The BenQ W5800 provides a strong reminder that there’s nothing quite as dazzling as a home theater, especially one with a specialized projector, a screen that covers a full wall, cozy chairs, and a top-notch speaker setup. At $5,999 (£4,599, AU$8999), the W5800 is aimed at hardcore cinephiles who demand very few compromises on visuals and do not need on-board speakers or built-in smart TV platforms. To that end, the W5800 is a display and nothing else.
Make no mistake – the BenQ W5800 is a fantastic display. It provides hardware adjustments for image placement and sizing to make it easy to get a perfect image wherever the projector is set up. And as you'd expect from the best 4K projectors, it has a dazzling, color-rich picture that looks great with a broad variety of content. Many cheaper projectors offer automatic image adjustment, but they almost invariably do so by simply cropping or distorting the image digitally – compromises the BenQ W5800’s manual hardware adjustments avoid.
Still, the BenQ W5800 suffers from the diminishing returns of many a premium product. You can get brighter projectors for the price, but you might miss out on some of the professional setup flexibility found here. For example, an ultra short throw projectors like the Epson EpiQVision Ultra LS800 easily beat it when it comes to brightness, but they can be fussier to set up for a geometrically perfect image.
If you already have a big home theater that’s aching for a projector upgrade, the BenQ W5800 will be a fantastic option. But for most people, other, cheaper solutions should suffice.
BenQ W5800 projector review: price and release date
Release date: May 2024
MSRP: $5,999 (£4,599 / AU$8999)
The BenQ W5800 was launched in May 2024 at a starting price of $5,999 (£4,599 / AU$8999). Given the W5800’s premium status and relative newness, it’s unlikely to see major price changes anytime soon.
BenQ's W5800 supports the HDR10+ high dynamic range format (Image credit: Future)
BenQ W5800 projector review: Specs
Input connections include two HDMI ports (one with eARC) (Image credit: Future)
BenQ W5800 projector review: design and features
Sizable, with a stylish design
Lacks built-in sound and streaming
Motorized zoom, focus and offset
The BenQ W5800 immediately lets you know it means business. It’s a large, regal projector, nearly every bit as large as the Epson Pro Cinema LS12000, with a symmetrical design and a massive lens sitting at the center. This is flanked by loads of air intakes and ventilation slots that occupy much of the surface area. The benefit here is that the projector’s cooling fans are low-pitched and practically inaudible from even just a couple of feet away.
Around back, the projector features a small handful of ports. For many, the two HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC, and the S/PDIF audio output will be doing most of the work. Two USB-A ports can power streaming devices, and there are LAN and RS-232 ports for more specialized setups. The projector’s 3D Sync Out port may come in handy, too, as it supports a variety of 3D formats.
For many, the W5800’s HDR support will be most crucial. You get the basic HDR10 and HLG, but BenQ also steps up with HDR10+ support. Dolby Vision isn’t supported, unfortunately.
The projector has some handy hardware for setup, with motorized control over zoom, focus, and horizontal and vertical offset. This allows you to shift the projection to perfectly fit your space, which is incredibly convenient. Keystone adjustments are digital, but they are thankfully less necessary because of the adjustable offset. All adjustments can be made with the included remote, which has a backlit keypad and convenient shortcuts to many settings in the projector’s menus. Several controls are also available directly on the projector.
Even with its conveniences, the BenQ W5800 lacks many that other popular projectors offer. There’s no smart TV operating system, so you’ll have to source media from a separate device, and there are no built-in speakers. The W5800 is not the complete solution that something like the BenQ X3100i is, and that can make it a tricky proposition for many more casual users.
Design and features score: 3.5/5
With 100% DCI-P3 coverage, images on the W5800 have rich, detailed color (Image credit: Future)
The BenQ W5800 is an excellent projector for home theater. It shines big and bright and readily adapts to a great many installation situations. It provides impressive color, though the occasional rainbow effect – a common artifact of the projector’s DLP imaging tech – can mar the viewing experience for those sensitive to it.
At the heart of the BenQ W5800 is a laser light source shining through a 0.47-inch DLP micromirror array, and this is responsible for the sharp, 4K visuals and 2600 ANSI lumens brightness. BenQ rates the projector for a full 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and I’ve seen little lack of color to make me doubt the rating. Animated programs like X-Men ‘97 benefit greatly from the wide color gamut, appearing thoroughly vibrant, but the same applies to just about any content.
Between its color and sharp 4K picture, the BenQ W5800 has a lot to work with, and it’s bright enough to look good in well-lit rooms and excel in dark ones. Shadows sink to a satisfyingly deep level, and they can maintain that depth alongside bright visuals elsewhere on the screen.
Thanks to the W5800’s hardware controls, it is exceedingly easy to get an image squared up perfectly onscreen with sharp detail from edge to edge. A long-throw projector like the W5800 is less sensitive to small surface imperfections and misalignment than short-throw and ultra-short-throw projectors. I noted a similar level of flexibility with the Epson LS12000, which is a long-throw projector the BenW W5800 competes with.
The BenQ W5800’s full DCI-P3 color space coverage gives it one critical edge over the Epson LS12000, which is rated only for 100% sRGB coverage. Of course, this still leaves room for improvement next to triple-laser projectors like the Hisense PX2-Pro, which is rated for 100% coverage of the even wider BT.2020 color space.
Nevertheless, the BenQ W5800 is a brilliant performer. It handles fast-motion content with aplomb and presents a colorful image that looks plenty vibrant. There are a few ways it could be even better, but it is nonetheless excellent.
Picture quality score: 4.5/5
The BenQ W5800's fully backlit remote control features shortcut buttons for key picture adjustments (Image credit: Future)
BenQ W5800 projector review: value
Expensive for a projector that does one thing
Performance and installation features help justify price
At $5,999 (£4,599 / AU$8999), the BenQ W5800 is expensive for a consumer-grade projector, though it’s less than half the price of the JVC DLA-NZ800, the premium pick in our best 4K projectors guide. Even so, that’s a lot of money to ask for a projector that only provides a display and nothing else.
The W5800 makes sense for the right audience. Its visuals are brilliant, and its flexible installation features provide a great picture with minimal fuss. Also, with many projectors that do feature built-in speakers and streaming platforms, those features often are just enough to make do, but not equal to their picture.
BenQ’s W5800 sits alongside the exceptional Epson LS12000, which is $1,000 cheaper while offering similar brightness and capabilities, including a 120Hz refresh rate option. If a long-throw projector isn’t a must, the Hisense PX2-Pro ultra short throw model is also a stunning system with admirable speakers and even more brilliant color at half the price. And if you aren’t too picky, you might find something like the $2,399 (around £1,900 / AU$3,690) BenQ X3100i to be more than good enough.
Value score: 3/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the BenQ W5800 projector?
Buy it if...
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider...
BenQ X3100i The BenQ X3100i is a gaming projector that also does an excellent job displaying movies. It lacks the long-throw capability of the W5800 and isn't as adept with handling HDR, but it's a significantly less expensive and more flexible projector option.
Hisense PX2-Pro The Hisense PX2-Pro is an ultra short throw projector designed to beam a big image from close up to a wall as opposed to from the longer distance the W5800 is capable of. It's less expensive and nearly as bright, and features both built-in speakers and the Android TV platform for streaming.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the BenQ W5800 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows and in-room lighting as well as darkened conditions. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with both HDR and non-HDR streamed content.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models that I and my colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
The Hisense U6N is an affordable mini-LED TV, and though its budget price means there are limitations, there is still plenty to like here thanks to its solid overall picture quality and gaming performance.
Picture quality is generally good across the board for the Hisense U6N, with its detail and vibrant, punchy colors being the strongest highlights. Black levels and contrast are solid, although blacks can sometimes look more of a gray-ish tone. Motion is one area where the U6N struggles, requiring some settings adjustment to accurately display action movies and sports. (Viewers may generally find they need to tweak picture settings to get satisfactory performance from the U6N.)
Sound quality is one of the U6N’s low points. Its limited speaker array delivers clear dialogue and a generally meaty bass, but its soundstage is limited, feeling contained to the screen itself. Some may find the built-in sound fine, but I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars to this TV.
Although the U6N lacks 4K 120Hz support, a key feature of the best gaming TVs, gaming on the Hisense is still an enjoyable experience overall. Dolby Vision gaming, VRR and ALLM are on offer and there’s a Game Bar menu for those looking to quickly adjust settings.
The U6N uses the VIDAA smart TV platform in the UK and Australia and Google TV in the US. VIDAA is easy enough to navigate, although the home menu can be cluttered with too many recommendations (some unnecessary) and this can affect performance. Menus, however, are well organised and there are a good number of picture settings. US readers can check out our recent TCL QM851G review for an idea of how Google TV works.
Value is a highlight for the U6N – although this is less so in the UK. Mini-LED TVs come at a premium, but with the U6N you can get a 65-inch set for as low as $599, a price that rivals budget options such as the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. It’s bested by the Hisense U7N, one of the best TVs of 2024, in terms of value, but the U6N stands out as a cheap option in a crowded and competitive mini-LED TV market.
The Hisense U6N has better-than-expected detail (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Prices & release date
Release date: 2023
50-inch Hisense U6N: N/A/ £899 / N/A
55-inch Hisense U6N: $599 / £999 / AU$995
65-inch Hisense U6N: $799 / £1,299 / AU$1,295
75-inch Hisense U6N: $1,199 / £1,699 / AU$1,495
85-inch Hisense U6N: $1,799 / N/A / AU$2,995
Serving as the entry-level model in Hisense’s ‘ULED’ range, which uses mini-LED backlight tech, the U6N sits below the Hisense U7N and Hisense U8N. It’s available in a wide range of sizes from 50 to 85 inches, but some model availability depends on region. The smaller 50-inch model is available in the UK only, but the UK misses out on the larger 85-inch model, available in both the US and Australia.
Already competitively priced in a crowded mini-LED TV market, particularly in the US, the U6N’s price has dropped since its release, with the 65-inch model I tested available for as low as $599. There have even been discount codes in the UK, where prices for Hisense TVs usually take longer to reduce.
Hisense U6N review: Benchmark results
Contrast fades on the Hisense U6N when viewed from an angle (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Features
QLED panel with mini-LED backlight
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
VIDAA / Google TV Smart TV platform
The U6N uses a QLED panel and a mini-LED backlight with full-array local dimming to provide improved contrast over standard LED TVs. It has complete HDR support, with the ability to display both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats.
For gaming, the U6N’s features are limited compared to its more premium U7N and U8N counterparts, with no HDMI 2.1 ports included, though the U6N still features VRR and ALLM support and a Game Bar menu for settings adjustments. Support for 120Hz is available at 1080p resolution (without VRR) but those looking for 4K 120Hz will miss out.
The U6N has a 2 x 10W built-in speaker array with Dolby Atmos and DTS: Virtual X support. There are preset sound modes for different categories – Movie, Standard, Sport and more – plus an Enhanced ACR mode that creates a sound profile based on content.
Hisense’s smart TV platform varies depending on your region – in the US it’s Google TV, and in the UK and Australia it’s Hisense’s own VIDAA platform (the 65-inch U6N I tested used VIDAA). You'll have access to major apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video regardless, but in the UK, VIDAA hosts Freely, a live TV streaming platform that requires no satellite or antenna for live viewing. It’s backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five and plays host to their catch-up services – BBC iPlayer, ITVX and more. In the US, the U6N features an ATSC 1.0 digital TV tuner, a step-down compared to the U7N’s next-gen ATSC 3.0 tuner.
The U6N’s design is pretty basic overall, favoring simplicity. It has solid build quality and uses two support feet as opposed to the pedestal stand used for the U7N. It also has a mixed metal and plastic frame compared to the U7N’s metallic frame. The included remote is a cheaper-feeling, button-heavy design, whereas the U7N has a smaller, rechargeable remote.
Features score: 4 / 5
The Hisense U6N has good contrast and strong overall picture quality when viewed front-on (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Picture quality
Refined detail
HDR sources look great
Inconsistent motion handling
As the U6N is an entry-level mini-LED model, I didn’t expect high levels of brightness overall but was still surprised by the results it yielded, which were low for a mini-LED TV. Measuring peak HDR brightness on a 10% window, it gave a result of 651 and 612 nits in Filmmaker and Standard picture modes respectively. That puts it around the level of the LG B3, LG’s 2023 entry-level OLED TV. It’s also significantly dimmer than its more premium sibling, the Hisense U7N, which yielded results of 1074 and 809 nits in Filmmaker and Standard picture mode respectively.
Full-screen brightness results were much better. The U6N yielded HDR brightness results of 580 and 572 on a 100% window, making it a good budget choice for daytime viewing. During testing, the U6N did suffer from mirror-like screen reflections from our testing room’s overhead lighting, but very few TVs have successfully nullified these – the Samsung S95D being the best example.
Starting with lower-resolution sources, the U6N’s upscaling struggled to improve the fuzzy textures and dull colors of standard-definition broadcast TV compared with more premium sets. However, it did a good job with HD broadcast TV, maintaining clear textures across its 65-inch screen.
I next moved on to 4K and HDR sources. Starting with the demo footage section of the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray, the U6N demonstrated good detail. Textures gave animals and nature shots good depth, and although they didn’t rival that of a premium mini-LED TV such as the Sony X95L, they were better than anticipated. Colors were also bright and punchy, as shown by images of butterflies and exotic birds.
Contrast overall was good l and although some backlight blooming was present, black levels were deep enough for an entry-level mini-LED – even during night sequences with dark skies, and in studio shots with black backgrounds.
Switching to reference movie scenes I use for testing, the U6N performed solidly when displaying The Batman’s gritty, dim tones. Since The Batman is a Dolby Vision disc, there were several Dolby Vision picture modes to choose from, and I switched between Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Vision Dark.
Black levels weren’t naturally as good as you’d find on the best OLED TVs, but they were decent overall, only taking on a slightly gray hue when in Filmmaker Mode. Contrast was surprisingly good, with the U6N demonstrating a solid balance between light and dark tones in The Batman’s opening crime scene.
Another pleasant surprise was the U6N’s ability to show details in these dark scenes, such as in Batman’s armor and Jim Gordon’s clothing. I found Dolby Vision Dark to have a more accurate picture here, but for those looking for a brightness boost, Dolby Vision IQ will do the job.
The Hisense U6N's colors are punchy and vivid (Image credit: Future)
Moving onto Ready Player One, the U6N demonstrated dynamic colors throughout, handling the shimmering blues of the OASIS and Parzival well and giving the fireworks and gold coins during the opening race a glistening punch. Watching a stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, the throne room fight scene showcased the U6N’s control of bright colors, with the vibrant reds within the scene maintaining a natural look while still appearing vivid.
Motion handling is where things get complicated for the U6N. As it's a 60Hz panel, it benefits from motion settings including blur and judder reduction, but I found that these had to be experimented with heavily. I generally found placing both blur and judder at the lower-end to mid-way settings to be best. Watching the Batmobile chase from The Batman, the U6N initially struggled on long, panning shots and swerving vehicles, but the above settings helped with this.
The same motion settings were very much necessary when watching a stream of a soccer game on Prime Video. Of the motion presets, I generally found Smooth to be the best for handling the quick motion of the camera trying to keep up with the ball, while Film or Standard were the best for movies. There is an AI Sports mode to aid with clarity, but while it helped with motion, it oversaturated the greens of the field and bright colors of the uniforms. The Standard picture setting with the above motion clarity settings seemed to suit sports viewing the best.
Like other mini-LED TVs, the U6N is subject to backlight blooming. Viewed off-angle, this became more noticeable, and contrast and black levels also faded when viewed from off-center seats.
