Hisense U7K Mini-LED TV Review

The U7K’s brighter-than-average picture, accurate color accuracy, and Google TV support make it a fine choice for most people, too, not just gamers. Not everything about the U7K shines; certain HDR content has the tendency to look washed out, and every now and then, you may notice a ghostly, red smear around the edges of people and objects in motion.

Nevertheless, the U7K is a crowd-pleasing TV, starting with its sensationally low price. Because it’s been on the shelves for several months now, there’s never been a better time to buy it.

About the Hisense U7K

The Hisense U7K comes in four sizes ranging from 55 to 85 inches. Our review unit is a 65-inch model that we received on loan from Hisense.

As mentioned, the U7K has been available for several months. Its current street price, therefore, is lower than it was upon release.

Here’s how the series shakes out:

• 55-inch (Hisense 55U7K), $479.99
• 65-inch (Hisense 65U7K), $679.99
• 75-inch (Hisense 75U7K), $899.99
• 85-inch (Hisense 85U7K), $1,499.99

While we don’t expect there to be major differences in performance between these sizes, it’s worth noting that, typically, each size variant of a mini-LED TV series features a different amount of dimming zones. A difference in zone count could spell slight differences in how a TV performs.

However, while bigger sizes in an mini-LED TV series usually feature a higher number of dimming zones, the number of zones tends to increase proportionally to a TV’s size.

Hisense U7K specs

• Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
• Display type: Mini-LED with quantum dots
• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• Dolby Atmos: Yes
• eARC support: Yes
• Color: DCI-P3 color space/8-bit plus frame rate control (FRC)
• Native refresh rate: 120Hz/144Hz with VRR
• Smart platform: Google TV
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): Yes
• Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Yes
• ATSC 3.0 tuner: Yes
• Other features: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Filmmaker Mode, Game Mode, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Apple Home

Connectivity

The U7K supports HDMI 2.1, but only across two of its inputs. The remaining two can only display a 4K signal at up to 60Hz.

Here’s what you’ll find in a side-facing cutout on the back of the panel:

• 2x HDMI 2.1 (4K @ 120Hz/144Hz, 1x HDMI ARC/eARC)
• 2x HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 60Hz)
• 2x USB (1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0)
• RF connection (cable/antenna)
• Ethernet (LAN) input
• Composite audio input (with adapter)
• RS-232C

Performance data

Before testing each TV, we make sure the panel is on and receiving a continuous signal for at least 2 hours. Our 65-inch U7K received this standard warm-up time before any readings were taken. In addition, the TV received the latest firmware updates at the time of testing.

For both SDR and HDR tests, we’re using Hisense’s Filmmaker picture mode. We’ve chosen this setting because of its accuracy, but performance may vary depending on which picture mode is enabled. For example, you might experience a brighter picture with a different mode enabled, but it may negatively affect color temperature and overall color accuracy.

To get a sense of the TV’s average performance, we use a standard ANSI checkerboard pattern for most of our basic contrast tests. We also use white and black windows ranging from 2% to 100% to test how well the contrast holds up while displaying varying degrees of brightness.

Our peak brightness measurements are taken with sustained windows ranging in size from 2% to 100% (full screen) to represent the TV’s peak brightness over a sustained period of time. Specular highlights (like brief flashes of reflected light) might reach higher brightness levels, but not for sustained periods of time.

All of our tests are created with a Murideo Seven 8K signal generator and tabulated via Portrait Displays’ Calman Ultimate color calibration software.

I'll expand on our test results throughout the review, but for now, here are some key takeaways:

• HDR contrast (brightness/black level): 560.3 nits/0.107 nits (ANSI checkerboard)
• SDR contrast (brightness/black level): 538.8 nits/0.096 nits (ANSI checkerboard)
• HDR peak brightness (sustained): 928.91 nits (18% white window)
• HDR color gamut coverage (DCI-P3 1976 uv/10-bit): 96.93%
• HDR color gamut coverage (BT.2020 1976 uv): 80.31%
• SDR color gamut coverage (Rec.709): 99.7%

Before testing, I ensured that the HDMI input in use was set to its Enhanced format. I also disabled the TV’s Automatic Light Sensor in each of the inputs I used throughout my testing. This toggle can be found in the TV’s General picture menu.

For all tests, I used the U7K’s Warm1 Color Temperature, set the Local Dimming to High, and disabled the following settings: Active Contrast and Dark Detail (located within the Brightness submenu), Super Resolution, Smooth Gradient, Noise Reduction, Motion Enhancement, and Motion Clearness (located within the Clarity submenu).

For HDR tests, Dynamic Tone Mapping was disabled.

