Compare TCL P7K / P79K vs Hisense E7Q / E79Q

The time has come to gather all observations. The TCL P7K / P79K is a television that cleverly juggles compromises, offering significantly more than we could expect in its price range. Its undeniable advantage is the VA panel, guaranteeing deep blacks and high contrast, and a surprisingly rich package for gamers (with VRR and 120 Hz support at lower resolutions) makes it a phenomenal choice for console owners. The whole package is tied together by the functional Google TV system. Of course, low peak brightness means that HDR content lacks spectacular highlights, and the TV's performance in sunlit rooms is limited. And while at its relatively low price, the P7K / P79K is quite a decent option, its biggest competitor turns out to be… its more refined sibling, the P8K. Often FOR a small extra charge, we get a device a class higher – with a native 4K 144 Hz panel, significantly better audio system, and generally higher build quality, which is reflected in its much higher rating on our portal. Therefore, the final verdict must be as follows: if your budget is absolutely non-negotiable, the P7K / P79K will be a good and cost-effective choice. However, if you can afford to add a small amount, the P8K model will offer significantly more and will ultimately be a more satisfying investment.

The Hisense E7Q / E79Q is a type of television that doesn't promise miracles – and maybe that's why it can pleasantly surprise. It doesn't try to pretend to be high-end equipment; it simply does its job. If you're looking for a cheap screen for everything that can handle Netflix, a console, and morning YouTube while having coffee, this model makes a lot of sense. The VIDAA system has matured over the past few years, and you can see that the manufacturer is learning from experience. It has AirPlay, screen mirroring, and voice search in Polish – everything works, maybe not at lightning speed, but smoothly enough not to be irritating. You won't find thousands of apps like in Google TV, but the most important ones are readily available. It's a system meant to be simple and practical, not overloaded with unnecessary gimmicks – and in this sense, it really holds up. There’s also something interesting for gamers. The E7Q / E79Q offers low input lag, an automatic low latency mode (ALLM), support for VRR up to 60 Hz, and even a 120 Hz mode in 1080p resolution. It's not a screen for hardcore e-sports enthusiasts, but if you simply enjoy turning on your console in the evening to play a few rounds, this television will get the job done without complaints. And what about picture quality? We won’t deceive you – it’s not exceptional, but there are also no reasons to complain. A brightness of around 350 nits won’t impress anyone, but the contrast thanks to the VA panel can really surprise positively. The black levels are quite deep, and the colors have a pleasant intensity, especially in SDR mode. It's a bit of a shame that Dolby Vision doesn't add much – because if it worked as it should, we would have a television that could confidently be recommended for HDR viewing as well. On the other hand, it's hard to expect that in this price range. It's simply a fair, well-priced screen that doesn’t try to be a star but can deliver solid picture quality and surprisingly good features. And while it’s not perfect, after a few days of use, it's hard not to think: "wow, this cheap Hisense really does the job."

In the discussion about image quality, the conversation almost always starts with the issue of black depth and contrast, which are parameters defining the plasticity and realism of the observed world. And here, the TCL P7k/P79k immediately lays its strongest asset on the table – a VA-type panel. It is its construction that makes the native relationship between the brightest and darkest parts of the image more than satisfactory, especially in the context of the price segment that this model represents. In the majority of scenes, the achieved black has a noble depth, which allows for building an engaging viewer experience. To illustrate the scale, it is worth mentioning that competitive constructions based on IPS panels often offer results that are even four or sometimes five times lower, which constitutes a chasm in direct comparison. Of course, entering the territory of models oriented towards affordability, we must be aware of certain compromises. In the discussed television, we will not find an advanced local dimming system that could further enhance the impression of contrast. However, the absence of this feature is fully understandable and constitutes a logical consequence of positioning the product in the market – this technology in TCL's portfolio for 2025 has been reserved for higher-positioned, more prestigious series marked with the letter "C".

The Hisense E7Q / E79Q in our test variant of 58 inches is equipped with a VA panel, which has a significant impact on the perception of contrast and black levels in movies or series. With such a panel, one can expect decent contrast and a stable visual effect that performs really well in most scenes. In our measurements, we obtained values reaching around 6000:1, which is considered a solid result in this price range. However, it should be noted that this is not a local dimming design, so one shouldn’t expect deep, “pitch-black” blacks known from more expensive models. In some scenes, the black may have a slightly bluish hue, which is completely natural for this technology and price. However, this is a compromise that does not interfere with everyday viewing – especially when watching in the evening with slightly dimmed lighting.