While the U6N doesn’t wow in any area, it has a good overall picture for a budget TV.
Picture quality score: 4/5
The Hisense U6N has a modest 2.0 speaker array (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Sound quality
Good dialogue clarity
Average directional sound
Limited soundstage
With a 2 x 10W speaker array, the U6N isn’t going to sit amongst the best TVs for sound. Dolby Atmos and DTS: Virtual X processing is a welcome feature here, but the U6N’s speakers limit the impact of both.
Of available sound presets, I generally found Theater to be the most consistent across all sources and suited movies best. Viewing both the Batmobile chase in The Batman and the opening race in Ready Player One, the U6N demonstrated solid, punchy bass and good dialogue clarity even throughout these intense sequences.
Unfortunately, the U6N’s speakers struggled in other areas. There was a decent sense of directional sound, but Atmos effects like the pounding rain in The Batman were inaudible. The soundstage was also very limited, with sound never extending beyond the confines of the screen. I’d strongly recommend using a soundbar with the U6N.
Sound quality: 3 / 5
The 65-inch Hisense U6N's uses support feet (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Design
Solid build quality
Mix of plastic and metal materials
Basic, safe design
The U6N’s design is safe – in both good and bad ways. Its build quality is solid enough and the mix of plastic and metal materials on the rear means it feels slightly more premium. However, there is no denying that the plastic elements of the screen are on the cheaper side.
Hisense uses support feet for the U6N as opposed to the pedestal stand found on the step-up U7N. These are sturdy enough when placed on furniture, although once again the feet feel a little on the cheap side.
The U6N has a trim enough bezel and frame, but is undoubtedly thicker than other sets in its price range. I’d have expected a slimmer design given its modest speaker array. Finally, the U6N’s supplied remote is basic and feels on the cheap side compared to the slim, streamlined remote supplied with the U7N.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
The Hisense U6N uses VIDAA (pictured) as its smart TV platform in the UK and Australia, but Google TV in the US (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Smart TV & menus
Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK & Australia)
Numerous picture settings
Basic and sometimes cluttered layout
The U6N comes with Google TV in the US and VIDAA in the UK and Australia. As I’m based in the UK, I will be focusing on the VIDAA smart TV platform, but if you're based in the US and want an idea of how Google TV works, check out our recent TCL QM851G review (although some settings and options will differ).
VIDAA has access to all major apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus, as well as Freely, a relatively new service that enables live TV streaming without the need for a physical antenna or satellite connection for both HD and SD channels. It also hosts the UK-based streaming apps BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and Five and even bases recommendations on viewing history.
The VIDAA home menu looks cluttered, with a large banner ad at the top of the screen and a long list of recommendations underneath that can affect scrolling speed and navigation, giving it a clunky feel. It is packed with settings for tweaking the TV's picture, however, and the menus are well laid out and user-friendly, with settings neatly organized.
Smart TV & Menus score: 3.5 / 5
Although it has only a 60Hz refresh rate, gaming on the U6N is still an enjoyable experience, and VRR is supported (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Gaming
Dolby Vision Gaming, VRR, and ALLM
No HDMI 2.1 ports
13.2ms input lag
The U6N has limited gaming features compared to more premium sets. There are no HDMI 2.1 features (except for eARC) such as 4K 120Hz support, though it does support Dolby Vision gaming, VRR and ALLM. There is an option to play at 120Hz with a lower resolution, although VRR is unavailable with this setting. It also features a Game Bar menu where settings such as Dark Detail and FPS Viewing can be adjusted.
Despite having fewer features, gaming on the U6N is still a fun experience. Playing Battlefield V, intense combat sequences felt smooth. From scanning the environment to sprinting to avoid incoming enemy fire, everything was seamless and felt suitably fast-paced despite being locked at 4K 60Hz.
The U6N also delivered strong picture quality while gaming, with the desert sections in Battlefield looking sufficiently bright. The U6N’s picture in darker sections demonstrated solid black levels overall, but a gray wash sometimes appeared. Textures and details were also refined, although they looked a little softer than on the Hisense U7N and Samsung QN85D.
The U6N’s input lag was average compared to other TVs in this range, yielding a result of 13.2ms. However, this is still below the 15ms threshold that most gamers look for.
Gaming score: 4/5
The Hisense U6N's supplied remote feels on the cheap side (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U6N review: Value
Brilliant value in the US and Australia
Competitive mini-LED market
Significantly cheaper than some rivals
The U6N’s value is affected by region. In the US, the 65-inch model I tested has fallen as low as $599 and the 55-inch model has dropped to a staggeringly low $449. That’s very affordable for a mini-LED TV and even cheaper than some regular LED sets. It may not come with all the gaming features we look for, but you’re unlikely to find those elsewhere at this price.
In the UK, the U6N doesn’t demonstrate the same value. For example, the 65-inch model is priced at £1,299, which puts it only slightly below the Samsung Q80D, a TV that delivers impressive QLED performance and a wider range of gaming features.
It’s worth remembering that the step-up Hisense U7N is also excellent value, offering more local dimming zones, better contrast, and superior gaming features for $200 more in the 65-inch size ($799).
Still, the U6N mini-LED TV delivers good performance at a price you'd usually expect to pay for a standard LED model.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Hisense U6N?
Buy it if
You want mini-LED for cheap Good mini-LED pictures are on offer here for the same as you'd expect to pay for a basic LED TV.
You want a good picture for less Crisp textures, rich detail and punchy colors are just some of the U6N's picture quality highlights.
You want a good budget gaming TV VRR and ALLM are on offer here, as well as decent performance and a solid picture, all at a budget price.
Don't buy it if
You're looking for good built-in sound The U6N's speakers sound thin, with a limited soundstage and lacking bass. A soundbar is recommended for this TV.
You need a complete gaming TV With no HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming, 4K 120Hz isn't an option here, though you'll find it on the step-up Hisense U7N.
You'll be watching off-center The U6N's picture falters when viewed from an angle, losing contrast and displaying obvious backlight blooming.
How I tested the Hisense U6N
Hisense U7N The U7N is the step-up model from the U6N and offers better picture quality, more gaming features and is overall better value for money. If you can stretch your budget that little bit further, it's worth opting for the U7N over the U6N. Check out our Hisense U7N review to see what the step-up gets you.
Samsung QN85D The Samsung QN85D delivers more than the U6N in every area – picture, sound, design, gaming – but comes at a significantly higher price. Opt for this if you're a Samsung fan and can spend the extra money. Check out our full Samsung QN85D review for more info.
Samsung QN90D The Samsung QN90D is a more premium option than the U6N, U7N and QN85D and from what we've seen so far is set to have the strongest picture of the group, while also offering a full list of gaming features. But the QN90D's high price tag is hard to justify against more budget options, so this really comes down to how much more you're willing to spend for a better picture.
I started the testing process of the U6N with some casual viewing to determine the most accurate picture mode, in this case, Filmmaker, which would be used during both subjective testing and objective testing for measurements.
Starting with subjective testing, I viewed standard-definition broadcast TV and DVDs, and 4K HDR ones, such as Blu-ray and streaming, to test picture quality, judging based on contrast, color, black levels, shadow detail, motion processing and more.
I played reference scenes from 4K Blu-rays (using the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player available) I am familiar with to determine how accurately the U6N displayed them.
After subjective testing, I moved on to objective testing, taking measurements using specialized equipment – a test pattern generator and colorimeter – and recorded the results using Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software.
I also used an Xbox Series X to test the U6N's gaming performance and a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester to test its input lag.
The Ultimea Poseidon D50 is another super-cheap sound solution from a company that's really nailing this area. For just $119.99 / £149.99 (about AU$180), you get a soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers – which isn’t bad at all. Not only that, but the quality on offer is pretty solid, making the Poseidon D50 a viable budget option for those interested in adding surround sound to their living space.
This sound system will supply considerably bolder audio than you’d expect to get from your TV alone. With a total power output of 400W, your favorite movies, TV shows and games will fill the width of your room pretty effectively. Surround sound was accessible swiftly, too, thanks to the Poseidon D50’s straightforward setup process. I simply connected the soundbar – which is wirelessly pre-paired to the included subwoofer – to my TV via HDMI, and then connected the subwoofer to the rear speakers via stereo RCA to RCA cables.
This means you don't need a cable running from the soundbar across to the rear speakers – but you'll need to position the subwoofer somewhere convenient near the rear speakers. Of course, this wired connection isn’t going to be the easiest on the eye, nor the most practical, but it’s what you’d expect from a sound system with such a small price tag.
I’ll be upfront: you’re not getting astonishing quality with this product. There’s HDMI ARC, but not eARC (which can transmit lossless audio), no groundbreaking feature set, and no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X to create truly three-dimensional sound. So if you’re looking for next-level spatial audio or superb quality sound, you may be better off checking out some of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars and speakers instead.
(Image credit: Future)
With that said, the sound you do get is definitely adequate. When watching Top Gun Maverick on Netflix, I was impressed at the three-dimensional sound of soaring aircraft, especially in the absence of Atmos or similar tech. Sure, audio wasn’t the most dynamic or expansive, but for the price you pay, the surround sound certainly surpassed expectations.
I also put the Poseidon D50 to the test with live sport, and found it offered an imperfect, yet relatively enjoyable performance. Similar to when I reviewed the Ultimea Nova S50, I didn’t get particularly clear-cut commentary over the clamor of the crowd, but whistles from the rear speakers and beating drums from the subwoofer helped to immerse me in the viewing experience.
At those times when speech wasn’t competing with similarly pitched background noise, it usually sounded pretty clear, which is ideal for watching the news or listening to podcasts. However, I did feel that higher-pitched voices sometimes sounded a bit tinny, especially when I sat closer to the soundbar, which means speech isn’t always very natural-sounding.
Nevertheless, there are times when vocals are pretty faithful. For instance, when playing Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on PlayStation 5, one deep-voiced character gave a monologue in a wide-open indoor space, and the Poseidon D50’s surround sound helped to emulate the setting effectively, with his bellowing tone carrying without too much distortion.
(Image credit: Future)
I also connected my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 to the Poseidon D50 over Bluetooth, and tried listening to some music via Spotify. I wasn’t particularly shocked to find that songs didn’t sound amazing played through this soundbar; it's not tuned that way. When listening to St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, the saxophone’s high notes didn’t sound the sweetest, and percussion was harsh-sounding at times, especially at higher volumes. Such harshness was more apparent when I sat close to the rear speakers and, sometimes, to the soundbar itself. If you have an especially limited space, this could get a little grating.
The balance of sound in movies is pretty good. At times, I felt that the rear speakers were just a bit too quiet, but, thankfully, the Poseidon D50 has a feature that lets you adjust the weighting between the surround speakers and the soundbar. This was pretty useful when I found myself thirsting for a bit more volume from those rear speakers, and I often found myself setting the system to “Surround +1”. If you ever find yourself wanting to dull the surround speakers, you can set the Poseidon D50 to “Surround -1”, and you can also turn them off entirely with “Surround -2”.
(Image credit: Future)
There aren’t too many other features to play with here, although the Poseidon D50 does come with Ultimea BassMax technology. This enables you to apply a boost or reduction to low-frequency sounds. I didn’t feel particularly inclined to crank up the bass, mainly because I didn’t want low-frequency levels to become overbearing, but dampening it was effective if I wanted to make vocals sound clearer.
The Poseidon D50 also has three sound modes: Movie, Dialogue and Music. All have distinct enough audio profiles to make them worth using. However, the soundbar actually displays a variable between 1-3 when switching between them, and I wasn’t initially clear on which number represented which setting – a slight inconvenience, although you can keep the user manual at hand if you forget which is which.
If you’re looking for a super-sexy soundbar that’s going to wow your guests, the Poseidon D50 may not be it. Don’t get me wrong – it doesn’t look too bad, but you can tell it’s budget tech. Like I mentioned in my Ultimea Nova S50 review, these are ultra-affordable products, so it’s no surprise that they have a pretty cheap-feeling and plasticky look. The Poseidon D50 comes with a remote (without the required AAA batteries) that serves its purpose well, and you’ll need to use it if you want to flick through the different sound modes, or alter BassMax levels and surround sound settings.
With the Ultimea Poseidon D50, you’re getting a solid overall package. Its sound quality does waver at times; it doesn’t have a stunning design, nor does it arrive with Atmos or DTS:X. Nevertheless, the Poseidon D50 is still worth considering if you’re in the market for a budget 5.1 soundbar – after all, you get adequate surround sound from it, it's a lot more powerful and expansive than the speakers on any budget (or even mid-range) TV, it's easy to set up, and it offers some simple yet effective features.
So if you’re on a tight budget, this is a decent option for cheap surround sound. But if you have a bit more cash to play with, I might suggest picking out an alternative from our guide to the best soundbars instead, such as the highly rated and well-priced Hisense AX5125H.
(Image credit: Future)
Ultimea Poseidon D50 review: Price and release date
$119.99 / £149.99 (about AU$180)
Launched in September 2023
The Ultimea Poseidon D50 initially launched at $219 / £169, but it’s now available for $119.99 / £149.99 (about AU$180) on the official Ultimea website. This is low for a four-box soundbar system, especially with HDMI support.
It's not hard to find single-unit soundbars for this kind of price, but we'd usually be suspicious of anything offering multiple units – Ultimea has proven itself to be capable of quality products for a low cost, though.
Ultimea Poseidon D50 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Ultimea Poseidon D50?
Buy it if...
You want a super-cheap entry into the world of surround sound Ultimea has a knack of offering soundbars at obscenely low prices, and the Poseidon D50 is no exception. To get a soundbar, subwoofer and two rear speakers for just over $100 / under £150 is an absolute steal.
You’d like to add more powerful bass to your TV setup One of my favorite things about using the Ultimea Poseidon D50 was the added bass compared to my plain TV audio. If you’re watching a movie with an ambient soundtrack or booming sound effects, this soundbar does a decent job at providing some added power and punch.
Don't buy it if...
You’re an audiophile I never expected high-quality audio from the Ultimea Poseidon D50, especially at its super-low price, so I can’t recommend it if you’re an audiophile. This soundbar doesn’t supply awful sound by any means, but if you’re hoping to find a 5.1 soundbar that delivers a big step up in quality, you’ll likely have to stretch your budget a fair bit further.
You’re looking for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X If you’re seeking out top-drawer spatial audio, this isn’t going to cut it. Ultimea does have some other soundbars with Dolby Atmos, though, including the Nova S50 and Poseidon D60, both of which also have pretty low price tags.
Ultimea Poseidon D50: Also consider
Roku Streambar Okay, this might not be a 5.1 channel soundbar, but if your top priority is to get an upgrade over your TV’s audio for a low price, this is a good option. The biggest boost this soundbar offers over the Ultimea Poseidon D50 is its larger feature set, which includes voice controls, bass boost settings, sound mode options, and even a built-in Roku streaming player. It's compact, making it ideal if you’re limited space-wise, but if you do crave surround sound, then you can purchase a subwoofer and rear speakers separately from Roku and pair everything together. See our full Roku Streambar review.
Ultimea Poseidon D60 We haven’t yet got our hands on the Ultimea Poseidon D60, but it's clearly very similar to the D50, but with some noticeable improvements. For instance, you get HDMI eARC, which means you can access a higher caliber of sound quality. However, the real draw is Dolby Atmos. I wasn't blown away by the Atmos on offer from Ultimea’s Nova S50 model, but you still get relatively decent depth there – so I'm willing to bet it elevates the D60 just beyond the S50. If you have the extra cash, it’s likely that the D60 will outperform the D50.
