The flagship of the Chinese manufacturer, the Hisense 65UXKQ is designed to offer a true cinematic experience at home. To achieve this, it uses the best of QLED and mini LED technologies to optimize color intensity and maximize contrast. Enough to make it an OLED killer?
The Hisense 65UXKQ is the champion of Mini LED technology. In addition to offering high brightness, it aims to compete with OLED TVs on their own turf – absolute black – to enhance 4K HDR images. QLED panel offering intense colors, exhaustive HDR format management, advanced gaming functions, immersive Dolby Atmos sound: this Hisense 65″ premium TV, priced at €2,290, looks well equipped to take on its main competitors from LG and Samsung.
Who is Hisense?
World leader in the laser TV market (ultra-short-throw projectors + dedicated anti-glare screens), Hisense is also one of the biggest TV manufacturers. Leading sales on the Chinese market for 15 years, the brand began exporting on a large scale in 2006 and has been selling its TVs in France since 2015. Hisense quickly made a name for itself there, sponsoring the UEFA European Football Championship and becoming one of the official partners of PSG.
Present at major trade shows such as the 2023 Paris Audio Video Show and the2023 IFA in Berlin,the Chinese brand also made waves at the 2024 CES in Las Vegas, with highly promising technological innovations in QLED Mini-LED TVs and ultra-short-throw video projection..
Included accessories
The Hisense 65UXKQ comes with a sturdy metal center stand, to be mounted on the back of the panel using the included screws. The clip-on cover at the rear of the base acts as a cable cover. The manufacturer also supplies a remote control with two AAA batteries, a detachable power cable, a user manual and a warranty booklet.
During installation, the user can choose between two options, for positioning the TV screen higher or lower. In the lowered position, the bottom of the screen is about 2.8cm above the base of the stand.
In the high position, the height is increased by 3.5cm, placing the bottom of the screen approximately 6.3cm above the base. This allows the Hisense 65UXKQ to be combined with any soundbar measuring 6cm or less in height, without it hiding the screen.
Presentation
QLED panel = intense colors
The Hisense 65UXKQ TV features a 65-inch (164cm) 4K QLED LCD panel, using Quantum Dots to emit light at extremely precise wavelengths. It’s particularly effective for covering a very wide color space and obtaining pure, intense, nuanced hues.
Mini-LED backlighting
This TV also benefits from a Mini-LED backlight offering high brightness (peaks at 1500 nits). The thousands of LEDs lining the back of the panel are controlled by over 1,400 individually managed zones. This enables the TV to display HDR content with very high contrasts. It retains maximum detail in both the brightest and darkest parts of the image. The black remains intense, and is almost as deep as that of an OLED TV. Last but not least, Mini-LED technology considerably reduces the blooming effect (haloing around very bright objects on a dark background, such as subtitles, for example).
Video processing
To take full advantage of these display technologies, Hisense has equipped this TV with a powerful quad-core processor doped with AI, called Hi-View Engine X. In particular, it manages backlighting by zone, in real time and according to ambient lighting, to guarantee the best contrast in all circumstances.
It also performs UHD 4K upscaling of lower-definition sources such as television programs. In addition, it provides motion compensation (MEMC) for smoother sports images, for example.
4K HDR, during the day and at night
This Hisense TV not only supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+, but also Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive to adjust the rendering of HDR images in real time according to ambient brightness. Even in daylight, night scenes remain detailed, without the darkest parts of the image being muddied.
144Hz 4K gaming, FreeSync Premium
The manufacturer hasn’t forgotten gamers either: the Hisense 65UXKQ works in perfect symbiosis with video game consoles and gaming PCs via its HDMI 2.1 ports. It supports 4K images at up to 144Hz, and offers a response time of 8 ms. AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility guarantees perfect picture fluidity, without tearing or judder, with AMD graphics processors.
Immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound
To put viewers and players right at the heart of the action, the Hisense 65UXKQ also boasts an impressive audio section. With over 80 watts of power across 4.1.2 channels, this TV can reproduce Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio tracks. It features front and side drivers, plus two vertical effects drivers on the top, and two subwoofers on the back.
Smart TV
This Hisense smart TV can access the main VOD and SVOD services, including Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV+, Canal+, TF1+, Molotov TV, Rakuten TV, Paramount+, Pluto TV and YouTube. For sports fans, the catalog also features RMC Sport, Fifa+, UEFA TV, Red Bull TV, UFC and NBA. Music streaming services Deezer and Amazon Music are also part of the package.
For connecting the TV to the Internet box, you can choose between WiFi and an Ethernet cable, which is preferable for 4K HDR streaming.
