PICTURE QUALITY It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail. Edges of objects in the image stood out too much because of over-enhancement. Color accuracy was very good, with images generally looking natural. Color temperature was slightly on the warm side, lending images a reddish tone. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension, typical of most models we test. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. The model had deep black levels, just shy of the best models. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the model did a very good job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This Hisense has a wide viewing angle overall, better than that of most TVs. It will provide the same picture quality, with fewer problems than most TVs, for typical viewing conditions -- say, if your family is seated across a long sectional or in chairs off to the sides. When we viewed the TV from the sides the image quality showed some loss. The picture showed a slight loss of color, along with a slight color shift. Black levels visibly brightened, reducing contrast especially on dark scenes. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was excellent. The picture showed no change in color, contrast, and black level.
MOTION BLUR This Hisense TV has only fair motion performance, with significant blurring on our motion tests. This model does not include a blur reduction feature. The visibility of blurring on typical program content is often subtle and may not bother most people, but keen-eyed viewers may detect some loss of texture and detail on scenes with movement.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some models, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This model has fair sound quality with below average performance. It's acceptable for typical programming, but shortcomings become obvious with movie soundtracks and music. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding, though a bit muffled, a bit harsh, and remained well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass was lacking and treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was overly bright, and a bit thin and closed in. The speakers produced a good volume -- so this model should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments and without obvious distortion -- a plus if you'll be using this model in a large room or noisy environment. If sound quality matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or other external speaker system.
EASE OF USE Overall, it was fairly easy to setup and fairly easy to do routine things. On first power up there is an on-screen guide that helps you through setting up the TV. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate. It lacks the ability to add custom labels to different input sources.
STAND ASSEMBLY The TV's base does not come pre-attached, so some assembly is required. Mounting the support stand to the TV is straightforward, though the stand requires the assembly of one part before mounting. The TV's stand extends to the far ends of the display, which means the table top you'll be setting the TV on will need to be at least as wide as the display itself.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capabilities via its "HiSmart" portal with access to a library of applications, and a full Web browser. Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Vudu, YouTube.
CONNECTIONS This model has two HDMI inputs--one supports MHL (Mobile High-definition Link), a component/composite shared input (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time). It also has one USB port, an optical digital audio out, a headphone out, an Ethernet port. Wireless connectivity is built-in. Casting: control the TV from a smartphone that has the suitable app installed. The power cord is attached to this model, unlike most TVs. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX A quick start guide. A remote control with batteries. (The power cord is permanently attached to the TV.). No printed manual is included.
ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), or USB port, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu, or home button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
