Hisense 55U8Q review: most people won't need a better TV

After the 65-inch Hisense 65U7Q PRO, I also tested the Hisense 55U8Q with a 55-inch diagonal.

In recent years, Hisense has become very competitive with excellent panels and aggressive pricing. The Hisense 55U8Q is in the upper mid-range, but with quite a few features that you often only find in significantly more expensive models, similar to the Hisense 65U7Q PRO.

It's a TV that, with Mini LED technology and Quantum Dots, rivals even some OLED models, and with its 165 Hz refresh rate, it appeals to even the most demanding gamers. If you've already been impressed by the 65U7Q PRO model, then you'll find similar (and a few more) features in the 55U8Q that seem almost unbelievable for this price range.

Hisense 55U8Q price and specifications

• Hisense 55U8Q: 949 €

The Hisense 55U8Q TV has a premium feel

The Hisense 55U8Q already gives the impression of a premium product at first glance, which is definitely one of the goals that Hisense set for itself with the new U8 series. The frame around the screen is thin, which creates the feeling that the image is practically borderless and blends into the space. The TV is not the thinnest, but considering that it also has the entire sound system at the back, it is still very slim.

The TV is otherwise designed in a very minimalistic way, allowing it to fit elegantly into any living room, regardless of style.

In terms of placement, one of the most important features of the 55U8Q model is its central stand, which is made of metal. This is a big advantage, because you don't need a particularly wide TV cabinet for placement, as is often the case with models with legs on both sides. The stand is stable and sturdy, ensuring that the TV will stand securely in place. Of course, it also allows for wall mounting (VESA standard 400 x 400) for those who want such an installation. Overall, the design of the TV is very well thought out and functional, without unnecessary details that would interfere with the overall visual experience.

There are three HDMI 2.1 ports, which is standard for TVs in this class today. It is important to note that all of them support advanced features such as ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) up to 165 Hz, which ensures extremely smooth and responsive gameplay on the latest generation consoles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X; up to 120 Hz) or on a PC. One of the HDMI interfaces is also equipped with eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), which allows the transmission of high-quality audio (such as Dolby Atmos) to speakers or a soundbar.

The TV is also equipped with two USB ports (1x USB 3.0 and 1x USB 2.0), which is useful for playing content from external drives or connecting additional peripherals. In addition, there is an optical audio output (S/PDIF), audio L/R input, AV input and headphone output. For a stable internet connection, you can use a classic network connector (RJ45), and for wireless connection, Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth are available.

The remote control that comes with the TV is simple but functional. It is compact and fits nicely in your hand. It has the classic control buttons, as well as buttons for quick access to popular streaming services. It can be charged using light.

Mini LED is, as always, fantastic

The Hisense 55U8Q TV is equipped with a Mini LED panel with a 4K matrix (3840 x 2160) that includes Quantum Dot technology. This means that this is a TV that does not use classic LED lighting, but thousands of small Mini LED diodes, which allow for much more precise and localized backlighting. The result is exceptional local dimming, which drastically improves the contrast ratio. Blacks are significantly deeper than with conventional LED TVs, while bright highlights remain incredibly bright, creating an almost OLED-like visual effect.

With the help of quantum dots, the color spectrum is extremely wide and rich, and the colors are vivid and realistic. In terms of brightness, the Hisense 55U8Q achieves top values, which can go up to 4000 nits (maximum value) with HDR content.

The TV also excels at handling more demanding visual challenges. Thanks to an advanced local dimming system that has many more zones than conventional TVs, blooming (bleeding around bright objects on a dark background) is very minimal and only noticeable in extremely specific, rare scenes.

The TV handles color transitions very well and reduces the appearance of "banding" (lines between color shades), ensuring smooth and fluid transitions between colors. With a screen response time of 6 ms and an extremely high refresh rate (165 Hz), "ghosting" and "motion blur" are practically imperceptible in fast-moving scenes (sports matches or fast-paced action games).

Movies, music, games... Does it handle everything or does it fail somewhere?

I'm getting stricter about TVs. The price is still such that if I'm going to pay a thousand, I want it to handle all viewing spectrums.

When watching movies, the Mini LED technology combined with quantum dots is outstanding. The dynamic range is incredible. I just finished a marathon of Stranger Things (yes, I'm really behind on the series), and if I compare it to my existing TV, which is already showing its age, the experience is indescribably different.

First, you notice the black shades, which are always present on the screen in such a series. At the same time, lighting effects can start flashing across the screen at any moment, which should liven up the action, but not at the cost of black turning gray or causing iridescence to appear.

Well, I never noticed that with the Hisense 55U8Q. The subtitles shine a little when you look at them very close, but at a distance of 3 or 4 meters there is no way you would notice it.

The details are truly exceptional, Dolby Vision IQ adds that finishing touch. The sound (Dolby Atmos), especially if you have more than just a basic sound setup, is really refined and rich.

For sports fans, the 55U8Q is a great choice. The high 165 Hz refresh rate and extremely fast response time ensure that fast-moving objects, such as a soccer ball or hockey puck, are perfectly sharp and blur-free.

This TV is also a very good choice for gamers. The refresh rate is already on the verge of exaggeration (165 Hz), but always welcome and will be relevant even in 5 or more years. Next-generation consoles may be able to take advantage of this speed, but the question is how many games will even support this frequency. The latency is low (7 ms) and I can confirm that it does not play a significant role during gameplay, not even shooters.

At least for me, the TV is my primary device for listening to music because I have a sound system connected to it. I could use Bluetooth playback (phone), but then I can't go too far with the phone. In my case, I don't rely on the TV speakers, which doesn't mean that the built-in 4.1.2-channel sound system in the Hisense 55U8Q is bad. On the contrary - it's more than solid. The sound is relatively rich, with full bass and also with good maximum volume. There may be minor distortions and vibrations here, but nothing that would really bother me.

I have already applied for the VIDAA system.

For a more detailed review of the VIDAA system, I suggest you read the previous test of the 65-inch Hisense 65U7Q PRO TV. Otherwise, VIDAA is a responsive, fast and transparent system. The content adapts to your taste over time. Startup is completed in a few seconds, switching between menus and applications is always smooth. While all the key global streaming applications are available (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+), more advanced users looking for niche applications (Moonlight or Stremio) may find some missing, as they cannot be loaded. However, VIDAA offers features such as voice control, smart home support via the Matter standard, “Audio Only” mode and long-term updates, which ensures a positive user experience for most.

Good and powerful TV

The Hisense 55U8Q is a serious competitor to all 55-inch TVs, including OLED models. In terms of technical specifications and performance, it offers a lot, which makes it attractive to a wide range of users. The Mini LED panel and quantum dot technology provide exceptional picture quality with deep blacks and high brightness, while the 165 Hz refresh rate and low latency will delight gamers.

VIDAA is not ideal for my needs, but that is the problem of 1 % users. If you only use classic applications, you will not have problems. The appearance and layout of the elements on the screen, however, is not very different from Android.

In short, a very good TV with flaws that only a handful will complain about.