If you think more pixels makes for a better PC monitor, you're going to love the new LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A. This 6K monster of a monitor has over 21 million of them. For context, a 4K display has just eight million. It's a massive step up.
What you don't get, at least not compared with a regular 32-inch 4K monitor, is more actual display size. Instead, those 21 million pixels are crammed into essentially the same 32-inch diagonal, resulting in much, much higher pixel density. Where 4K on a 32-inche monitor comes in around 140 pixels per inch, the LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A clocks in at 224 pixels per inch.
In other words, this is a true high-DPI display. It's a pretty high-performance display by several other metrics, too, at least for an IPS as opposed to an OLED monitor. There's good colour coverage and true 10-bit fidelity, for instance.
Less impressive is the 60Hz refresh. It's perhaps inevitable given the epic resolution and this monitor's productivity rather than gaming remit. But here in 2026, 60Hz seems a bit sluggish, as does the quoted 5ms pixel response time. Countering that is excellent connectivity, including dual Thunderbolt 5 ports and plenty of further USB-C inputs and outputs.
As for value, well, it all depends how you're coming at this LG. Compared to the near-enough $6,000 Apple Pro Display XDR, which is also 6K and 32 inches, it's a bargain, if less capable in some important ways. But at $1,999 or £1,799, it's also way more expensive than most of the best 4K monitors available today. So, you'll really want to appreciate those extra pixels.
The LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A is a slick display that looks like it's been designed to please Apple Mac users. In terms of pure aesthetics it will do just that, thanks to its minimalist vibe, slim bezels and engineering elements like a display hinge that mimics Apple's Pro Display XDR.
However, it's not as nicely built as either of Apple's own monitors, the Studio Display or the aforementioned Pro Display XDR. The mix of plastic and metal used here doesn't feel even nearly as premium as the lush alloys of the Apple alternatives. The huge external power brick is also a little untidy compared to monitors with integrated power supplies.
Still, by PC monitor standards, this LG is well enough screwed together and offers a decent range of adjustability from its stand. It also boasts excellent connectivity. You get dual Thunderbolt 5 ports with 96W of power delivery, just for starters.
To that you can add DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1 and another three USB-C ports. Together, that ensures pretty much all your connectivity needs are covered, including single-cable connectivity with a laptop, sharing the display with multiple PCs and even daisychaining with full 6K support.
Of course, the main event is the 32-inch 6K panel. It's an IPS Black item, so has heightened contrast compared with most other IPS monitors. But when it comes to not only contrast but also HDR performance, its specs still fall miles behind an OLED display.
That's no surprise given this monitor is only rated for DisplayHDR 600 certification. In other words, it lacks full-array local dimming. That said, colour coverage is good, extending to 98% of the DCI-P3 gamut and there's also true 10-bit per channel colour support without dithering.
LG UltraFine 6K Evo: Performance
LG // FutureLG // FutureLG // Future
Incredibly sharp visuals
Good colour accuracy
Poor contrast and HDR performance
The LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A is both stellar and disappointing in almost equal measure. But let's start with its finest quality, which is surely the incredible pixel density enabled by full 6K resolution on a 32-inch panel.
The resulting 224 pixels per inch makes for incredibly sharp visuals and fabulously clear and crisp text. It also allows for a huge amount of space for professional workflows. The appeal here compared to a mere 4K monitor, for instance, is that you can view 4K content in a window at full resolution and still have significant space left over for timelines, toolbars and more.
However, the 6K resolution and outstanding pixel density is compromised by the IPS panel's slightly old-school anti-glare coating, which introduces a touch of visible sparkle. Moreover, the step up from a 4K panel in terms of visual detail also isn't entirely earth shattering. Yes, this display is sharper and the text is crisper. But you're paying quite the price premium for those benefits.
The very fact that this is an IPS panel as opposed to OLED also makes it feel rather old fashioned. Sure, the colour accuracy at factory settings is good in both SDR and HDR modes. But even with the latest IPS Black panel tech and 2,000:1 claimed contrast, this monitor looks a bit watery and washed out compared to the latest OLED monitors. The black levels in particular look poor next to any OLED display.
In part that's thanks to the fact that this LG only has DisplayHDR 600 certification. That means it's specified with mere edge-lit backlighting, likely with around 16 zones, not full-array local dimming with hundreds or thousands of zones. In short, this is not a true HDR display.
The 60Hz refresh likewise adds to the sense of a slightly outdated display. Sure, this is no gaming monitor. But even for routine daily computing tasks, 120Hz or higher makes everything more pleasant. Of course, by IPS display standards, this is not a poor monitor. It's just, at this price point, you have so many options. What you gain in terms of 6K pixel density with this display you arguably lose in other areas.
LG UltraFine 6K Evo: Final verdict
LG // FutureLG // FutureLG // Future
LG's new 6K display is an exciting prospect, on paper. The combination of native 6K support using the latest IPS Black panel tech is very appealing, for sure. In practice, this premium pro display somewhat disappoints.
For sure, you get an outstanding high-DPI experience. But unless your specific workflows benefit from the extra desktop space, the subjective upgrade in terms of visual clarity and the quality of text rendering is more marginal than you might expect compared to a 4K display of the same size.
At the same time, the limitations of an IPS panel, even with improved contrast, are all too obvious at a price point that includes 4K OLED alternatives such as the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM. The comparatively poor contrast and black levels are all too obvious. There's a significant speed deficit, too, in terms of refresh rate and pixel response.
Admittedly, LG has given this display outstanding connectivity that extends to dual Thunderport 5 ports with support for 6K monitor daisy-chaining. So, in many ways, this is a very powerful productivity tool.
The problem is the 6K and connectivity upsides come with quite a few compromises. Long story short, what many will want is a display like this but based on OLED panel tech. Given the lofty pricing, that isn't an outrageous ask even if such a monitor doesn't currently exist. Until it does, if you are happy with an IPS panel and your workflows will benefit from the 6K resolution, LG's latest Ultrafine monitor probably adds up. But only barely.
OK, let's try to get one thing clear. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is brand new. It's a super-fast 27-inch OLED gaming monitor that runs at an epic 500Hz refresh rate. It's brighter than previous Samsung 27 inchers. But it doesn't actually sport Samsung's very latest OLED panel technology.
Indeed, the whole narrative around the various generations of Samsung's QD-OLED technology has gotten very complicated of late. In some ways, it's easier to say what this monitor is not than what it is.
With that in mind, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF lacks a couple of the very latest QD-OLED panel features. First, it doesn't have the so-called RGB-stripe subpixel structure. And it lacks the new panel filter that reduces the purple-tint problem in ambient light.
We'll get to the implications of those shortly. But for now, what we're dealing with here is a 27-inch 1440p OLED monitor with a very high refresh rate that will appeal to gamers who value speed above almost, but not quite, all else.
(Image credit: Future)
If it's sheer speed you demand, look no further than the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF. The combination of 500Hz refresh and the usual OLED upside of incredible pixel speed makes for a sizzling gaming experience. This monitor is seriously fast.
It's also punchy thanks to updated QD-OLED panel technology. However, this isn't actually Samsung's very latest tech and that does show in a few areas. The non-standard triangular subpixel structure slightly compromises sharpness, while the QD-OLED purple-tint problem in bright ambient light remains.
More particular to this monitor are disappointing SDR calibration, a lack of USB-C connectivity and somewhat lofty price point. All of which means this isn't an automatic choice for those seeking a 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor. But for esports addicts and other speed freaks, it will still be hard to overlook.
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
At $799 in the US, £699 in the UK and $1,699 in Australia, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is pretty steep for a mere 27-inch 1440p monitor.
At this price point you can choose from all manner of LCD monitors (many featured in our best monitors buying guide) up to 49 inches, offering all kinds of resolutions and aspect ratios from 4K and beyond.
Of course, this is an OLED gaming monitor, and they all come with a price premium. However, even in that context, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF isn't exactly cheap. We've seen 27-inch OLEDs below $500 now and then, albeit not models that run at 500Hz.
Value: 3 / 5
Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF: Specs
Acer Predator X32 X Specifications
Screen size
27-inch
Resolution
2560 x 1440
Panel technology
Samsung QD-OLED
Refresh rate
500Hz
Response time
0.03ms
HDR
DisplayHDR 400 True Black
Brightness
300 nits full screen, 1,000 nits peak HDR 1.5% APL
Connectivity
HDMI 2.1 x2, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A hub
Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF: Design
Slim bezels
Compact base
Large power supply brick
If you liked the look of Samsung's previous Odyssey gaming monitors, you're going to love the new Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF. Because it's a dead ringer in design terms.
For the most part, that's good news. This is a slick-looking and well constructed monitor with a modern vibe, thanks to slim bezels on all four sides of its QD-OLED display panel.
It also offers decent ergonomics with both height and tilt adjustment and a reasonably compact stand base that doesn't take up too much desktop space. The main blot on the ergonomic and design copybook, therefore, is the massive external power supply brick.
(Image credit: Future)
No doubt it helps to keep the chassis of the monitor slim, but it does make cable management and general tidiness that bit trickier. Speaking of cables, notable by its absence is support for a USB-C input cable.
You do get HDMI and DisplayPort, both of which support the full 500Hz refresh rate. And, yes, this is unambiguously a gaming monitor, so USB-C is that bit less relevant. But at this price point, you'd have thought Samsung might have thrown it in, anyway. That way you can easily, say, share this monitor between your gaming desktop and a work laptop.
(Image credit: Future)
Design: 4 / 5
Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF: Performance
Extremely fast
Vibrant colors
Limited SDR presets
The headline feature of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is its 500Hz refresh rate. Combined with the incredible response speed of all OLEDs, which the monitor industry pretty much universally rates at 0.03ms, and you have a recipe for incredible speed.
That's very much the subjective experience, too. This thing is hella quick, with remarkably little motion blur and essentially no discernible input lag. Put simply, esports fans who play online shooters and appreciate this kind of speed will love this thing.
Of course, the most serious of esports aficionados will probably still favour an even higher refresh rate and smaller 1080p monitor. So, the question then becomes, how is this monitor for everyone else?
(Image credit: Future)
Well, with a 2560 by 1440 native resolution, the pixel density is moderate at best compared to a 4K panel of the same size. So, this isn't the crispest or sharpest of displays. That's slightly exacerbated by the panel's triangular rather than RGB-stripe subpixel structure. If you like sharp fonts, this isn't the display for you.
It also suffers from the usual purple tint in bright ambient light that all QD-OLED displays suffer. Well, all bar a new generation of panels, but that tech isn't used here. Then there's the matte anti-glare coating. Sure, it reduces reflectivity. But it also robs this monitor of that sense of inky, almost infinite contrast that glossy OLED monitors deliver in the right circumstances.
Make no mistake, this is still a punchy, vibrant display, as indicated by an increased full-screen brightness rating of 300 nits. By way of example, there's a dark indoor scene in Cyberpunk 2077 involving sizzling arcs of electricity leaping across the screen. And it's absolutely stunning. That's perfect per-pixel lighting, OLED style, for you. No LCD monitor comes close. But with a glossy coating, it would have been even more incredible.
The Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF's factory calibration in SDR mode could be a lot better, too. The OSD doesn't actually offer the usual sRGB or DCI-P3 color presets, and none of the various modes that are offered deliver a properly balanced SDR experience. They're all overly warm in terms of color temperature, and are also oversaturated.
In mitigation, SDR content is actually really nicely calibrated in HDR mode. So, you can actually just run this thing in HDR mode for everything. But the SDR calibration and preset limitations are a little odd.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF?
Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF scorecard
Value
At around $799, the Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is pretty expensive even for a 27-inch OLED monitor. But then if you want a 500Hz OLED, good luck finding one much cheaper.
3 / 5
Design
Samsung's usual Odyssey design and build quality features again, which is generally good. But at this price point, the lack of USB-C connectivity is disappointing.
4 / 5
Performance
There's no questioning the incredible speed of the Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF. But the resolution is mediocre and the 27-inch experience isn't exactly cinematic.
4 / 5
Final score
The Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is a bit of a niche offering. If you want the ultimate in OLED speed, however, it absolutely delivers.
4. / 5
Buy the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF if...
You want the ultimate in speed The Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF is ridiculously fast thanks to the combination of 500Hz refresh and 0.03ms response.
You want awesome HDR Thanks to OLED's perfect per-pixel lighting, the Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF has far better HDR performance than any LCD monitor, including mini-LED models.
Don't buy it if...
You want lots of pixels With a native resolution of 2560 by 1440, the Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF isn't exactly a high-DPI monitor. That's OK for games, less so for everything else.
You want cinematic thrills At this price point you have plenty of options if you want a really immersive, cinematic experience. At just 27 inches, this is a modestly-sized monitor for the money.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025): Two-minute review
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) is an interesting TV for one reason: it uses Amazon’s new AI-powered Alexa+, which is a more contextual, conversational, and higher-functioning version of the company’s voice assistant.
Otherwise, some features have been sacrificed in the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) that made the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, Amazon’s previous flagship TV, appealing, such as a mini-LED backlight and 144Hz support for gaming. Both are features we regularly look for in the best TVs. Despite those omissions, the new Omni QLED is priced relatively high for what it offers, with competing TVs from Hisense, TCL, and Roku delivering better bang for the buck.
On the plus side, Amazon’s built-in voice assistant is very well-implemented, and there’s even a mic mute for privacy. Also, you can expect to find the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED priced considerably lower during the company’s regular sales events.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Price and release date
Amazon's remote is similar to the ones included with other Fire TV devices (Image credit: Future)
Release date: November 2025
50-inch: $479.99
55-inch: $589.99
65-inch: $849.99
75-inch: $1,199.99
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) was released in November 2025 and replaces an earlier version of the TV with the same name. Having just been released in time for Black Friday, it ended up priced a few hundred dollars below list price during that time, with the 50-inch model’s price dropping to $279.99 and the 65-inch model to $749.99.
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) is currently only available in the US.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Specs
Screen type:
QLED
Refresh rate:
60Hz
HDR support:
Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HLG
Smart TV:
Fire TV
HDMI ports:
4x HDMI 2.0
Built-in tuner:
ATSC 1.0
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Benchmark results
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Features
The Omni QLED's connections include four HDMI 2.0 ports (one with eARC) (Image credit: Future)
Hands-free Alexa+ allows for deeper control
Can be used with Alexa smart home ecosystem
Amazon Ambient Experience
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ adaptive high dynamic range formats, but the big feature on this TV is Amazon’s new Alexa+, a souped-up version of Alexa that allows for a higher level of flexibility and control.
For example, I’m able to not only ask for movie recommendations but also issue more basic commands like opening an app. I can even ask for things like the Philadelphia Eagles’ upcoming NFC schedule or what the weather outside is like. And I can do all this without picking up the remote control since Alexa+ is hands-free on this TV. The mic can be muted (there’s a slider under the front of the TV) if you’re worried about privacy, but otherwise, it can be used just like any other Alexa device. Alexa+ is free for Prime members but $19.99 a month if you don’t have Prime.
Since this TV has Alexa+ built in, it can be incorporated into an Alexa ecosystem. I found there were some limitations on what I could do using an Amazon Echo speaker, but I was able to turn on the TV and open apps through my Echo in my kitchen.
The other feature worth noting is the Ambient Experience. Every TV seems to now have some version of this feature, most likely due to the popularity of Samsung’s The Frame TV, and it’s also recently arrived on Amazon Fire TV devices.
Amazon’s Ambient Experience is a pretty cool feature that allows you to choose from a number of dynamic and static screens that will play when the TV is in standby mode. You can also customize it to have certain widgets displayed for time, temperature, and more. There are 2,000 free images to choose from, and you can also upload photos to display a personal photo reel. Amazon’s Omnisense sensors let the TV automatically display images when you walk into the room, and they even provide an interactive component.
Apple AirPlay is available for wireless casting from a phone or tablet to the TV, and so is Matter Casting.
