Hisense U6K (2023) review

Hisense’s U6K collection sticks to the corporate’s current success with comparatively reasonably priced TVs, providing the most recent and best Mini-LED show expertise at a worth few rivals can match. 

Image high quality is nice for the worth, as long as you’re pleased with a 60Hz refresh price, although software program is variable: whereas US fashions run the superb Google TV working system, my UK evaluate unit is powered by the a lot much less interesting VIDAA OS. 

Design & construct 

• 55 or 65in sizes 
• Slim construct 
• Monumental UK distant 

There’s not an excessive amount of to say concerning the design of the U6K, which is pleasingly easy. The vary is out there in both 55- or 65in sizes, and I’ve reviewed the bigger mannequin within the vary – formally the 65U6KQTUK going by the total mannequin quantity. 

A slim bezel runs proper across the show, solely fractionally thicker on the silver-y backside edge, which additionally boasts the Hisense emblem. Nothing right here is designed to seize your consideration, ensuring that the show itself is all the time the main target.  

The TV ships with a pair of impressively slim ft, and my 65in mannequin included two completely different mounting factors, so you need to have the ability to work the positioning across the dimension of your TV stand, sound bar, or different obstacles. 

VESA wall-mounting can be supported, although the mount is offered individually, and the TV is slim sufficient that it will possibly sit pretty flat in opposition to the wall should you so want. 

What’s a bit much less spectacular is the distant shipped with my UK mannequin. It’s completely monumental, becoming in a ridiculous 12 pre-programmed shortcut buttons on the prime (three or 4 is typical), and but by some means doesn’t even embrace a devoted settings button. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

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For what it’s value, the US distant seems to be far more compact, although I’m undecided the way it varies in different markets. 

Image & sound high quality 

• Mini-LED show 
• 60Hz and 4K 
• Not the brightest panel 

The promoting level of the U6K is that it presents a comparatively reasonably priced Mini-LED panel – backlighting tech that may ship a number of the nice distinction and color separation of OLED with out the fee (or the chance of burn-in). 

The panels listed below are in a regular 4K decision and refresh price of 60Hz, so there’s nothing too thrilling there. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

What issues is that you simply get wonderful distinction and color replica from the U6K, with deep blacks and wealthy, vibrant hues throughout no matter you watch. 

It helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+, and HLG requirements, so covers a reasonably broad gamut of HDR content material. 

The one draw back right here is that the panel isn’t as vivid as dearer options. Which means it doesn’t ship the very best HDR round, which calls for a brighter panel, but additionally that daytime viewing can develop into an train in glare discount. 

The panel might cap out at 60Hz – you’ll should spend extra for a 120Hz panel TV that may benefit from the PS5 or Xbox Collection X – nevertheless it does assist variable refresh price from 48-60Hz for smoother gameplay, albeit with out assist for both AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync. 

As a substitute, the main target of the official recreation mode – which might activate robotically on appropriate inputs – is decrease latency, capable of drop as little as 8ms for easy efficiency when a console is related. 

As for audio, the set helps Dolby Atmos, so when paired with appropriate audio system needs to be able to delivering spectacular encompass sound. 

When not paired with audio system, the built-in audio is as you’d anticipate: a bit skinny and unsatisfying, however adequate should you’re not fussy. A primary soundbar will nonetheless characterize a substantial audio improve although. 

Ports & options 

• Three HDMI 2.0 ports 
• Voice management distant 

The Hisense U6K packs a reasonably typical port choice, although the HDMI choices might disappoint a bit: even the bigger 65in mannequin is proscribed to only three HDMI 2.0 ports, which can be sufficient for loads of customers however might frustrate these, like me, with an array of video games consoles and streaming sticks. 

That’s very true should you determine to make use of a kind of three HDMI ports for its eArc performance, connecting up your soundbar that method – although the digital audio out provides you another choice right here. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

There are additionally two USB ports for connection and energy, a headphone jack, Ethernet for wired web, AV in, aerial sockets, and a Frequent Interface card slot. 