When evaluating the HDR effect, we must make it clear and without marketing embellishment: the P7K/P79K is not and was never meant to be a master in this field. The maximum peak brightness that this panel can generate is only around 300 nits. This is a borderline value, a sort of thin red line between what can be considered a barely satisfactory HDR signal and what is really not much different from standard dynamic range (SDR), unfortunately leaning towards the latter. Synthetic tests found brutal confirmation in reality – our measurements taken during movie screenings showed that luminance in key bright parts of the content rarely exceeded the threshold of 200-250 nits. Therefore, this is not a television that would allow content produced in a wide tonal range to truly shine, and we must openly acknowledge that.

Unfortunately, the issue of color reproduction is presented equally restrained. Although the manufacturer positions this model in the "QLED" family, thanks to the use of a PFS LED filter, the results do not match the heightened expectations. The coverage of the wide DCI-P3 color gamut is only 86%. Compared to the market, this is at best an average result, as most devices that employ additional layers to expand the color spectrum easily achieve values at a minimum level of 90-92%.

Hisense E7Q / E79Q is a television with average brightness, whose peak luminance level is around 350-380 nits. This is an absolute minimum that allows for watching HDR content in a way that is close to the creators' intentions, although without a clear "wow" effect. The results of synthetic tests on white images have been confirmed in practice – in movie scenes, the bright parts of the image are stable and fairly uniform, but it is hard to speak of a true "lighting impact" here. In everyday use, for example, while watching Netflix or YouTube, the HDR effect is acceptable and is completely sufficient for most users. However, it must be stated clearly – this is not the level of top screens, and one should not expect that at this price point. Fortunately, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q has an advantage that allows it to gain quite a few points: it is a PFS LED QLED panel, utilizing an additional phosphor layer that improves color reproduction. The measured range of the DCI-P3 palette is around 92%, which means that the colors in most scenes are vibrant, well-saturated, and pleasing to the eye, especially for this price range.

Every reliable image quality assessment must begin by selecting the most optimal factory mode. In the case of the tested model P7K/P79K, the choice was confidently made for the "Film" mode. It is this mode that presents an image closest to the creators' intentions, avoiding both the exaggerated brightness of dynamic mode and the excessive dimming known from eco settings. And it must be admitted that, for a device in this price range, the factory calibration is surprisingly decent, although it is not free from a few stumbles. The most noticeable flaw turned out to be an imperfectly adjusted white balance. A slight dominance of the blue component gives the image a subtly cool, chilly character, thus deviating from the exemplary neutrality that the director wanted to show us. The television performs much better in reproducing the grayscale in a standard dynamic range – the gamma curve is executed almost perfectly. A minor reservation can only be made for the darkest parts of the image, where a slight deviation from the norm causes a loss of some detail in the shadows. The most serious challenge for TCL's software, however, was the interpretation of the HDR signal, which is illustrated by the EOTF curve. The television follows its own, rather free path here – the darkest details are disproportionately brightened, followed by a noticeable slowdown in brightness increase for midtones. Fortunately, most of these imperfections are software-related issues that can be eliminated. With this thought in mind, we proceeded to the professional calibration process.

In Filmmaker mode, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q television was able to really surprise positively. Even after the first measurements, it turned out that the white balance is quite well calibrated, and the only minor deviation was a slight tendency toward a purple hue, which we mentioned earlier. However, this did not significantly affect the overall character of the image – it remained coherent and pleasant to perceive. A much larger problem turned out to be the brightness characteristics (gamma) in SDR content and the EOTF curve in HDR films. The television clearly brightened the image, flattening the contrast and taking away its depth. Gamma values could drop from the reference 2.4 down to about 1.9, making the image appear as if it were covered with a thin, milky layer. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be relatively easily corrected through calibration.

The calibration process turned out to be a home run, especially in the context of standard dynamic range (SDR) content. We successfully managed to eliminate the TV's tendency to emphasize cool tones, restoring the whites to their natural neutrality. Furthermore, precise adjustments allowed us to correct a slight error in the gamma curve, so the darkest areas of the image regained their proper depth, without a trace of unnatural brightening. The effects are measurable and impressive – in the ColorChecker test, the vast majority of color reproduction errors fell below the perceptual threshold, achieving a deltaE value below 2. This is a result that would not shame much more expensive constructions. Unfortunately, in the case of HDR content, we hit a wall in the form of the inherent limitations of the panel itself. And although we managed to bring the colors in line, the software's specifics mean that the TV still adapts brightness in its own way, as evidenced by the persistent, non-standard EOTF curve. In summary, calibration brings tremendous added value, but one must be aware that it cannot overcome certain physical barriers. A slight boost in black levels, resulting from the lack of local dimming, and limited peak brightness mean that HDR content will not always be able to showcase its full potential. This is simply not the main task of this display; its true strength, especially after professional tuning, lies in the viewing of SDR materials.

