When was the last time you felt like you got more than what you paid for? Usually, price far outweighs the features or performance you receive, especially for a TV. The Hisense U8N Mini-LED ULED 4K Google TV is an exception.
Hisense builds on last year’s U8K — one of the best affordable TVs of 2023 — with an improved processor and even more brightness. Even better, you can often find the 65-inch model for around $1,000. For that price, you get an all-around solid TV; not perfect, but better than you’d expect for the money and good enough for most uses.
With great overall performance, the U8N feels like it costs more than it does. It has plenty of processing power to deliver a smooth watching and gaming experience. It can’t quite compare to the best premium TVs, but you get a lot at half the price of those.
What we liked about it
Powerful picture and performance
The U8N punches well above its price when it comes to the picture it produces. The TV features mini LED backlighting, which helps it produce a more uniform image than typical LCD TVs. It’s extremely bright, so you don’t have to worry about watching in a well-lit room. And it delivers good color, especially when watching movies and shows that support Dolby Vision.
The brightness and backlighting also help it deliver impressive contrast, easily revealing details in the dimly lit halls of “House of the Dragon” or the attack scenes in the dark in “Dune: Part Two “—?though at times the picture could appear washed out as the TV overcompensated for the dark. But few TVs near this price can come near the contrast performance of the U8N.
The U8N runs Google TV, a robust operating system that often challenges TV processors. The U8N is up to the task —?apps launched quickly and the interface was snappy to navigate. It has a ton of ways you can adjust the picture, which helps overcome some of its flaws, such as overactive motion smoothing.
The U8N also comes with all the features gamers want, including auto low latency and variable refresh rate for extra smooth and responsive gameplay on your PS5 or Xbox Series X. It really does offer something for everybody.
Palatable price
While the list price is $1,500 for the 65-inch model, Best Buy is currently selling it for $1,100. That’s only about $100 more than the U8N’s closest competitor, the TCL QM8, which also retails for $1,500 but has dropped to as low as $998 on Amazon.
You can pick up TVs for less, but they won’t come close to the picture quality and performance that the U8N delivers. You can also spend a lot more on a TV — the best of this year’s “affordable” premium crop, such as the LG C4 and Samsung QN90D, sell for about $1,800 to $2,000. There are reasons to spend more, but only for very discriminating viewers.
Solid sound quality
The 65-inch model I tested comes with a 2.1.2 speaker system built in and it impressed me more than I expected. While it’s no replacement for a quality soundbar, it produced a wide sound thanks to its Dolby Atmos support. It even generated a little rumble during action scenes. If you’re on a budget and considering a cheaper TV that would need a soundbar, you could convince yourself that the money is better spent on the U8N and skip the soundbar — at least for a while.
What we didn’t like about it
Unconvincing upconverting
The processor in the U8N is very capable, but Hisense doesn’t use it very well when upconverting plain-old HD signals to 4K. While watching the Eurocup and Copa America, players often appeared blurry. That’s an example of when paying more for an LG C4 or Samsung QN90D could be worth it — upconverting on the more expensive models markedly sharpens the signal.
Surly stand
The 65- and 75-inch models come with a sturdy stand that sits in the middle of the TV (the 55-inch uses two feet instead of a single stand). It’s hefty and allows you to perch the TV on a narrower console. But the stand itself takes at least two people and some tiny hands to assemble – those screws are tough to get in! The included guide doesn’t help much either. It’s a relatively minor quibble and at least you should only have to go through that painful process once.
How it compares
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Size options | 55, 65, 75 in. |
65, 75, 85, 98 in. |
| Dimensions (65-in. model) | 57.0 x 33.1 x 2.9 in. |
56.9 x 32.6 x 1.7 in. |
| Panel type | Mini LED ULED |
Mini LED QLED |
| Connections | 4 HDMI (one eARC, two HDMI 2.1) |
4 HDMI (one eARC) |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Advanced HDR |
HDR ULTRA, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Price | $1,100 | $998 |
Bottom line
If you’re buying a TV in 2024, you should consider the Hisense U8N —?regardless of your budget. If you’re looking for a cheap TV, the U8N may cost more than you want to spend, but you get a much better picture and overall performance. And if you had planned to spend more, the U8N may convince you that you don’t need all the features that more expensive TVs offer.
For most situations, the U8N’s brightness, color and contrast are good enough. Its processor and overall performance translate into a smooth experience. It doesn’t handle upconverting as well as more expensive TVs, and people who crave a near-perfect picture probably will want to spend the extra dollars on a premium TV.
If you’re looking to spend even less, Hisense’s U6N, a newer version of our best budget TV pick, also offers good performance for the price — though the picture isn’t nearly as pleasant as the U8N. You can find a 65-inch U6N for about $700.
But for most of us, the U8N represents the best value —?something we don’t find enough of in the world today.
