating control over gameplay.

Unfortunately, when it comes to HDR in games, the Sony X90L has its limitations. There is a lack of support for HGiG, a standard that many gamers consider crucial for precise HDR reproduction in games. While the television supports Dolby Vision, which could theoretically improve image quality in games, the practical application of this feature is problematic. Dolby Vision in game mode is associated with very high input lag, making gameplay less comfortable and precise movements more difficult. Additionally, it is not possible to enable Dolby Vision alongside VRR. This means that despite its numerous advantages, gamers seeking the ideal HDR in games may feel a sense of disappointment.

Hisense A7NQ is a piece of equipment that can pleasantly surprise gamers, although it is not without its flaws. The fact that we have a 60 Hz panel here immediately suggests that the television is not designed for the most demanding gaming scenarios. The motion blur that we described earlier can also be an obstacle, especially in dynamic games.

However, there are a few things that are worth praising. The television supports ALLM (automatic game mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), which is not always standard in this price range. The biggest surprise, however, is that the A7NQ can display images at 120 Hz – albeit only in Full HD resolution, but nevertheless, it's a significant nod to gamers. This provides the option to choose between smoothness and resolution, which is not obvious in televisions at this price.

A nice addition is the Game Bar, which is clear and practical – all the most important functions are at hand, without digging through the settings. However, it lacks support for HGiG, which may be a disappointment for gamers looking for perfect HDR in games.