The biggest beneficiary of calibration for the Hisense E7Q / E79Q turned out to be the SDR mode without a doubt. It managed to achieve nearly perfect picture quality – most errors in the Color Checker test dropped below a value of 3, and often even below 2, which is a remarkable result for this class of equipment. The greatest improvement came from aligning the brightness characteristic (gamma), making the picture no longer look washed out and regaining its natural depth. In HDR content, colors were also improved, and the purple tint we mentioned earlier was eliminated, but errors in the Color Checker measurements were still noticeable. This is due to the fact that – as is often the case with Hisense televisions – the screen manipulates brightness quite strongly, oversaturating some colors. This was also indicated by the EOTF curve, which was slightly above the reference values, suggesting these minor problems with excessive brightening. Despite this flaw and the construction limitations that arise with HDR content, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q gained a lot after calibration. In everyday use, the television presents a cohesive, natural, and pleasant-to-the-eye picture, and the difference compared to factory settings is truly vast.

The issue of fluidity in tonal transitions, or popular grading, is another area where the P7K / P79K evokes mixed feelings and surprises with its dual nature. If we were to evaluate solely its ability to render smooth color gradients, we would undoubtedly give it a solid score of 8/10. Unfortunately, this positive image is marred by the use of very aggressive and unsightly dithering. This artifact is particularly noticeable on demanding test patterns – such as the one depicting an actor submerged in red water – where a rough, unnatural texture appears on uniform color surfaces, revealing the digital nature of the image. This is particularly disappointing as it is not a new issue. It seems to be a sort of legacy from previous generations of budget TCL models, which is a shame because it constitutes a flaw on what is essentially a quite competent image and is a mistake that could have been avoided.

For such a budget-friendly television, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q performs really well with a challenging element like the smoothness of tonal transitions. In most scenes, the colors blend together naturally, without visible jumps or artificial edges. Lighter parts of the image look particularly good – the transitions are smooth and pleasing to the eye. Minor issues only appear with very dark shades of gray, where slight banding can be noticed. However, this is a detail that doesn't affect the overall perception of the image. For a television in this category, the result is more than just decent.

After a series of harsh evaluations, fortunately, the time comes for praise, and this is due to the TCL AiPQ image processor for its work in digital processing and content scaling. It should be noted right away that we are not talking about the level known from flagship designs; nevertheless, in the price segment represented by the P7K/P79K, the results achieved are more than solid. The feature that smooths tonal transitions performs particularly well, effectively eliminating posterization, which are the characteristic bands often visible in materials with higher compression, such as from the YouTube service. The algorithm can elegantly remove unwanted gradients, which ultimately looks really good. The television also competently handles upscaling, which is the task of raising low-resolution materials to 4K standard. The output image, although it may seem a bit too sharp out of the box, fortunately, is not a problem. The software allows for easy adjustment of this parameter using a sharpness slider, so the final appearance can be easily tailored to personal preferences.

In the case of Hisense E7Q / E79Q, upscaling and digital image processing are not the strongest features of this television. It is clear that the manufacturer opted for simplicity rather than advanced image processing algorithms. The television does not offer any functions for smoothing tonal transitions or systems for improving image clarity, which means that lower resolution materials simply look very raw. On the screen, subtle compression edges can be noticed, which better processors in other models can effectively hide.

During tests of HD materials, we noticed that the E7Q tries to artificially enhance detail, which sometimes works and sometimes has the opposite effect – the image becomes soft, slightly smeared, at times even "watery." There is no aggressive sharpening that ruins naturalness, but there is also no finesse in detailing that better image processors offer.