Ultimea Poseidon D50 review: How I tested
Tested for three weeks
Connected to my Hisense U7K TV at home
Predominantly used the HDMI ARC connectivity option
I tested the Ultimea Poseidon D50 at home over the course of three weeks. I mainly used HDMI ARC when connecting the soundbar and subwoofer to my Hisense U7K TV.
I put the Poseidon D50 to the test watching a variety of TV shows, videos and movies across streaming services, including Netflix and YouTube. I also played multiple video games on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch consoles, and listened to music from the TechRadar testing playlist on Spotify by pairing my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 with the Poseidon D50 via Bluetooth.
The JVC DLA-NZ800 is the latest high-end projector from the brand, combining its existing BLU-Escent laser light source with a redesigned D-ILA 4K chipset that delivers deeper blacks, brighter images, and improved uniformity. As a result, this excellent beamer builds on JVC’s established strengths, maintaining the company’s position as a preeminent maker of the best 4K projectors.
The JVC DLA-NZ800's native 4K images are crisply detailed, while the upgraded 8K/e-shiftX processing makes great content look even better. The overall picture accuracy is superb, the SDR images impressive, and the HDR performance state-of-the-art thanks to JVC's proprietary dynamic tone mapping and Theatre Optimiser features, along with support for HDR10, hybrid log-gamma and HDR10+.
Key improvements for this newly evolved model include an increased claimed brightness of 2,700 lumens and native contrast ratio of up to 100,000:1. The 8K/e-shiftX upscaling is now more sophisticated, and quieter, while the laser power setting offers greater control. The new features include a Deep Black function, a Balanced dynamic laser mode, and a Vivid picture setting.
The NZ800 supports 3D, with pictures that are bright, punchy and free of any crosstalk, and it has two HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 8K/60p and 4K/120p. There’s an effective remote, intuitive menu system, and flexible installation – although whether stand or ceiling mounting, bear in mind that this beamer is very big and heavy.
The NZ800 is also rather expensive, although the pricing remains unchanged from the previous generation. As with the earlier NZ8 it also has no direct competitor, so if you want exceptional cinematic performance, peerless HDR tone mapping, comprehensive features and a high degree of future-proofing, this remarkable high-end projector is in a literal class of its own.
JVC DLA-NZ800 projector review: price and release date
MSRP: $15,999 / £15,999 / AU$24,999
Release date: May 2024
The JVC DLA-NZ800 (DLA-RS3200) is the mid-range model in the brand’s 4K laser-powered line-up. It’s available now and retails for £15,999 /$15,999 / AU$24,999. The NZ800 replaces the outgoing DLA-NZ8 (DLA-RS3100) and sits below the flagship DLA-NZ900 (DLA-RS4200), which has also been given an upgrade and replaces the discontinued DLA-NZ9 (DLA-RS4100). The entry point remains the DLA-NZ7 (DLA-RS2100), which is retained from the previous generation.
JVC's proprietary dynamic tone mapping and Theatre Optimiser features bring out the best in 4K movies with HDR (Image credit: Future)
JVC DLA-NZ800 projector review: Specs
The projector has basic control buttons (Image credit: Future)
JVC DLA-NZ800 projector review: design and features
Gen3 0.69in 4K D-ILA device
Gen2 8K/e-shiftX
Gen2 Frame Adapt HDR
The JVC DLA-NZ800’s big new feature is the third generation of the brand’s proprietary D-ILA 4K chipset, which has been redesigned to be more efficient. These refinements allow for brighter images, deeper blacks, and improved uniformity. It’s also the reason why the NZ800 has an increased claimed brightness of 2,700 lumens and an improved contrast ratio of up to 100,000:1.
The NZ800 includes JVC’s second generation 8K/e-shiftX device, which physically shifts each pixel by half a pixel in four directions (up, down, left and right), thus allowing the projector to deliver a full 8K (8,192 x 4,320 resolution) image. This updated version of the proprietary feature uses sophisticated 8K upscaling for improved sharpness and detail across a wide range of content.
In addition to the improved black levels offered by the upgraded D-ILA chipset, JVC has added a new Deep Black function that employs a revised algorithm to further enhance the contrast without crushing shadows. In addition, the dynamic laser control adds a new Balanced setting for even punchier pictures without introducing the annoying brightness fluctuations seen on earlier models.
Speaking of brightness, JVC has improved the sliding scale setting on the laser power control, and while it still goes from 1 to 100 it’s now more granular, which means you can gradually boost the brightness without a sudden increase in fan noise, thus making it more useful. JVC has also added a “Vivid” mode for watching SDR sports or gaming in a room with some ambient light.
The NZ800 retains JVC's BLU-Escent laser diode light source with its claimed 20,000-hour lifespan and greater consistency. Other features include motorised focus, zoom and shift controls to simplify installation, plus lens memories for different screen aspect ratios. There’s also a Filmmaker Mode, along with extensive ISF-certified calibration controls.
JVC’s tone mapping is state-of-the-art, with the latest proprietary Gen3 Frame Adapt HDR dynamically analysing HDR10 content on a frame-by-frame basis to optimise the image, while 18-bit gamma processing results in smoother and finer gradations. JVC also includes the Theatre Optimiser which enhances tone mapping by taking into account the size, shape and gain of your projection screen.
In addition to the existing analysis of an incoming HDR signal, the NZ800 now reads the Display Mastering Luminance (DML) metadata. This tells the projector’s tone mapping function the peak brightness of the display on which the content was originally mastered and is useful because the more metadata the tone mapping has to work with, the better the results in terms of the displayed HDR images.
Design and features score: 5/5
Rear-panel ports include two HDMI 2.1 connections (Image credit: Future)
JVC DLA-NZ800 projector review: picture quality
Detailed and cinematic 4K delivery
Bright and punchy HDR images
Exceptional image processing
The JVC DLA-NZ800 impresses right out of the gate, with the redesigned D-ILA chipset delivering images that are sharp, well defined and free of any uniformity issues. On the review sample I was testing there were also no signs of the dreaded ‘bright corners’ that have been apparent on some JVC projectors in the past, even when staring at a black screen in my dedicated home cinema.
The perceived black levels also appear slightly better when compared to my NZ8, the NZ800’s predecessor, and this was borne out by actual testing, with the NZ800 delivering contrast measurements of up to 100,000:1. The peak brightness approaches the claimed 2,700 lumens, although this was in the Vivid mode, and in the Filmmaker mode or calibrated Natural mode this is closer to around 2,000 lumens.
Out-of-the-box SDR accuracy is excellent with the white point close to the industry standard of D65, an even greyscale, and colours hitting close to their saturation targets for BT.709. This can be improved through calibration, and I was able to get a reference level accuracy, so if you’re spending this kind of money you really should get your NZ800 professionally calibrated.
This accuracy also extends to HDR, and the NZ800 covers 100% of DCI-P3 with its colour filter in place. This filter reduces the brightness by about 20% – so those extra lumens come in handy – but if you’d rather not use the filter (and with HDR10+ you don’t have a choice) then the brightness increases but the gamut coverage drops to around 90% of DCI-P3 instead.
Where JVC projectors are streets ahead of the competition is in terms of HDR tone mapping with the NZ800 not only accurately tracking the PQ curve standard, but also using dynamic tone mapping to get the best out of content based on the available metadata and real-time analysis of the HDR signal. The ability to read the Display Mastering Luminance also helps in this regard.
The new Deep Black feature certainly adds value, teasing a touch more detail out of shadows while keeping the blacks suitably inky. A Balanced dynamic laser setting also helps, creating more depth at the lower end while also boosting the brightness at the other without any ‘pumping’ in the image itself. The NZ800’s superior tone mapping ensures the highlights are also free of clipping.
Processing is also superb, taking lower resolution content and flawlessly upscaling it to the 4K panel, while the 2nd generation 8K/e-shiftX device is a revelation, shifting pixels to create images with the perceived resolution and detail of 8K. While I like the effect of e-shift I don’t use it on my NZ8 because I can hear it in operation, so I was delighted to discover it’s nearly silent on the NZ800. In addition, the 65mm all-glass lens delivers all these pixels with perfect geometry.
The NZ800 can read Display Mastering Luminance (DML) metadata in sources to optimize its tone mapping function (Image credit: Future)
The NZ800 is equally impressive with motion handling, producing smooth pictures that are free of blurring and unwanted artefacts. An ability to handle frame rates up 120p adds to the beamer’s motion prowess, and its 36ms input lag – low for a projector that’s not specifically designed for gaming – and longer-life laser light source make the JVC a great choice for the well-heeled big screen gamer.
JVC’s NZ800 is a cracking performer with SDR content, producing detailed and natural images that enjoy added depth thanks to the awesome contrast ratios. Watching Gravity on Blu-ray revealed a remarkable image, where the whites of the space suits are juxtaposed against the black backgrounds, and every pixel of the computer-generated effects is rendered with precision.
Moving on to HDR, the NZ800 proves to be a stellar performer, delivering all the specular highlights of the sun-bleached desert landscapes of Dune Part Two, pulling out every detail in shadows during the nighttime action of The Crow, and reproducing the rich and saturated colours of La La Land, helping to replicate the Technicolor musicals to which it pays homage.
The projector’s dynamic tone mapping is very adept at optimising the performance of the NZ800, and the resulting HDR is often comparable to high-end video processors that cost more than the projector itself. When able to use the dynamic metadata of HDR10+, the results are equally impressive, and the bright flares in the nighttime scenes of 1917 are precisely rendered against the dark sky.
Finally, the 3D performance is excellent with plenty of depth and pictures that are bright, accurate, and free of any ghosting. You’ll need to purchase the optional RF transmitter and glasses, but if you’re a fan of 3D you’ll be rewarded with wonderfully layered images such as when you’re down in the streets of Iron City in Alita: Battle Angel, or floating inside the ISS in Gravity.
Picture quality score: 5/5
The JVC DLA-NZ800's remote control (Image credit: Future)
JVC DLA-NZ800 projector review: value
It’s a significant investment
There’s no direct competitor
The JVC DLA-NZ800 represents significant value for money, which might sound like a mad statement to make when you consider its price, but I’ll explain. The range-topper in JVC’s range is the DLA-NZ900, which costs $25,999 / £25,999, but in terms of features and performance, the NZ800 is very similar with the only real difference being the NZ900’s larger 100mm lens.
The NZ800 also doesn’t have a direct competitor, and the closest is the Sony VPL-XW7000ES in the UK (£12,999) or VPL-XW6000ES in the US ($11,999). While the XW7000ES is rated at 3,200 lumens, the XW6000ES only hits 2,500 lumens, and neither has support for 8K, 4K/120p or HDR10+, nor do they have HDMI 2.1 inputs. In addition, the NZ800 has better black levels and superior HDR tone mapping, making it the ideal choice for any discerning film fan.
Value score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the JVC DLA-NZ800 projector?
Buy it if...
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider...
BenQ X3100i The BenQ X3100i is a gaming projector that also does an excellent job displaying movies. It lacks the long throw capability of the JVC and isn't as adept with handling HDR, but it's a significantly less expensive and more flexible projector option.
As with all my TV and projector reviews I use a combination of subjective viewing and objective measurements against the industry standards. For projectors, I also do all my testing in a dedicated home cinema with a completely blacked-out environment and high-quality screen.
The subjective testing is based on watching a variety of familiar scenes, primarily sourced from 4K, 3D and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. These scenes have been specifically chosen to evaluate a display’s black levels, contrast performance, colour accuracy, upscaling, image processing, motion handling, and HDR tone mapping.
For the objective testing, I measured the NZ800’s brightness, greyscale and colour gamut in SDR, before doing the same in HDR. I also evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, along with the colour gamut coverage for DCI-P3 and BT.2020. To do this I used a pattern generator and colour meter combined with Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software.
I measured the NZ800’s input lag in milliseconds using a Leo Bodnar tester with the low latency mode switch on.
Finally, because I currently use the JVC DLA-NZ8 as my reference projector, I was able to directly compare the NZ800 to its predecessor.
In the US, Saiyin sells a similar product, the DS6345, that comes with a subwoofer. Please note that this is not included with the DS6305, available for purchase in the UK and Australia. This review was conducted in the UK and covers the soundbar only, although specs and dimensions for the subwoofer will be included.
The Saiyin DS6305 is an extremely cheap soundbar that aims to provide a bit more depth for your home viewing experiences. At just £39.99 (about AU$75), you won't find many cheaper alternatives out there, but you will, inevitably, have to make some sacrifices in terms of features and sound quality.
With the Saiyin DS6305, you get decent enough audio without any bells and whistles. There’s no Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or anything like that – so don’t expect spatial, ultra-dynamic sound. The overall quality is actually quite good for the price, with the main draw being the relatively powerful bass output. I was impressed by the added depth it offered compared to the plain old TV audio from my Hisense U7K TV, which, for reference, has a built-in subwoofer to bolster low-end frequencies.
When streaming Dune (2021) via Netflix, the film’s deep, atmospheric score and sound effects were far more impactful with the DS6305 than just my TV. Bass was still not super clean or intricately detailed, but it was delivered with a solid amount of power nonetheless, especially considering the absence of a subwoofer. The movie’s dialogue was sometimes a little lacking in clarity, but totally passable – just don’t expect the kind of quality you’d get from one of the best soundbars.
I then tested how the DS6305 fared with sport by tuning into a UEFA Euro 2024 match. The commentary wasn’t crystal clear amidst the booming crowd noise – which was emulated a lot more faithfully than in standalone TV audio – but it wasn’t totally drowned out, resulting in an adequate listening experience.
To measure the soundbar’s gaming performance, I played Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on the PlayStation 5. Jumping in an open, echoey area sounded a lot more natural than on my TV audio, especially the depth of the character’s feet against the concrete floor. The game has a very ambient, atmospheric soundtrack, which was complemented by the DS6305, but, again, the bass was a little muddied at times. This really sums up the audio quality on offer here: you’ll get more power, bass, and full-bodied sound than from just your TV, but don’t expect impeccable quality or game-changing expansiveness.
(Image credit: Future)
When watching videos, TV, or films, I made sure to use the Movie EQ mode – one of the three available options alongside Music and News. When listening to some music on Spotify, I switched between Music and Movie mode to gauge the key differences, but surprisingly, I couldn’t make out any discernible change. I also tuned into BBC News to test out the News mode, and apart from a very slight increase in volume, I didn't hear anything strikingly different. As a result, I’d have to say that changing between the 3 EQ ‘modes’ is barely worth your time.
Looping back to my Spotify listening session, I wasn’t anticipating something that would produce beautiful-sounding audio and I honestly felt that the DS6305 didn’t perform too badly. When tuning in to I Want You by Moloko, I will admit that the opening vocals – intended to have a pure, breathy sound – weren’t particularly clear, perhaps less so than my normal TV audio. Beyond that, though, the overall listening experience was far better with the soundbar, which wasn’t bad at capturing the various instruments entering into a densely layered, exciting mix. Sure, it did tend to lean more heavily on bass and I couldn’t make out every last detail of the track, but this is pretty typical for the price.
I also wanted to get a sense of how high-frequency sounds came through, so I listened to Rains Again by Solji. This song has markedly high-pitched vocals throughout and I found that these certainly didn’t have the sweetness or delicacy that really make it pop, but the audio wasn’t particularly tinny or grating. If you do want to use this soundbar for any kind of music, it will do the job – just don’t expect great quality.
(Image credit: Future)
The DS6305 is very cheap, and unsurprisingly, it looks cheap. It’s enclosed in standard black plastic housing and has a relatively feeble foam material protecting the speaker. The soundbar has an LED light strip that fills up depending on volume level and changes color depending on the connectivity option being used – a neat inclusion (though it simply flashes off and back on when you flick between the different EQ presets, which isn’t the clearest way to show you’ve switched to a new mode). The shape is perhaps a little unorthodox – due to its triangular form, I couldn't fit it under my TV stand – so ensure you have enough space to play with if you’re planning on purchasing this soundbar.
