Remember when a 40 inch TV used to be super expensive and most were still using the big bulky TVs that had a really bad picture? Today, most have a 32/40 inch TV at home and dream of having a large TV such as the Hisense 65″ 4K ULED TV (U7A | 65U7A). Hisense was the official sponsor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and chose the U7A as one of the official TV’s. Let me tell you why.
Out of the box/design:
Firstly, I have to say that besides for a car, this is the biggest product I have ever received to review. This 65″ TV is pretty big but don’t let the big box fool you. The TV is super thin, except for the section that houses the speaker and internals which makes the thickest area 54mm. The 65″ display takes up most of the front of the TV with only a thin bezel on the sides and top with a slightly larger bezel at the bottom. The display is surrounded by a metal frame which gives the TV a nice premium look and feel. The included silver tv stand is very clean and compliments the minimalistic look of the TV.
The plastic-backed rear has loads of ports for all kinds of purposes as well as a speaker. You get 2 USB ports (1 USB 3.0 and 1 USB 2.0), 4 HDMI ports, an RF port, Standard AV port, SPDIF output, earphone jack, and ethernet port.
Setup:
This is the moment you call a friend to help you. As I said, the Hisense U7A is not on the small side so you may need some help getting the box into your home as well as removing the tv from its box.
I would use this for some bonding time. Once the TV is out of the box, simply attach the stand, which comes in two pieces using the provided screws. If you are going to mount your TV, make sure to get a mount that can handle a 65 inch TV and also just check the max weight that the wall mount can handle. Once the TV is installed and turned on, a quick setup helps you get your TV connected to your WiFi and then you can install any apps which you may be using such as Netflix (obviously) and YouTube. If you don’t want to use WiFI, you can plug in a network cable, which would give you a more solid connection in any case.
Biggest item I have ever received to review, besides for a car. Where on earth am I meant to keep this #Hisense 65″ 4K ULED TV 😁 Thanks @HisenseSA pic.twitter.com/BUEaCRptVI
— Cape Town Guy (@TheCapeTownGuy) September 27, 2018
I was going to say the remote is just like any other remote though with a Netflix and YouTube button, this remote certainly is better than my LG remote, which only has the Netflix button. Having the shortcut button really saves so much time when you just want to sit back and start watching your favourite show. The remote has all the other essential buttons though my favourite has to be the above 2!
Picture Performance:
The Hisense U7A has a 64″ 4K display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160. The display is a ULED which means the panel is a 4K LCD with edge LED backlighting. To be honest, I don’t really know what this means but you may have wanted to know that 🙂 With the support of 4K content with HRD support, you get to watch movies/series how you were meant to see it.
There are 5 preset viewing modes to choose from, for different types of shows. The standard mode, which is set at default gives a rich image with balanced colours. The two cinema modes didn’t really make much of a difference during my tests but I found the Dynamic mode to be effective. When watching movies, I found that the Dynamic mode makes the image richer with better contrast. Where the TV really shines is in sports mode. Thanks to the displays ultra smooth motion processing and an image refresh frequency of 100Hz, fast-moving objects such as sports, are smooth and more lifelike. It is no wonder that Hisense sponsored the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the Hisense U7A is branded as the official TV of the World Cup!
The U7A also makes your HD content look better by upscaling it. This ensures that you can still enjoy HD content without noticing the difference between HD and 4K.
Audio Performance:
Usually, I struggle with TV sound and cannot really get decent sound without using an external speaker setup. The TV has 6 15W speakers which are made up of 2 tweeters and 4 midrange speakers. There is no built-in subwoofer but I found the speakers have adequate bass for a decent audio experience. The speakers also support Dolby digital.
Smart Features:
If you are wondering what makes a television smart, it is the ability to connect to the internet and install apps. Besides for Netflix, YouTube and Showmax which come preinstalled on the Hisense U7A, you can download other apps from the app store. While there isn’t a major selection, there is still enough apps for the average user. In any case, you will most likely just use the Netflix and YouTube apps.. You can screen mirror from a phone or tablet straight to the TV by using the Anyview feature for viewing your phone content on the big screen.
The U7A supports video, image and music via the USB ports. I tested content from my flash drive as well as my hard drive and I was able to view loads of my content. The interface makes it easy to navigate file structures and choose what you want to view.
What is in the box:
- Remote Control
- Battery
- User manual,
- Warranty
- And TV of course
Should you buy it:
Priced at around R21999, the Hisense 65″ 4K ULED TV gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Looking at products from competitors such as Samsung or Sony, there isn’t much on the market that is as good for the same price. For instance, Samsung’s OLED TVs are double the price of Hisense’s ULED TV. I haven’t been able to compare the two but I bet you most people will save the money and go for the cheaper option. Considering the Hisense U7A has amazing picture and sound as well as looks great, I don’t blame them.
Get full specs here.