Features Score: 3.5/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Picture quality
The Omni QLED has good overall picture quality but average brightness (Image credit: Future)
Limited brightness
Full-array local dimming on all but the smallest size
Average color gamut coverage
The picture quality of the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series doesn’t quite measure up to the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, but then again it’s also cheaper. In Filmmaker Mode, we measured HDR Peak Brightness at 510 nits, compared to Omni Mini-LED’s 973 nits in the same picture preset. In Standard mode, the Omni QLED’s peak brightness was 598 nits, and fullscreen brightness was 528 nits.
Full-array local dimming, a feature that improves contrast, is provided on all sizes except the smallest (50-inch). I like to test this using images that show a black background with lighter objects on parts of the screen. With these, the TV did a good job – I didn’t notice any light blooming on the black areas.
The Omni QLED Series’ measured UHDA-P3 color gamut was 93.7% when we tested it, and 71.6% for BT.2020, both of which could be better. (Our target UHDA-P3 coverage is 95% for TVs.)
The TV’s Delta-E in Filmmaker Mode was 7, which is a worse-than-average result for picture accuracy for that preset. (The closer to zero, the better, with many TVs measuring under 3dE in Filmmaker Mode on this test.)
In real-world use, the Omni QLED Series’ picture wasn’t as bright as other TVs I’ve tested, but the picture was still crisp and vibrant, whether I was watching the animated Coco (one of my favorites for testing), an action movie, or sports.
Picture quality score: 3.5/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Sound quality
Fire TV's Live TV streaming portal (Image credit: Future)
Limited bass
No Dolby Atmos support
Dialogue boost and volume leveler
The sound quality on the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series is not going to make you skip getting one of the best soundbars. There are only 12 watts each for the speakers and the sub, so even though it can get loud, it tends to lose definition at louder volumes.
Also, there’s not much bass. You won’t get any rumble, just a mid-low-end boost. I found it to be a strange experience when testing with Deadpool & Wolverine and watching a big fight scene where none of the punches, or the score for that matter, had much weight to them.
Dolby Atmos isn’t supported, either, which is another reason to upgrade the sound with a soundbar (preferably one with a subwoofer).
I do appreciate that there’s a five-band EQ in the settings. Also in the settings are a Dialogue Boost, Dolby Dialogue Enhancer, and Volume Leveler (the last two in the TV’s advanced settings). The first two help with making dialogue clearer by boosting the frequency at which voices sit. The latter is similar to a Night Mode and works well enough at bringing up quieter parts while making louder parts quieter.
Sound quality score: 3/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Design
The Omni QLED uses the type of support feet typically found on more budget-oriented TVs (Image credit: Future)
Basic looks
Hidden privacy slider for built-in mic
Four HDMI ports, one with eARC
On the surface, the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED looks like a typical budget-level TV, though its bezels are at least thin. You’ll need a Philips head screwdriver for connecting the support feet to the TV (with included screws), but that takes a very short time to install.
There’s a slider hidden on the TV’s bottom edge to mute the built-in Alexa mic for privacy. Onboard controls are limited to the slider and button to control inputs, power, and navigate some basic settings.
The Fire TV Omni QLED has four HDMI ports, one with eARC. Also on hand is an optical port, coaxial, USB, headphone jack, and an IR transmitter port.
Amazon’s remote looks the same as the one it includes with its Fire TV streaming sticks. It has a talk button if you don’t want to use the built-in mic on the TV and buttons at the bottom for Prime, Netflix, Disney+, and Peacock, along with the usual suspects. It feels pretty good in the hand with its convex back. The only other thing worth mentioning is that it takes two AAA batteries instead of being rechargeable.
Design score: 3/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Smart TV and menus
The Amazon Fire TV home page (Image credit: Future)
Very Prime-oriented even outside of the app
Plenty of live and free content
Menu diving is mostly easy, though some HDR settings are hard to find
Since the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series naturally uses the Fire TV interface, be prepared for a very Amazon Prime-centric experience. The top half of the home page consists of a rotating preview banner that autoplays both suggested content and ads that are more often than not Amazon-related.
Scrolling down past the streaming service tiles, you’ll see rows such as “Continue Watching,” “Sponsored,” and an assortment of recommendations. All the apps one could want are a download away, but a good number of the preloaded ones are Amazon ones, like Amazon Kids+ and Luna.
Plenty of content is built in – there’s a whole guide’s worth of live TV, including free channels like NFL Live, CBS, Fox, ABC News Live, NBC News Now, and more in the US.
Menu diving on the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED was initially confusing for me since the layout of categories is a bit different than on other interfaces. That said, it was easy to navigate after a few times using it. The one gripe I do have is that while I can cycle through most of the modes in the settings, any HDR-related adjustments only become available and selectable while watching content. Even though the TV picks the right mode automatically (if auto picture mode is enabled), it would be nice to have some control over choosing the picture mode I want before starting a movie.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Gaming
The Amazon Luna app gives you plenty of cloud gaming options (Image credit: Future)
60Hz refresh rate
Game Mode
Luna app for cloud gaming
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED isn't anything special for console gaming. Unlike the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED, which supports up to 144Hz, this TV tops out at a 60Hz refresh rate, so you’re not going to get the smooth performance that next-gen consoles are capable of.
I do appreciate that, if TV Mode is set to Auto, it will automatically change to its Game Mode setting. This mode does a good job of letting the colors pop. I found the image to look good when using my PlayStation 5, even if the 60Hz refresh rate was a hurdle for performance.
The one somewhat bright spot is that Amazon’s Luna app provides access to cloud gaming, some of which is free or included for those with Amazon Prime. I appreciated that I could use either my phone or an external controller, which can be paired when booting up a game, for playing any of the games. I also appreciate that there was a healthy selection of games to purchase, alongside the free offerings.
Gaming score: 3/5
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025) review: Value
The Omni QLED's included accessories (Image credit: Future)
Cheaper than similar TVs
Sacrifices some features
Other options with Fire TV built-in
As I mentioned before, I consider the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series to be an okay deal at $849.99 for a 65-inch model. Of course, this is Amazon, so you’re more likely to see regular discounts.
How does it compare? It comes with some compromises compared to other TVs that I consider to be its competition. I’ve tested two other mid-range TVs that punch well above their weight. The TCL QM6K is one that immediately comes to mind. The price of the 65-inch model is currently selling for less than the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED reviewed here, and it supports a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Atmos audio, and uses a mini-LED backlight with “Halo Control technology” to minimize blooming.
There’s also the Hisense U65QF, which is also sells for less than Amazon’s TV. Like the TCL, it supports a 144Hz refresh rate and Dolby Atmos audio, and it also uses a mini-LED backlight. And with a Fire TV interface, you basically get the same smart features as the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED.
Value score: 3/5
(Image credit: Future)
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025)
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Hands-free Alexa, plus the souped-up, context-aware Alexa+ for deeper and smarter smart home integration
.3.5/5
Picture quality
Brightness is average and the accuracy could be better, but it at least has full-array local dimming (except the smallest size)
3.5/5
Sound quality
Sound quality is pretty limited with not much bass. The decent volume leveling and dialog boost are a nice touch
3/5
Design
Design is mostly what one would expect for a budget TV
3/5
Smart TV and menus
Be prepared for an Amazon-heavy experience with this TV, with some advanced picture settings tricky to access in menus
3.5/5
Gaming
Refresh rate is capped at 60 Hz but features the Luna app for cloud-gaming
3/5
Value
Good overall picture quality, but competition offers equally good performance and superior gaming features for the price
3/5
Should I buy the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025)?
Buy it if...
You have Prime If you have Amazon Prime, then the souped-up Alexa+ is free. It’s definitely a unique experience turning off the TV through an Amazon Echo elsewhere in the house.
You use Alexa The TV’s Alexa integration is something you can really take advantage of if you’re already bought into the Alexa smart home ecosystem.
Don't buy it if…
You’re a console gamer The TV’s refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, so you won’t be getting the most out of your Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X game console.
You want Dolby Atmos If you want a TV that supports Dolby Atmos, you’ll have to look elsewhere, or you could just buy a soundbar to use with this TV.
Also consider...
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (2025)
Hisense U65QF
TCL QM6K
Roku Pro Series
Price (65-inch)
$849.99
$999
$999
$1,199
Screen type
QLED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
Refresh rate
60Hz
upt to 144Hz
Up to 144Hz
120Hz
HDR support
Dolby Vision/HDR10+ Adaptive/HDR10
Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10
Smart TV
Fire TV
Fire TV
Google TV
Roku
HDMI ports
4 HDMI 2.0
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Hisense U65QF
The Hisense U65QF is very affordable for a mini-LED TV. It’s packed with features like Dolby Atmos, a 144Hz refresh rate, and Dolby Vision IQ. It also has Alexa built in, though not Alexa+. Finding the video settings does take some deep menu diving, and the Prime-focused interface is a bit of an acquired taste.
The TCL QM6K is excellent value and cheaper with discounts than the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series, though it doesn’t have quite the audio quality or Alexa integration. What it does have is great picture quality with vibrant colors, good contrast, and minimal blooming.
The Roku Pro Series is another budget mini-LED TV that’s priced around the same as the Amazon Omni QLED, but beats it when it comes to features and design. With both 120Hz support and an ultra-low input lag, it’s also a superior gaming TV and has a more streamlined and pleasing smart interface.
I used the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series for several weeks
Tested with TV, movies, music, and games
Benchmark measurements conducted by Future US testing lab
I used the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series as my main TV for several weeks. I used it with TV, movies, 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.
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.
LG’s StanByMe TV has admittedly been something I’ve glossed over ever since the first-generation model was launched way back in 2021. A 27-inch TV on a rollable stand? “What’s the point?” I always wondered. While a 27-inch TV would’ve been considered ‘big’ in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, we now live in a time where a 48-inch TV is realistically the smallest size we’d put in our living room. And with recent releases from the likes of Samsung reaching up to 115 inches, is there really a place for a much, much smaller 27-inch screen in the home?
LG clearly didn’t share my reservations, as the Korean manufacturer announced a second-generation model at CES in January 2025 that didn’t just introduce a few iterative upgrades, but instead represented a complete overhaul.
The premise is the same – a TV you can move from room to room – but it now offers other notable features, including a QHD panel (an increase from the 1080p full HD of the previous generation) and new viewing modes that allow the user to watch while the screen is off its stand (its predecessor was fixed in place).
I’ll admit that I began this review as a sceptic, but after using the LG StanByMe 2 for a few weeks, I’ve done a complete 180 – this is a genuinely fun, cool, useful TV. It’s not going to replace your main screen for watching movies and TV shows, but that’s also not its purpose.
The StanByMe 2 is a TV that you can have in the kitchen to follow along with recipes, or if you have a small bedroom, you can position it over your bed for late-night binge watching. It’s touchscreen-enabled, so you can lay it flat on a table and have your kids play interactive games on it. You can take it away with you in the car to set up and watch content at a campsite or hotel as it can run on battery for a while. I even used it as a second display attached to my laptop.
The built-in battery promises up to four hours from a single charge (up from 3.5 hours in the previous model). I found this to be pretty accurate, although do note that even when the screen is turned off, it’s technically in a standby mode and will continue to use the battery. I left it turned off over a weekend with a full charge, but it had dropped to 34% on my return three days later. A physical power button can be found on the side of the TV, and a long press will power it down completely.
The idea of the StanByMe 2 may elude people at first, but once you have one in your life, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
Picture quality is good, although it won’t rival the best TVs. Its built-in speaker system delivers a pleasing audio performance, and is on par with the performance you’d get from conventional TVs. In virtually all cases, we recommend adding one of the best soundbars to boost the sound. Fortunately, you can connect it to a soundbar thanks to an HDMI eARC port, but I reckon since most people will be using the screen in a fully portable mode – which is exactly how it should be used – a physical connection will prove cumbersome.
The StanByMe 2 also benefits from LG’s webOS operating system. At the time of writing, it uses webOS 24, but the company has confirmed the TV will receive the webOS 25 update, and it is guaranteed to receive software updates for five years, up to webOS 28 (LG generally launches a new version each year).
There’s nothing quite like the LG StanByMe 2 out there and that makes it tricky to score for an objective review like this. There are similar screens on the horizon from the likes of Samsung and its Movingstyle model, but that’s yet to see a wide release – we’ve not had a chance to review it yet here at TechRadar, and I’ve not personally seen it either.
As a lifestyle screen that offers a new way to consume content, the StanByMe 2 excels, but tech as unique as this demands a high price and that’s my biggest issue. As much as I would love to give it a full five stars, I have to dock points purely because of how much LG is asking for it – especially when you compare its cost to traditional TVs.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
LG StanByMe 2 review: Price & availability
$1,299 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,199
Staggered global rollout: US – July 2025, UK – August 2025, Australia – September 2025
The LG StanByME 2 was announced at CES in January 2025 and was made available to buy in the US from July 2025, followed by a UK launch in August and eventually making its way to Australia in September 2025.
In the US, it’s priced at $1,299, which is higher than the RRP of the entry-level LG B5 OLED TV in 48-inch guise ($899.99) and just below the larger 55-inch variant ($1,499.99).
Meanwhile, in the UK, it’s £1,399.99, although at the time of writing this also includes an XT7S Bluetooth speaker that can attach to the TV stand and boost audio performance. For the same money, you can get a 55-inch LG C5 OLED – which we currently rate as the best TV overall.
In Australia, the StanByMe 2 has a list price of AU$2,199 – about as much as the far larger 75-inch TCL C7K will set you back Down Under. The TCL features a much more capable Mini-LED backlit panel, and as our TCL C7K review proves, it impressed us with a “dynamic, bright and surprisingly contrast rich picture”.
The StanByMe 2 can be on the receiving end of discounts, although these are usually reserved for the major sales events such as Black Friday. In fact, during the Black Friday sales in 2025, I spotted it for $999.99 / £1,199 / AU$1,699. These prices are much more palatable, although it’s still possible to find a more capable TV for similar money.
LG StanByMe 2 review: Specs
Screen type:
QHD IPS LCD panel
Refresh rate:
60Hz
HDR support:
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:
Dolby Atmos
Smart TV
webOS 24 (customized version)
HDMI:
1x HDMI eARC
Battery life:
Up to 4 hours
LG StanByMe 2 review: Features
QHD IPS LCD panel with extensive HDR support
Touchscreen for greater interaction
Built-in battery with up to 4 hours battery life
As I’ve already mentioned, the LG StanByMe 2 is a compact 27-inch TV that uses an edge-lit IPS LCD panel with quad HD resolution (2,560 x 1,440p) and a refresh rate of 60Hz. So, not a ‘proper’ 4K screen, but it does have comprehensive HDR support in the form of Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG HDR formats.
Unlike the TVs we’re all familiar with today, the StanByMe 2’s screen has a matte coating that slightly reduces image quality, but it helps minimize reflections and prevent fingerprints when you’re supporting it for rolling to a different room. The matte coating isn’t the same, or similar, as the anti-glare panel of the Samsung S95F, as that screen is actually able to absorb light and dissipate over the display’s surface. I would liken it more to a PC monitor.
Where the StanByMe 2 also differs from conventional TVs is that it’s touchscreen-enabled. Thanks to this functionality, you’re able to use your fingers to interact with it, whether it be loading up the built-in sketchpad application to doodle or jot down notes, or playing games that come pre-installed (more games are available via the LG app store). I can’t see many people using it to create shopping lists, say, but it can be hung on a wall-mounted hook (included) allowing you to easily see reminders for each day.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
The touchscreen functionality also means you’re able to swipe between home screen menus and press on any app – YouTube, Netflix, et al – to open it, but that’s all. You can’t use this functionality when you’re within these streaming apps. You can’t press the screen to play or pause content, for example. When using streaming apps, you’ll need to use the remote control or the on-screen controls that appear in the bottom right corner when you touch the display.