The DS6305 comes with a remote, which requires two AAA batteries (not included). It may seem like a small thing, but I was disappointed by the quality of the controller – particularly because lower-case 'i's on the buttons have backward-leaning accents (for some reason), and the use of capitalization across the different buttons is sporadic, to say the least. Grammar issues aside, the remote is responsive and enables you to adjust volume levels and switch between connectivity options (including digital optical, AUX, and Bluetooth). There are also button controls on the soundbar itself for ARC coaxial, which is a bit odd because it doesn’t come with a cable to support this.
There’s no option to connect the DS6305 via HDMI, meaning you won’t be able to use your standard TV remote to control the soundbar’s volume levels. The lack of an HDMI port also means that setup isn’t optimal, but it was fairly straightforward to connect the soundbar to my TV via the included digital optical cable instead.
(Image credit: Future)
The Saiyin DS6305 soundbar impressed me in some departments but failed to inspire in others. If you want a super cheap solution to add a bit of bass and power to your setup, this could be worth taking a look at. The build quality is, of course, pretty unimpressive and the soundbar’s awkward shape makes it a little less ideal for those working with limited space, not to mention there’s no HDMI connectivity option, which is a shame.
If you want a soundbar that offers slightly better audio quality at a price that’s easy to stomach, you’ll be better off selecting a product from our guide to the best cheap soundbar deals.
(Image credit: Future)
Saiyin DS6305 review: Price and release date
$59.99 for soundbar with subwoofer (US) on Amazon
£39.99 (about AU$75) for soundbar only (UK & Australia) on Amazon
Launched in March 2023
Saiyin doesn’t have its own online store, but you can purchase the DS6305 from Amazon – prices are, of course, subject to change. In the US, the DS6305 comes with a subwoofer and costs the ultra-low price of $59.99. In the UK and Australia, however, you purchase the soundbar on its own for what is still a very modest price of £39.99 (about AU$75).
Saiyin DS6305 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Saiyin DS6305?
Buy it if...
You want a super-cheap soundbar At £39.99 (about AU$75) you won't find many cheaper soundbars out there. The Saiyin DS6305 isn’t a phenomenal product, but if you’re on a tight budget and just want an improvement over standard TV audio, this could be worth it for you.
You’re not overly fussy on quality Of course, the DS6305 isn’t going to offer premium sound. In fairness, you’ll have to spend a bit more if you’re someone who values top-quality audio, and there are a lot of strong budget options sitting at around the $100 / £100 / AU$150 mark. However, this soundbar will give you a bit more power, especially in the low-end, so if you want to get a little more enjoyment out of blockbuster movies or gaming experiences, it could be a decent pick.
Don't buy it if...
You want a sleek, stylish aesthetic The DS6305 doesn’t look amazing due to a combination of its slightly awkward shape and cheap build quality. That’s not a massive problem for many, but if you’re the sort of person who prioritizes style, then it’s worth looking elsewhere. A budget alternative that has a more diminutive soundbar and even includes a subwoofer is the Ultimea Nova S50 – more on this later.
You’re on the hunt for spatial audio The DS6305 is a 2.0-channel soundbar so you won't get all the benefits of surround sound. There’s no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X at play either, so if you’re expecting expansive, three-dimensional audio, you’ll be disappointed. If you want to experience Atmos, then it may be worth selecting a soundbar from our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars and speakers.
Saiyin DS6305: Also consider
Ultimea Nova S50 The Ultimea Nova S50 is another super cheap option for those looking to elevate their TV audio setup. It comes with an ultra-slim soundbar as well as a subwoofer, which means it'll be a bit more pleasing in the bass department than the Saiyin DS6305 and can add a bit more atmosphere to your viewing experiences. It doesn’t offer particularly great sound quality, and although it's labeled as Dolby Atmos compatible, you don’t really get three-dimensional audio. However, if you’re not too picky on quality, the Nova S50 could be a decent choice. Read our full Ultimea Nova S50 review here.
Hisense HS214 It may be a few years old now, but the Hisense HS214 is still a solid soundbar for those on a tight budget. It’s a bit wider than the Saiyin DS6305 and has a built-in subwoofer. It doesn't have Dolby Atmos, so you won’t experience massively immersive audio, but you do get pretty clear vocals and decent build quality.
Saiyin DS6305 review: How I tested
Tested over the course of a week
Connected to my Hisense U7K TV at home
Predominantly used the digital optical connectivity option
I put the Saiyin DS6305 to the test for a full week. I used the digital optical connectivity option to connect the soundbar to my Hisense U7K TV at home.
I tracked performance across three key areas: video media; gaming; and music. When testing, I watched a variety of TV shows, videos, and movies on Netflix and YouTube, among others; played multiple video games on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch consoles; and listened to music from the TechRadar testing playlist via the PS5 version of the Spotify app.
The Roku Pro Series is the company’s new flagship TV offering. Roku has been a major player in our living rooms for a long time, starting out with streaming boxes and sticks. Those evolved to soundbars and wireless speakers, followed by last year’s initial foray into TVs with the Roku Select and Roku Plus Series. Building on those models, the Roku Pro Series takes things up a level with some interesting and unique design choices and useful features.
Considering the Roku Pro Series’ relatively affordable prices, starting at $899.99 for the 55-inch model, it’s certainly in the running for best TVs for those who are a little more price-conscious.
While the Pro Series is Roku’s premium offering, there are innovations on hand that make it worthy of consideration over Roku’s budget Select and mid-tier Plus TVs. For one, it offers better picture quality than those models thanks to a mini-LED backlight with local dimming. It also has 4K 120Hz support for gaming and side-firing speakers that provide superior sound quality.
This TV has some tricks up its sleeve feature-wise as well, such as the ability to switch picture modes not just between different forms of content but different scenes. A planned software update will also bring an artmode feature that turns the TV into a showcase for artwork when not in use, similar to Samsung’s The Frame TVs. Of course, the interface overall is a joy to use, as I’ll discuss later.
The TV’s design may be where I’m most impressed. There are TVs with similarly impressive picture quality for under $1,000 (the Hisense U8K Series TV comes to mind). However, no other TV that I know of is made to be intentionally thicker so that it mounts flush against the wall instead of precariously jutting out like most TVs, and there’s cable management to accommodate that installation. The upgraded second edition of the Roku Voice Remote Pro is pretty special as well, and not just because it has backlighting.
Everything about the Roku Pro Series TV follows an ethos that seems to permeate Roku products, and that is convenience. If you care about the absolute best picture quality, you might look elsewhere, though I think the Pro Series’ picture is more than good enough for most people. But setting this TV up, using it and its various features, and even dealing with how it integrates into your space, has been thought out in a way that most products this side of Apple aren’t.
Roku's remote control features a backlit keypad (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Price and release date
Release date: April 2024
55-inch: $899.99
65-inch: $1,199.99
75-inch: $1,699.99
The Roku Pro Series might be the company’s premium offering, but the price tag is in mid-range TV territory. The smallest of the Pro Series – it comes in three sizes (55-, 65-, and 75-inch) – retails for a surprisingly affordable $899.99.
If 55 inches is too small, stepping up to the 65-inch model is an extra $200, coming in at $1,199.99, while the 75-inch goes for $1,699.99. Despite the difference in price between models, they’re all the same other than size.
Roku Pro Series review: Specs
Roku Pro Series review: Benchmark results
The Pro's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Features
Smart Home Ready
Auto-switching picture settings
Two HDMI 2.1 ports
Roku’s Pro Series TV is feature-filled. You can pair it with wireless headphones or with Roku’s lineup of wireless speakers. You can connect it with Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home, and Roku Smart Home. There’s even a mode that will be rolled out in a future software update to turn the TV into a piece of artwork when not in use.
Even without the smart home stuff, there’s plenty to get excited about. The TV comes with Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts the picture settings based on the ambient light level in your room when watching. And there’s what Roku calls Smart Picture Max, a feature that automatically changes the picture settings based on the type of content you’re watching and can even make changes on a scene-by-scene basis. It’s also worth mentioning that the speakers are Dolby Atmos-certified.
If you plan on plugging in external devices, Pro series TVs have four HDMI ports including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support – something next-gen console gamers will appreciate.. There’s also a USB-A, useful in particular for charging the remote, and a USB-C port.
Features Score: 4/5
The Pro Series TV's picture has vibrant color and punchy contrast (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Picture quality
Good overall picture quality
Average peak brightness
Effective local dimming
You’ll see throughout this review that I’ve given the Roku Pro Series pretty high scores above the board. It can’t be perfect, can it? Well, it’s not. And, where it impresses least is in image quality. However, before you write it off, I will say that I found the image quality to be merely very good. That is to say, most people will find it pleasant to watch but will be more enamored by what it can do than by its stunning picture.
Still, the Roku Pro Series supports Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ HDR, and its Smart Picture Max automatic picture mode switching will show whatever content you’re watching in the best possible light.
When watching The Batman, a movie with a lot of shadows in it, I didn’t experience very deep blacks. Because it doesn’t deliver the deep contrast of an OLED screen, the picture could look a little flat at times. But at least I didn’t experience any backlight blooming thanks to the TV’s well-implemented local dimming.
The Roku Pro Series TV works fairly well with sports as well – I had to test with some Olympic Trial diving since I forgot to pay attention during the NBA finals. Colors generally looked good, though skin tones came across as a tiny bit muted in the Movie picture mode. More importantly, the action was crisp and accurate without any blurring issues.
Watching Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (again in Movie mode), this colorful animated movie was done justice, as the transitions between colors, particularly in backgrounds, were accurate and didn’t appear washed out. They could just pop a tiny bit more.
I felt similarly when playing games like Ghost of Tsushima in Game mode. This is a game with a fairly conservative use of color, so when you see something covered in red or purple, it jumps out. That was certainly the case with the Roku Pro series, however, it did seem a little more muted than I’d expect from a flagship TV.
Essentially, the Roku’s performance is nothing unusual for a TV at this price. It has an average peak brightness of 900 nits, for instance. And, if you look at the other benchmarks in our graph, you’ll mostly see average results there as well. There are also plenty of settings available for fine-tuning color saturation, color temperature, and even gamma correction in the TV menus.
Picture quality score: 4/5
Setting up the TV's stand is simple and requires no tools (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Sound quality
Thicker design allows for bigger speakers
Solid sound if a little light on the low end
Good enough to skip adding a standalone soundbar
The sound on TVs is typically thin and hollow. While some premium models try to correct this, there’s only so much you can do with thin display panels. Thanks to the thicker shadowbox-style design of the Pro Series TV, Roku was able to sneak in bigger speakers and it shows.
There’s certainly plenty of volume on tap, and the bigger speakers result in a fuller, less boxy sound. Details in the high frequencies retain body as well as clarity. The mids are nice and full. Really, the only thing missing is deep bass, though you could always pair one of Roku’s wireless subwoofers with the TV to fix that.
It should be noted that the speakers are side-firing instead of downward-firing. This means that, instead of the audio waves traveling down and bouncing off whatever surface is beneath them, they travel outward with a direct path to the listener. This helps with clarity but also results in better steering of effects Dolby Atmos soundtracks.
Now, I’m not saying that the TV’s built-in speakers are going to beat or match one of the best soundbars. But, if your soundbar budget taps out at under, say, $300, you’ll be safe to skip it altogether.
Sound quality score: 4.5/5
The Pro Series TV's cable managment system allows for a neat installation (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Design
Shadowbox design perfect for mounting
Has cable management
New, almost flawless remote
The Roku Pro Series might be the thickest TV to come out in a long time, and that’s by design. Using a shadowbox concept, this TV has about a 2-inch depth so that it can sit flush against the wall when mounted.
The back of the TV is molded to accommodate a cable management setup including straps. That’s not only for a tidy look but to keep those cables in place so that nothing gets in the way of the TV sitting flush when mounted. On top of that, the mounting set includes little kickstands that can be used to raise the TV off the wall for easy access to all the ports, which are situated on the back.
Even if you don’t mount the TV, this thicker design allowed Roku to install bigger speakers and better speakers. Also worth mentioning is that the stand installation is completely toolless, and there’s a button on the side of the TV to help find the remote if you misplace it. Press it and the remote will ping.
Speaking of the remote, the new 2nd-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro is a pleasure to use. First off, it has backlighting that turns on as soon as you pick it up, and turns off when you’re not using it. It also has two additional buttons – a guide button for live TV and a quick launch button. I do wish the quick launch (and really the live TV button as well) could be used to directly load an app of my choosing, instead of bringing me to a menu. However, it’s still more convenient than not. Also, the remote has a hands-free mode that can be toggled on so you can talk to it much like you would a voice assistant.
Design score: 5/5
The simple, elegant Roku TV interface (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Smart TV and menus
Intuitive navigation
Easy access to picture settings
Forthcoming Roku Backdrops turns TV into an artwork
The thing that has made Roku products stand out since day one has been the intuitive interface. Outside of accessing a few key features specific to the Pro Series TV, such as fine-tuning the picture or pairing wireless headphones, the interface is the same as it is on any other updated Roku device.
As far as accessing TV-specific settings, I appreciated that quite a few were available without having to exit the media I was watching or playing. Just pressing the star button on the remote let me adjust all sorts of picture quality settings like HDR and Gamma correction along with picture and sound modes, not to mention accessibility settings.
A feature that has yet to see the light of day called Roku Backdrops is sure to excite anyone who ends up accidentally leaving their TV on all the time the way I do. It will essentially make the screen go into art mode, replacing the screensaver with art, and is an especially nice feature if you plan on mounting the TV as a centerpiece in your living room. Roku Backdrops should be available on Roku Pro Series TVs in the second half of 2024.
Lastly, Roku has a lot of free content available, whether through its live TV portal or its own Roku channel. Yes, it may not be Netflix-level content, but some of it’s pretty good, especially if you’re a Weird Al fan.
Smart TV & menus score: 5/5
Gaming is fluid thanks to the 4K 120Hz support and ultra-low input lag (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Gaming
4K 120Hz support
Automatic switching to console input and gaming picture mode
Good sound for gaming
Since the Roku Pro Series is the company’s premium offering, it makes sense that the company didn’t forget gamers when designing this TV. Unlike many cheaper TVs, Roku’s Select and Plus Series models included, it supports 4K at 120Hz for gaming with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
Along with that fast 120Hz refresh rate, VRR and ALLM (including FreeSync) are supported, and input lag clocks in at an ultra-low 9.4ms. If you’re a console gamer, you won’t feel left behind with the Roku Pro Series.
The TV’s local dimming helps deliver a consistent picture no matter how dark the game and its HDR support adds to the contrast and depth. Whether I was playing Red Dead Redemption 2, Ghost of Tsushima, or Uncharted 4, I never had issues making out enemies or details situated in darker parts of the screen.
Since the Roku Pro Series automatically switches picture modes, turning on the PlayStation 5 turns on the Game picture mode.I also appreciated that, when I turned on the console, the TV’s interface automatically switched from the main Roku screen to the PS5’s input – though this feature can also be disabled in the settings.
Since the sound quality on the TV sits above many modern-day TVs with their downward-firing speakers, that benefit extends to the gaming experience. Also, you can wirelessly pair the TV with Bluetooth headphones for late-night gaming sessions.