The issue of fluidity and sharpness of the image in motion is inextricably linked to the fundamental parameter of the panel, and in the case of the TCL P7K/P79K, we are dealing with a panel that has a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. This specification already defines its capabilities and makes it difficult to unequivocally recommend it to enthusiasts of dynamic sports broadcasts. During rapid camera movements, the image loses sharpness, and the panel itself also shows a slight tendency to blur, which may be noticeable to more sensitive viewers. Fortunately, not everything in this aspect has been left to chance. The manufacturer has implemented a simple motion smoothing system, which is primarily used in film materials recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second. Thanks to a dedicated slider, the user can independently decide on the final character of the motion – from a fully cinematic, slightly juddery image to achieving a very smooth, almost theatrical effect. It is a simple yet effective tool that allows users to tailor the viewing experience to their own preferences.

Hisense E7Q / E79Q is a television with a 60 Hz screen, so 4K sports fans may feel a slight disappointment – we simply won't see such smooth images here as in more expensive models with higher refresh rates. Fortunately, when it comes to movies, the situation is much better. Cinematic materials recorded at 24 frames per second can be displayed here using a motion smoothing feature, allowing the user to adjust the image to their preferences – more cinematic with a visible frame or smoother, in a theatrical style.

Although on paper the native 4K@60Hz matrix might suggest that the TCL P7K/P79K is not a TV tailored for gamers, the reality turns out to be surprisingly different. On the contrary, the manufacturer has ensured a rich package of features that make it a very friendly companion for next-generation consoles. Onboard, we find key technologies such as ALLM, which provides automatic switching to low-latency mode, and VRR, or variable refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing. The list is completed by support for Dolby Vision Gaming and a simple yet functional Game Bar. However, the real and extremely pleasant surprise is something else. It turns out that the TV easily supports high refresh rate signals of 120 Hz, but at lower resolutions – 1080p and 1440p. This is fantastic news for console owners who know full well how rarely games run in native 4K at a full 120 frames per second. The ability to choose between higher resolution and doubled smoothness is therefore an extremely sensible compromise.

In summary, although the P7K/P79K may not be the target screen for the most avid tournament gamers, it offers a package of options for the casual or occasional console user that is hard to find among many competitors at this price point.

Hisense E7Q / E79Q is truly a successful television for gamers, even though it doesn't support 4K signal at 120 Hz. However, the manufacturer has included a set of features that until recently could only be found in more expensive models. There is ALLM, or automatic switching to low-latency mode, which allows the television to activate game mode with very low input lag. We also have VRR, functioning up to 60 Hz – this may not seem impressive on paper, but in practice, it is fully sufficient, as most games on consoles do not exceed this limit. All these settings can be quickly found in the Game Bar panel, a convenient menu created specifically for gamers. From this level, you can change picture modes, turn on a frame rate counter, or even… a crosshair on the screen – in the Vidaa system humorously named "target point," which is a result of awkward translation by the Chinese manufacturer.

Particularly praiseworthy is the ability to play in 1080p at 120 Hz, which realistically improves the smoothness and responsiveness of the image. This way, if someone wants to play a few titles at a higher refresh rate, they can simply lower the resolution and enjoy significantly smoother motion. Despite the lack of 4K@120Hz, Hisense E7Q / E79Q really performs well as a television for gamers – especially those who are not looking for perfection, but a solid and fast screen for everyday gaming.

Complementing this rich package for gamers is a parameter that has a direct impact on comfort and performance in gameplay – input lag. Even in native 60 Hz mode, the television boasts an excellent result of just 15 ms. However, the real magic happens when switching to 120 Hz mode, when the lag drops nearly in half, reaching values below 10 ms. Such responsiveness means that every command from the controller is transferred to the screen in the blink of an eye, something not only professionals will appreciate, but anyone who values smooth and immediate interaction with the game.

In games, the easiest thing to notice is how fast (or slow) the TV is – and the Hisense E7Q / E79Q passes this test without a hitch. After just a few minutes of playing, you can feel that the response to controller movements is instantaneous, without that characteristic delay that can ruin even the best match in FIFA or a critical exchange in a fighting game. In game mode, the E7Q / E79Q operates with a delay of less than 15 ms, which means that there is virtually no gap between pressing a button and seeing the reaction on the screen. This is a level that even more expensive models would be proud of. And it's precisely for this responsiveness – perhaps more than for the picture or extras – that this TV really deserves praise.

