Home / Guides / Hisense U7 vs U8
TV Comparison

Hisense U7 vs. U8: Why the Cheaper U7SG Is the Better Buy

Home Theater GuidesUpdated November 20265 min read

The U8 is Hisense's step-up Mini LED, so it should be the one to get. But in lab testing, the newer U7SG is the better TV for most people. Here's why, and when the brighter U8QG still makes sense.

The short answer

For most people, the Hisense U7SG. It has more accurate brightness, a matte screen that handles glare better, better uniformity, and four HDMI 2.1 ports.

The Hisense U8QG (about $1,000 on sale at 65", normally about $1,200) is considerably brighter and has a USB-C video input, but most content can't use that extra brightness.

Some links below are Amazon Associates affiliate links. If you buy through them, this site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That has no bearing on which products get recommended — see our full affiliate disclosure.
In this guide
  1. Side-by-side
  2. Where the U8QG wins
  3. Where the U7SG wins
  4. Which should you buy?
  5. Frequently asked questions

Side-by-side

Hisense U7SGHisense U8QG
Model year20262025
PanelMini LED, VAMini LED, VA (65" and 85")
Screen finishMatte anti-reflectiveGlossy
Max refresh rate165Hz (1080p at 330Hz)165Hz
HDR formatsDolby Vision, HDR10+Dolby Vision, HDR10+
HDMI 2.1 ports43, plus USB-C video input
Smart platformGoogle TVGoogle TV
65" price~$1,000~$1,000 on sale (normally ~$1,200)

The U8 has long been Hisense's step-up Mini LED, so you'd expect it to be the better buy. RTINGS' testing says otherwise: the U8QG is slightly better on paper, but most people are better off with the newer, usually cheaper U7SG.

Where the U8QG wins

Where the U7SG wins

Which should you buy?

Best for most people~$1,000 (65")
Hisense U7SG (65")
RTINGS: the better overall experience · 2026 model

The U7SG is the smarter buy for most living rooms: bright, accurate, great at handling glare, and loaded with gaming features. It's also our pick in the best 75-inch TVs and best TVs for PS5.

Worth knowing: like most Mini LEDs, the picture fades at wide viewing angles.

Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.
Brightest picture~$1,000 on sale
Hisense U8QG (65")
RTINGS: slightly better on paper · 2025 model

Choose the U8QG if you want maximum brightness for a very sunny room without lamps or windows directly opposite the screen, or if you'll use the USB-C input with a PC. At its sale price of about $1,000 (normally about $1,200), it's a strong deal.

Worth knowing: the glossy screen shows direct reflections, and the 55- and 75-inch sizes use a different panel type than the 65-inch RTINGS tested.

Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.

Weighing a Mini LED against an OLED? Our guide to OLED vs QLED vs Mini LED explains which suits your room. And Hisense makes great-value soundbars too: the Hisense AX5140Q is our best soundbar under $500.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hisense U7 or U8 better?
The U8QG is slightly better on paper and much brighter, but RTINGS found most people are better off with the U7SG. It has more accurate brightness tracking, better reflection handling thanks to its matte screen, better uniformity, and four HDMI 2.1 ports instead of three.
Is the Hisense U8QG brighter than the U7SG?
Yes, considerably. But most movies and shows don't use that extra brightness, so in everyday viewing the difference matters less than the U7SG's more accurate, more even picture.
Which Hisense is better for gaming?
Both support 4K at 165Hz with VRR. The U7SG has four HDMI 2.1 ports and supports 1080p at up to 330Hz, while the U8QG has three HDMI 2.1 ports plus a USB-C port that works as a DisplayPort input for PCs.
Keep reading
TVs
Best 75-Inch TVs
 TVs
Best TVs for PS5
 TVs
OLED vs QLED vs Mini LED
 Soundbars
Best Soundbars Under $500