Gaming score: 4.5/5
The Roku Pro series TV unboxed (Image credit: Future)
Roku Pro Series review: Value
Priced closer to mid-range TVs
Design is unique to the Roku Pro Series
Significant upgrade over mid-range Roku TV
When you consider other mini-LED TVs such as the Hisense U8K Series, which is currently $699 for the 55-inch model, it helps put the Roku Pro Series TV’s pricing, which starts at $899.99 for the 55-inch model I tested, into perspective. Of course, the Hisense doesn’t have the shadow box design or updated remote, though it does have the hands-free voice command as well as smart home integration.
One of the best TVs for most people right now is the Samsung S90C. It comes with a QD-OLED screen with a beautiful picture that offers deep blacks and detailed shadows. But that model costs $1,599 for a 55-inch screen size. The Roku Pro Series might not reach the same picture quality heights as the Samsung, but it does come with things the Samsung doesn’t, such as Dolby Vision IQ, or that much more intuitive Roku interface versus Samsung’s Tizen.
It’s also worth comparing the Roku Pro Series TV to the company’s mid-range offering, the Roku Plus Series. That series also comes in the same range of sizes, but at a much lower price tag, with the 55-inch going for $499, the 65-inch going for $649, and the 75-inch going for $999. While the Plus Series has Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, as well as Dolby Atmos support, not to mention local dimming, it has a less bright standard LED backlight and is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it doesn’t have the same shadowbox design and front-firing speakers, and also lacks the new remote and useful automatic picture mode switching.
Value score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Roku Pro Series TV?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if…
Also consider...
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Roku Pro Series TV
Used the Roku Pro Series TV for a couple of weeks
Tested with TV, movies, music, and games
I used the Roku Pro Series TV regularly for a couple of weeks with TV, movies, music, and games. I tested the various features to see if they work as advertised. I also spent time listening to the audio as well as paying attention to the picture quality.
After spending some time with this TV, it’s my humble opinion that this TV is ideal for two sets of people. The first is people who want a premium TV in a big, but not gigantic size, and therefore don’t want to spend too much. The second are those that hate the way most wall-mounted TVs look.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
The Samsung QN85D is a solid, mid-range mini-LED TV that offers good performance for both gaming and movies. It isn't perfect and doesn’t provide the same value as other mini-LED sets such as the Hisense U7N, one of the best TVs in the budget range, but there are things to like about the QN85D.
The NQ4 Gen2 AI processor used by the Samsung QN85D is the same one you’ll find in the Samsung S95D, one of the best OLED TVs, and it provides AI-driven features for picture, sound and gaming, with Real Depth Enhancer serving as the highlight.
Picture quality is a mixed bag on the QN85D. Textures and details are accurate, crisp and refined from nearly every source and colors are bold and vibrant yet natural and true-to-life. Black levels and contrast are solid for the most part though occasional backlight blooming can make blacks take on a grayer tone. Motion handling is good during movies but less so during sports. Although performance is mixed, the QN85D’s picture still makes it a solid mini-LED contender.
Audio quality is also a mixed bag on the QN85D. It has solid, hefty bass, clear enough dialogue and Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite for excellent sound placement that follows the onscreen action. However, its Dolby Atmos and virtual surround placement is limited by the 2.2-channel, 40W built-in speakers. It may be fine for some, but it's worth considering one of the best soundbars to boost the QN85D’s sound.
The QN85D’s design is simple and solid. It’s reassuringly weighty with a well-built rear panel and a burnished metal frame that feels sturdy. It has a trim profile with a slim bezel around three sides of the screen that allows the picture to take center stage. The stand, in contrast, is a little cheap, matching what you would find on a much cheaper TV.
Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform is used on the QN85D, and its neatened-up home menu doesn’t bombard with recommendations like it did in the past. It provides access to all the major apps and is easy enough to navigate thanks to its separate hubs for Home, Game, Daily+ and Ambient. Picture settings are on offer for those who like to experiment, though not so much on the sound front.
Gaming is one area where the QN85D thrives. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz and VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and the Gaming Hub collates everything gaming into one easy-to-find and use place. Graphics and gaming performance are also top-notch, putting the QN85D alongside the best gaming TVs.
Value is a tough obstacle for the QN85D as it competes with similarly equipped but cheaper mini-LED TV options. While it may top budget TVs in some areas and offers great features and performance for the money, it ultimately can't compete with budget options such as the Hisense U7N and TCL QM851G on the value front.
The Samsung QN85D suffers from reflections, but its brightness does a serviceable job of reducing them (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Prices & release date
Release date: April 2024
55-inch: $1,399 / £1,599 / AU$2,499
65-inch: $1,999 / £2,399 / AU$2,999
75-inch: $2,599 / £3,099 / AU$3,999
85-inch: $3,699 / £4,099 / AU$5,499
The Samsung QN85D is the entry-level model in Samsung’s 2024 Neo QLED (mini-LED) range. It is available in 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch sizes and sits below the Samsung QN90D and Samsung QN95D (the latter only available in the UK).
Since its release in April 2024, prices for the QN85D have fallen across the board in every size and nearly every region. The 65-inch model I tested has already seen its price fall to $1,599 and £1,899 in the US and UK respectively. Prices in Australia have remained the same.
Samsung QN85D review: Specs
Samsung QN85D review: Benchmark results
The Samsung QN85D's Daily+ hub screen (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Features
NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor
HDR10+ HDR support
Four HDMI 2.1 ports and Samsung Gaming hub
The Samsung QN85D’s mini-LED backlight provides superior local dimming and contrast over standard LED sets. Its NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor is the same one in more premium models such as the Samsung QN90D and even Samsung's flagship OLED, the S95D. This processor enables AI features such as Real Depth Enhancer Pro, Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite, AI Sound and more.
Like all Samsung TVs, the Samsung QN85D supports the HDR10+ HDR format but not Dolby Vision.
The QN85D is well-stocked with gaming features. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HGiG and ALLM. It also features Samsung’s Gaming Hub with cloud gaming apps such as Xbox, Luna, and Nvidia GeForce Now.
The QN85D’s audio is provided by a 2.2-channel, 40W speaker array that supports Dolby Atmos. It also features ‘360 Audio’ and OTS Lite for surround sound, as well AI sound features such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Adaptive Sound Pro, both of which are designed to enhance and adapt dialogue and sound based on the viewing environment.
Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform provides separate hubs for categories including the previously mentioned Gaming Hub, Ambient Hub for displaying artworks and Samsung Daily+ for lifestyle apps such as Samsung Health and office-based apps. Tizen provides access to Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video and more. For UK viewers it’s worth noting that live TV management is not provided by Freeview Play or Freely but rather Samsung’s own TV Plus, though there is still access to major UK apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Features score: 4.5 / 5
The Samsung QN85D's natural colors are one of its biggest strengths (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Picture quality
Natural and detailed textures
Bold, vibrant colors
Some backlight blooming
Measurements taken on a 10% white HDR window yielded 878 and 1,026 nits in Standard and Filmmaker Mode respectively. While those are decent brightness results, they're similar to the Samsung Q80D, a QLED TV that uses a standard LED backlight. For context, a premium mini-LED such as the Sony Bravia 9 yielded results of 2,280 and 1,871 nits in Standard and Filmmaker Mode respectively when we measured it.
The QN85D demonstrated good full-screen HDR brightness, clocking in at 696 and 635 nits in Standard and Filmmaker modes respectively. That brightness level is useful for daytime viewing and is almost double what you would get on OLED models such as the LG C4.
When measuring the QN85D’s UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 93 and 69.1%. While those aren't the best results we’ve seen, they are still solid enough numbers.
It's time to move from numbers to real-world viewing. Starting with broadcast TV, the QN85D did an effective job upscaling pictures to 4K, although textures looked a little soft in some TV shows.
Moving onto 4K, I started by viewing The Batman to test black levels and local dimming. While blacks had a slightly gray tone overall, they were still suitably dark for an entry-level mini-LED TV. The QN85D also demonstrated impressive backlight control when viewed front-on, showing a good contrast range between the darker tones of the hallway and the brightness of the lamps in the opening crime scene. The QN85D’s excellent detail was also on show in this scene, with clothing and other objects taking on a natural look.
Viewing the same scene in dark conditions, the QN85D’s backlight struggled a bit more, showing some minor blooming and a gray wash in the blacks. Its performance here was still noticeably better than what you’ll see on standard LED sets, however.
Colors on the QN85D were bold, vibrant and lifelike. Watching the throne room fight scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus, the reds of the lightsabers were punchy and vivid but still maintained a natural and not overblown appearance. In the opening scene of La La Land, bright green, yellow, red and blue outfits worn by the dancers displayed dynamic yet natural hues. When measuring the QN85D’s color accuracy, it gave a result of 1.75 (we typically look for a margin of error below 3) which is a great result and shows why the QN85D’s colors appeared true-to-life.
The Samsung QN85D's picture is a mixed bag, but it demonstrates decent contrast (Image credit: Future)
I next watched Oppenheimer to test the QN85D’s contrast and its handling of black and white images. Overall, it demonstrated strong contrast with a good balance between whites, blacks and gray tones although black crush in some shots resulted in a loss of detail. Once again, facial features, objects and textures were realistic thanks to the TV’s Real Depth Enhancer AI feature.
To test motion, I watched Top Gun: Maverick, focusing on the opening Darkstar testing and first training missions. In Filmmaker Mode (which has no motion smoothing), the QN85D did a solid job handling the sweeping camera angles, with only minor judder to be seen on the jets careering in the air.
Watching an HD stream of a Man U v Chelsea soccer match on Prime Video, also in Filmmaker Mode, I found the motion to be a little inconsistent. The lack of motion smoothing resulted in some stuttering long side-to-side aerial shots, though adding some motion smoothing made the action look unnatural. Eventually, I set judder and blur reduction to around 2-3 and got good results.
Finally, I used the demo footage on the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray to test all elements of the QN85D’s picture. Colors on parrots and butterflies looked punchy and the textures and details were crisp. Black levels, though solid, took on a gray-ish hue, however, which was particularly noticeable in shots with large areas of shadows there was some backlight blooming, particularly when viewing off-center.
Analyzing the QN85D’s AI Picture mode (in the Intelligence Mode settings), I found that colors, while brighter, lost their natural look and brightness seemed overblown. Textures also appeared sharper but enough so that it created a ‘fake’ look.
Picture quality score: 4/5
The Samsung QN85D's built-in speakers suffer from limited soundstage, reducing the impact of movies such as La La Land(Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Sound quality
2.2-channel speaker array
Punchy bass
Limited soundstage
The QN85D features a 2.2-channel speaker array with 40W of power. Dolby Atmos is supported and there are AI features including Adaptive Sound Pro and Active Voice Amplifier. Two preset sound modes are available: Standard and Amplify, the latter of which I used for testing.
Bass on Samsung’s TV is hefty enough and has a solid weight. In both The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick, the rumble of the engines from the Batmobile and jets carried enough power to satisfy most bass fans, and provided an immersive feel. OTS Lite was effective at connecting the action to the screen, with the crunching cars, shattering glass and screeching car tires within the Batmobile chase scene all accurately placed.
Dialogue overall was clear, though I did struggle during the Batmobile chase scene to hear voices over the chaotic and bassy audio. Watching La La Land, vocals during many of the big dance numbers were crisp and easy to hear, despite the brass-heavy score throughout. The QN85D showed a good balance between instruments as well, especially with the vocals and delicate piano during the ‘Somewhere In The Crowd’ scene.
It wasn't all good news with the QN85D’s sound. Although it supports Dolby Atmos, spatial effects were rarely audible. The soundstage was also somewhat limited, with the big, theatrical soundtrack of La La Land struggling to extend beyond the confines of the screen itself.
Applying AI Sound (again found in the TV’s Intelligence Mode settings), Adaptive Sound Pro did a good job of improving balance by making the soundstage a bit wider and immersive, though this came at a great cost to bass levels.
While the QN85D’s sound is perfectly acceptable, I'd still recommend using this TV with one of the best soundbars, particularly Samsung ones with Q Symphony, a feature that combines the soundbar’s speakers with the ones built into the TV.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
The Samsung QN85D's stand (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Design
Trim profile
Solid but safe design
Samsung SolarCell remote
The QN85D has a safe, but reassuringly solid design. It feels weighty and well-constructed, with a plastic and metal rear panel. It also has a nearly bezel-less screen, a trim profile and a burnished metal frame that makes it feel more premium than budget mini-LED sets from the likes of Hisense and TCL.
The stand on the 65-inch model I tested in the UK is a gray plastic and aluminum pedestal that’s different from stands you’ll find on other sets. I found it subject to wobbling, but its smaller size means that the QN85D will fit on most TV furniture.
The supplied remote is Samsung’s eco-friendly SolarCell remote, which draws power from either a solar panel on the rear or a USB-C port on the bottom. It’s small and has a limited button count, but is sleek and modern enough that most will enjoy using it.
Design score: 4/5
The Samsung QN85D's Tizen smart TV platform offers recommendations across its home menu (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Smart TV & menus
Tizen smart TV platform
Game, Ambient, and Daily+ hubs
Plenty of settings to tweak
Like all Samsung TVs, the QN85D uses Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform. There haven’t been any upgrades made to the platform since last year aside from small improvements to make navigation and customization easier.
The Tizen home screen locates apps near the top and is divided into three sections: For You, Live and Apps. There are other hubs to choose from, including Daily+, which focuses on lifestyle apps such as health and office; Game for all things gaming including cloud-based apps; and Ambient, where you can display both static and dynamic background artworks and images.
Along with Standard, Movie, Filmmaker, and other preset picture modes, there are plenty of picture settings in the QN85D's menus for those who like to experiment. Sound settings are somewhat limited compared to other TVs, with only two preset sound modes and a limited number of settings to adjust. Tizen may be a little on the safe side, but it is a solid and serviceable smart TV platform.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
The Samsung QN85D is a great gaming performer, even with intense games such as Battlefield V(Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Gaming
Four HDMI 2.1 ports
Gaming hub
Ultra-low 10.1ms input lag
The QN85D comes with a full suite of gaming features across its four HDMI 2.1 ports, including 4K 120Hz support, ALLM, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and HGiG. It also offers cloud-based gaming from services such as Xbox, Luna, and Nvidia GeForce Now as well as live Twitch streaming in the Gaming Hub and has a Game Bar menu that lets you customize settings such as black level and virtual aiming.
The QN85D handles higher frame rate gaming at 120fps with ease, resulting in fluid gameplay. Playing Battlefield V, switching from target to target felt easy and controlled even during chaotic battle sequences, and sprinting motions never felt too fast or overwhelming. When I measured the QN85D’s input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K tester, it yielded a result of 10.1ms – well below the 15ms threshold that we look for in the best 120Hz TVs.
When gaming, the QN85D displayed the same picture quality level as it did for movies. During a desert mission, the vast surrounding sands had true-to-life color and textures. Details within the various weapons were intricate and vehicles and environments had a 3D-like quality.
Gaming score: 4.5/5
The eco-friendly Samsung SolarCell remote (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85D review: Value
Competitive mini-LED market
Decent price for performance and features
Cheaper options from Hisense and TCL
As mini-LED tech continues to grow in popularity, the market has become more crowded. Samsung’s mini-LED sets generally feel more premium than TVs from rival brands, but those rival brands are gaining.
Hisense’s ULED range is Samsung’s closest rival, with the Hisense U7N providing the main competition to the Samsung QN85D. In the US, the U7N costs nearly half as much as the QN85D, with a 65-inch model averaging $799 and a 75-inch one averaging $1,699. Although the QN85D tops the U7N in some areas, that’s a tough price gap to ignore.
Still, the QN85D’s gaming features and movie performance aren’t to be forgotten, and it’s a solid option for those who can stretch their budget a bit further.