The TV doesn’t pack many standout or distinctive options, however one neat bonus is that the distant helps voice controls. On the US Google TV fashions that may imply the Google Assistant, however Amazon Alexa is included on my mannequin as an alternative. 

Software program 

• Runs Google TV or VIDAA 
• VIDAA feels primary 
• Efficiency a bit unreliable 

The software program aspect of the U6K is hard to evaluate, just because it’s so variable.  

US fashions of the TV ship operating Google TV, a easy and clear OS that I’ve not examined on a TV myself, however have heard good issues about. 

My evaluate mannequin – and the mannequin offered within the UK and Europe – as an alternative runs Hisense’s personal VIDAA OS.  

Dominic Preston / Foundry

I’ll be blunt: VIDAA is clunky, ugly, and sluggish. It’s clearly constructed round advert slots, however proper now even they don’t work – the highest banner on my dwelling display screen is made up of six equivalent slides promoting the working system’s personal app retailer. 

The excellent news is that it helps a lot of the core apps you’re more likely to want, and the massive names – similar to Netflix and Disney+ – are pre-installed for comfort. The one omission I noticed was the UK’s Now app, which wasn’t accessible in any respect. 

UK viewers may be mildly aggravated to find that the ITV and Channel 4 apps listed below are the FreeviewPlay variations, which don’t assist stay TV streaming, however in any other case, there’s little to complain about. 

Dominic Preston / Foundry

I’ve been extra annoyed by basic efficiency. Setting the TV up took me a number of makes an attempt as a result of it repeatedly refused to hook up with my Wi-Fi community.

It’s sluggish to recognise distant inputs at instances, so feels sluggish, and as soon as merely stopped recognising the distant in any respect till I energy cycled the TV to restart it. 

I’ve largely examined it related to a Sonos soundbar over an optical cable, however setting it up this manner had the sudden aspect impact that every time I increase or decrease the audio a pop-up seems warning “This characteristic is at the moment unavailable” – though it does efficiently change the quantity. 

None of it is a actual dealbreaker, and I’m positive consumers will get used to the software program’s quirks, nevertheless it’s the primary factor that makes this really feel like a less expensive TV than it truly is. 

Worth & availability 

The Hisense U6K begins from $579/£999 for the 55in mannequin, rising to $799/£1,299 for the 65in model. 

That’s aggressive sufficient pricing within the UK the place it’s additionally accessible from Very, nevertheless it’s distinctive within the US – particularly contemplating that US fashions run higher software program.

For comparability, the most affordable Mini-LED (Neo QLED) mannequin from Samsung’s 2023 vary begins at $1,199/£1,399 for a 43in dimension.  

That makes shopping for recommendation fluctuate too. US consumers will wrestle to do higher for the worth, or to discover a good Mini-LED panel for much less.  

Within the UK and elsewhere, the U6K isn’t such a knockout. It’s a very good purchase, and continues to be stable worth for the display screen high quality, however the smarter transfer could also be to take a look at certainly one of final yr’s OLED or Mini-LED flagships, usually now accessible for the same worth – the 2022 LG C2 OLED is a chief instance. 

Try our greatest TV round-up for extra high-end choices, or greatest finances TVs for cheaper fashions that are available in beneath $500/£500.

Verdict 

The Hisense U6K presents the very best of Mini-LED at a finances, with a number of the greatest distinction and color you’ll discover in any TV for round a grand. 

The trade-off is that it is a no-frills set – it’s 60Hz, has few particular options, and outdoors the US is hampered by Hisense’s lacklustre VIDAA working system.  

Nonetheless, if you need the very best bang in your buck in terms of show high quality alone – an admirable intention when TV shopping for – then this can be difficult to beat, particularly should you’re a US purchaser. 

Specs 

• Sizes: 55/65in 
• Mannequin examined: 65in 
• Show expertise: Mini-LED ULED 
• Decision: 3840 x 2160 4K 
• Refresh price: 60Hz 
• HDR assist: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG 
• HDMI: x3 (2.0) 
• Tuner: Freeview Play 
• OS: VIDAA or Google TV