Where the StanByMe 2 shines is what LG intended it for – a portable screen that can be used where a larger display would be handy. For example, I used it in the kitchen, where I loaded up a YouTube video telling me how to make the perfect mashed potato. I was able to position the StanByMe 2 over my kitchen island and follow along with ease. Watching the same video on a smartphone screen just wasn’t as effective, and I don’t own a tablet or a smart display. Of course, given the StanByMe 2’s price, it would be cheaper to opt for the smaller devices, but the convenience of having the larger display is something I appreciated.
I also positioned the TV over my dining table, where I sit when I work from home. Again, I found myself streaming YouTube videos to play in the background and would occasionally glance up at the screen. Without the TV, I would either have the same video playing on a separate tab on my computer. I also mirrored the screen of my MacBook Pro thanks to the StanByMe’s AirPlay support, allowing me to use it as a second display. These weren’t groundbreaking changes to my normal routine by any stretch, but I found having the StanByMe 2 on, er, standby, incredibly useful.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
When it’s connected to the rollable stand, you can plug a mains power cable into its base to use the StanBy Me 2 like a regular TV, but if you remove the power cable, or remove the TV from its stand, the internal battery takes over and you’ll get no more than 4 hours of playtime on a single charge.
However, you’ll need to be mindful that this is only when it's in Eco power mode, which isn’t on by default. If you use the screen in a different mode, then battery life takes a major hit. I turned it on after (unknowingly) leaving it on standby for three days to find the battery had dropped from 100% to 34%. I then watched a 30-minute YouTube video, and the battery level dropped to 9%.
You can power down the TV completely by long pressing on the power button on the left side of the screen. Recharging the battery to full takes around 3 hours in standby mode and 3.5 hours when the TV is in use.
Features score: 4 / 5
LG StanByMe 2 review: Picture quality
Good color reproduction
Decent blacks considering backlight constraints
No Filmmaker Mode
LG’s QNED81 from 2023 impressed me with its color reproduction despite using an edge-lit system, and the StanByMe 2 – which also uses an edge-lit panel – shows similar strengths. Images are vibrant and punchy, and with brighter, more colorful content – such as A Minecraft Movie – the screen delivers a natural-looking image with convincing real-world textures. Fireball explosions appear as paler oranges or yellows, it must be said, rather than intense reds you’d get on a higher-contrast display, but overall it’s a pleasing presentation.
The StanByMe 2 also handled a 4K HDR demo reel from LG’s YouTube channel better than expected. Blacks looked reasonably convincing and central highlights remained clear and detailed. Compared side-by-side with LG’s flagship G5 OLED , there was a clear difference in quality. The G5 was vastly superior, but that’s to be expected given the vast difference in panel technologies.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
In dimly lit environments, the StanByMe 2’s brightness performance was more than adequate. LG doesn’t quote a brightness figure and I wasn’t able to measure it myself, but with the panel brightness set appropriately – 100 in most cases – I had no issues seeing detail or maintaining color impact. For darker content, I found ‘isf Expert Dark’ to be the best-performing picture preset. The ‘isf Expert Bright’ over-exposed the image too much for my liking, and Cinema introduced too much of a yellow tinge.
That said, the StanByMe 2’s picture performance is ultimately held back by the limitations of the QHD panel, edge-light system and matte coating. The combination of these means it struggles to render contrast with absolute precision. Larger areas of the panel can light up when they ideally shouldn’t, because the edge-lit system projects light over a greater portion of the screen.
TVs with more advanced backlight systems – such as OLED TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony, or even Mini-LED TVs from more budget-focused brands such as TCL and Hisense – can be more precise with which areas of the image are lit and which aren’t, resulting in more cinematic-looking picture.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
In the case of the StanByMe 2, then, images can look flat in comparison, especially in HDR scenes that require competent backlighting systems to look their best.
Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro is an included feature on the StanByMe 2, which theoretically analyzes each frame to optimize brightness and contrast, but in practice its impact is modest. With the backlight effectively ‘on’ most of the time due to the panel type, this feature can only do so much.
These limitations are apparent with darker content. In The Batman’s Penguin car chase scene on HBO Max, black weren't inky, but more a very dark charcoal grey. To get the best image, I had to push the panel brightness to 100. The TV also lacks a Filmmaker Mode and the Dolby Vision Filmmaker modes that appear on LG’s higher-end QNED and OLED TV models.
Because of these inherent constraints, the StanByMe 2 is best viewed in dimmer environments and isn’t well suited to being your primary screen for movie watching.
Picture quality score: 3.5 / 5
LG StanByMe 2 review: Sound quality
Dolby Atmos support
AI Sound mode with virtual 9.1.2 up-mix
Fine for most tasks, but not intense movie watching
As with picture quality, the StanByMe 2’s audio performance isn’t anything extraordinary. But again, this isn’t a TV designed to be your main entertainment system. Instead, it’s designed to be a supplementary screen in your home.
The good news is that the built-in speakers can be reasonably loud and dialogue is clear. What it lacks is low-end presence – especially in movie scenes with explosions. The AI Sound Pro mode is the best option in my opinion, as it helps create a more expansive soundstage.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
You do have options to improve the audio output, either by physically connecting to a soundbar or other external audio device via HDMI eARC, or wirelessly to a Bluetooth speaker or pair of active speakers. I do think a physical connection will be cumbersome for most users, particularly if the TV is connected to its stand. That said, you could always hang it on the included hook and have a cable trailing down to a soundbar on a unit beneath.
I had a pair of KEF Coda W speakers on hand and, once connected to the LG, the difference was dramatic. I also paired a Beats Pill and even that portable Bluetooth speaker delivered noticeably better sound than the TV’s built-in speakers.
What this experiment really highlighted for me was how the LG StanByMe 2 gives you options, both in terms of how you use it to consume content and how you can get sound out of it. You don’t get such versatility from traditional TVs and this really is where the StanByMe 2 genuinely stands out.
Sound quality score: 4 / 5
LG StanByMe 2 review: Design
Multiple viewing modes
Good selection of connections
Useful design touches
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
As I’ve alluded to already in this review, the StanByMe 2 isn’t designed to replace a traditional TV. Its headline feature is its ability to be used in a variety of viewing positions. The main position – the one that’s likely to be used the most – sees it being attached to a rollable stand. The first-generation StanByMe was permanently attached to its stand, so it’s great that the new model can detach, expanding its usability.
The stand is relatively heavy at 10.9kg / 24 lbs and its wheels are silent when rolling around, but they’re definitely smoother on hard floors compared to carpet.
The stand has two sections: a fixed-height main pole and an adjustable arm that can raise the screen up and down a few inches. The base plays host to a power point, which is used to charge the TV’s built-in battery.
When you want to detach the TV from the stand to use in tabletop mode, you need to press a large central button on the rear panel of the TV and pull it forward. Because the TV itself is quite light at 4.3kg / 9.5lbs, it’s easy enough to hold onto the screen with one hand, and press the button with the other. And thanks to its lightweight build, you shouldn’t have too much of an issue carrying it around.
To use the StanByMe 2 in tabletop mode, you need to clip in a supplied kickstand on the rear of the screen, and slot the folio cover into two holes along the bottom edge. The folio cover then folds around to the back of the screen and slots into the kickstand.
The final viewing mode is hanging it up on a hook against a wall. The hook needs to be drilled into the wall, so it wasn’t something I could test for this review. I own my home, but with my review sample only being on loan, I didn’t want a hole left in my wall when it was returned. Once the hook is mounted, you can attach a strap to the StanByMe 2 to hang it. You can hang it in either portrait or landscape orientation, and besides watching TV, you could activate one of the many wallpapers or screensavers, which include weather and calendar information, a ‘now playing’ screen when playing music, or a digital photo album.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
LG’s listing information for the TV also shows a person hanging this strap over their shoulder with the TV in landscape mode – similar to a messenger bag. But who wants or needs to hang a 27-inch TV over their shoulder?
A remote control is supplied with the StanByMe 2, which I expected to be similar to the one used by LG’s other TVs, but there are a few design changes.
Perhaps the coolest function is the fact that the remote can magnetically attach to the top edge of the TV (when it’s in landscape mode) or to the folio cover when it’s in tabletop mode, so you don’t have to worry about losing it.
The biggest difference between this remote and the one you’d get with a regular LG TV is that it loses the Magic Remote functionality, i.e. you can’t use it to move a pointer around the screen as you can on an LG TV. If you have an LG Magic Remote at home, or you purchase one separately, then you can benefit from the pointer function as it’s compatible with the StanByMe 2.
There’s a small selection of connections on the StanByMe 2, including an HDMI eARC for connecting to a soundbar to boost audio output, or to a laptop or PC so the TV can moonlight as a second screen. There’s also a USB-C port on the side for connecting external devices and power banks, and another USB-C port on the top edge for connecting a webcam.
LG says the USB-C port can also charge the screen TV when it’s not connected to the stand, but I struggled to get this working, even when using my MacBook Pro’s power brick. The user manual states you need a charger capable of either 65W (20V/3.25A) or100W (20V/5A) output, a criteria my MacBook’s charger satisfies.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
LG StanByMe 2 review: Smart TV & menus
Customized version of webOS
Five years of upgrades promised
No on-screen adverts!
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
The LG StanByMe 2 uses a customized version of the company’s well-received webOS operating system. If you were to look at the version used here side-by-side with a regular LG TV, you’ll easily spot the differences.
Two rows of apps dominate a large portion of the StanByMe 2’s screen, as opposed to a single line on the company’s regular TVs, with the familiar ‘cards’ for dedicated hubs – Home Office, Game, Music – just above. What’s pleasing to see in this instance is that there aren’t any on-screen ads or promotions in sight. The regular version of webOS will display on-screen adverts and even screensaver ads (unless you turn them off), so their complete absence is a welcome change.
From the home screen, if you move left – either by pressing the left button on the remote’s d-pad, or swiping – you’re met with a screen displaying calendar and weather information, quick access to various wallpapers and a sketch pad.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
The TV also supports Google Cast and Apple AirPlay, so you can beam content from your phone or laptop directly to it. I used the Screen Mirror function to extend my MacBook’s display and use the LG as a second monitor. It was a seamless process and even moving browser windows over to the LG worked as smoothly as if I had a dedicated monitor physically connected to my laptop.
Setting adjustments are as slick as I’ve come to expect from LG, having used the company’s G-series OLED over the past three generations. Pressing the settings button on the remote brings up a Quick Menu that appears as a transparent overlay in the top left of the screen, which allows you to quickly change picture, sound and other settings.
Smart TV and menu score: 5 / 5
LG StanByMe 2 review: Value
Pricey compared to larger, more conventional TVs
Other rollable TVs exist, which can be found for less
Ultimately not fantastic overall value
With a price tag of $1,299 / £1399.99 / AU$2,199, the LG StanByMe 2 is undoubtedly expensive compared to traditional TVs, which can cost much less, come in bigger screen sizes and benefit from more capable displays.
Plus, a quick search online reveals similar rollable TVs in markets including the US, UK and Australia. We've not reviewed them here at TechRadar, so can't comment on their performance, but the fact remains the LG StanByMe 2 isn't the only one of its kind.
If you can find it at a discounted price, it’s a lot easier to recommend, because what the TV has going for its uniqueness. LG classes the StanByMe 2 as a ‘lifestyle TV’ and I couldn’t agree more. It’s not going to replace a main TV in your home, but is designed to be an addition that can make your daily routine more convenient.
There’s certainly a case to be made for its existence then, but you’ll need to seriously consider whether it’s worth the premium price tag.
Value score 2.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Should I buy the LG StanByMe 2?
LG StanByMe 2 score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
It lives up to its lifestyle credentials with a variety of viewing modes, connections and interactivity options.
4/5
Picture quality
It’s not going to replace a conventional TV, but it does more than enough to meet the brief of being a lifestyle screen
3.5/5
Sound quality
Clear dialogue and expansive sound, with the option to improve it via various methods
4/5
Design
A range of viewing modes and some useful physical connection options make the StanByMe 2 one of the most versatile screens out there.
4/5
Smart TV and menus
LG’s webOS platform is always a joy to use and the customized version here continues that trend.
5/5
Value
A fun, cool TV that’s supremely versatile, but there’s no denying it’s expensive compared to traditional screens.
2.5/5
Buy it if...
You want a versatile TV
The StanByMe 2 can be used in a variety of viewing modes and is easy to move between rooms in your home.
You want a smaller TV
At 27 inches, the StanByMe 2 should be easy to accommodate in most spaces, plus it can be taken away with you in the car.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best possible picture quality
The limitations of the LCD panel mean the StanByMe 2 simply can’t deliver the absolute best picture quality.
LG StanByMe 2 review: Also consider
LG B5 (48-inch)
I've already mentioned the LG B5 in this review for several reasons. Most notably, it offers a dramatic leap in picture quality thanks to its OLED panel, and in 48-inch guise, it's often more affordable than the StanByMe 2.
It's quite tricky to find a 'small' screen TV these days, but the Sony A90K continues to be sold in a 42-inch size. It was released in 2022, yet the Japanese brand hasn't felt the need to update it. We've not given it the full in-depth review treatment, but some hands-on time revealed it to be a talented performer. We just wish it wasn't so expensive!View Deal
How I tested the LG StanByMe 2
Used at home and tried most viewing modes
Watched a range of content from various streaming services
Let it run on battery power to test stamina
I tested the LG StanByMe 2 over a period of about 3 weeks at home. I used most of its viewing modes, including attaching it to its stand and using the folio cover. I wasn't able to test its hanging mode, as I wasn't prepared to drill a hole into my wall.
I watched a variety of dark and bright content from a number of streaming services, including The Batman and A Minecraft Movie on HBO Max. I also tested its ability to connect to external audio devices via Bluetooth to improve sound output.
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship portable projector. Its triple laser DLP light engine is rated to deliver a very high 5,700 ISO lumens brightness, and it has Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support. Optical zoom and lens shift features allow for a high level of placement flexibility.
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's picture is bright, with powerful contrast and crisp textures. Motion handling for both sports and movies is very good after making some adjustments, and it also delivers surprisingly good built-in sound, with solid bass, clear speech and effective virtual surround sound.
Google TV is built in for wireless streaming, and gaming performance is very good. The Horizon 20 Max does lack key gaming features such as 4K 120Hz support, but its performance is responsive and snappy when playing intense games.
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is much more expensive than the best portable projectors, but its performance justifies its price, and it’s easily one of the best projectors I’ve tested.
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Prices & release date
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has crisp textures and refined detail (Image credit: Future)
Release date: October 2025
Price: $2,999 / £2,599 (roughly AU$4,599)
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship 4K portable projector, sitting above both the mid-range Horizon 20 Pro and entry-level Horizon 20. It was released in October 2025 for $2,999 / £2,599. This puts it in a similar price range as rivals such as the Anker Nebula X1, Valerian VisionMaster Pro 2 and Hisense C2 Ultra.
Since its release, the Horizon 20 Max’s price has remained the same in both the US and UK, but it has fallen to as low as $2,399 in Xgimi special offers. Minus any discounts, it sits at the premium end of the portable 4K projector market.
2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out
Weight:
11.9 pounds (5.4kg)
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Design & features
Image 1 of 2
The Horizon 20 Max's rear ports (1) and optical zoom feature (2) (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Triple RGB laser light engine
Optical zoom and obstacle avoidance
Google TV
The Horizon 20 Max feels solidly built and has a useful hinged design that lets you easily adjust its projection height. A gimbal stand allows for good rotation, without needing to move the projector itself. At 9.6 x 11.7 x 7.5 inches (249 x 298 x 190mm), its size is similar to other larger portable projectors such as the JMGO N1S Pro 4K.
The Horizon 20 Max has a triple laser DLP light engine and a rated brightness of 5,700 ISO lumens. Its throw ratio is 1.2-1.5:1, and it can project on screens ranging from 40-300 inches.