Value score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Samsung QN85D?
Buy it if...
You want a good picture Natural textures and accurate colors mean the QN85D suits many different pictures, especially 4K HDR ones.
You want a great gaming TV The QN85D is stacked with gaming features including 4K 120Hz, VRR and a useful Gaming hub, and it performs well when gaming.
You want a solid smart TV platform Tizen may not be the perfect smart TV platform, but it does provide plenty of customization options for users.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best value mini-LED TV Mini-LED rivals such as the Hisense U7N and TCL QM815G provide a similar list of features as the QN85D for less money.
You need good viewing angles While the QN85D's viewing angles aren't bad, they are limited compared to more premium sets, revealing fading contrast and backlight blooming.
You need great built-in sound The QN85D's has decent bass, but unfortunately suffers from a limited soundstage and lacking virtual surround sound placement.
Also consider
Hisense U7N The Hisense U7N carries many similar features for gaming and performance to the QN85D for cheaper (especially in the US). It may also not be perfect, but it performs well for the money as we found in our Hisense U7N review.
TCL QM851G Offering a significant brightness upgrade and a mostly similar list of gaming features, the TCL QM851G rivals the Samsung QN85D at larger screen sizes. Overall, when performance and features are weighed up, the QM851G demonstrates better value. Here's our full TCL QM851G review.
Samsung Q80D Although it is a step down in screen tech with only a QLED panel, the Q80D is a very good TV offering excellent gaming features and top-notch performance and picture quality. The QN85D has mini-LED tech for better local dimming, but the Q80D is one to consider if you want to save money. Here's our full Samsung Q80D review.
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Samsung QN85D
Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman software
Tested using variety of SDR ad HDR sources
Tested in varying lighting conditions
My testing of the Samsung QN85D was split into two parts: subjective, using reference scenes to analyze picture and sound quality, and objective, using specialized equipment to take measurements.
After some casual viewing to establish the most accurate picture modes, in this case Filmmaker Mode, I then viewed broadcast TV in both SD and HD quality, and 4K Blu-rays and streaming services, analyzing the QN85D's picture for contrast, color, brightness, black levels, textures and details, and upscaling.
I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player for 4K Blu-ray playback, Disney Plus and Prime Video for streaming, and an Xbox Series X to test gaming performance and features.
After completing subjective viewing, I then moved on to objective testing, which involved taking measurements using specialized equipment including a test pattern generator, and colorimeter, and recording those measurements with Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software.
The measurements taken were for both SDR and HDR brightness measured in nits on white window patterns covering from 1-100% of the screen, UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color gamut coverage, and SDR color and grayscale accuracy.
Input lag was measured at 4K/60Hz using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag tester.
The Ultimea Nova S50 is pitched as a budget soundbar that can offer 'cinematic' audio from the comfort of your own home. Although this ultra-slim soundbar and subwoofer combo undoubtedly packs plenty of power for its small size, and it can definitely beat the scale of sound you get from mid-range or budget TV speakers, the sound quality on offer won’t blow you away. Considering the soundbar’s very modest price, though, it may still be worth buying.
Perhaps the biggest selling point of the Ultimea Nova S50 is that it claims to support Dolby Atmos content, implying that you will be able to experience three-dimensional, immersive sound. Let’s be realistic: given that this soundbar is available for less than $100 / £150, you’re not going to expect it to supply top-drawer expansive audio. Even with that in mind, I really couldn’t get much of a sense for the layered, positional audio you’d hope to experience from Dolby Atmos or similar technology, in part because the Ultimea Nova S50 doesn’t have upfiring or side-firing speakers – a staple of ‘true’ Dolby Atmos. But although the Nova S50’s digital processing isn’t able to emulate the sense of sitting right in the center of the mix for true Atmos feels, you’ll certainly sense more depth and dynamic range than you’d typically get from your TV’s modest drivers alone – remember, you’re receiving audio from both the soundbar and an included subwoofer with the S50.
It’s important to note that the Nova S50 has three different EQ presets – Movie, Game, and Music – and I switched between each according to the activity I engaged in. Of course, Movie mode has to cover a broad swathe of things out of those three options, so I tried watching a UEFA Euro 2024 match in it, and despite instantly being hit with powerful volume levels, I felt that crowd noise was pretty lacking in clarity and expansiveness. Furthermore, commentary wasn’t very defined in the overall mix, though it was certainly passable.
Movie mode was not grating or offensive quality-wise, and was more atmospheric than my 55-inch mid-range TV’s audio – it’s just that it failed to offer striking spatial or 'cinematic sound' – an aspect which the best soundbars typically excel in. For example, when I took a step up by testing the $399 / £299 (about AU$600) Sony HT-S2000 in comparison, I was struck by its ability to more effectively disperse sound across the width of my room.
(Image credit: Future)
Watching an episode of Cowboy Bebop on Netflix, things were largely similar. When one character stepped through a corridor area, the echo of footsteps sounded more natural and realistic than it did with TV audio, but I didn’t get the depth you’d expect from more expensive Dolby Atmos speakers. Another thing I realized when watching the show was that Movie mode was pretty noisy; with the volume set to only 3 or 4 I was getting more than enough loudness. Even with volume set to 1, the soundbar wasn’t exactly quiet, and I would’ve preferred a sound level between 0 and 1 for playing videos, movies, or shows in the background in my apartment.
Onto the second EQ preset: Game. As a pretty keen gamer, this was one of the more important modes for me. Happily, here the volume levels were far less imposing than they were in Movie mode – as a result, I felt comfortable knowing that my neighbors could get some beauty sleep if I wanted to play during unsociable hours.
When playing Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance on the PlayStation 5, the Nova S50 was responsive throughout action-packed segments and I was never troubled by latency. The subwoofer produced more powerful, fuller bass frequencies than my TV’s speakers, which complimented the game’s ambient atmosphere pretty well. However, it did sound a little muddy – something I also sensed when playing EA Sports FC 24, with commentary lacking clarity when crowd noise ramped up.
If you want a soundbar that can offer high-quality audio when listening to music, this isn’t it, unfortunately. When using the Music EQ preset, I found that the Nova S50 produced a pretty condensed sound, in which individual sonic elements were sometimes lost in a confused mix. For instance, when I played Young Blood by The Naked and Famous via Bluetooth, the line between guitars in the lower-mid frequency range and the bass was bloated, resulting in a bit of a congested, compressed-sounding output. In addition, the cymbal beat that runs through much of the track lacked definition, and more generally, the treble clarity felt impacted.
I don’t think the Nova S50 necessarily has to deliver premium musical output for the price you pay, and if you’re not too picky on sound, it may even do the job for you. All three modes confirmed that the Nova S50 won’t wow you for sound quality, but it is a competent enough performer for the money, adding a splash of ambience and depth to the home-theater experience.
(Image credit: Future)
Features-wise, the Nova S50 doesn’t set out to do anything game-changing. Other than the three EQ modes, it also has something called BassMax, which can be used to either crank up the bass or turn it down a bit. I found that the latter option was pretty handy in enabling extra clarity for vocals in the mid-range or treble, or if I didn’t want to disturb others in my building with booming low frequency sounds. I very rarely felt the need to turn BassMax up for more low end power, and when I did, it functioned well, though as expected, did come across as quite overbearing.
The Nova S50 has Bluetooth compatibility, meaning that you can connect your other devices remotely to play music or podcasts. However, there are a lot of other ways to connect your soundbar to your TV or other devices, including digital optical, aux-in, USB, and of course HDMI eARC.
It’s pleasing too, that no matter what connectivity option you’re using, setup is very straightforward. After unboxing the Nova S50, all I had to do was connect an AC adapter to the subwoofer, and then use a (mercifully very long) audio cable to link that to the soundbar itself, which was wired to my TV via HDMI eARC. The Nova S50 also includes a wall-mounting kit that’s easy to install thanks to clear setup instructions.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to usability, the Nova S50 performs well too. It comes with a remote (without AAA batteries included), which is pretty responsive and has clear, well-sized button controls. There are individual buttons to switch between the three EQ presets, turn BassMax levels up or down, and switch between connectivity options. The remote is well-sized and has a pretty clean design too.
Using HDMI eARC, I was also able to use my standard TV remote to adjust the soundbar’s volume levels, but beware – you’ll still need to use the included controller to switch between EQ presets and adjust BassMax levels. More generally the Nova S50 is a decent-looking product, with both the soundbar itself and the subwoofer being pretty compact. Both are enclosed in relatively cheap-looking (and feeling) plastic, but for the price you pay, this is to be expected.
All in all, what you see is what you get with the Ultimea Nova S50. Yes, it has a very low price, and in turn, you’re not going to experience game-changing audio quality or hear Dolby Atmos in its full-fledged glory. What you do get, though, is a pretty powerful mini soundbar and subwoofer that will offer adequate sound with plenty of connectivity options to boot.
If the lack of expansive audio doesn’t bother you too much, the Nova S50 could be a solid choice, but if you want stronger room-filling sound without having to break the bank, it may be worth checking out alternatives in the budget section of our best Dolby Atmos soundbars and speakers guide instead.
(Image credit: Future)
Ultimea Nova S50 review: Price and release date
Currently priced at $99.00 / £139.99 (about AU$150)
Launched on July 25, 2023
Yes, you’re reading that correctly, you can pick up the Nova S50 for less than $100. That’s much cheaper than the vast majority of budget soundbars out there, and the inclusion of a subwoofer makes the cost even more impressive. It’s worth noting that the product’s original list price was $219.99 / £219.99 (about AU$330), but it’s not being sold for anywhere near this much across the vast majority of online retailers.
Ultimea Nova S50 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Ultimea Nova S50?
Buy it if...
You’re a little low on space If you’re not working with a lot of room for audio equipment then fear not – the Ultimea Nova S50 has you covered. The soundbar itself is particularly diminutive at just 15.7 x 1.5 x 3.0 inches / 400 x 38 x 76mm and even the subwoofer can be easily tucked away in smaller rooms.
You want an easy-to-use plug-and-play soundbar It doesn’t get much more straightforward than the Nova S50 when it comes to setup and usability. It will likely only take a total of about five minutes to get the soundbar and subwoofer out of the box and plugged in. The remote is also simple and easy to navigate, and there’s a simple wall-mounting kit that you can use if you’d like.
Don't buy it if...
You’re in the market for strong audio quality The Nova S50 doesn’t sound very impressive in any of its three EQ modes. If you want to be wowed by beautiful treble, rich mids and controlled bass, you’ll need to look elsewhere. As a result, it’s not an ideal option if you’re mainly going to use this to play music with muddied audio causing sonic details to get lost.
You want the true Dolby Atmos experience The Nova S50 doesn’t have upfiring speakers and its digital processing doesn’t give much of an impression of additional height or expansiveness. If you want ‘true’ Atmos, you’ll be best served by a soundbar with upfiring speakers, but there are budget options without this that can produce great results too, such as the Sony HT-S2000, which has dropped to as low as £299 in the UK, though is more like $399 in the US.
Ultimea Nova S50: Also consider
Roku Streambar The Roku Streambar will provide a step up from standalone TV audio without setting you back too far financially. There’s no subwoofer included, which might be better for you if you have very limited space – but you can purchase a Roku Wireless subwoofer to pair with it if you’d prefer. The soundbar has Roku streaming built in too, enabling you to watch your favorite TV shows and movies in 4K quality. Read our full Roku Streambar review.
Yamaha SR-C30A At a glance, you may think the Yamaha SR-C30A is far too expensive to be pitted against the Ultimea Nova S50. And although its list price is considerably higher, the soundbar often holds a far lower price tag in the UK and Australia, coming in at less than £200 / AU$300 with certain online retailers. This is an impressive budget soundbar which comes with a wireless subwoofer and boasts strong full-range audio. It doesn’t have Dolby Atmos support and it’s larger than the Ultimea and Roku alternatives, but if you’re working with more space, it's worth checking out. Read our full Yamaha SR-C30A review for more.
Ultimea Nova S50 review: How I tested
Tested over the course of a week
Connected to my Hisense U7K TV at home
Predominantly used the HDMI eARC connectivity option
I tested the Ultimea Nova S50 at home across the span of a week. I used the HDMI eARC connectivity option to connect the soundbar and subwoofer to my Hisense U7K TV.
In order to judge audio across the three main presets, I watched a variety of TV shows, videos and movies across streaming services, including Netflix and YouTube, among others. I also played multiple video games on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch consoles, and I listened to music from the TechRadar testing playlist on Spotify when connecting my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 to the Nova S50 via Bluetooth.
The Samsung Q80D is a reasonably priced TV that inevitably loses the company’s most cutting-edge tech but still has more to offer than most other mid-range TVs in its class. That’s good news because, although Samsung’s various 8K, Quantum Dot OLED and Mini LED TVs for 2024 are undoubtedly impressive and rank among the best TVs, their lofty prices make them merely the stuff of dreams for many households.
The well-built bodywork on the Samsung Q80D plays host to a contrast-friendly VA LCD panel illuminated by LEDs placed directly behind the screen and controlled by Samsung’s powerful Neo Quantum 4 Gen 2 processor driving an impressive local dimming system. This engine also delivers exemplary 4K upscaling and contributes to much richer colours and far greater sharpness and detail than you might reasonably expect with a mid-range TV.
The Q80D’s audio, meanwhile, actually outperforms some of Samsung’s more premium TV options, while smart features are provided by the content-heavy (including a dedicated Gaming Hub) Tizen OS platform.
Pictures need a little attention to get the best from the Q80D, but that best is well worth the effort for gamers as well as movie and TV fans.
The Samsung Q80D's SolarCell (top) and regular (bottom) remote controls (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Price and release date
Release date: February 2024
QE50Q80D: £1,099 / $999 (around AU$1,500)
QE55Q80D: £1,399 / $1,199 (around AU$1,800)
QE65Q80D: £1,799 / $1,599 (around AU$2,400)
QE75Q80D: £2,499 / $2,199 (around AU$3,300)
QE85Q80D: £2,999 / $3,299 (around AU$5,00)
The 55-inch Samsung Q80D I tested launched in June 2024 in multiple territories around the world. In the UK it’s already been discounted for £1,199 at the time of writing, and its price has dropped $100 in the US for an asking price of $1,099. The Q80D range, which is available in 50 to 80-inch screen sizes, is not currently being shown as available or coming soon for the Australian market.
The UK and US prices both confirm the Q80D as sitting at the top of the relatively basic half of Samsung’s 2024 TV range. By which I mean that it’s the most premium Samsung TV you can buy this year before you get into the much higher prices demanded by Samsung’s top-tier TV technologies. This positioning potentially makes it a great option for anyone wanting to get (hopefully) plenty of Samsung’s trademark LCD picture quality for much less money than those premium technologies require.
Samsung Q80D TV review: Specs
Samsung Q80D TV review: Benchmark results
The Q80D's side-mounted connections include four HDMI 2.1 ports (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Features
4K FALD VA LCD TV
HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ support
Full gaming features across all HDMIs
The Q80D’s position in Samsung’s range means that it gets a 4K resolution rather than an 8K one, uses regular-sized LED lights rather than mini LEDs, and isn’t a Quantum Dot OLED. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t still have anything to get excited about, though.
For starters, it deploys its regular LEDs within a FALD (full array with local dimming) lighting system. This means the LEDs are placed directly behind the screen rather than around its edges, and are divided into what I counted to be 100 (10x10) separately controllable zones. The idea behind this being to enhance the TV’s contrast by allowing different parts of the picture to receive different amounts of light at any given moment depending on the ever-changing needs of the picture.
There are TVs out there these days with far more than 100 dimming zones. Experience has shown, though, that while a high dimming zone count is a good starting point, ultimately it’s not so much how many zones you have as what you do with them that counts.