Key specifications
- Image size: 65″ (164cm)
- QLED Mini LED panel
- Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive
- AMD FreeSync Premium
- 144Hz 4K gaming
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- HDMI 2.1
- Filmmaker mode
- Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube
Installing the Hisense 65UXKQ television
After mounting the base and installing the Hisense 65UXKQ on a TV cabinet, we connected it to the antenna to receive DTTV channels. Connected to the TV via an Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable, the Magnetar UDP800 4K UHD Blu-ray player was used to play 4K Blu-ray movies. We also connected this Hisense TV to the Internet via a network cable, using the Netgear Orbi RBK852 system. We’ve also paired it with a Zidoo Z9X Pro media player and a PlayStation 5 video game console. Last but not least, the Taga Harmony PF-2000 power strip was responsible for powering the TV and other sources via its filtered sockets.
For this test, here are the settings we selected. They were chosen for our viewing conditions and can of course be adapted to your tastes and uses. The “menu” button on the remote control is used to access the TV settings interface.
Recommended settings
- HDMI format: enhanced
- Picture mode: Night Cinema
- Gamma (tone adjustment): 2.4
- Backlight: 100
- Local Dimming: high
- Brightness: 48
- Contrast: 84
- Color saturation: 48
- Sharpness: 0
- Motion compensation: film
- White balance: R-G-B Offset = 0 / R-Gain = -3, G-Gain = -5, B-Gain = 1
Note: during the day and/or in a bright room, you can adjust the Gamma value to 2.2 to improve legibility og the darker parts of the image.
Our impressions
Design
This TV has an unusual aesthetic, with vertical acoustic horns on either side of the screen. Designed to extend the range of the surround speakers, they also increase the width of the screen compared to competing TVs, which feature sleeker lines with thinner frames around the screen. The Hisense 65UXKQ’s chassis makes it appear more massive, but also more robust. It’s a matter of taste.
Remote control
The Hisense 65UXKQ comes with an attractive premium remote control in brushed aluminum. Its angular design, right down to the keys, contrasts with the rounded shapes of competing models. It’s a shame, however, that the keys are so close together and are not backlit, which can lead to pressing the wrong button in the dark.
Connectors
This TV features four HDMI ports, including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 144Hz 4K compatibility for gaming. Too bad the other two are limited to 60Hz 4K. Two USB multimedia ports are also present.
To connect this TV to a soundbar, AV receiver or hi-fi amplifier, you can choose between the HDMI eARC port, optical digital output and mini-jack stereo analog output. It also acts as a headphone output, with separate volume control. The integrated Bluetooth controller enables TV sound to be broadcast wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
Gaming
As soon as the PlayStation 5 is switched on, the TV detects it and immediately suggests the correct HDMI input. It automatically switches to gaming mode for the lowest possible latency (ALLM).
Pressing the menu button on the remote activates the game bar, which displays the framerate, HDR and VRR status. The icons on the right of bar are used to adjust various specific parameters (on-screen FPS display, brightness, improved detail in dark areas, FreeSync…).
The VRR function is effective with the PS5 and allows you to enjoy variable framerates, offering maximum smoothness when the performance mode is activated in games. As a result, we were able to play Gran Turismo in 4K at up to 120Hz, with perfect responsiveness as well as a latency and tear-free image.
Smart TV
The Hisense 65UXKQ features the latest version of its in-house interface (VIDAA U7.0). Its home menu is very similar to that of Google TV, Fire OS and Tizen, with scrolling banners at the top, above a line of customizable apps. As you scroll down the interface, you can browse the most popular and recent content available on the many VOD and SVOD services on offer.
Navigation is smooth and responsive, with short loading times to access the various apps. The manufacturer also offers its Vidaa Art service, to turn the screen into a giant decorative frame by displaying photos of landscapes and animals, as well as artistic views of imaginary landscapes. Finally, numerous entertainment apps (streaming, IPTV, music) can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s app store. However, the games catalog remains rather poor and does not offer access to the various cloud gaming services.
USB playback
The Hisense 65UXKQ is very comfortable when it comes to multimedia playback, from its USB ports or via the local network. It supports large-capacity hard drives (>1TB), and the folders are easy to browse.
HD and 4K video files are supported in the majority of codecs, including H.264/AVC and H.265/HEVC, with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content. However, the TV doesn’t play ISO Blu-rays, which requires an external media player like the Zidoo Z9X Pro, for example, which also offers a superb navigation interface (posters). This Hisense TV also plays most audio codecs, including the various variations of Dolby and DTS formats.