The Horizon 20 Max has several useful features for image correction, including auto and manual keystone and focus, optical zoom, 120% vertical and 45% horizontal lens shift, intelligent obstacle avoidance, wall color adaptation and eye protection.
I found these features to be impressive during my testing, with auto keystone working effectively. The optical zoom made setup easy, displaying the image with good brightness and clarity even at maximum zoom. The lens shift also proved to be a very useful tool with a wide range that let me easily align the image with the 80-inch matte white screen I used for testing.
The Horizon 20 Max supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced. It has a Filmmaker Mode, but this isn’t a standard picture preset like you’ll find on some of the best TVs, but rather a ‘Filmmaker Mode switch’ setting that can be turned on in the Display settings. 3D is also supported on the Horizon 20 Max.
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max uses Google TV as its UI (Image credit: Future)
For audio, the Horizon 20 Max has 2x 12W speakers with sound by Harmon Kardon and DTS: Virtual X support. There is support for Dolby audio, but not Dolby Atmos. Sound modes include Standard and Movie, plus a virtual surround sound setting. There is also an EQ for bass and treble adjustments.
For connections, the Horizon 20 Max has two HDMI ports (one with eARC), a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, one optical digital audio output and one analog audio output.
The Horizon 20 Max uses Google TV as its operating system and supports major streaming apps including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. Its extensive settings for both picture and audio allow for a deep level of customization.
While the Horizon 20 Max does not support 4K 120Hz, it does support VRR and ALLM for gaming and a 240Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution (as well as 4K at 60Hz). I did find that the Horizon 20 Max accepted 4K 120Hz signals from my Xbox Series X, but it was confirmed by Xgimi that this was probably being downscaled and using it could result in an “unstable or downgraded image”.
Design & features score: 4.5/5
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Picture & sound quality
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has spectacular color reproduction, making colorful scenes from movies such as The Sound of Music (pictured) really pop. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future)
High brightness
Spectacular color and good contrast
Impressive audio
For my testing, I used an 80-inch Optoma 1.0 gain matte white screen. The Horizon 20 Max measured 433 nits HDR peak brightness in both Movie and Standard mode, with light output set to Max (the default). This is a great result and easily beats other portable projectors I’ve tested like the JMGO N1S Pro, which hit 178 nits peak HDR brightness. The Horizon 20 Max’s bright picture is no surprise, given that it is rated for 5,700 ISO lumens.
When measuring the Horizon 20 Max’s native contrast ratio, it yielded a result of 1,446:1. Color accuracy in the default Movie preset was 6.8, but setting the color temperature to D65 dropped it to 3.3, a much better result. Lastly, it covered 98.9% of the DCI-P3 color space and 96.8% of the BT.2020 color space, both excellent results.
The Horizon 20 Max’s bright picture really made an impact with animated movies. Watching a 4K Dolby Vision stream of Elemental in Dolby Vision Bright picture mode, the Horizon 20 Max showed vibrant, dazzling colors that packed plenty of punch, such as in one scene where Ember runs across some crystals, changing her own flame’s color.
A scene where Maria and the children stand at a fruit market stall from the 4K Blu-ray of The Sound of Music showed impressive highlights, with the reds and yellows of the fruits popping on screen. As they made their way into the hills, the luscious green grass and clear blue of the sky were bold but still had a true-to-life look.
Switching to darker movies, the Horizon 20 Max also displayed strong contrast and rich blacks. In the crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s house on a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max had great shadow detail, with objects such as photo frames on the dark walls still visible. In both The Batman and Dark City, again on 4K Blu-ray, the Horizon 20 Max’s contrast was powerful, with lamps under people’s faces casting strong shadows. While blacks did occasionally take on a gray-blue hue, they were mostly accurate – more so than on other projectors I’ve tested, such as the JMGO N1S Pro 4K.
Black levels aren't the deepest on the Horizon 20 Max, but are still very good (Image credit: Future)
Textures throughout my viewing were crisp and detailed. Whether it was the plates in Batman’s armor in The Batman, the pockets on dark jackets of characters in Dark City, or even blades of grass in The Sound of Music, everything looked realistic.
The Horizon 20 Max’s motion handling is generally very good. Watching a soccer game on Prime Video, I found that setting MEMC to Low in picture settings produced the smoothest motion. When I next watched a panning camera shot from the movie No Time To Die where Bond walks across a rocky hillside, setting MEMC to Low also provided smooth motion without adding a soap opera effect.
The Horizon 20 Max does a solid job of upscaling SDR and lower-resolution content out of the box. An HD stream of Fight Club got an uplift in crispness and contrast. There are a number of AI settings that can be applied if you’re looking for a sharper picture, including AIPQ and AISR, with the latter having a scale from Low-High. This improves upscaling even further, and as long as you stick to the lower settings, it doesn’t make pictures look overly sharp.
Gaming performance on the Horizon 20 Max is solid, even with fast-paced games such as Battlefield V (pictured) (Image credit: Future)
The Horizon 20 Max has two built-in 12W Sound by Harmon Kardon speakers, and I was impressed by how well they performed. Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max delivered plenty of volume, with strong bass that perfectly conveyed the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine. Even car crashes had plenty of impact. Turning on surround sound in the settings made the soundstage wider, with accurate placement of effects such as screeching tires and blaring horns from vehicles. Speech was also clear throughout, whether it was dialogue or the vocals in musicals.
Gaming on the Horizon 20 Max is equally impressive. While it doesn’t support 4K 120Hz gaming, I still found gameplay to be smooth and responsive. Playing Battlefield V at both 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz, gunfights, which needed quick targeting and regular scanning of the environment, felt intuitive and snappy throughout. The Horizon 20 Max’s input lag time was 19.1ms at 4K 60Hz. When I asked Xgimi about the projector's specified 3ms input lag time, I was told that this was for a specific part of the screen. Still, the Horizon 20 Max is a great projector for gaming.
Picture and sound quality score: 4.5/5
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Premium priced
Great performance and features
Built-in Google TV
At $2,999 / £2,599, the Horizon 20 Max is a pricey portable projector. Even so, it’s priced comparably to rivals such as the Hisense C2 Ultra ($2,499 / £2,299) and the Anker Nebula X1 ($2,999 / £2,999), and delivers similar features and performance.
You can buy some of the best ultra short throw projectors, such as the Hisense PX3-Pro ($2,699 / £1,999), for cheaper. And there are cheaper portable options such as the JMGO N1S Ultra ($1,599/£1,999), but the Horizon 20 Max really is a fantastic projector for the performance and features it offers.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max?
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's brightness and extended color gamut coverage worked wonders for animated movies such as Elemental(Image credit: Disney / Future )
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Excellent features for picture adjustment and positioning. Design looks a bit old-school, but feels solidly built and premium
4.5/5
Picture and sound quality
Colorful, bright picture with strong contrast and crisp textures. Built-in sound surprisingly good and solid gaming performance too
4.5/5
Value
At the pricier end of the portable projector market, but with features and performance are great for the money
4/5
Buy it if...
You want great picture quality The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's picture is bright, with bold colors, powerful contrast, and great detail. View Deal
You want good built-in sound The Horizon 20 Max has strong built-in sound, with punchy bass, clear speech and surprisingly effective virtual surround sound. View Deal
You want a versatile projector With plenty of picture adjustment tools as well as extensive installation controls, the Horizon 20 Max is highly versatile for a portable projector. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget The Horizon 20 Max is a premium, flagship projector and as such carries the high price tag to match. View Deal
You want the full gaming experience While the Horizon 20 Max is very good for gaming, it is missing key features such as 4K 120Hz support. View Deal
You don't want to adjust your picture If you're looking for the best possible picture from the Horizon 20 Max, be prepared to spend some time in the settings. View Deal
Also consider
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max
Anker Nebula X1
Hisense C2 Ultra
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2
Price:
$2,999 / £2,599 / around AU$4,500
$2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500
$2,999 / £2,499 / AU$4,499
$2,999 / £2,599 / AU4,999
Screen sizes supported:
40-300 inches
up to 200 inches
65-300 inches
40-300 inches
Brightness (specified):
5,700 ISO lumens
3,500 ANSI lumens
3,000 ANSI lumens
3,000 ISO lumens
HDR support
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, IMAX Enhanced
Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG,
Optical technology:
Triple laser DLP
Triple laser DLP
Triple laser DLP
Triple laser DLP
Smart TV:
Google TV
Google TV
Google TV (US) / VIDAA (UK/AU)
Google TV
Connections:
2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out
2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), USB-A, USB-C, optical audio out
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
Anker Nebula X1 The Anker Nebula X1 is an excellent projector with similarly good contrast and detail. While not as bright as the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max, it is marginally cheaper and has optional external speakers that can provide better sound.
Hisense C2 Ultra The Hisense C2 Ultra is a sleeker, slightly more portable option than the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max that also delivers great picture quality. The Horizon 20 Max has a higher rated brightness, however.
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is less portable than its rivals but delivers similarly bright, bold pictures. The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has significantly more adjustment options, however, making it easier to install.
Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman Color Calibration software
I tested the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max using an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0-gain matte white screen. I first did some casual viewing to establish its most accurate picture modes for testing, landing on Movie and Dolby Vision Dark.
I primarily used 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming for HDR testing, and used lower-resolution streaming for SDR analysis. For the Horizon 20 Max's picture, I looked at brightness, color, upscaling, contrast and shadow detail. For 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.
I also tested the Horizon 20 Max's gaming capabilities using an Xbox Series X, playing at both 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz.
For objective testing, I made measurements using a test pattern generator and colorimeter, recording the results with Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software. I measured the Horizon 20 Max's peak brightness for both SDR and HDR, contrast ratio, color and grayscale accuracy, and HDR color gamut coverage for the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. I also measured its input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input lag tester.
The Xperia 1 VII is Sony’s top Android phone. It’s simultaneously refreshing among its peers and too conservative to be considered all that interesting or dynamic.
It’s very similar to its predecessor, the Sony Xperia 1 VI, but stands out as one of the few higher-end phones with a headphone jack and microSD expandable storage. These are not expensive features, but do partially come to define the Xperia 1 VII’s appeal against its rivals.
The other side of the phone is a bit more problematic. Aside from using what was at launch the latest, most powerful, Qualcomm chipset, the Xperia 1 series is falling behind in a few areas.
Charging speed, battery capacity, camera slickness, and video modes nowadays feel a little regressive in this class, and some of these areas are more limited than they were in some earlier generations of the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s family.
This would not matter so much were the Sony Xperia 1 VII not extremely expensive, but it costs more than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is the more dynamic phone.
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
Starts at £1,399 (roughly $1,870 / AU$2,885)
Launched in June 2025
The Sony Xperia 1 VII was released in June 2025, following an announcement in May.
It costs £1,399 or 1,499 euros, equivalent to around $1,870 / AU$2,885 in a direct currency conversion at the time of writing, but with no current availability in those regions. This is for the model reviewed, which has 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There is also a 512GB model in some parts of the world, but this isn't available in the UK.
In any case, that price puts the Sony Xperia 1 VII among the most expensive Android phones to date, short of unusual models encrusted with jewels or gold bling.
Value score: 2 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: specs
Here's a full specs list for the Sony Xperia 1 VII, so you can see what it has going for it at a glance:
Sony Xperia 1 VII specs
Dimensions:
162 x 74 x 8.2mm
Weight:
197g
Screen:
6.5-inch 19.5:9 FHD+ (1080 x 2340) 120Hz LTPO OLED
Chipset:
Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM:
12GB
Storage:
256GB
OS:
Android 15
Primary camera:
48MP, f/1.9, 24mm
Ultra-wide camera:
48MP, f/2.0, 16mm
Telephoto camera:
12MP, f/2.3-f/3.5, 3.5x-7.1x zoom (85-170mm)
Front camera:
12MP, f/2.0, 24mm
Audio:
Stereo speakers
Battery:
5,000mAh
Charging:
30W wired, 15W wireless
Colors:
Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: design
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Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen protection
Familiar Sony 'monolith' design
3.5mm headphone jack
Phones these days are often accused of being boring, and in many ways the Sony Xperia 1 VII is also guilty of that. It looks virtually identical to its predecessor, and is part of a design family tree so long it could shame some monarchical dynasties.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a metal and glass brick that offers very little in the way of visible outer progress in tech or style. But that’s kind of the point with this series.
Sony offers lots of the bits other manufacturers have long since discarded in the noble pursuit of copying Apple. For example, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a headphone jack, which I love as someone who actually bought a pair of wired in-ear monitors during testing.
It also has space for a microSD card in its SIM tray, and there’s no notch or punch-hole in the screen, just larger-than-most display borders. And it has a two-stage shutter button for the camera too. I’m not much of a fan of the latter these days, but Sony can make treading water seem valuable because it offers so much that other flagship phones just don’t have anymore.
Most of the build bullet points are largely beyond reproach too. The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a full metal and glass phone, with Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 up front, and aluminum sides. Its rear panel is 'just' Victus rather than its successor, which has better drop resistance, but this still provides a respectable amount of protection.
The back is also textured, with a series of embossed dots, apparent when you look real close. It’s very fingerprint-resistant, and simply gives the Sony Xperia 1 VII a different feel than that of flat glossy glass.
(Image credit: Future)
It is basically an identical feel to the Sony Xperia VI, though, especially as the two generations also have a sort-of corrugated effect to the frame.
The rectangular shape makes the Sony Xperia 1 VII feel tough, the sort of phone you could use as a bludgeoning weapon. But in previous generations I’ve found it less than ideal for the finish’s longevity. Eventually the paint will wear off the sharp corners of the frame, showing up as bright, raw aluminum highlights. A couple of weeks in, that wear is already visible on the Sony Xperia 1 VII's camera lens housing.
You can fix that with a case, of course, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII does not include one.
Like other phones in this series, the Xperia 1 VII also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor rather than an in-screen one. It doesn’t feel as instantaneous as some, and I find it annoyingly picky. As soon as I’ve done a little exercise, just a bit of sweat will cause my finger not to be recognized.
The speaker array deserves a note too. There are front-mounted stereo speakers, with the fairly full-sounding audio I’ve come to expect of top-tier phones. It may not be the loudest stereo pair among flagship phones, but I’ve happily spent many (many) hours listening to podcasts using nothing more than these speakers.
Water resistance is excellent too, as is typical for Sony. The Xperia 1 VII is rated for IP65 and IP68, for protection from immersion in fresh water and being subjected to jets of the stuff. This finish may be easy to scrape, but the phone is difficult to drown.
Design score: 3 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: display
(Image credit: Future)
Bright screen makes good use of HDR
Lower resolution than older Xperia flagships
Colorful and contrasty
This Sony series used to employ some pretty wild display panels, with ultra-tall shapes and ultra-high resolutions. But the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a far more ordinary 1080p screen that measures 6.5 inches across.
There’s no notch, it’s a totally flat panel, and this is a 120Hz OLED screen with OLED staple deep color and flawless contrast.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s default color mode has strong saturation, but there’s also a Creator mode that lowers saturation for a more measured appearance. This also kicks in as standard in apps that try to take over the color presentation of the screen, which is great.
It means your photos end up looking as they will on other well-calibrated screens, rather than severely oversaturated.
There’s nothing too special going on here, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII's screen is at least very bright. Legibility in strong direct sunlight is good, and the high peak brightness makes the most of the latest movements in HDR.
And I’m not just talking about HDR video. You’ll notice in Instagram that sometimes the highlights of the picture are brighter than the app’s white border. That’s HDR for you, and it can look great. It’s used when you look at your own photos in the gallery too, most notably bringing out the bright highlights in clouds in a very eye-catching manner.
Let’s not get carried away, though. Phones are currently on an upwards peak brightness trend thanks to the underlying OLED panel tech developing fairly rapidly in the background. Even fairly affordable phones have ridiculously high peak brightness claims — like the 3,000-nit Nothing Phone 3a.