We finally come to an area that can undoubtedly be described as the biggest Achilles' heel of the TCL P7K/P79K – its cooperation with a PC. This is paradoxical because on paper, everything looks promising. The presence of G-Sync and support for high refresh rates at lower resolutions might suggest that it would also be a great monitor. Unfortunately, practice brutally verifies these assumptions. The key issue is the lack of support for full 4:4:4 chroma sampling. In everyday use, this translates to terrible font rendering quality – they, especially colorful ones, become jagged, surrounded by artifacts, and simply hard to read. This is not the end, as in PC mode, a significant issue with aggressive dithering also becomes evident, giving the entire image an artificial, overly digital appearance. The only consolation in this situation is the fact that in games, we can take advantage of additional hertz and G-Sync technology, but these are not benefits that could compensate for the fundamental shortcomings in displaying a static interface. The verdict is therefore clear: while it can still hold up as a screen solely for gaming on PC, in the role of a monitor for work or internet browsing, the P7K/P79K simply performs poorly.

In terms of collaboration with a PC, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q unfortunately does not impress. Yes, the television supports full chroma sampling 4:4:4, so text and fonts are quite readable, but that’s where the list of advantages pretty much ends. The screen has a significant issue with dithering, which in practice looks very unpleasant – as if the surface of the image was gently shimmering with colors. This is best seen with dark letters on a gray background – instead of neutral shades of fonts, there are delicate flashes of blue, green, and red, reminiscent of a rainbow effect. After prolonged use at the computer, it can strain the eyes and reduce comfort. On the positive side, there is support for frame synchronization and the ability to operate at 120 Hz at a lower resolution, which may be a small consolation for gamers. However, as a typical PC monitor, the E7Q / E79Q performs rather mediocrely.

When it comes to viewing angles, we enter a territory where VA matrix technology dictates inevitable conditions. As expected, this is the weak point of this model. It is enough to move away from the screen's axis to observe a gradual degradation of the image: colors begin to fade, contrast noticeably drops, and black loses its depth. In direct competition with IPS panels, which are renowned for their generosity in this aspect, the VA matrix must concede superiority to its competitor. Is there a plus side to this? Paradoxically, yes. Poor viewing angles are, in fact, the price we consciously pay for the fundamental advantage of this technology – a significantly higher native contrast and deeper blacks when viewed head-on. So, one could say that this is a television that favors the viewer sitting in the "ideal" spot, offering them a maximally vibrant image at the cost of universality.

The Hisense E7Q / E79Q has typical VA panel weak viewing angles. Straight on, the picture looks very good – black is deep, and contrast is high. However, just sitting slightly to the side causes the situation to change quickly. At an angle of about 45 degrees, brightness drops by about 73%, and colors noticeably lose saturation. This is a typical compromise we have to make when choosing a TV with this type of panel instead of an IPS panel. There, the viewing angles are much better, but the black is much worse.

The last practical test for any television is its daily performance in daylight conditions when it must compete with ambient light. In this competition, the TCL P7K / P79K has a slight advantage thanks to its satin screen coating. Its structure manages to quite effectively dampen direct reflections, dispersing them and protecting the image from excessive color fading or black brightness. However, passive combat with reflections is one side of the coin. The other is the active ability to "break through" bright surroundings, and here one of the key limitations of this model becomes apparent. The previously mentioned peak brightness of around 300 nits is simply too low to provide a fully comfortable and dynamic viewing experience in a brightly lit living room. In such conditions, the image may lack punch, and lower brightness scenes may lose clarity.

Hisense E7Q / E79Q performs best in moderately bright living rooms. Its brightness ranges from 350 to 380 nits, so in typical home conditions, the picture looks good, but in very sunny rooms, it begins to lose clarity. It is simply not a screen for interiors with large windows or strong daylight. On the positive side, it's worth mentioning the satin coating of the panel, which effectively reduces reflections – both from lamps and from windows. As a result, even if the room is not in semi-darkness, the image remains quite clear.

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

The heart and brain of the TCL P7K / P79K is the Google TV system, which in itself is a huge advantage. This platform provides access to an almost endless library of applications from the Play Store, ensuring that we won't be missing any key streaming service. Integration with other devices is exemplary – Apple device owners will appreciate the seamless cooperation via AirPlay, while Windows and Android users will easily take advantage of the screen mirroring feature. It is also worth highlighting the Google Assistant, which performs fantastically with voice searches in Polish, remaining one of the most effective and convenient solutions of its kind on the market. The operation of the system on the tested model can be described as "average plus." The interface is mostly smooth, but during testing, it experienced occasional slowdowns and even sporadic "freezes" requiring a moment of patience. Minor hiccups are also visible in the translation of some system messages, which can be awkward – however, these are just small oversights on TCL's part, not affecting overall functionality.

