A Budget-Friendly 55-Inch Smart TV: Is the Hisense E6N Worth Your Money?
Gone are the days when you had to spend lakhs to buy a big TV. Now, for under Rs. 40,000, you can get a 50 to 55-inch TV with a decent viewing experience and a decent set of features. Hisense, a brand established in the budget TV market, recently released their new E6N 55-inch smart TV, available in India for review. It’s an LED smart TV with a VA panel offering 4K UHD resolution across all three size variants. The 55-inch variant of the Hisense E6N is available for purchase online at Rs. 39,999. But does that price point deliver a good viewing experience? What sort of features can you expect at this price? Let’s delve into the details.
Hisense E6N Smart TV Design: Modern & Slim
Hisense has opted for a clean and slim design that appears premium. The TV boasts slim bezels on the sides and top, with a slightly thicker chin at the bottom. The Hisense logo sits on the bottom left edge, while the power switch and indicator light are centrally placed. The switch protrudes outwards and is transparent. The TV also offers wall-mounting support.
From the side, the E6N continues the slim and modern aesthetic, although the entire build is primarily plastic except for the metal-looking frame – a common feature at this price point. Two plastic stands provide firm support. Setting up the TV with the included stands is incredibly straightforward, taking about five minutes. However, I noticed a slight tilting backward when placed on the stands. Overall, the TV feels sturdy, and it comes with a wall-mount option including VESA mount screws in the box.
The back of the TV is minimalist with the power outlet on one side and all I/O ports on the other. You get three HDMI ports at the back, supporting eARC and 4K at 60Hz. Additionally, there’s an AV input, an RF input, Optical audio out, dual USB ports, an Ethernet (RJ45) connector, and a 3.5mm headphone port.
Hisense E6N Smart TV Display & Sound: Good Value for the Price
The Hisense E6N review unit we received featured a 55-inch LED display with a VA panel offering 4K UHD resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate. The TV is also available in 43 and 65-inch screen sizes. Hisense offers an 8-bit panel with support for HDR10 and HLG, variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), HEVC decoder, and 4K AI upscaling. The panel is claimed to deliver up to 300 nits of brightness, a native contrast ratio of 5000:1, and a 178-degree viewing angle.
In terms of color reproduction and HDR, the panel performs decently, with good color output and contrast. However, some over-brightening in HDR videos is noticeable. At this price, realistically, you can’t expect much more. The viewing angle on the panel is also decent, with colors and blacks starting to wash out when viewing from the side. The display gets bright enough indoors, but if direct light hits the TV, you may struggle to see darker content clearly.
Moving on to sound, the Smart TV features a 24W dual speaker setup. The speakers face downwards and can get quite loud. While the mids and highs are clear, they lack bass. The TV supports Dolby Audio DTS Virtual X and offers several sound modes to somewhat enhance the experience. There’s also an AI Sports Mode that boosts the commentator’s voice and other game sounds, creating a somewhat immersive experience – although it’s not truly immersive. For a truly immersive experience, it’s best to invest in a surround sound setup or a Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Hisense E6N Smart TV Software, Features, & Remote: Adequate Options
Like most budget Smart TVs, the Hisense E6N runs Google TV out of the box. The OS is Android 12, and you get the familiar Google TV UI and navigation. Google Assistant voice search support is included, along with access to the Play Store for supported apps. Additionally, there’s support for Amazon’s Alexa. Essential streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and others are pre-installed. There’s no bloatware, which is a welcome feature.
Several different modes are available for sound and video, including a Filmmaker and Cinema mode—both excellent for enjoying movies. You also get features like AI super-resolution, which sharpens object edges. While it performs well in most scenarios, I noticed images becoming over-sharpened at times. A 4K AI upscaler feature is also present, and it performs a decent job.
The TV includes built-in Chromecast, letting you stream videos and photos from apps like Google Photos, YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and more. Streaming from iOS devices is also possible as the TV supports Apple AirPlay and Apple Homekit. DLNA and Miracast support is included for casting from compatible devices. As this is a Google TV, you can also control the TV using your Android phone with the Google TV app.
The remote offers a D-pad, hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, Hotstar, and Sony Liv, and a customizable key assignable to an app or action. There’s also a Menu button for quick access to Settings from anywhere in the UI and a Google Assistant button for voice search. Overall, it’s a well-equipped and functional remote.
Hisense E6N Smart TV Performance: Gets the Job Done
The MediaTek MT9630 processor found in the Hisense E6N is tried and tested. It’s a quad-core chipset used in many budget smart TVs, proving capable. Like most smart TVs in this price range, you get 2GB RAM and 8GB storage, with only 5.6GB usable. However, this storage should be sufficient for installing all your favorite apps.
When it comes to overall performance, I noticed some lag when launching apps, navigating between apps, scrubbing through videos, and switching inputs. The UI was snappy on the first day of use, but as I used it more, it started to feel sluggish. While not severe enough to hinder the TV’s usability, the lag is noticeable and can sometimes be frustrating. To minimize the lag, avoid installing too many apps and clear the cache frequently.
Now, for gaming. The Hisense E6N boasts Game Mode Plus, said to offer a smooth gaming experience. It automatically activates when you connect a gaming console. To test this, I connected a Sony PlayStation 5 and played a few games. While the games felt responsive, there was some lag when accessing the Settings menu. The TV includes a variable refresh rate and low latency MEMC, aimed at smooth gaming performance. The panel’s refresh rate still tops out at 60Hz, and the variable refresh rate switches between 48 and 60Hz. HDR doesn’t function optimally in this mode. However, again, considering the price, these limitations are not overly problematic.
Hisense E6N Smart TV Verdict
The Hisense E6N Smart TV is a good buy if you’re on a budget and looking for great value. It boasts a modern design with ultra-thin bezels, decent software that functions well most of the time, a decent VA panel that’s bright indoors, and loud speakers. The remote is also excellent. Although the image quality could be better, overall, it’s an excellent package. While the Rs. 39,999 price for the 55-inch variant is competitive, waiting for discounts or sales could land you a better deal.
