Hisense 55U6G QLED TV Review: A Solid Mid-Range Option With QLED Brilliance
Hisense, a brand known for its budget-friendly televisions, has stepped into the mid-range segment with its latest offering – the Hisense 55U6G 55-inch QLED Ultra-HD Smart Android TV. This television, priced at Rs. 59,990, promises a premium experience with features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, full-array local dimming, and the familiar Android TV interface. But does it truly deliver on its promises, and is it worth your money in the crowded mid-range market? Let’s delve into the details and find out.
Design and Specifications: A Discreet Yet Functional Aesthetic
Quantum-Dot LED (QLED) televisions are typically associated with premium design, and the Hisense 55U6G, while not quite at the cutting edge, does offer a step up from its budget LED counterparts. The television boasts a sleek, minimalist design with the screen dominating the front and a small, unassuming Hisense logo. Thin borders create a high screen-to-body ratio, effectively drawing your focus to the video content. The back of the TV is slim near the top but naturally thickens at the bottom.
Connectivity is decent with three HDMI 2.0 ports, two USB Type-A ports, one Digital Optical Audio output (Toslink), and one antenna socket, all conveniently located on the left side of the TV. Additional ports at the back include AV In (RCA), 3.5mm audio out, and Ethernet. While the positioning of these rear ports can make access difficult, especially if you’ve wall-mounted the TV, the cables will likely bend and twist significantly even once connected. The HDMI 1 port supports HDMI ARC.
The Hisense 55U6G can be both wall-mounted and stand-mounted with hardware included in the package. The table stands are simple to install, but the size of the television and wide footprint of the stands necessitate a large table for placement.
Key Specifications:
- Display: 55-inch QLED, 3840×2160 pixels
- HDR: Dolby Vision & HDR10+
- Local Dimming: Full-array local dimming with 72 zones
- Peak Brightness: 700 nits
- Refresh Rate: Up to 60Hz
- Audio: 24W, Dolby Atmos support
- Operating System: Android TV 9 (with Google TV-like UI update)
- Processor: Quad-core
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 16GB
- Connectivity: 3x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB Type-A, Optical Audio Out, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth
Remote and Features: Standard Features With Voice Control
The Hisense 55U6G’s remote, similar to the one found on the Hisense 50A71F series, offers the usual features found on most televisions. Dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in Chromecast functionality, HDMI CEC, and Google Assistant support are among the many features included. However, gaming-specific features like HDMI 2.1 support or low-latency modes are absent.
The remote is powered by two AAA batteries, which are included in the box. It features hotkeys for popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, and Disney+ Hotstar. You’ll also find a dedicated Google Assistant button, a D-pad for navigation, volume controls, settings button, and a button to quickly switch input sources.
The remote utilizes both infrared and Bluetooth connectivity. While the former is necessary to turn the TV on from standby, the Bluetooth capability allows for voice commands to Google Assistant and eliminates the need to point the remote directly at the TV. As long as the remote is within approximately 3 meters of the TV, voice commands will be successfully received.
Software and Interface: Updated Android TV with Familiar Experience
Hisense, like many other manufacturers, relies on Android TV to power its smart televisions. The Hisense 55U6G runs on Android TV 9, which is slightly outdated, as many devices now come with Android TV 11. However, this doesn’t significantly impact the user experience, as the Android TV interface remains largely consistent across versions.
While the review initially began with the older Android TV interface, a Google TV-like Android TV UI update was received a few days after setup. This isn’t the full Google TV experience seen on devices like the Google Chromecast or Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick, but rather a refreshed Android TV user interface.
The update offers redesigned settings and preferences menus, large banners with viewing suggestions and recommendations, and a content-centric home screen. This new interface simplifies navigation and feels familiar to anyone who’s used Android TV before.
Apps and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Apple TV, and YouTube all provide their usual experiences. The Google Play Store offers access to additional apps and games, and several key apps are preinstalled.
Performance: QLED Brilliance with Some Motion Issues
The Hisense 55U6G QLED TV boasts a standard design and feature set for a 55-inch LED television under Rs. 60,000. However, its QLED screen and 72 local dimming zones set it apart from the budget options.
As expected, the Hisense 55U6G shines when paired with high-resolution HDR content. Dolby Vision content particularly stands out, showcasing the vibrant colours and impactful visuals of the format on the bright QLED screen.
Content and Viewing Experience:
- Dolby Vision Content: Narcos: Mexico (Season 3) looked absolutely stunning, with bright, vibrant, and color-accurate picture quality. The TV captured the essence of the sepia wash for scenes in Mexico.
- HDR10+ Content: Clarkson’s Farm and The Grand Tour: Lochdown displayed sharp details thanks to HDR10+ support.
- Ultra-HD Standard Dynamic Range Content: Sharp, detailed, and visually impressive with noticeable differences in brightness and color compared to HDR content.
- Full-HD Content: Schitt’s Creek, Kim’s Convenience, and live-streamed Formula 1 looked sharp and color-accurate, showcasing the benefits of the quantum-dot LED display.
- Standard Definition Content: Upscaled well, but doesn’t look as good as on a smaller full-HD or HD TV.
Performance Insights:
- Motion Issues: Some minor artefacts and stutter were evident in fast-paced scenes with high-resolution content. This wasn’t as noticeable in slow scenes or low-resolution content.
- Brightness and Viewing: The high peak brightness made for enjoyable viewing in both daylight and night, with comfortable viewing experiences even with standard dynamic range content.
- Black Levels and Contrast: Full-array local dimming significantly improved black levels and contrast, offering better viewing than budget LED TVs. While not as impressive as high-end television options, the black levels weren’t as "black" as they could be.
- Viewing Angles: The Hisense 55U6G appears to utilize a VA-type LED panel, resulting in slightly limited viewing angles. Colors become washed out at around 30-40 degrees off-center, necessitating a narrow viewing range.
Sound Quality: Voice-Focused Audio with Dolby Atmos Support
The Hisense 55U6G’s sound is tuned for voice-based content. Voices are clear and detailed, even at low volumes, without any significant volume spikes or harsh notes. However, the TV isn’t exceptionally loud and lacks the ability to handle energetic or action-packed soundtracks effectively. The sound quality is relatively ordinary compared to a dedicated soundbar or speaker system.
The television includes Dolby Atmos support, which can be toggled on or off through the audio settings. Unlike most televisions, Dolby Atmos is activated through the TV’s own operating system rather than being automatically detected by apps. While enabling Dolby Atmos slightly improves the openness and width of the soundstage, it doesn’t quite match the quality achieved on televisions that detect Dolby Atmos content at the app or file level.
Verdict: A Solid Mid-Range Option with QLED Brilliance
The Hisense 55U6G is a strong contender in the mid-range segment, showcasing the benefits of QLED technology with a bright, sharp, and vibrant picture. The familiar and reliable Android TV software, user-friendly remote, and overall hassle-free experience further contribute to the quality of this television.
For those searching for a compelling mid-range television within the Rs. 60,000 budget, the Hisense 55U6G is a worthwhile option. Although some minor issues with motion artefacts and stutter might occur in certain content, these are relatively minor compared to the overall strengths of the TV. The Hisense 55U6G, in all, is a capable and well-rounded television, offering great value for the price.