What we like

Impressive brightness and backlight control

One of the U7K’s best assets is its above-average brightness, which makes it a potentially good fit if your living space is on the sunny side. Now, I wouldn’t expect it to hold up particularly well opposite a window, but in most locations, it should be fine.

I was quite impressed with the U7K’s backlight control. While it’s obviously not as deft at limiting light bloom as higher-end TVs with higher zone counts, the U7K’s full-array display and local dimming algorithm take care of business. You’re bound to notice a bit of a bloom around bright-on-dark picture elements (like subtitles), and the effect is more severe when viewing the TV off axis, but the U7K makes the most of what it’s got.

Strong gaming support for the price

There are very few TVs in the U7K’s price range that offer as thorough a selection of gaming features. If you’re a dedicated gamer shopping for a budget-friendly TV, you’d be hard pressed to find something better at the U7K’s price point.

First, the U7K is outfitted with two HDMI 2.1 inputs, both of which support Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and a native refresh rate of up to 144Hz. It’s basically the same slate of gaming features you’d be getting with the higher-end Hisense U8K.

However, like the U8K, the U7K designates one of these gaming-optimized inputs for eARC support. Should you use an eARC-enabled soundbar in addition to a pair of current-gen consoles (or a gaming PC), you’ll have to relegate one of those devices to an HDMI input that caps out at 60Hz.

Still, there aren’t too many options in this price range that offer the same level of benefits to gamers. There are some serious performance differences between the U7K and the souped-up U8K, but if you’re a gamer who doesn’t mind missing out on some of those benefits, the U7K is a great compromise. You’re getting nearly all of the gaming upside as the U8K, but keeping some money in your pocket.

Accurate picture right out of the box

I don’t suspect many U7K owners will spend the money and effort to get it professionally calibrated, which makes the TV’s exceptional out-of-the-box accuracy all the sweeter. In its most accurate picture modes (Filmmaker and Theater Day), the U7K delivers a picture that should satisfy the crowd that values a no-fuss experience as much as it values reference standards.

We use a unit of measurement called DeltaE to express a TV’s color error. The lower the number the better, with a DeltaE of three or less considered to be good enough for everyday use. In HDR, the U7K averages a DeltaE of about 2.2. With an average DeltaE of around 3.4 in SDR, color error is a bit more pronounced when the U7K is receiving an SDR signal, but still acceptable for most people.

What we don’t like

HDR content can look washed out at times

Despite its well-calibrated colors and ample brightness, the U7K wears its limitations on its sleeve during HDR content. While higher-end TVs are typically at their brightest when displaying small, concentrated highlights, the U7K is at its brightest when a significant portion of the display is getting bright. This leaves specular highlights (like sun dapples on the ocean’s surface, for instance) looking somewhat dull, while scenes that feature an average amount of brightness look washed out.

If you’re upgrading to the U7K from an older TV with a less-capable display, you’ll more than likely be thrilled with the U7K’s contrast during, say, a Dolby Vision-certified TV show on Netflix. That said, if you’re looking for a downright stunning TV for showcasing HDR, you might be better off spending a couple hundred bucks more on the Hisense U8K.

Minor motion-related color fringing

While the U7K’s processing and motion handling are better than what you’ll see with the Hisense U6K, I sometimes notice the same peculiar issue that has haunted most of the Hisense TVs I’ve covered in recent years: a reddish-orange glow around the edges of light-colored objects in motion, typically during dark, warmly-lit scenes.

I’ve spotted the ghostly red artifacts trailing behind the gray-colored sleeves of characters in a hazy, orange-tinted boiler room and along the edges of light-colored wooden furniture during a panning shot. It’s an infrequent but persistent presence in SDR content on YouTube, HDR Blu-rays, and everything in between.

Although I’m confident that the vast majority of viewers won’t clock this pesky problem, detail-oriented A/V enthusiasts probably will.

Should you buy the Hisense U7K?

Yes, especially if you’re looking for a great gaming TV in this price range

It’s tough to think of a better gaming TV in this price range than the Hisense U7K. If securing a dependable gaming TV and hovering around this price point are your top two priorities, I can confidently say that the U7K is a slam dunk. You could spend less on something like the U6K or the TCL Q6, but for the sake of a few hundred bucks, you’d be missing out on key features like 4K/120Hz gaming.

But you can apply this logic in the other direction, too. If you’re willing to put a few hundred bucks more toward the U8K, you’ll feast on a much finer picture, especially on movie nights. Of course, once you start going down this road, it’s hard to stop; pretty soon, you’ll find yourself justifying the price of TVs several orders of magnitude more expensive.

The U7K is just a great meat-and-potatoes TV for everyone, and an especially good TV for gamers looking to maximize their dollar.