The Q80D’s panel is a VA rather than IPS type, meaning its pictures may lose a bit of contrast when viewed from an angle but should deliver much better contrast when viewed head-on. Those expectations I will naturally be checking up on in the course of this review.
Driving the Q80D’s lighting engine, 4K upscaling, colour management, motion processing, noise reduction and all the other picture features the TV boasts is the second generation of Samsung’s Neo Quantum 4 processor. This, impressively, is the same processor that’s used on Samsung’s flagship 4K mini LED TVs for 2024, the Samsung QN95D range.
As you might guess from the use of Quantum in the Q80D’s processor name, the set’s colours are created by Quantum Dots. Quantum Dots handle high brightness better than traditional RGB filters, enabling TVs to achieve the bigger colour volumes needed to do justice to HDR footage.
Talking of HDR, the Q80D can handle the HDR10, HLG and premium HDR10+ formats, the latter of which adds extra scene-by-scene metadata to the feed to help TVs produce more accurate and dynamic results. Samsung continues, though, not to support the Dolby Vision premium HDR format; anything encoded in Dolby Vision will drop down to its generic HDR10 ‘layer’ (minus Dolby Vision’s extra scene-by-scene data).
As you would expect of even a mid-range Samsung TV these days, the Q80D is equipped with all the tools necessary to have it professionally calibrated. You can even have a go at this yourself thanks to the TV’s Smart Calibration system, which can perform a surprisingly effective auto calibration with no other external kit required than a recent and sufficiently high-quality mobile phone.
The Q80D carries an excellent roster of connections for a mid-range TV, including, most importantly, four HDMI ports able to handle the latest gaming features. (I’ll come back to this in the dedicated gaming section.) One of the HDMIs is also equipped with eARC functionality, to pass lossless Dolby Atmos audio tracks to soundbars and AVRs, while elsewhere there are two USB ports, an Ethernet port, an RF port, a digital optical audio output, and the now ubiquitous Bluetooth (including headphones) and Wi-Fi support.
Features Score: 4.5/5
The Samsung Q80D's picture can lose some contrast and color saturation when viewed from off-center seats (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Picture quality
Great black levels and contrast
Vibrant colours
Sharp 4K and HD pictures
The Samsung QE55Q80D immediately addressed my biggest pre-testing concern about its picture quality by delivering an outstanding contrast performance, combining more brightness with deeper, more natural, and more consistent black levels than any other LCD TV I can think of in its class.
The brightness strikes you in two ways. First, the brightest bits of HDR images have a real intensity to them – and for the most part, this intensity doesn’t come at the expense of subtle toning and details in those extreme areas. Second, the screen retains markedly more intensity with bright HDR images that flood the whole screen than most other mid-range TVs. In fact, while more expensive OLED TVs can look more intense still with small light peaks, especially when those peaks appear against dark backdrops, not even the brightest current OLED can get as bright with a full-screen HDR light show as the Q80D.
Measurements confirmed out-of-the-box peak brightness of just over 1,000 nits using 10% and 25% HDR windows – though thanks to the way the local dimming system works, the highest measurements on the 10% window were achieved in Movie and Filmmaker modes, while with the 25% window the highest measurements came with the Standard and (rather over-aggressive) Dynamic picture presets.
On a 100% HDR window, the 55-inch Q80D peaked at just under 700 nits in Standard and Dynamic mode, or around 600 nits in the Movie and Filmmaker Mode presets.
Samsung’s more advanced LCD TVs can, of course, get significantly brighter still than the Q80D. By general mid-range LCD TV standards, though, 1,000 nits is a very good effort. Especially when allied with those inky black levels I mentioned.
Dark scenes really do look fantastically convincing for the most part. The lack of any substantive blue, green or grey wash over areas of the picture that should be black is an awesome find at this level of the TV market. The amount of shadow detail the set reveals, especially in its Movie and Filmmaker Mode presets, is also excellent for such a contrast-rich FALD TV.
Even better, the local dimming system that’s largely responsible for this black level depth works its magic while throwing up impressively few backlight blooming or clouding issues. Even where something like a torch or streetlight shines out against a night sky there’s only the faintest hint of extraneous light leaching into the surrounding darkness.
If you’re watching an HDR film with black borders above and below it in a very dark room you can occasionally see a faint patch of greyness creep into the borders where a particularly bright part of the image appears right up against them. Even in these quite extreme circumstances, though, these slight ‘blooms’ are very faint for such a punchy mid-range TV.
The Q80D also proves actually more subtle than its brighter Samsung LCD siblings in a couple of areas – at least in its agreeably eye-catching Standard preset. You’re much less likely to see the TV sharply adjust its general brightness level during abrupt cuts between dark and bright shots, and bright highlights of mostly dark images don’t tend to dim down as much to prevent blooming artefacts.
I’m not saying the Q80D is totally immune to either of these occasional and short-lived backlight adjustment inconsistencies, but they’re certainly both less common and less aggressively obvious than they have been on some previous Samsung TVs I’ve reviewed.
(Image credit: Future)
Samsung TVs have long tended to thrive on 4K diets, and so it proves again with the Q80D. Native 4K sources look truly pin sharp – breathtakingly so with the best quality sources. Classic 4K showcase minutiae like the weave in clothing, facial pores, individual strands of hair, individual blades of grass in a meadow or grains of sand on a beach are all starkly obvious. As is the enhanced sense of depth associated with a high-resolution screen being able to deliver a more defined draw distance.
All of this is being delivered on a 55-inch screen, remember – hardly the biggest showcase for 4K’s charms by today’s standards. But the difference all those pixels make is plain as day. The Neo Quantum 4 Gen 2 processor proves so good at upconverting HD sources into 4K, too, that the Q80D’s 4K talents remain clear even when you’re not watching a true 4K source.
The Q80D’s colour performance is also (predictably at this point) very good by mid-range TV standards after a touch of tweaking - though it does also give us one of the TV’s main out of the box weaknesses.
At first glance, all seems well. Tones in all modes (though especially the daft Dynamic and very watchable Standard presets) enjoy bold saturations that aren’t in the least bit thinned out by the screen’s high brightness, while the more accurate Movie and Filmmaker Mode settings tone things down for a more balanced, ‘accurate’ look without, still, looking in the least bit thin or muted.
Fine blends are handled without striping, coarseness or blockiness, too, helping colours play their part in creating the image’s three-dimensional feel.
The issue that you gradually start to notice is a slightly artificial pinkish tone creeping into skin tones and some really bright parts of HDR pictures. This is particularly noticeable in the Dynamic and Standard presets, but it’s also slightly present with the more accurate Movie and even Filmmaker Modes.
Our SDR Colour Checker tests using Portrait Displays’ Calman software, C6 meter and G1 pattern generator confirmed this colour issue to some extent, as while the set registered an excellent overall Delta Error 2000 (Delta-E) figure of under three, the consistently largest colour errors came with tones most likely to be found with skin tones and peak whites. Fortunately, running the Q80D’s Smart Calibration feature can improve this problem, as can nudging the TV’s Tint control a couple of points towards green.
Another smallish sign of the Q80D’s mid-range rather than premium Samsung nature is the way the backlight blooming that the set handles so well when viewing it head-on can become quite a bit more noticeable if you have to watch the TV from more than 30 degrees or so off-axis.
Samsung’s default motion processing options for its Standard picture mode also deliver their usual heavy handed mix with 24p services of overly aggressive smoothing and messy processing side effects. So you’ll need to head into the Picture Clarity settings and either turn all motion processing off or, if you find the resulting judder too jarring, establish a Custom mode with blur and judder reduction both set below halfway (I’ll leave it to you to choose the exact settings according to your tastes).
The crucial thing about the Q80D’s main flaws, though, is that all of them, even the colour one, can be avoided or at least improved with a little manual intervention.
Picture quality score: 4.5/5
The Q80D's substantial bodywork helps with its sonics (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Sound quality
Large soundstage
Good Dolby Atmos staging
Plenty of well-placed detailing
Experience suggests that the Q80D’s substantial bodywork relative to some of Samsung’s slimmest TV options could be helpful to the set’s sonics. And so, happily, it proves.
Two strengths in particular jump out. First, there’s hardly any of the buzzing, phutting or drop-out distortions when handling bass that I’ve experienced with some Samsung models. And that’s despite bass reaching quite deep and being more readily involved in the audio presentation than it is with many mid-range TVs.
Also strong by mid-range TV standards is the scale of the Q80D’s soundstage. With Dolby Atmos sources in particular, sound mix elements that aren’t directly connected to the onscreen action, such as the score or ambient effects, appear well beyond the TV’s left and right sides without starting to sound thin or incoherent. This draws you into the action and leaves the more central areas of the sound stage with more room to handle more specific sound elements such as dialogue and separate object sound details.
Dialogue appears decently rounded without losing clarity, and the speakers are subtle enough to bring out even the smallest, most quiet effects. High trebles typically don’t sound gratingly harsh, either, and the ‘Lite’ version of Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound system does a decent job of making effects seem as if they’re appearing from the right part of the screen.
The Q80D doesn’t get as loud as some home cinema fans might wish, and the OTS system doesn’t deliver effects as accurately as the more premium versions of the technology you get on Samsung’s high-end TVs, especially when it comes to voices. Overall, though, the Q80D is one of the best-sounding TVs in Samsung’s 2024 range, and a strong general competitor to other examples of the best TVs for sound.
Sound quality score: 4.5/5
Samsung's aluminum pedestal stand for the Q80D (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Design
Centrally attached pedestal desktop stand
Not one of Samsung’s super-thin designs
Impressive build quality
Despite not boasting the ultra-thin, futuristic looks of the ‘Infinity’ design applied to Samsung’s high-end TVs, the Q80D still makes an attractive addition to your living space. The silver metallic finish of both its plate-style desktop stand and screen frame/edges looks striking, and is elevated by some impressive build quality by mid-range TV standards.
Neither the frame nor the set’s rear panel are spectacularly thin by modern TV build standards. But that’s not to say the frame doesn’t still look and feel premium, and given that we all spend our lives looking at the front of our TVs rather than the back, I’d rather a FALD TV like the Q80D be given the room for its light system to work properly rather than potentially hurting image quality by trying to make the rear super-thin.
It’s worth pointing out, too, that there are channels on the Q80D’s rear to help keep your cables tidy, and that you can call up photos, videos or even artwork onto the set’s screen rather than having to be left with a big black rectangle in your room when you’re not actually watching TV.
Design score: 4/5
The Q80D's Tizen smart TV interface (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Smart TV and menus
Tizen OS carries lots of content
No Freeview Play in the UK
Excellent Gaming Hub feature
The Q80D’s smart features are provided by the brand’s own Tizen OS (also sometimes known as ‘Eden’). This system has undergone extensive changes over the past few years, in particular shifting from a compact interface super-imposed over whatever you’re watching to a full-screen OS.
I still find aspects of the full-screen OS a little daunting in their presentation, and illogical in their navigation. The latest version sported by the Q80D continues to refine things in the right direction, though – especially when it comes to deciding what sort of content is relevant to you (based on analysis of your viewing habits) to highlight on its home screen.
A generally high content level is provided on the Tizen OS, including all the video streaming apps most viewers will ever need. The only exception is that there’s no support for the UK’s Freeview Play system, which brings together all the UK’s main terrestrial broadcaster catch-up apps.
You can control the Q80D to an impressively deep level using just voice commands if you’re okay with talking to your TV, and, finally, there are a couple of great resources for gamers with the Gaming Hub and Game Bar, which I’ll cover in more detail in the next section.
Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5
The Samsung Gaming Hub interface lets you easily access connected consoles and cloud-based gaming services (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Gaming
4K 120Hz and VRR support
All four HDMIs support all gaming features
Gaming Hub and Game Bar menu
Along with being a fine TV, the Q80D is an outstanding gaming monitor. For starters, all four of its HDMI ports can handle 4K 120Hz signals delivered by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles and premium PC graphics cards – the set doesn’t limit you to just two 4K 120Hz HDMIs like many rival TVs do.
All the HDMIs also support variable refresh rates (including the AMD FreeSync Premium format) and auto game mode switching, and when running in its Game mode input lag drops to an outstandingly low 9.8ms.
The Gaming Hub I mentioned in the previous section is a dedicated screen in the Tizen OS that brings together all your gaming sources, from streamed platforms like NVidia GeForce to connected consoles and PCs. The Game Bar, meanwhile, is an onscreen menu you can call up when gaming that provides at-a-glance details about the graphics feed and quick access to specific gaming features. These include mini-map magnification, a super-imposed crosshair, the option to sacrifice a little response time in return for smoother panning in low frame rate games, and the ability to raise the brightness of just the dark parts of a game to make it easier to spot enemies.
Gaming score: 5/5
The substantial Samsung Q80D seen from the rear (Image credit: Future)
Samsung Q80D TV review: Value
Samsung’s cheapest non-mini-LED or OLED TV
Impressive gaming features for its money
Picture and sound quality both above par for a mid-range TV
In many ways, the Q80D feels like a premium Samsung TV from three or four years ago – which is actually a pretty big compliment. Its FALD LCD display delivers much better all-around pictures than we usually find in the mid-range TV world, and they’re backed up by more than respectable sonics too.
It also ticks more feature boxes than I might have expected of a mid-range TV in terms of its core panel technologies, gaming support and its expansive and unusually intelligent smart TV system.
Value score: 4.5/5
One of many abstract images available in the Samsung Q80D's Ambient mode (Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Samsung Q80D TV?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if…
Also consider...
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Samsung Q80D TV
Tested over 12 days
Tested with 4K Blu-rays, multiple streaming platforms and resolutions, Freeview HD broadcasts, and HD Blu-rays
Reviewed in both dark and light dedicated test room conditions, and a regular (corner position) living room set up
As a mid-range TV, my starting point with the 55-inch Samsung Q80D was trying to home in on some of the basic qualities of its panel. So I measured its brightness using an HDR window test from the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc measured with a professional light meter, and also fed the screen various real-world scenes, such as the early party in the mansion sequence in Babylon on 4K Blu-ray, that feature lots of bright highlights against dark backgrounds. This gave me a feel for how good the set’s backlight controls and viewing angles are.
I also used a test screen featuring a small white square tracking around the outsides of the image to count the number of dimming zones the 55-inch Q80D carries.
From here on in, for the ‘test results’ part of my analysis I used Portrait Displays’ Calman Ultimate software, together with the same company’s C6 light meter and G1 pattern generator.
For regular viewing tests, I watched all sorts of content, from HD SDR broadcasts via a Sky Q box to HD SDR streams, 4K SDR streams and 4K HDR streams from a selection of the main streaming platforms.
For more consistently dependable results, I also watched several 4K Blu-ray films that I regularly use for TV testing, such as Babylon, Pan, It Chapter One, and Blade Runner 2049. I also watched these sources in a variety of room conditions, from a blacked-out test room to a sun-drenched living room.
Gaming was tested using both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X, with a Leo Bodnar input lag meter used to measure input lag.
The Hisense U7N is a budget to mid-range mini-LED TV that delivers much for your money. It covers all the bases and performs well for gaming and movies, making it a versatile TV choice.
Picture quality on the Hisense U7N is generally good with whatever is thrown its way. Colors are vivid and punchy, black levels and contrast are rich and details and textures are as refined as on more premium TVs. Motion handling can be a little inconsistent, but fast-paced sources such as sport are generally well-handled. There is backlight blooming and you’ll have to do some tweaking to get the most accurate picture, but the U7N is still an overall great performer, even if it doesn’t beat the best TVs.
the U7N's sound quality isn’t the most impressive, with a limited soundstage and surround effects that are extremely difficult to hear despite Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. But, the U7N provides clear dialogue and meaty bass, along with directional sound that closely follows the picture on the screen. Its performance may be good enough for some, but one of the best soundbars is recommended.