Classic Features

In the age of smart systems, traditional television functions often take a back seat, and this is also the case here. A significant advantage is the inclusion of a classic remote control with a numeric keypad, which does not require precise aiming at the screen for communication, greatly enhancing user comfort. The presence of Bluetooth technology for connecting external devices, like headphones or speakers, should also be noted positively. However, this is where the list of conveniences basically ends. It is evident that TCL has placed nearly everything on the Google TV card, treating classic functions as an absolute minimum. Therefore, we will not find the option to record programs from built-in tuners to a USB drive or the once-popular PiP (Picture-in-Picture) feature. This is therefore a basic package that simply works, but does not offer anything beyond what is necessary.

SmartTV Features: Vidaa

When it comes to Smart TV features, the Hisense E7Q / E79Q runs on the VIDAA system, which has been developed by the Chinese manufacturer for several years. It's clear that the software is maturing – it includes AirPlay, Screen Mirroring, and voice search in multiple languages, including Polish. Unfortunately, in our unit, it worked quite slowly, which surprised us a bit since this system reacted much faster in other Hisense models. The limited app library is also a downside. Of course, the most important ones are there – Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube – but it's worth checking before purchasing whether you'll find everything you use daily.

Classic Features

In terms of typical television functions, the E7Q performs significantly better. We have practically everything one can expect from a classic television: recording from built-in tuners to USB, a jack headphone output, and even a component input for older audio equipment. Additionally, it offers full audio support via eARC, so you can be assured that regardless of the situation, the soundbar will always "perform as it should." The remote is also quite classic, well-designed with a lot of buttons (including numeric ones), which may be appealing to those who still watch regular television on the TV. 😉

The built-in media player in the P7k/P79k model is at least a puzzling case, putting us in quite an unusual situation. On one hand, its engine handles decoding most popular video formats, which is obviously good news. On the other hand, we encountered a surprising and irritating issue – the default application has a fundamental problem displaying Polish diacritical characters in subtitle files correctly. Instead of letters like "ą", "ę", or "ż", empty squares or random, unreadable symbols appeared on the screen. Fortunately, thanks to the flexibility of the Google TV system, this problem can be easily circumvented. Installing an alternative, advanced player, such as the reliable VLC or KODI, completely resolves this inconvenience. The situation is peculiar because this flaw did not occur in other TCL models we tested previously. We are therefore dealing with a clear software oversight, which, hopefully, will be fixed in a future update.

The media player in the Hisense E7Q / E79Q works correctly but can be temperamental. The biggest problem concerns photo support – the TV only handles selected formats, and some files simply do not open. This is quite surprising because even cheaper models from other manufacturers usually do not have this issue. Videos and music play without major problems; however, one has to reckon with the fact that the E7Q is not a master of versatility when it comes to files from a USB drive. It's rather a basic player that works – as long as we don't try to "surprise" it with something.

In terms of the built-in audio system, the TCL P7k/P79k presents a level that can be described as functional and correct, but lacking audiophile ambitions. The speakers play quite loudly, and dialogues in movies and TV shows are conveyed clearly and without distortion, which is crucial in everyday use. However, the soundstage definitely lacks a foundation in the form of low tones. This is a direct consequence of the absence of a dedicated subwoofer – an element that in the higher P8K series, with a large Onkyo subwoofer at the back of the cabinet, defined the strength of its sound. Here, that element is simply missing, making the sound seem flatter and lacking the depth that creates a cinematic atmosphere. We also noticed a peculiar feature in the software – when trying to set the maximum volume, the TV automatically reduces it. It's hard to conclusively determine whether this is a form of protection against distortion or a minor software bug; nonetheless, it's a pity, as the power reserves seem to be somewhat greater.

The sound on the Hisense E7Q / E79Q is exactly what you would expect from a TV in this price range – rather flat, but quite loud. During measurements, the maximum volume reached around 83 dB, which is totally sufficient for everyday viewing. Dialogues are clearly audible, somewhat compensating for the lack of pronounced bass and depth. There are no revelations here: it's just a solid minimum that can be accepted. However, one positive aspect is the wide support for audio formats. The TV handles Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, and even the increasingly rare DTS:X. This is a nice addition, as we can be sure that regardless of the source – everything will sound as it should. (Definitely when we connect it to an external audio source like a soundbar).

TCL P7K / P79K vs Hisense E7Q / E79Q

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:

Smart Features – the Power of Google TV

Classic Features

SmartTV Features: Vidaa

Classic Features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound

Sound Quality Test

Acoustic Measurements