Display score: 3.5 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: cameras
(Image credit: Future)
High-quality primary camera
Could feel more responsive and quick
Zoom is fun to use but disappoints on image quality in 2025
You’d think phones like the Sony Xperia 1 VII would have the best phone cameras in the world. A division of Sony, after all, does make almost all of the camera sensors used by the best phones.
Yet despite that the Sony Xperia 1 VII doesn't quite match the best rivals here, not in all respects anyway. While the Sony Xperia 1 VII has mostly top-tier hardware, the experience of actually using the camera doesn’t have the standard-setting gloss and slickness you might expect.
For example, the shutter doesn’t always feel instantaneous, and there’s sometimes a fractional wait between captures as you shoot single stills. The best-feeling phone cameras appear to operate as fast as your finger will go. The Sony Xperia 1 VII isn’t quite there.
Its preview image isn’t the best either. For example, Samsung provides a solid estimation of what a photo will look like before you even take it, including the effects of its HDR processing. The Sony Xperia 1 VII will sometimes show blown highlights in the preview view, even if it pretty much always fixes those highlights by the time the image hits your gallery.
As we’ve seen across the phone, much of the camera is pretty familiar compared to the last generation. The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a large-sensor 48MP primary camera and a still-unusual genuine optical zoom lens – virtually every other phone zoom has what’s known as a prime lens, where the view is fixed.
The ultra-wide gets a notable upgrade, though. Sensor resolution jumps from 12MP to 48MP, which could be good or bad depending on the sensor used. But this time it’s also a much larger sensor, jumping from 1/2.5-inch in the Xperia VI to 1/1.56-inch here. It’s one of the higher-spec ultra-wide cameras you’ll find.
Sure enough, the ultra-wide takes lovely pictures, giving the Xperia 1 VII an admirable sense of consistency between the wide and ultra-wide lenses. Colors aren’t oversaturated, instead appearing largely natural.
Are these two lenses actually equals? It’s not even close, and that becomes clear at night. The Sony Xperia 1 VII can only take (barely) passable low-light shots with the ultra-wide, lacking the dynamic range and detail of the main camera. Far-away brick work turns to mush, and it also seems the ultra-wide shots don’t get as much low-light processing either.
The main camera’s night shots are good, although Sony perhaps leans slightly less egregiously on computational photography to enhance dynamic range. This can mean photos look more natural than the norm, if also less impressive in some scenes.
(Image credit: Future)
The deficiencies of the zoom camera aren’t too hard to find either, even though having what amounts to 16mm-170mm framing versatility is amazing. This camera allows you to shoot at anywhere from 3.5x to 7.1x optical zoom, but when shooting at the further reaches of the zoom in particular, detail integrity and clarity are actually pretty poor considering we are looking at a non digitally-zoomed image.
It’s likely down to a conjunction of two factors that limit the quality of photos we’ll be able to get. There’s the lowly f/3.5 aperture – which is fine in a 'proper' camera but very poor in a mobile phone. And the sensor itself is small. That said, I’ve found that image quality issues can appear in any kind of lighting, from blazing sunshine to night.
That’s not to say the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s extreme zoom images are unusable. They can look good on the surface, but fall apart a bit when approached with a critical eye.
The zoom camera also has a kind of amazing macro mode, which is available at the 120cm focal length. You can focus at up to 4cm away from the camera. It’s enough to reveal the printed dots in a Magic the Gathering card, or the subpixels in a MacBook Air’s display. I’ve used it to identify tiny spiders, and get a closer look at ripening blackberries, but you need a steady hand as the depth of field is extremely shallow. Thankfully the Xperia 1 VII does have a focus peaking option to help out. This is where in-focus elements of the scene are highlighted.
But, stepping back once more, compared to the more conventional pericope designs in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Sony needs to up its game to compete.
For video, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has some solid skills, with some odd missing parts. It can capture 4K video at up to 120fps, and there’s a software-generated 'bokeh' blur video mode and an extra stabilized 'AI' mode.
However, where Sony used to be the master of slow-mo video, the Xperia 1 VII has no real notable skills here. Back when ultra-powered slow-mo modes became a show-off contest, there was often interpolation involved. But it was fun to play around with, and that’s largely absent here.
Around the front, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 12MP selfie camera. It’s good, capable of rendering natural-looking skin tones, and has the detail to pick out pores, single facial hairs and so on – when you aren’t obliterating such details with filters.
Camera score: 3.5 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review camera samples
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Sony Xperia 1 VII review: performance
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Gradual thermal throttling attempts to manage heat
A high-performing phone
Still gets a little too warm on occasion
The Sony Xperia 1 VII has one of the best chipsets available to Android phones in 2025. This is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. It’s enormously powerful (though now beaten by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), and here it’s paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
This will be able to handle any game you throw its way and, the largely non-processor-related camera hitches aside, general performance is great. But that's as it should be, as we have every right to expect one of the best possible processors in the Sony Xperia 1 VII, given how much it costs.
When pressure is applied, Sony takes a highly progressive approach to thermal throttling in the Xperia 1 VII. Where some phones hang on for dear life until the internal temperature sensor reaches a certain level, here the performance scales with temperature in a more fine grain way, chipping down almost from the beginning of a gaming session or benchmark test.
After 20 minutes the Xperia 1 VII ends up at 55% of its peak performance. And as that test was performed on a hot day during the summer, I also slung the phone in a fridge to see what happened with the same test. Once again, there was that very gradual loss of power, ending up with 78.8% of its max after 20 minutes.
I have also noticed that the Xperia 1 VII gets hot on occasion, which is predictably accompanied by faster power drain.
In any case, losing up to 45% of peak power may sound pretty bad, but it’s not uncommon to see up to a 55% loss in phones with these high power chipsets.
Some folks had major reliability issues with the Xperia 1 VII at launch, spurring a response from Sony itself. Thankfully, it’s been mostly smooth sailing day-to-day during testing, though.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: software
(Image credit: Future)
Sticks to the AI basics
Fewer Sony apps than some older phones
Familiar Sony interface style
The Sony Xperia 1 VII runs Android 15 and has Sony’s long-standing custom interface on top. It comes with the promise of four years of operating system version updates and six years of security patches.
There’s nothing too surprising here. It has an app drawer, one that can be arranged either alphabetically or using your own layout. Choose the latter and you can also sort apps into folders.
The only interface niggles we’ve found are that the Wi-Fi switch wasn’t put in the feature toggle drop-down as standard, and that the standby behavior and lock screen layout means it’s easy to accidentally have podcasts or songs skip while the phone is in your pocket.
These are not problems without fixes, but they are annoying.
(Image credit: Future)
A while back, Sony went big on its own apps, including multiple camera apps for enthusiasts and the point ’n’ shoot crowd. It made a minor splash at the time, but all that has mostly been scaled back in favor of simplicity.
And, let’s be honest, having to maintain multiple apps for the same job has got to be a pain.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII gets a single camera app, a basic video editor, the Music Pro multi-track recorder app, and what Sony calls the Creators’ App. This is part social network, part a way to bring over the photos taken with your 'proper' Sony camera(s).
Sony’s concept here does kind of make sense, to bring together the other sides of Sony’s wider business to lend the Xperia 1 VII additional credibility. It desperately wants to make phones for creatives, but doesn’t really have a hope in hell of bringing many of them over to its stable, especially as there are alternatives to all of these apps floating around, ones with more workflow-boosting features.
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This phone also does not have an app pre-installed that lets you use the phone as an external monitor for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras, despite that feature once being hailed as a photographer’s USP for buying a top-tier Xperia. I did install a Sony app that appeared to do that job, but it also appears to be largely brand-agnostic on the phone side, and I’m primarily a Fuji camera user anyway.
Sony has not gone heavy on AI software in the way other manufacturers have – which may be appealing or a turn-off depending on your tastes. It is here, though. Long-press the side power button and Google Gemini AI appears. There’s just not much in the way of Sony-made AI features, which is probably for the best given how at-risk they’d be of coming across as superfluous and try-hard.
Software score: 3 / 5
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: battery
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Bottom rung 'fast' charging
One-day real-world battery life
5,000mAh capacity
The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 5,000mAh battery, just like its predecessor. I have found that with my use it lasts a solid day and no more.
Is it worse than last year’s model? Perhaps not, or at least not hugely, but Sony has not caught up with one of the new meaningful developments in phone tech of late. This is the silicon-carbon battery, which allows for higher-capacity batteries in the same size of cell.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII lasts a full day with my kind of use, but rarely has much spare to keep it going overnight or into the next day. On a couple of occasions – usually when I’ve watched too much YouTube – it has needed an evening top-up too. And, as noted earlier, there have been moments when it has inexplicably got warmer than it should, indicative of excess power drain.
I think if you are able to get Sony’s claimed two-day use, you’re not using your phone intensively enough to justify one this pricey.
Charging speeds are not particularly impressive either, as 30W is the power ceiling. Sony does not include a power adapter with the phone, but plenty of non-Sony plugs will be able to charge it at max speed, over USB-PD.
A full charge from flat took 88 minutes, while it reached 50% in a much better-sounding 29 minutes. It’s not a real fast charger, and is now also beaten by Samsung – not a fast-charging pioneer either, but at least top phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra support 45W charging.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII can be charged wirelessly too, but at up to a dismal 15W. Reverse wireless charging is in as well, though, which should come in handy if you have wireless earphones that support Qi charging.
Battery score: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
Sony Xperia 1 VII score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The phone costs a fortune. And while it has the raw power expected at this level, and uses great materials, it’s not clear Sony has really done enough to justify asking for this.
2 / 5
Design
It’s that same old Sony design. Largely impeccable materials and great water resistance, but the brick-like shape creates areas that wear down quickly, and Sony doesn’t include a case.
3 / 5
Display
It’s bright and it has OLED color and contrast. But it’s also pretty ordinary considering the panels Sony used to employ. You don’t miss much, other than the sense you’re paying a lot for a screen like this.
3.5 / 5
Software
Sony offers us some creative apps we imagine most buyers will ignore, but the rest of the software is business as usual. Android 15 with a layer of Sony interface pasted on top, and no obvious AI obsession for better or worse.
3 / 5
Camera
A zero-fat camera array like this is what we want to see. And the phone can take beautiful pictures. It could be better on the slickness of the experience, though, and the zoom is falling behind rivals despite sounding great on paper.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is swiftly and progressively throttled in the phone to manage heat. A sensible move, if not one the techy gamers may love.
4 / 5
Battery
We’re in the process of seeing a big leap in phone battery capacities. But Sony isn’t there yet, and this phone doesn’t last more than a day in our experience. Fast charging needs to improve too.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You want a phone with a headphone jack Old-school in a great way, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a high-quality 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been a rarity in all but budget phones for years now.
You are a big Sony Alpha mirrorless camera fan The phone has software to link up to your 'proper' camera’s photo library, and the screen is a great way to review photos.
You just love Sony’s style Recognizable from way further than arm’s length to any phone geek, Sony’s phone design hasn’t changed much over the years, and fans may be glad of it.
Don't buy it if...
You want cutting-edge tech While it has a high-end Snapdragon chipset, other areas of the device do not feel as though they are pushing at the edge of what’s possible in phone tech.
You want a deal This is one of the most expensive Android phones in existence, and there’s a good argument that Sony doesn’t really justify the outlay fully.
You love fast charging 30W power supply support means the Xperia 1 VII takes almost 90 minutes to charge from flat, which seems a lot in 2025.
Sony Xperia 1 VII review: Also consider
Not sure about the Sony? Here are a few alternative options.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra There are plenty of more aggressive and competitively priced phones at this level. The perhaps most obvious one is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has better zoom skills, costs less and has a larger screen. There’s no headphone jack, of course.
Google Pixel 9 Pro The Google Pixel 9 Pro sticks with a smaller screen, costs loads less and still has a solid 5x camera zoom. It makes much more use of software AI, though whether that’s your bag or not depends on your proclivities.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an alternative you might not instantly think of. It uses more aggressive camera hardware, and has a larger, faster-charging battery. A more cutting-edge design also fits in a significantly larger screen even though the phone itself is only fractionally wider.
Testing included: everyday use, photography, long days away from a charger, a weekend away
Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark
The Sony Xperia 1 VII was used as my primary phone for several weeks, to get the best idea of how it works. I took hundreds of photos with its cameras, and used it during a weekend away, with long days away from the charger.
Some benchmark performance testing was done too, in order to back up, or potentially challenge, observations I found from my everyday phone use. However, there were not any grand surprises to be found in those benchmarks anyway.
The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is the latest, and least expensive, member of Epson's LS series of projectors. At $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299, this entry-level dedicated home theater projector is notably cheaper than comparable options from JVC and Sony, yet still comes with a bevy of great features and performance to match.
Epson’s Pro Cinema LS9000 follows in the footsteps of the Epson LS12000 model that currently sits a the top of TechRadar’s Best Projectors list. The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 aims to continue this excellence, employing the same 15-element glass VRX lens structure, laser light engine, and 3LCD technology as the LS12000.
Similar to the step-up LS12000, the Pro Cinema LS9000 supports 4K 120Hz signals, has relatively low input lag for gaming, and is compatible with the HDR10+ high dynamic range format. Its motorized lens shift, zoom, and focus make setup adjustments easy, and out of the box in Natural picture mode, it delivers accurate colors and a crisp image.
Even with all the great inclusions, some missing features reflect the LS9000’s entry-level status. The most glaring is a lack of dynamic tone mapping, which is also missing from the other LS series projectors that were originally released a few years ago, but is starting to show up in some less expensive home theater models. With a rated 2,200 lumens brightness (white and color), it’s also best suited for a home theater room with decent ambient light control, as opposed to a multi-purpose living space with light streaming in through windows.
Still, the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 offers incredible performance for the price. It’s a solid projector that’s easy to set up, but still offers the ability to tweak and play with image settings that a new (or frugal) home projection enthusiast is sure to love.
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Price & release date
The LS9000's 2,200 lumens brightness spec is comparable to many other home theater projectors (Image credit: Future)
Release date: July 2025
Price: $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299
The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 made its debut in July 2025 at the Audio Advice Live show in Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s the least expensive of Epson’s Pro Cinema laser projectors, coming in at $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299. For comparison, the Home Cinema LS11000 retails for $4,499 (up from $3,999 when released) and the LS12000 now goes for $5,999 (up from $4,999 at release).
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Specs
Screen sizes supported:
50-300 inches
Brightness (specified):
2,200 Lumens
HDR support:
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Optical technology:
3LCD laser diode
Smart TV:
N/A
Connections:
2x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC), 2x USB-A (one 300mA for optical HDMI power, one 5V/2A for power and firmware), Mini USB (service), RJ45 (control), RS-232c, 3.5mm (12V trigger)
Dimensions (H x W x D):
7.6 x 20.5 x 17.6 inches (193 x 520 x 447mm)
Weight:
28 pounds (12.7kg)
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Design & features
The projector's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)
Motorized zoom, focus, and lens shift
4K 120Hz support
Motorized lens cover
The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 shares the same look as its bigger siblings, the Pro Cinema LS12000 and Home Cinema LS11000, and the high-lumen Epson QB1000 released in late 2024. The chassis is large and a bit heavy (the Sony Bravia Projector 7 weighs less, but the JVC DLA-NZ5 weighs a little more), but I find the design and its black color to look sleeker than its heft lets on. All connections are on the back panel alongside touch controls if the remote is misplaced.
The look is not where the similarities to the LS11000 and LS12000 end. Inside, the LS9000 uses the same VRX lens with a 15-element glass structure and has Epson’s 4K 3LCD design architecture with three 0.74-inch LCD panels.
As is the case with all Epson projectors, the LS9000 uses pixel-shifting technology to achieve a 4K resolution from 1080p chips. Some enthusiasts complain about this not being “True 4K” and as lesser than the use of native 4K chips, but the 4K image from the LS9000 (and every other Epson that uses pixel-shifting technology) is detailed and crisp, especially from a normal viewing distance. The chip also allows for a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.