The U7N is well-equipped for gaming, with features including 4K 120Hz, 144Hz support for PC gaming, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and Dolby Vision gaming. Performance is impressive, with smooth gameplay and crisp graphics. The only drawback is the TV’s two HDMI 2.1 ports as opposed to the four we typically expect from the best gaming TVs.
The Hisense U7N’s design and VIDAA smart TV platform (Google TV in the US) are on the plain side, but both are serviceable and functional. There are plenty of picture settings to experiment with – a good thing because the U7N requires adjustment for best performance. It also features the live TV streaming service Freely, which is a breath of fresh air for UK viewers.
It may not be the ultimate TV, but the U7N is the epitome of a high-value TV – more so in the US and Australia since UK prices are higher. Compared to rivals, the U7N's smart and gaming features and picture performance make it a bargain.
The Hisense U7N great contrast makes dusk and night scenes look good (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Prices & release date
Release date: April 2024
55-inch price: $799 / £1,299 / AU$1,599
65-inch price: $999 / £1,599 / AU$2,299
75-inch price: $1,499 / £1,899 / AU$2,999
85-inch price: $2,030 / £2,799 / AU$3,999
The Hisense U7N is the mid-range model in its mini-LED TV lineup, sitting above the U6N and below the U8N, flagship U9N and massive UX (sized at 98- and 100-inch) models. It comes in 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch sizes, though it’s worth noting the 85-inch model is not available in the UK.
We’re already seeing huge discounts on the U7N only a couple of months after release, particularly in the US where you can buy the 65-inch model (the size we tested) for $799. Whether this discount is permanent is unclear, but it’s likely the U7N will receive big discounts around Black Friday.
Hisense U7N review: Specs
Hisense U7N review: Benchmark results
The Hisense U7N's bold colors make it look more premium than its price would indicate (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Features
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range support
144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision gaming
VIDAA/Google TV smart TV platform
The U7N uses what Hisense calls ‘Mini-LED PRO’, which is mini-LED tech combined with full-array local dimming. It supports the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced certified.
For gaming, the U7N has two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz (with up to 144Hz refresh rate), VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia GSync, ALLM, and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ gaming. It also features Hisense’s Game Bar, which can adjust gaming settings such as Dark Detail.
The U7N has a 2.1-channel speaker array and supports both the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtrack formats. It features several different preset sound modes including Standard and Movie plus an Enhanced (ACR) mode that uses viewing data (with permission) to enhance sound based on your viewing habits.
Two different smart TV platforms are used for the Hisense U7N: Google TV in the US and Hisense’s own VIDAA platform in the UK. Both have access to all the major apps including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. In the UK, the U7N hosts Freely, a live TV streaming service backed by BBC, ITV and Channels 4 and 5, which enables live TV viewing without an aerial or satellite dish. Freely is also where UK viewers can find BBC iPlayer, ITVX and other UK-based catch-up services. In the US, the U7N features an ATSC 3.0 tuner for broadcast TV.
The U7N’s design is on the basic side, with a black, plastic central stand attached to two metal feet on the 65-inch model I tested. Materials-wise, it has a silver-toned metal frame with a trim, but slightly deep bezel. It also has a slim, black remote that can be charged using its front solar panel or USB-C port.
Features score: 4.5/5
The Hisense U7N has refined textures and detail (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Picture quality
Bold, colorful picture
Well-defined details and textures
Picture requires adjustment
Starting off with measurements, the U7N in its default Standard and Filmmaker Mode settings yielded peak brightness results of 807 nits and 1074 nits, respectively, on a 10% HDR white window test pattern. Those numbers are lower than what we’ve measured from more premium mini-LEDs such as the Sony Bravia 9, which hit 2,280 nits peak HDR brightness in Standard mode.
I did find that some adjustments improved brightness – setting Local Dimming to High and turning off Dynamic Contrast, for instance. With those settings, the U7N measured 1,256 nits in Standard mode.
This was a common theme with the U7N – some picture settings needed to be adjusted to improve its performance. Before conducting my subjective tests, I found setting Local Dimming to High added more detail and contrast, and turning off Super Resolution removed the U7N’s oversharpened look, which it even displayed in Filmmaker Mode.
After cycling through different picture presets, I established that Filmmaker Mode was the most accurate, but the brighter Standard mode better suited some TV shows and movies.
When watching broadcast TV, lower-resolution TV shows had fuzzy textures. HD pictures, on the other hand, looked good, with solid color and detail. One thing to note for UK viewers, lower-resolution TV shows streamed through Freely actually improved picture quality over broadcast TV, giving them a similar look to HD.
Moving onto 4K, I first streamed Star Wars: The Last Jedi in Dolby Vision on Disney Plus. This activated the set's Dolby Vision picture modes, including Dolby Vision IQ. Colors were bold but natural, with the throne room fight scene featuring vivid, though not oversaturated reds. HDR highlights including lasers from blasters and other lightsabers also had a dazzling sheen.
The Hisense U7N’s strong color performance was confirmed by my measurements of its UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color gamut coverage, which was 95.5% and 75.4% respectively – both excellent results for a budget mini-LED TV. Color accuracy measurements 1.75, another fantastic result.
I next watched the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray’s demo footage section. The U7N looked very good across the board, showing dynamic and vibrant colors in bright landscapes and animal shots, and excellent black depth when full black backgrounds were displayed. Contrast was also excellent in a shot of bright white city lights against a night sky. Details and textures looked accurate and refined, although they were not as good as what I’d seen on more premium mini-LED sets such as the Sony X95L.
The Hisense U7N has very good contrast (Image credit: Future)
I next watched The Batman (also in Dolby Vision), a disc I find to be a great test for black levels and shadow detail. The U7N demonstrated good backlight control, with only minimal blooming in a scene where Batman walks down a dim hallway illuminated by bright lamps.
Black levels and contrast were rich with brilliant shadow detail in the opening crime scene investigation, though there was some black crush before I set Local Dimming to High. After that, facial features and objects such as Batman’s intricate suit looked true-to-life and realistic.
For motion testing, I used a combination of movies on 4K Blu-ray and sports. Beginning with an HD stream of a soccer game, the U7N did a credible job, though setting the motion preset to Standard or Smooth allowed the match to flow better and greatly reduced motion blur.
Watching Top Gun: Maverick’s opening Darkstar testing sequence and training mission, the U7N did a decent job handling the fast panning camera sequences and weaving jets, though there was occasional judder. Also, viewing the race in Ready Player One, the U7N did a good job handling the chaotic action and free-flowing camera, again with only minimal judder.
While I was impressed with the U7N’s picture, I noted contrast fade and more obvious backlight blooming when viewing off-axis. Also, while some of its preset modes, such as Filmmaker, are good, others require a lot more tweaking. Frustratingly, the Dolby Vision IQ preset sets motion smoothing to the overly aggressive Standard setting, making adjustments necessary.
The Hisense U7N isn’t going to beat the likes of the OLED-rivalling Sony Bravia 9 anytime soon, but for what you pay, the picture punches above its weight.
Picture quality score: 4/5
The Hisense U7N's sound quality was credible, but limited with movies such as La La Land(Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Sound quality
Clear dialogue
Good directional sound
Lacking soundstage and virtual surround
With a 2.1-channel speaker array totaling 40W of power, the Hisense U7N can’t rival the best TVs for sound such as the Panasonic MZ2000 or Sony A80L. It does deliver in some areas, such as dialogue and directional sound, but is lacking in others. If you're looking for great audio with the U7N, I’d consider adding one of the best soundbars.
Watching the batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the U7N demonstrated clear speech even during moments of loud explosions and crunching metal with its Theater preset sound mode active. Directional sounds were also captured well by the U7N, with each sound effect connected to the action on screen, and it had somewhat weighty bass. Dolby Atmos effects in this scene such as thrashing rain were barely audible over the other sounds, however, and the soundstage was limited, with everything very much contained to the screen itself.
Moving to La La Land, it was a similar story. The horn-heavy jazz score was well handled and never distorted even at higher volumes. Vocals came through nice and clear and warmer instruments such as double bass and drums sat nicely in the mix. However, the limited soundstage didn’t allow instruments to breathe.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
The Hisense U7N's stand (65-inch pictured) is easy to assemble (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Design
Trim bezel
Easy to assemble stand
Solar-powered remote control
The Hisense U7N has a plain but solid design. Its rear panel is made of a thick but cheaper feeling plastic, though a solid silver frame gives it a more premium look.
The U7N’s bezel is trim enough and allows the picture to take up the majority of the screen, though it’s not as trim as you’d find on more premium TVs. Its two reassuringly weighty metal feet connect to a plastic stand by simply slotting into place. This is one of the easier stand assemblies I’ve seen. It does feel a little cheap – not surprising given the U7N’s budget price.
Hisense’s supplied remote for the U7N feels more premium than expected. It features a solar panel on the front and a USB-C charging point on the bottom, eliminating the need for batteries. Although the solar panel is a welcome addition, it gives the remote a bottom-heavy feel.
Design score: 4/5
Hisense uses VIDAA as its smart TV platform in the UK (home menu pictured) (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Smart TV & menus
Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK & Australia)
Good selection of picture settings
Sometimes stuttering performance
The U7N’s smart TV platform varies depending on the region. Since I’m based in the UK, I will be discussing Hisense’s own smart TV platform, VIDAA. For US readers, the Hisense U7N uses Google TV, which is also featured on the Hisense U8K and Sony Bravia 9 if you’d like to read up about it.
The VIDAA home menu is filled with recommendations from various apps; it’s a little cluttered, and this can affect scrolling speed on the home menu. Stuttering occurred at multiple points while navigating VIDAA, which lacked the smooth feel of other smart TV platforms such as LG’s web OS, Samsung’s Tizen and Google TV.
I appreciated VIDAA’s settings and menu layouts. It was very easy to find settings I was looking for and I was pleasantly surprised by how many picture adjustments were available. These turned out to be necessary, as simple changes to local dimming, motion smoothing, super-resolution, dynamic contrast and other settings transformed the U7N’s picture completely.
VIDAA provides access to all major streaming apps including Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video. Hisense TVs also host Freely, a live TV streaming service that lets viewers watch a range of live TV shows without any need to connect to an aerial or satellite dish and provides access to UK-based streaming apps including BBC iPlayer, ITVX and more.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
Similar to TVs from LG, Samsung and Panasonic, the Hisense U7N features a Game Bar for gaming settings (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Gaming
4K 120Hz and 144Hz refresh rate support
13.1ms input lag
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
The U7N has plenty of gaming features on offer , including a 4K 120Hz (even up to 144Hz) refresh rate, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia GSync, and ALLM. This list of features lets the U7N easily compete with the best gaming TVs. Hisense’s Game Bar also allows for settings such as Dark Detail and FPS Viewing to be tweaked during gaming.
Unlike other TVs that feature dedicated Game picture modes, the U7N’s Game Mode works in tandem with its main picture preset settings, providing freedom to customize the picture during gameplay. Annoyingly, it leaves motion smoothing settings switched on, so it’s important to turn those off during gaming.
the U7N's gaming performance was very good. Playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, motion was smooth, with quick camera cuts to switch between targets and landscape panning shots all feeling seamless and free-flowing with no judder or stutter. The U7N also did a great job with Battlefield, displaying plenty of intricate details on objects such as weapons and landscapes and showing the same rich contrast and bold colors as with movies.
The U7N’s measured input lag was 13.1ms. A result below 15ms is what gamers generally look for, so this will be fine for the majority of users.
Unfortunately, the U7N only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, with the other two HDMI 2.0 ports capped at 60Hz with no gaming features supported.
Gaming score: 4.5/5
The Hisense U7N's supplied remote is sleek and eco-friendly, but a little bottom-heavy (Image credit: Future)
Hisense U7N review: Value
Excellent value (in the US)
Cheaper than many rivals
Crowded mini-LED TV market
Although the U7N generally represents good value, it is a significantly better value in the US. The 65-inch model I tested dropped as low as $799 since launch, which for a TV with this many features and this picture quality level is simply phenomenal. Rival sets such as the Samsung QN85D are priced at $1,699 for a 65-inch model, while premium mini-LED options such as the Sony Bravia 9 cost $2,999 for the same screen size.
In the UK, the margin is somewhat narrowed, though the U7N is still priced cheaper than many of its rivals. The 65-inch U7N currently sits at £1,599, while the Samsung QN85D is priced at £2,099 and OLED options like the LG B4 are priced at £1,699 in a 65-inch size. So even though the U7N is still cheaper and provides plenty of features, you’re not quite getting the same bang for your buck as in the US.
But wherever you are, it is hard to argue just how many bases the Hisense U7N covers at the price it does, with its great overall picture quality, stacks of gaming features and good smart TV platform. With the money you save with the U7N, you can add a Dolby Atmos soundbar, such as the brilliant Hisense AX5125H.
Value score: 4.5/5
The Hisense U7N accurately displays bold, bright colors such as those in the La La Land logo (Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Hisense U7N?
Buy it if...
You want great picture quality The U7N delivers dynamic pictures for both movies and gaming that look more premium than the price you pay.
You want a TV for gaming 4K 120Hz, 144Hz, VRR, and Dolby Vision gaming are just some of the features the U7N offers that make it ideal for PS5 and Xbox Series X
You want real value from your TV The U7N offers similar features and performance to rival sets from Samsung and Sony but has a lower price tag.
Don't buy it if...
You don't want to adjust picture settings To get the best out of the U7N, setup is required, and that involves digging into the nitty gritty of its picture settings.
You want the perfect picture Like a lot of mini-LED TVs, the U7N suffers from backlight blooming. To avoid this, you'll have to fork out more for premium mini-LED or OLED TV.
You need the best built-in sound It may be adequate for most, but the U7N's sound feels limited and contained. Want better TV sound? Look to Sony.
Also consider...
Samsung QN85D The Samsung QN85D is arguably the U7N's closest competitor, offering similar features and performance. Pictures appear more natural and Tizen is a better smart TV platform, but you'll be paying a lot more and the gap is tough to justify. We are currently testing this TV and will have a full review live soon.
Hisense U6N The step-down model from the U7N, the U6N doesn't offer the same level of features or picture performance. It is cheaper than the U7N, however, and the performance it gives for the price is admirable. We are currently testing this TV and will have a full review live soon.
Samsung QN90D The Samsung QN90D is a more premium mini-LED option when compared to the U7N. Although it's pricier, you'll no doubt be getting better picture performance, especially for daytime sports viewing. There isn't much between them in terms of gaming features, so it does come down to picture vs price.
Measurements taken using Calman calibration software
Tested using both SDR and HDR sources
My first step in testing the U7N was casual viewing to establish the most accurate out-of-the-box picture preset using a variety of sources such as broadcast TV and DVD, 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming.
I then used several reference scenes from various movies, TV shows and sports streams to judge the U7N on picture criteria including contrast, color, black levels, motion handling and upscaling. I also tested it built-in sound quality for speech, bass, virtual surround sound processing and directional sound.
To test the U7N's gaming performance, I used an Xbox Series X console, primarily playing Battlefield V.
Moving onto objective testing, I analyzed the U7N's SDR and HDR brightness, HDR color gamut coverage (both UHDA-P3 and BT.2020) and grayscale and color accuracy. For this, I used a test pattern generator and colorimeter, recording the results with Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software.
I also measured the U7N's input lag in milliseconds using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input lag tester while the U7N was in Game mode.