4K HDR images
Blacks are intense and feature a beautiful palette of nuances, allowing us to take full advantage of the highly distinctive cinematography of The Batman (Blu-ray 4K Dolby Vision). Highlights also benefit from subtle, detailed rendering, as the TV uses tone mapping to fully exploit the capabilities of its Mini LED backlighting.
The latter even manages to limit blooming, sufficiently reducing light leaks around very bright elements displayed against a dark background. When looking very closely, we could see a slight halo around a very clear logo or a subtitle on a black background. However, it was minimal and never detracted from the viewing experience.
As far as colors are concerned, QLED technology is used to great effect here, delivering rich, intense hues while retaining a natural image. On animated films such as Spider-Man New Generation and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Blu-ray 4K HDR), as well as Elementary (VOD – 4K HDR10), the experience was spectacular, with an explosion of color in every scene.
On UHD TV programs, the image is balanced, with vivid colors and natural skin tones. HDR lets you enjoy a beautiful dynamic range on everyday TV programs.
Upscaling
On the Spider-Man 3 HD Blu-ray movie, the Hisense achieves a respectable upscaling that improves definition and sharpness without generating artifacts. It’s not as impressive as the upscaling provided by the best LG, Sony or Samsung processors, but the image retains its naturalness while gaining in realism.
With TV programs, results are more mixed and depend mainly on the quality of the source. Recent programs in native HD definition fare best. When the image is complex with fast motion, the processing shows its limits. The same applies to older programs and series in standard definition: the result is less convincing, as is the case with most TVs on the market.
Sound
The Hisense 65UXKQ’s audio system convinced us with its clear dialogue and energetic, well-presented bass, thanks to the double woofer behind the screen. For films, the cinema mode offers wide lateral spatialization and gives sound height on Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks.
In Top Gun: Maverick, when Tom Cruise arrives in the hangar to perform a supersonic test, the reverberation and echo are particularly well rendered, with the sound extending far into the room. The movement of jet engine noises all around the screen during training flights and the final mission also gives the film a great deal of realism.
Hisense 65UXKQ vs Samsung TQ65QN85C
The Hisense TV is compatible with all HDR image formats and supports 4K gaming up to 144Hz. It also offers more intense and nuanced blacks, as well as better sound spatialization, with more intensity in the bass. The Samsung TQ65QN85C skips Dolby Vision and limits itself to 120Hz 4K, but makes up for it with its ultra-appealing design, better 4K and HDR upscaling, its gaming hub with access to cloud gaming and, above all, an attractive price for a 65″ QLED Mini LED TV of this caliber (under €1,600).
Hisense 65UXKQ vs LG OLED65C3
While Samsung shuns Dolby Vision, the LG OLED65C3 lacks HDR10+ and its Adaptive variant, allowing the Hisense to take the lead in this regard. The latter also offers superior peak brightness, with more nuance in the highlights. What’s more, the colors are more intense.
The LG OLED panel, however, reveals more nuance and precision in the darker parts of the image. What’s more, there’s no risk of blooming, since each pixel can be switched on or off independently.
144Hz 4K compatibility and FreeSync Premium for the Hisense TV, but only on two HDMI ports, versus 120Hz 4K and G-Sync / FreeSync on the LG: the gaming match is tight, and could go either way depending on your setup.
In terms of sound, the Hisense model comes out on top, with wider spatial imaging and more engaging bass.
Who is the Hisense 65UXKQ for?
This Hisense TV is aimed at home theater enthusiasts looking for an image with intense colors and effective coverage of all 4K HDR formats, as well as gamers looking for a large, responsive screen that’s compatible with video game consoles and gaming PCs. They’ll also enjoy an immersive, impactful audio section, in keeping with the image delivered by its QLED Mini LED panel.
Conclusion
This Hisense 65UXKQ convinced us with its bright, high-contrast picture, deep blacks and intense colors. Here, the Chinese manufacturer proves that QLED technology, combined with well-managed Mini LED backlighting, can rival the performance of an OLED TV regarding blacks, and offer very rich colors.
Top-notch when it comes to gaming, with its two HDMI 2.1 ports compatible with 144Hz 4K for maximum smoothness, this TV also boasts excellent sound performance, with very wide front spatial imaging, effective vertical effects and punchy bass.
Finally, the ultra-complete smart TV interface is smooth and responsive, and its multimedia player handles virtually all current image and sound formats.
For everything to be perfect, we’d need to improve upscaling performance, make all the HDMI ports compatible with the 2.1 standard and offer a remote control with buttons that are easier to use in the dark, all while trying to stay under €2,000.
We liked
- The deep blacks
- The detailed highlights
- The rich colors
- The numerous image settings
- The effective sound spatialization
We would have liked
- Better upscaling
- A more practical remote control
- A price under €2,000