The laser light source is specified for 2,200 lumens of both color (IDMS rated) and white (ISO rated) light output and has up to 20,000 hours of life in all modes. This is where the LS9000’s performance separates from the LS11000 and LS12000, which are rated at 2,500 and 2,700 lumens, respectively, and partially accounts for the difference in pricing. The blue laser diode array emits light through a fixed yellow phosphor (first released with the LS12000), as opposed to a phosphor wheel, to create white light, and the laser light source and fixed phosphor allow it to run silently.
The lower lumen output makes the LS9000 more suitable for a dark room – or at the very least, a light-controlled room — than the more expensive, higher light output projectors. But as I’ll discuss below, it still delivers enough brightness for daytime viewing.
There’s a generous +/- 24% horizontal and +/- 96% vertical powered lens shift on the LS9000, along with powered zoom (a ratio of 1-1.2) and focus that can be controlled from the remote to make setup adjustments easy. The projector’s throw ratio is 1.35-2.84:1. There’s also vertical and horizontal keystone correction (+/- 30 degrees), but with the amount of lens shift available, keystone correction likely won’t be necessary (and should always be avoided, if possible, as it can negatively affect the picture).
The LS9000 is compatible with an anamorphic lens kit (sold separately) and third-party options. A memory feature allows you to save image adjustments and lens positioning for different aspect ratio setups, and the lens is also protected by a motorized lens cover that opens and closes with the power cycle.
The LS9000 supports HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+ high dynamic range, and has two HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K 120Hz. While that’s great news for gamers, the projector doesn’t support ALLM, so you’ll need to manually switch the image processing from Fine to Fast for the lowest input lag. HDMI2 also supports eARC, so if you decide to connect a streaming stick directly to the projector, you can send out audio including Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio, and DTS:X formats.
One thing missing from the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is dynamic HDR tone mapping. Instead, there’s an HDR Dynamic Range slider that allows you to manually adjust the brightness of the HDR image.
The projector’s remote is a bit chunky, but the keypad is backlit and has all the necessary buttons to make easy adjustments while viewing. There are dedicated buttons to call up features like Fine/Fast (for gaming), different lens memory positions, signal information, lens adjustment, and color modes.
Design & features score: 4.5/5
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Picture quality
The LS900 has a sizeable, fully backlit remote control with numerous buttons to make adjustments directly, bypassing onscreen setup menus (Image credit: Future)
Accurate image in Natural picture mode
HDR10+ support
No dynamic tone mapping
The LS9000 has five different picture modes — Dynamic, Vivid, Bright Cinema, Cinema, and Natural — and they are the same for both standard and high dynamic range sources. Each mode produces a watchable image out of the box, although all of them have some degree of blue tint to the grayscale, with Natural being the most accurate choice for both SDR and HDR.
The default color temperature setting of 6500K is still slightly on the blue side, but switching it to 6000K causes the color temperature to be a little too red. If you choose to do a professional calibration, you can use two different picture modes – one for SDR and one for HDR – and save them with the Image Memory setting.
Out of the box SDR measurements in Natural picture mode had an average Delta E of 2.8, with some grayscale reaching above 4 because of the blue bias. A calibration can get all dE down below 2.1, with many under 1. UHDA-P3 color gamut coverage measured 90.25%, while BT.2020 came in at 66.86%.
Brightness in Dynamic mode with my unit was 2,062 lumens, but that’s still within the measurement tolerance of ISO lumens, and due to the positioning of my projector, the image was zoomed in a bit, which causes the brightness to come down. It’s enough brightness for a watchable image in a room with ambient light (even with Natural picture mode, which is visibly less bright than other modes), but there’s a loss of shadow detail due to the light reflecting on the screen.
Where the projector really excels is when the lights are off. Colors look accurate and inviting, detail in both SDR and HDR is sharp, and the projector exhibits great contrast and shadow detail with the Dynamic Contrast setting at High Speed. The contrast isn’t as impressive as on the LS12000, which I evaluated a few years ago, but for the price, the LS9000 does an excellent job.
The LS9000 excels for dark room viewing (Image credit: Future)
The HDR image does require some tweaking at times. Occasionally, bright highlights can cause some clipping — such as when the shark cage is lowered into the water in The Meg, and we can see the bright sun refracting through the ocean water. In this instance, I adjusted the dynamic range slider from its default of 8 to 10 (which slightly backs off the scene brightness).
Through most of my viewing, I played around with the slider, not just to address high brightness clipping, but also to see its effect on image depth. Generally, I found myself setting it between 8 and 10, with the Battle of Pelennor Fields in Return of the King at 8 and day scenes during Mad Max: Fury Road at a 9 for a bit more depth. None of the adjustments were life-altering, and I wouldn’t suggest changing the dynamic range slider mid-movie, but you’ll learn your preferences. This is where dynamic tone mapping is missed.
Home theater projectors have historically struggled to provide input lag low enough for gaming, but with two HDMI 2.1 ports that are capable of 4K 120Hz, the LS9000 is screaming to be used as a gaming projector. The Image Processing menu allows you to select a setting of Fine or Fast (which provides a lower input lag). With the Fast setting and a 4K 60Hz signal, the lag measured at 20ms (it’s 44ms with the Fine setting). Unfortunately, there’s no ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), so you’ll need to manually switch the setting when you game or watch content.
Input lag is low enough on the LS9000 to satisfy a non-competitive gamer (my son still enjoyed his time playing Minecraft). During my second playthough of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which relies on dodge and parry reactions during combat, I was able to still make it through combat without issue. Someone who regularly plays first-person shooter games will likely feel a difference between the LS9000 and one of the best gaming TVs, but for the vast majority of us, the Epson will deliver a great gaming experience.
Picture quality score: 4.5/5
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Value
The LS9000's 1.35-2.84:1 throw ratio allows for installations at the rear of the viewing space (Image credit: Future)
Great performance for the price
Solid gaming projector
Missing an important home theater feature
The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is not only the least expensive model in the LS series, it’s one of the most affordable premium home theater projectors – the JVC DLA-NP5, which is a lamp-based model, retails for $6,000, as does the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, which came out three years ago.
Not only is the LS9000 brighter than both of those projectors, it also has a collection of features neither of them has, including a high-quality laser light engine, HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz and eARC support, an excellent lens with motorized adjustments and lens cover, zoom and image memory, and 2,200 lumens of brightness.
There are still some compromises that must be made. Its biggest flaw is a lack of dynamic tone mapping, which we’re seeing in projectors half the price of the LS9000, like the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. The LS9000 also doesn’t have 3D support, isn’t as bright as the step-up options from Epson, and is missing ALLM for gaming. But even so, the projector delivers a detailed picture with accurate color, which looks very engaging in a dark room. Also, the 20ms input lag time and 4K 120Hz support make gaming a joy on the big screen.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000?
(Image credit: Future)
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Motorized zoom, focus, and lens shift, along with 4K 120Hz and HDR10+ support
4.5/5
Picture quality
Accurate color in Natural mode, along with solid contrast, fine 4K picture detail, and low input lag for gaming
4.5/5
Value
A very good value compared to other 4K home theater projectors, most of which cost several thousands more
4/5
Buy it if...
You’re building your first serious home theater If you’re making the jump from a basic projector to one truly designed for a 4K home theater, the LS9000 delivers an incredibly pleasing picture that rivals home theater offerings from JVC and Sony.View Deal
You also want a great gaming experience It might not have ALLM, but the Pro Cinema LS9000 supports 4K 120Hz, and its input lag is low enough for all but the most competitive gamers.View Deal
You want HDR10+ support Since the LS9000 doesn’t have dynamic tone mapping, watching HDR10+ content (with its dynamic metadata) will deliver the best dynamic content.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want dynamic HDR tone mapping The LS9000, like its bigger siblings, doesn’t support dynamic tone mapping, instead relying on a manual dynamic range slider to adjust the HDR image.View Deal
You plan on watching with lots of ambient light While 2,200 lumens is a good brightness spec, ambient light causes the image to look a bit washed out, which makes seeing shadow detail difficult.View Deal
Watching 3D movies is a priority 3D isn’t supported by the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 (or by the LS11000 and LS12000), so you’ll need to look elsewhere for your 3D fix.View Deal
Also consider
Comparison: projectors
Epson Pro Cinema LS9000
Epson Pro Cinema LS12000
JVC DLA-NZ700
Sony Bravia Projector 7
Price:
$3,999
$4,999
$8.999
$9,999
Screen sizes supported:
50-300 inches
50 to 130 inches
30 to 150 inches
90 to 130 inches
Brightness (specified):
2,200 lumens
2,500 lumens
2,300 lumens
2,200 lumens
HDR support
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
HDR10, HLG
Optical technology:
Laser 3LCD
Laser 3LCD
Laser D-ILA
Laser SXRD
Smart TV:
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Connections:
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)
2x HDMI 2.0
2x HDMI 2.1
Epson LS12000
The LS12000 is the step-up model in Epson's Pro Cinema projector lineup. Rated for 2,700 lumens, it has a brighter picture than the LS9000 and also supports HDR10+ high dynamic range and a 4K 120Hz refresh rate for gaming. Other than brightness, the LS9000 and LS12000 are mostly similar when it comes to features and performance.
The JVC DLA-N700 is a big jump up in price over the LS9000, and it lacks Epson's 4K 120Hz support. At a rated 2,300 lumens, brightness is about the same, but the JVC features a native 4K display chipset and sophisticated dynamic HDR tone mapping to augment its HDR10+ high dynamic range support.
Like the JVC DLA-N700, Sony's entry-level projector is a big step up in price over the Epson, costing around $10,000. Its brightness spec is the same 2.200 lumens and it lacks the Epson's HDR10+ support. What you are getting with the Sony is 4K 120Hz and ALLM support for gaming, along with a native 4K display. It also has dynamic HDR tone mapping and Sony’s XR Processor for projector, which improves detail and clarity of images blown up to a cinematic size.
Measured and calibrated with professional software and hardware
I am ISF-certified and have years of experience reviewing projectors
The Epson LS9000 laser projector was connected to my ceiling mount, approximately 11 feet from an Elite Screens CineTension 3 ISF-certified CineWhite screen. Using the Epson’s zoom and lens adjustment controls, the image was adjusted to fit the 100-inch diagonal screen.
I watched a wide range of content with both ambient light from the sun and ceiling lighting during the day and a dark, light-controlled environment at night. Movies and TV shows were streamed with an Apple TV 4K from the Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu apps. I also used a Kaleidescape Strato V for high-quality movie playback, along with 4K Blu-ray discs played on an Oppo UDP-203 disc player. Games were played on an Xbox Series X.
For objective measurement testing, I used an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Murideo Seven-G 8K pattern generator, Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and Calman calibration software by Portrait Displays. Input lag tests were made with a Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester.
I’ve been testing projectors and other displays for a couple of decades, and am an ISF Level III certified calibrator.
The Hisense U75QG is a solid performer that packs a lot of features in for the price. Typically, flagship TVs are the ones that get the most attention, but people usually aren’t buying the best of the best from any brand. Instead, buying considerations usually fall to midrange TVs like this one.
The Hisense U75QG is a mini-LED display that delivers brightness we generally don’t see from TVs in this price range – I measured over 3,000 nits in HDR Filmmaker Mode, a level that exceeds many of the best TVs from most manufacturers. That makes the U7 an excellent choice for bright spaces where ambient light is difficult to control, such as a living room with large picture windows.
Accuracy with SDR sources is impressive, so while watching broadcast TV or non-HDR streamed shows, the U75QG will deliver nice, accurate colors. HDR has a few issues in color temperature and accuracy, but they’re not drastic enough to distract and pull you out of the viewing experience. They can also be mostly corrected with a professional calibration, if you’re up for spending extra for that.
The U75QG’s Google TV OS is, as expected, quick to use and easy to navigate. Google has been the top built-in smart TV platform for a few years now, and Hisense uses it well. Picture adjustments are easy to find and change, especially with a Settings button on the backlit remote, and the Google Store offers hundreds of apps for download, including all the major streamers and smaller ones as well. And for those that want over-the-air broadcasts, the U75QG includes a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner.
The Hisense has great gaming support, with the ability for high refresh rate up to 165Hz on all four HDMI 2.1 ports, with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium, Dolby Vision gaming, and a game bar to easily access gaming settings. There are some issues with image smearing when using VRR that can detract a little, but casual gamers should be more than happy with the features and performance.
Hisense TVs always see an almost immediate dip in pricing after release, and the same has happened with the U75QG. Those discounts make it an even better value, and it stacks up well against the TCL QM7K – its primary competitor. When everything is taken into account, the Hisense U75QG stands as one of the best value midrange TVs I’ve seen in 2025.
Hisense U75QG review: Price and release date
The Hisense U75QG's picture is bright enough to even watch in well-lit rooms (Image credit: Future)
Release date: May 2025
55-inch: $1,300
65-inch: $1,500
75-inch: $1,999
85-inch: $2,499
100-inch: $4,999
116-inch: $21,999
The U75QG is Hisense’s midrange mini-LED TV, falling between the Hisense U8QG and U65QF (a model that uses the Amazon Fire TV OS) in its lineup. The series ranges in size from a 55-inch to a massive 116-inch model – the largest Hisense mini-LED TV available. As is typical for Hisense TVs, prices for all models, apart from the 116-inch, have fallen significantly since the series was released in May. The 55-inch TV can now be found for as little as $698, with prices ranging to just under $3,000 for the 100-inch.
The U75QG pricing is similar to the TCL QM7K, the midrange competitor from that manufacturer. Although the Hisense is currently $100 to $700 more expensive than the TCL, depending on screen size.
The U75QG's ports are split between side-mounted and rear-mounted input sections (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
Hi-View AI Engine Pro processor
VA panel with good anti-reflection
The U75QG is a mini-LED TV with an anti-reflection VA panel, which does a great job handling ambient room light reflections. The VA panel does not provide it with wide viewing angles, however, with desaturated colors and raised black levels easily visible starting at around 30 degrees off-center.
Hisense upgraded last year’s Hi-View Engine Pro found in the U7N to the Hi-View AI Engine Pro, which is the same processor the company is using in its step-up U8QG model. Hisense claims improved performance over the previous chip with a 1.6x faster CPU, 2.2x faster GPU, and 1.5x faster NPU, all to deliver a better optimized image.
The Hisense U75QG includes wide-ranging HDR support, including both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ dynamic formats. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive modes use the TV’s processing power to automatically adjust the picture based on the ambient light viewing conditions in your room. Dolby Vision Gaming is included, and, of course, the TV supports HDR10 and HLG.
Console and PC gamers will be happy with the included features on the U75QG. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support a refresh rate up to 165Hz with a Game Booster 288Hz (at 1080p), VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Hisense Game Bar, and the aforementioned HDR gaming modes. Although, as we’ll get into below, there are some minor clarity issues with gaming on the U75QG.
The U75QG runs the Google TV OS, which allows access to thousands of streaming apps. It also has an ATSC 3.0 tuner for those in areas that are broadcasting NextGen TV signals.
Features Score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Picture quality
The U75QG's picture displays good color accuracy (Image credit: Future)
Incredibly bright for a midrange TV
Impressive SDR color accuracy
HDR benefits from a pro calibration
Hisense has been a leader over the past few years in pushing display brightness to its limits, so there’s no surprise that the U75QG gets nice and bright, especially for a midrange TV. With local dimming and peak brightness set to High, and using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software, in Filmmaker Mode from a 10% window, the Hisense blasts out 3,126 nits. That’s more than double what its predecessor, the Hisense U7N, was capable of, and more than the flagship Sony Bravia 9 mini-LED TV. A fullscreen white measurement tops out at 780 nits.
With local dimming on, the Hisense also delivers deep blacks even when there are some bright images on screen. During starfield shots — the opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi or many scenes in Gravity — there’s excellent separation between the stars, especially for a mid-tier mini-LED TV, and there isn’t a significant amount of blooming along the edges of the Shuttle Explorer against the darkness of space. When bright objects are moving, the blooming is exacerbated a little bit, but overall performance is still great for the price of the TV.
Measurements in Filmmaker Mode out of the box show the U75QG tracks the target EOTF (gamma for HDR) beautifully, so the TV isn’t overbrightening the midtones at all. HDR color accuracy also leaves a little to be desired, with things like grass being a little yellow and skin tones slightly undersaturated. None of this takes away from the overall enjoyment of a movie or TV show, though.
The U75QG excels with SDR content. Grayscale tracks D65 across the range incredibly well, with an average dE of 0.8 and 2.4 gamma. Colors are also impressively accurate for a midrange TV, with skin tones in particular looking exactly as they should.
It’s possible to get similar performance with HDR content. The U75QG has an autocal feature in Calman, the software TechRadar uses to measure TVs, so the TV can be easily calibrated within just a few minutes by a TV calibration professional. And after calibration, the TV’s accuracy is significantly better. Some color temperature issues remain in brighter grays, but if you’re able to make it happen, a calibration is worth it to get the most out of the U75QG.
Picture quality score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Sound quality
A rear-mounted subwoofer adds some low-end heft to the U75QG's sound (Image credit: Future)
2.1.2-channel speaker system
Clear dialogue
Would benefit from a soundbar
The back of the U75QG features an oval subwoofer, part of the TV’s 2.1.2-channel speaker system. Along its edges are speakers to handle the left and right channels, as well as two up-firing speakers for height. In my room, I didn’t find that the up-firing speakers accomplished much, and there isn’t a room calibration system to make them work better.
Overall sound performance is above average for a TV. There’s a decent amount of bass and vocal clarity is good, but it’s still worth pairing the TV with one of the best soundbars for a more immersive experience.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
Hisense U75QG review: Design
The U75QG's "pedestal stand" is actually two support feet with a plastic plate mounted on top (Image credit: Future)
Center pedestal is really two feet with a plastic plate
High enough lift for soundbar
Backlit remote control
The Hisense U75QG has a slightly redesigned stand over last year’s U7N. It still utilizes a center pedestal, but instead of a trapezoidal design, the U75QG consists of two feet that are covered by a rectangular plastic plate. The TV feels sturdy on its stand, although the plastic cover is a bit flimsy – which is honestly to be expected at this price point.
While the stand lifts the TV a little over three inches to accommodate a soundbar, the front sticks out a bit, so some extra space on your credenza or table will be needed to put the soundbar in front of it. The 100- and 116-inch models use two separated legs instead of the pedestal base.
The TV is a bit on the thick side, and more so than the comparable TCL QM7K by about half an inch. Connections are split between two panels. The majority are side-facing — including four 165Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 ports (one eARC), the ATSC 3.0 coax inputs, a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5 mm audio out, and an AV in (which requires an adapter). An additional USB 2.0 port, optical digital audio out, and Ethernet port are in a rear-facing cutout. If you plan to use wired Ethernet and wall-mount the TV, this could cause some mounting issues and require the TV to be slightly out from the wall to keep the Ethernet cable from bending and putting stress on the connection. The U75QG supports a Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection as well.
The remote is the same as the one that was introduced with 2024 Hisense TVs. It’s a long silver handset with backlit buttons, which include settings and input buttons (these are sadly absent from some competitors’ remotes). Because of its length, reaching all the buttons – at least for my average-sized hand – required some jostling of the remote, but overall the design is comfortable and easy to use.
Design score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Smart TV and menus
The U75QG's Google TV smart interface (Image credit: Future)
Google TV OS
Loads of streaming apps available
Some ads on the home page
Google TV is the OS of choice for the U7 series, and it runs well on the TV. The OS is one of the best built-in options when it comes to the combination of usability and streaming app support. On the U75QG, home page navigation is quick, and menus are intuitive. There are thousands of apps available for download – including the major streaming ones such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV – as well as more niche options not included on all platforms, like F1 TV and Dropout.
The gear button on the remote pulls up the menus for adjusting any TV settings. There’s a selection of quick access menus for things like Picture and Sound, or you can call up the full settings menu. It’s pretty easy to navigate and find what you’re looking for — different settings are sensibly placed instead of hidden under a multitude of submenus.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Gaming
Hisense's Game Bar onscreen menu (Image credit: Future)
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 165Hz support
9.8ms input lag time
FreeSync Premium Pro
The TV has lots of features meant to satisfy gamers, and for the most part, gamers will be happy with the U75QG. The four HDMI 2.1 inputs accept high refresh rate signals up to 165Hz from a computer in 4K, and Game Booster allows for 1080p/288Hz gaming. Consoles will be able to play games at 120Hz with VRR (including HDMI Forum VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and G-Sync compatibility) and Dolby Vision gaming.
The U75QG has the Hisense Game Bar, where adjustments can quickly be made to settings like Dark Detail, Brightness, the Game Genre, and for adding a crosshair for aiming. It also displays your current frame rate, HDR, VRR, and ALLM status.
When in Game/PC picture mode, the input lag on the U75QG with a 4K 60Hz signal is a very low 9.8ms. It’s excellent for gamers who regularly play against others, or for reaction-based games. I played a good amount of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which requires some button timing for dodges and parries, and didn’t feel any lag.
While I found gaming on the U75QG to be an overall good experience, there’s some smearing when VRR is on, particularly with bright objects across a darker background, that can be a bit distracting. I saw this more when using my PC (from an RTX 4070 Ti Super) than on console, so if you’re a PC gamer, you might also see this more.
Gaming score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Value
The U75QG's backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)
Excellent picture quality for the price
Really needs a soundbar for best experience
Four HDMI 2.1 ports and backlit remote
Hisense has been delivering significant value from its televisions for years now, and that continues with the U75QG, which might deliver the best performance-to-price ratio of any Hisense TV. Hisense historically lowers its TV pricing after release by a good bit, and the TVs are always on sale during shopping events, so that increases its value proposition even further.
The midrange TV market is fierce, though. The U75QG’s primary competitor is the TCL QM7K, another solid performer with high value. It’s not nearly as bright as the Hisense, and it also has some HDR inaccuracies (overly blue grayscale and some color issues) out of the box. Only two of the TCL’s HDMI ports are version 2.1, as well, although I prefer its overall design.
It gets interesting when we compare against the next tier up. The TCL QM8K has had some deep discounts recently, putting it within a couple of hundred dollars of the Hisense. At that price, the TCL is an absolute steal. Not only is it a much better TV than both the U75QG and QM7K, I think it's one of the best TCL TVs ever made – although the TCL QM9K likely takes that title.
Value score: 4.5/5
Should I buy the Hisense U75QG?
(Image credit: Future)
Hisense U75QG
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Good HDR support and gaming features
4/5
Picture quality
Excellent brightness and great overall picture quality for the price
4/5
Sound quality
2.1.2-channel speakers deliver clear dialogue but limited height effects with Atmos soundtracks
3.5/5
Design
Good overall design with backlit remote and plentiful connections
4/5
Smart TV and menus
Google TV is a solid smart interface with plenty of apps
4/5
Gaming
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz support but some picture smearing with VRR, particularly with PCs
4/5
Value
A great overall value given the TV's picture quality and features
4.5/5
Buy it if...
You want a good all-around TV While the U75QG isn’t without flaws, its overall performance is impressive for the price.
Your TV room is bathed in ambient light Brightness output from the Hisense is more than other comparable TVs and stands up well against uncontrollable ambient light.
You have multiple gaming consoles/PCs The Hisense U75QG has four HDMI 2.1 165Hz-compatible inputs, while its main competitor, the TCL QM7K, only has two. If you have multiple consoles and a PC to connect, the U75QG is the pick.
Don't buy it if…
You’re looking for top-tier gaming performance The U75QG has decent gaming performance and a nice game bar option, but its VRR performance doesn’t match competitors.
You want amazing sound from a TV The sound performance is okay, but you’ll really want to add a soundbar for a better sonic experience.
You watch events with big groups Picture quality degrades pretty quickly as you move from off from center screen, so any friends that are over and have to sit to the side will see a lower-quality image.
Also consider...
Hisense U75QG
TCL QM7K
Hisense U8QG
Samsung QN90F
Price (65-inch)
$1,500
$1,499
$2,199
$2,499
Screen type
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
Refresh rate
Up to 165Hz
Up to 144Hz
Up to 165Hz
165Hz
HDR support
Dolby Vision IQ//HDR10+ Adaptive/HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Google TV
Google TV
Google TV
Tizen
HDMI ports
4 HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
3x HDMI 2.1
4x HDMI 2.1
TCL QM7K The TCL QM7K is another great mid-range mini-LED TV with an affordable price tag. It has a better design than the Hisense, but its picture isn't as powerfully bright and its gaming flexibility is limited by having only two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Hisense U8QG The Hisense U8QG has a similar feature set to the U75QG but a better overall design with a sturdy aluminum pedestal stand. Its picture brightness is about the same, although the U8QG's 4.1.2-channel speaker array provides more immersive sound. It's a bit more expensive than the U75QG but not by much.
Samsung QN90F The Samsung QN90F is the best mini-LED TV on the market when you take into account picture quality, design, and gaming features and performance. It's notably more expensive than the Hisense U75QG but has much better off-axis picture uniformity and is also available in a wide range of sizes, including 43- and 98-inch models.
Used a variety of test material from streaming and discs
I watched a wide range of content on the Hisense U75QG, including movies and TV shows streaming from the built-in Google TV OS on Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu. I also used a Kaleidescape Strato V for high-quality movies, along with 4K UHD Blu-ray discs played on an Oppo UDP-203 disc player. Games were played on an Xbox Series X.
For grayscale and color accuracy testing, I used a Portrait Displays C6 HDR5000 colorimeter profiled to an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Murideo Seven-G 8K pattern generator, Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and Calman calibration software by Portrait Displays. I used a Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester to check input lag.
I’ve been testing TVs, monitors, and projectors for a few decades, and am an ISF Level III certified calibrator.
The Hisense U75QG is a solid performer that packs a lot of features in for the price. Typically, flagship TVs are the ones that get the most attention, but people usually aren’t buying the best of the best from any brand. Instead, buying considerations usually fall to midrange TVs like this one.
The Hisense U75QG is a mini-LED display that delivers brightness we generally don’t see from TVs in this price range – I measured over 3,000 nits in HDR Filmmaker Mode, a level that exceeds many of the best TVs from most manufacturers. That makes the U7 an excellent choice for bright spaces where ambient light is difficult to control, such as a living room with large picture windows.
Accuracy with SDR sources is impressive, so while watching broadcast TV or non-HDR streamed shows, the U75QG will deliver nice, accurate colors. HDR has a few issues in color temperature and accuracy, but they’re not drastic enough to distract and pull you out of the viewing experience. They can also be mostly corrected with a professional calibration, if you’re up for spending extra for that.
The U75QG’s Google TV OS is, as expected, quick to use and easy to navigate. Google has been the top built-in smart TV platform for a few years now, and Hisense uses it well. Picture adjustments are easy to find and change, especially with a Settings button on the backlit remote, and the Google Store offers hundreds of apps for download, including all the major streamers and smaller ones as well. And for those that want over-the-air broadcasts, the U75QG includes a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner.
The Hisense has great gaming support, with the ability for high refresh rate up to 165Hz on all four HDMI 2.1 ports, with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium, Dolby Vision gaming, and a game bar to easily access gaming settings. There are some issues with image smearing when using VRR that can detract a little, but casual gamers should be more than happy with the features and performance.
Hisense TVs always see an almost immediate dip in pricing after release, and the same has happened with the U75QG. Those discounts make it an even better value, and it stacks up well against the TCL QM7K – its primary competitor. When everything is taken into account, the Hisense U75QG stands as one of the best value midrange TVs I’ve seen in 2025.
Hisense U75QG review: Price and release date
The Hisense U75QG's picture is bright enough to even watch in well-lit rooms (Image credit: Future)
Release date: May 2025
55-inch: $1,300
65-inch: $1,500
75-inch: $1,999
85-inch: $2,499
100-inch: $4,999
116-inch: $21,999
The U75QG is Hisense’s midrange mini-LED TV, falling between the Hisense U8QG and U65QF (a model that uses the Amazon Fire TV OS) in its lineup. The series ranges in size from a 55-inch to a massive 116-inch model – the largest Hisense mini-LED TV available. As is typical for Hisense TVs, prices for all models, apart from the 116-inch, have fallen significantly since the series was released in May. The 55-inch TV can now be found for as little as $698, with prices ranging to just under $3,000 for the 100-inch.
The U75QG pricing is similar to the TCL QM7K, the midrange competitor from that manufacturer. Although the Hisense is currently $100 to $700 more expensive than the TCL, depending on screen size.
The U75QG's ports are split between side-mounted and rear-mounted input sections (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
Hi-View AI Engine Pro processor
VA panel with good anti-reflection
The U75QG is a mini-LED TV with an anti-reflection VA panel, which does a great job handling ambient room light reflections. The VA panel does not provide it with wide viewing angles, however, with desaturated colors and raised black levels easily visible starting at around 30 degrees off-center.
Hisense upgraded last year’s Hi-View Engine Pro found in the U7N to the Hi-View AI Engine Pro, which is the same processor the company is using in its step-up U8QG model. Hisense claims improved performance over the previous chip with a 1.6x faster CPU, 2.2x faster GPU, and 1.5x faster NPU, all to deliver a better optimized image.
The Hisense U75QG includes wide-ranging HDR support, including both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ dynamic formats. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive modes use the TV’s processing power to automatically adjust the picture based on the ambient light viewing conditions in your room. Dolby Vision Gaming is included, and, of course, the TV supports HDR10 and HLG.
Console and PC gamers will be happy with the included features on the U75QG. All four HDMI 2.1 ports support a refresh rate up to 165Hz with a Game Booster 288Hz (at 1080p), VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Hisense Game Bar, and the aforementioned HDR gaming modes. Although, as we’ll get into below, there are some minor clarity issues with gaming on the U75QG.
The U75QG runs the Google TV OS, which allows access to thousands of streaming apps. It also has an ATSC 3.0 tuner for those in areas that are broadcasting NextGen TV signals.
Features Score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Picture quality
The U75QG's picture displays good color accuracy (Image credit: Future)
Incredibly bright for a midrange TV
Impressive SDR color accuracy
HDR benefits from a pro calibration
Hisense has been a leader over the past few years in pushing display brightness to its limits, so there’s no surprise that the U75QG gets nice and bright, especially for a midrange TV. With local dimming and peak brightness set to High, and using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software, in Filmmaker Mode from a 10% window, the Hisense blasts out 3,126 nits. That’s more than double what its predecessor, the Hisense U7N, was capable of, and more than the flagship Sony Bravia 9 mini-LED TV. A fullscreen white measurement tops out at 780 nits.
With local dimming on, the Hisense also delivers deep blacks even when there are some bright images on screen. During starfield shots — the opening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi or many scenes in Gravity — there’s excellent separation between the stars, especially for a mid-tier mini-LED TV, and there isn’t a significant amount of blooming along the edges of the Shuttle Explorer against the darkness of space. When bright objects are moving, the blooming is exacerbated a little bit, but overall performance is still great for the price of the TV.
Measurements in Filmmaker Mode out of the box show the U75QG tracks the target EOTF (gamma for HDR) beautifully, so the TV isn’t overbrightening the midtones at all. HDR color accuracy also leaves a little to be desired, with things like grass being a little yellow and skin tones slightly undersaturated. None of this takes away from the overall enjoyment of a movie or TV show, though.
The U75QG excels with SDR content. Grayscale tracks D65 across the range incredibly well, with an average dE of 0.8 and 2.4 gamma. Colors are also impressively accurate for a midrange TV, with skin tones in particular looking exactly as they should.
It’s possible to get similar performance with HDR content. The U75QG has an autocal feature in Calman, the software TechRadar uses to measure TVs, so the TV can be easily calibrated within just a few minutes by a TV calibration professional. And after calibration, the TV’s accuracy is significantly better. Some color temperature issues remain in brighter grays, but if you’re able to make it happen, a calibration is worth it to get the most out of the U75QG.
Picture quality score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Sound quality
A rear-mounted subwoofer adds some low-end heft to the U75QG's sound (Image credit: Future)
2.1.2-channel speaker system
Clear dialogue
Would benefit from a soundbar
The back of the U75QG features an oval subwoofer, part of the TV’s 2.1.2-channel speaker system. Along its edges are speakers to handle the left and right channels, as well as two up-firing speakers for height. In my room, I didn’t find that the up-firing speakers accomplished much, and there isn’t a room calibration system to make them work better.
Overall sound performance is above average for a TV. There’s a decent amount of bass and vocal clarity is good, but it’s still worth pairing the TV with one of the best soundbars for a more immersive experience.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
Hisense U75QG review: Design
The U75QG's "pedestal stand" is actually two support feet with a plastic plate mounted on top (Image credit: Future)
Center pedestal is really two feet with a plastic plate
High enough lift for soundbar
Backlit remote control
The Hisense U75QG has a slightly redesigned stand over last year’s U7N. It still utilizes a center pedestal, but instead of a trapezoidal design, the U75QG consists of two feet that are covered by a rectangular plastic plate. The TV feels sturdy on its stand, although the plastic cover is a bit flimsy – which is honestly to be expected at this price point.
While the stand lifts the TV a little over three inches to accommodate a soundbar, the front sticks out a bit, so some extra space on your credenza or table will be needed to put the soundbar in front of it. The 100- and 116-inch models use two separated legs instead of the pedestal base.
The TV is a bit on the thick side, and more so than the comparable TCL QM7K by about half an inch. Connections are split between two panels. The majority are side-facing — including four 165Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 ports (one eARC), the ATSC 3.0 coax inputs, a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5 mm audio out, and an AV in (which requires an adapter). An additional USB 2.0 port, optical digital audio out, and Ethernet port are in a rear-facing cutout. If you plan to use wired Ethernet and wall-mount the TV, this could cause some mounting issues and require the TV to be slightly out from the wall to keep the Ethernet cable from bending and putting stress on the connection. The U75QG supports a Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection as well.
The remote is the same as the one that was introduced with 2024 Hisense TVs. It’s a long silver handset with backlit buttons, which include settings and input buttons (these are sadly absent from some competitors’ remotes). Because of its length, reaching all the buttons – at least for my average-sized hand – required some jostling of the remote, but overall the design is comfortable and easy to use.
Design score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Smart TV and menus
The U75QG's Google TV smart interface (Image credit: Future)
Google TV OS
Loads of streaming apps available
Some ads on the home page
Google TV is the OS of choice for the U7 series, and it runs well on the TV. The OS is one of the best built-in options when it comes to the combination of usability and streaming app support. On the U75QG, home page navigation is quick, and menus are intuitive. There are thousands of apps available for download – including the major streaming ones such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV – as well as more niche options not included on all platforms, like F1 TV and Dropout.
The gear button on the remote pulls up the menus for adjusting any TV settings. There’s a selection of quick access menus for things like Picture and Sound, or you can call up the full settings menu. It’s pretty easy to navigate and find what you’re looking for — different settings are sensibly placed instead of hidden under a multitude of submenus.
Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Gaming
Hisense's Game Bar onscreen menu (Image credit: Future)
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 165Hz support
9.8ms input lag time
FreeSync Premium Pro
The TV has lots of features meant to satisfy gamers, and for the most part, gamers will be happy with the U75QG. The four HDMI 2.1 inputs accept high refresh rate signals up to 165Hz from a computer in 4K, and Game Booster allows for 1080p/288Hz gaming. Consoles will be able to play games at 120Hz with VRR (including HDMI Forum VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and G-Sync compatibility) and Dolby Vision gaming.
The U75QG has the Hisense Game Bar, where adjustments can quickly be made to settings like Dark Detail, Brightness, the Game Genre, and for adding a crosshair for aiming. It also displays your current frame rate, HDR, VRR, and ALLM status.
When in Game/PC picture mode, the input lag on the U75QG with a 4K 60Hz signal is a very low 9.8ms. It’s excellent for gamers who regularly play against others, or for reaction-based games. I played a good amount of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which requires some button timing for dodges and parries, and didn’t feel any lag.
While I found gaming on the U75QG to be an overall good experience, there’s some smearing when VRR is on, particularly with bright objects across a darker background, that can be a bit distracting. I saw this more when using my PC (from an RTX 4070 Ti Super) than on console, so if you’re a PC gamer, you might also see this more.
Gaming score: 4/5
Hisense U75QG review: Value
The U75QG's backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)
Excellent picture quality for the price
Really needs a soundbar for best experience
Four HDMI 2.1 ports and backlit remote
Hisense has been delivering significant value from its televisions for years now, and that continues with the U75QG, which might deliver the best performance-to-price ratio of any Hisense TV. Hisense historically lowers its TV pricing after release by a good bit, and the TVs are always on sale during shopping events, so that increases its value proposition even further.
The midrange TV market is fierce, though. The U75QG’s primary competitor is the TCL QM7K, another solid performer with high value. It’s not nearly as bright as the Hisense, and it also has some HDR inaccuracies (overly blue grayscale and some color issues) out of the box. Only two of the TCL’s HDMI ports are version 2.1, as well, although I prefer its overall design.
It gets interesting when we compare against the next tier up. The TCL QM8K has had some deep discounts recently, putting it within a couple of hundred dollars of the Hisense. At that price, the TCL is an absolute steal. Not only is it a much better TV than both the U75QG and QM7K, I think it's one of the best TCL TVs ever made – although the TCL QM9K likely takes that title.
Value score: 4.5/5
Should I buy the Hisense U75QG?
(Image credit: Future)
Hisense U75QG
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Good HDR support and gaming features
4/5
Picture quality
Excellent brightness and great overall picture quality for the price
4/5
Sound quality
2.1.2-channel speakers deliver clear dialogue but limited height effects with Atmos soundtracks
3.5/5
Design
Good overall design with backlit remote and plentiful connections
4/5
Smart TV and menus
Google TV is a solid smart interface with plenty of apps
4/5
Gaming
Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz support but some picture smearing with VRR, particularly with PCs
4/5
Value
A great overall value given the TV's picture quality and features
4.5/5
Buy it if...
You want a good all-around TV While the U75QG isn’t without flaws, its overall performance is impressive for the price.
Your TV room is bathed in ambient light Brightness output from the Hisense is more than other comparable TVs and stands up well against uncontrollable ambient light.
You have multiple gaming consoles/PCs The Hisense U75QG has four HDMI 2.1 165Hz-compatible inputs, while its main competitor, the TCL QM7K, only has two. If you have multiple consoles and a PC to connect, the U75QG is the pick.
Don't buy it if…
You’re looking for top-tier gaming performance The U75QG has decent gaming performance and a nice game bar option, but its VRR performance doesn’t match competitors.
You want amazing sound from a TV The sound performance is okay, but you’ll really want to add a soundbar for a better sonic experience.
You watch events with big groups Picture quality degrades pretty quickly as you move from off from center screen, so any friends that are over and have to sit to the side will see a lower-quality image.
Also consider...
Hisense U75QG
TCL QM7K
Hisense U8QG
Samsung QN90F
Price (65-inch)
$1,500
$1,499
$2,199
$2,499
Screen type
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
mini-LED w/ QLED
Refresh rate
Up to 165Hz
Up to 144Hz
Up to 165Hz
165Hz
HDR support
Dolby Vision IQ//HDR10+ Adaptive/HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Google TV
Google TV
Google TV
Tizen
HDMI ports
4 HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
3x HDMI 2.1
4x HDMI 2.1
TCL QM7K The TCL QM7K is another great mid-range mini-LED TV with an affordable price tag. It has a better design than the Hisense, but its picture isn't as powerfully bright and its gaming flexibility is limited by having only two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Hisense U8QG The Hisense U8QG has a similar feature set to the U75QG but a better overall design with a sturdy aluminum pedestal stand. Its picture brightness is about the same, although the U8QG's 4.1.2-channel speaker array provides more immersive sound. It's a bit more expensive than the U75QG but not by much.
Samsung QN90F The Samsung QN90F is the best mini-LED TV on the market when you take into account picture quality, design, and gaming features and performance. It's notably more expensive than the Hisense U75QG but has much better off-axis picture uniformity and is also available in a wide range of sizes, including 43- and 98-inch models.
Used a variety of test material from streaming and discs
I watched a wide range of content on the Hisense U75QG, including movies and TV shows streaming from the built-in Google TV OS on Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu. I also used a Kaleidescape Strato V for high-quality movies, along with 4K UHD Blu-ray discs played on an Oppo UDP-203 disc player. Games were played on an Xbox Series X.
For grayscale and color accuracy testing, I used a Portrait Displays C6 HDR5000 colorimeter profiled to an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Murideo Seven-G 8K pattern generator, Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and Calman calibration software by Portrait Displays. I used a Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester to check input lag.
I’ve been testing TVs, monitors, and projectors for a few decades, and am an ISF Level III certified calibrator.
Pixel density is something Apple pays far more attention to than most PC builders. Problem is, achieving Apple's signature "Retina" display experience with one of the brand's own monitors is very pricey. But you can now get the very same 27-inch 5K form factor from the Philips 27E3U7903 for not far off half the price.
Up front and centre, this monitor matches the Apple Studio Display's 5K resolution and 218DPI pixel density. It's similar to the Apple panel in other ways, too. There's a comparable feature set with excellent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plus an integrated webcam and microphone array.
This Philips even apes Apple with its boxy, metallic chassis aesthetic, and flat-wide base and stand. What's more it even outstrips the Apple display by some measures. Philips has used the latest IPS Black panel tech to offer 2,000:1 static contrast, notably higher than the 1,200:1 ratio of the Studio Display.
Add in VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, broad colour support and other features aimed at creative pros and you have a super strong on-paper package. The one catch is that while the Philips 27E3U7903 is much cheaper than the Apple Studio Display, there are some very good 4K monitors available at a significant discount among our pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro. You're going to have to really want that 5K thing to justify this new Philips panel.
It's obvious from the get go that the Philips 27E3U7903 is aimed squarely at the Apple Studio Display. That extends well beyond the basic 27-inch 5K form factor. The boxy, metallic-looking chassis and flat, wide stand and base, and glass screen cover all scream "Studio Display." Even the way the fixed power cable sticks out of the rear is awfully Appley.
Where Philips can't quite match Apple is for perceived quality. The 27E3U7903 is mostly plastic where the Apple monitor uses actual metal. So, it doesn't feel nearly as expensive.
The Philip's particularly chunky bezel also separates it slightly from the marginally slimmer Studio Display. To be clear it doesn't feel cheap, either. But to at least some extent, you can see where the extra money goes on the Apple alternative.
Connectivity is both another strong point and another overlap with Apple. Philips has given this monitor Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus Thunderbolt out for display daisy chaining, another three USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI and ethernet.
That's all tied together with full KVM switch functionality, picture-in-picture support and the aforementioned display daisy chaining. So, if you have multiple PCs, Mac, laptops, whatever, this display has you covered.
Next up, there's a webcam with AI-enhanced autoframing and a microphone array, which again is redolent of the Studio Display's Center Stage camera, plus stereo speakers.
For creators, there are features like a wide range of preset colour spaces including Apple's favoured Display P3 support, 99% coverage of the DCI P3 gamut, support for Calman Ready automatic calibration.
The Philips 27E3U7903 is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That level of HDR certification requires some level of local dimming. Philips doesn't quote the number of zones. But as we'll see this monitor almost certainly is limited to a very small number of edge-lit zones, as opposed to full-array local dimming.
Philips 27E3U7903: Performance
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
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(Image credit: Philips // Future)
Crispy 5K visuals
Very punchy backlight
Limited HDR capability
For 5K neophites, the first question is whether the upgrade in terms of pixel density compared to a 4K 27-inch monitor is obvious. And the simple answer is no, it's not an immediately apparent and dramatic improvement in subjective, experiential terms.
No question, fonts and text are that little bit crisper and clearer. But 4K on a 27-inch panel is pretty good in that regard too. So, the benefits of 4K are a touch more subtle than that. One benefit, for instance, is that the 3,008 x 1,692 virtual resolution option in MacOS works particularly well.
For some creative workflows, it's also very handy to be able to display a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixel 4K video stream in a window with space to spare for toolbars and controls.
But these are relatively niche upsides. For most users, it's questionable whether the price premium versus numerous cheaper 4K monitors is worth it purely for 5K, and I say that as someone who really appreciates high pixel density in computing displays.
With that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to justify itself in broader terms. For starters, it's certainly very punchy. The maximum brightness in SDR mode is well beyond what most users will ever want to dial up.
However, it's good to have some brightness in hand, especially if you want to use this display in a setting with lots of ambient light. You'll have no problem burning that off with the Philips 27E3U7903.
That said, in that context you'll also have to contend with a fair bit of reflectivity from the glassy screen cover. That's a very Apple feature and something you either like or dislike. But it certainly adds to a sense of heightened contrast.
On that note, this is an IPS Black panel with getting on for double the static contrast performance compared to most IPS monitors. From that spec alone, you might expect a dramatic improvement in black levels. The reality is much more marginal. This monitor still has more light bleed than a VA monitor, let alone an OLED panel with perfect per-pixel lighting.
That's relevant for HDR performance, a notable weak point for this display. It has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification and basic local dimming. But while Philips doesn't quote the number of zones, it's very likely to be around 16 edge-lit zones.
You can toggle the level of local dimming in the OSD. But in all honesty, this type of local dimming is barely any different from a dynamic backlight. Ultimately, this is not a true HDR monitor, even if it is pretty bright.
As for broader accuracy and factory calibration, that's a slight weak point. It's most noticeable when using an Apple laptop where the sRGB preset is actually a better visual match for Apple laptop than the Apple-default Display P3 colour space. To be clear, this is not a poorly calibrated display. But given the lofty price tag, it could be a touch better.
Finally, the integrated webcam is superior to a typical laptop camera, but not truly comparable to the Center Stage camera in the Apple Studio Display.
Philips 27E3U7903: Final verdict
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If you're a tech enthusiast, the very notion of 5K computing is pretty exciting. 5K has to be better than 4K, right? Yes it is, but the difference on a 27-inch display isn't hugely dramatic.
There are advantages, such as slightly crisper fonts and the ability to view 4K content with screen real estate to spare for toolbars and other interface elements. But the benefits are relatively marginal. And I say that as something of a high-DPI aficionado.
With all that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to be absolutely excellent in broad terms to justify its premium pricing and not just by virtue of delivering that Apple Studio Display-style 5K experience.
Well, it certainly is excellent in terms of connectivity thanks to a plethora of ports, plus KVM switch and daisy chaining support. Elsewhere, the Philips 27E3U7903 is certainly good, but arguably not exceptional.
The IPS Black panel is certainly nice, with vibrant colours and a very powerful backlight. But the subjective experience doesn't quite deliver on the expectations raised by the on-paper 2,000:1 contrast spec. Likewise, as with most, perhaps even all, HDR 600 monitors, the HDR experience is limited.
Slightly harder to forgive is the factory calibration. This is not a poorly calibrated display. But it's not as excellent as you might expect at this price point, albeit for the most demanding workflows, you'll be calibrating this monitor yourself, something for which it provides good support.
All of which means the Philips 27E3U7903 is ultimately a niche offering. If you're tempted by Apple's Studio Display but don't fancy the price, this is a very appealing and effective alternative. If you want the absolute best possible pixel density, then likewise. But for most users, there's better value to be had from a wide range of 27-inch 4K displays.
