Hisense and TCL make most of the best-value TVs you can buy, and their lineups compete model for model. Based on RTINGS' testing of both brands, here's how they really differ, and which TV wins at each price.
Neither brand wins outright. TCL is slightly more consistent across sizes and more accurate out of the box; Hisense tends to be brighter and punchier, with slightly better value at entry and mid-range prices.
The best TV from either brand is the Hisense U7SG (~$1,000 at 65"). On a budget, get the TCL QM6K (~$600). At the high end, the TCL QM8K beats the Hisense U8QG.
There's no clear winner between Hisense and TCL. RTINGS, which lab-tests both brands' full lineups every year, calls them closely matched and gives TCL a slight edge for consistency. The better buy almost always comes down to the specific model, size, and price in front of you, not the logo. This guide covers the real brand-level differences, then compares the matchups you'll actually face on Amazon.
| Hisense | TCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Picture style | Punchier, brighter, less accurate out of the box | More accurate, more consistent |
| Same panel across sizes? | Not always; some sizes use different panels | Usually; a more predictable experience |
| HDR formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ |
| Smart platform | Mostly Google TV; some Fire TV and Roku | Mostly Google TV; some Roku and Fire TV |
| HDMI 2.1 ports | Two on most models; four on the U7SG | Two on most models |
| Value | Entry and mid-range models score slightly higher for the price | Strongest at the high end |
Hisense tunes its TVs to grab attention: bright, saturated, and punchy. That looks great in a showroom or a sunny room, but it's less accurate. RTINGS found that many Hisense models over-brighten HDR scenes, so the picture can look exaggerated rather than how the director intended. TCL leans toward a more accurate, natural image that needs less tweaking.
This is TCL's biggest advantage. TCL generally uses the same panel type across a series, so a 55-inch and an 85-inch model of the same series perform about the same. Hisense varies the panel by size more often, and some sizes use panels with noticeably worse contrast than the size RTINGS tested. Many of Hisense's 75-inch models, for example, use a wide-angle panel type with weaker contrast. If you're buying a Hisense, check the review for your exact size.
Both brands are excellent for the price, with 4K at 120Hz or higher, VRR, and low input lag throughout their Mini LED lineups. The difference is port count: most models from both brands have only two HDMI 2.1 ports, but the Hisense U7SG has four, which is a real advantage if you have more than one console. See our best gaming TVs.
Most of both lineups run Google TV, so the menus and apps are nearly identical. Both support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, so every streaming service and 4K Blu-ray format is covered, and both include next-generation ATSC 3.0 tuners on premium models for over-the-air TV (see our antenna guides).
The two most popular budget Mini LED TVs are very close, and both cost about the same at 65 inches. The TCL QM6K is our budget pick for PS5 and Xbox, with low input lag, 4K at up to 144Hz, and deep blacks for the money. The Hisense U6SF Pro has a matte anti-glare screen like Hisense's pricier U7SG, which helps in a bright room, but its slower response time leaves more blur behind fast motion, and it runs Fire TV instead of Google TV.
Our pick: the TCL QM6K for gaming and dark-room movies; the Hisense U6SF Pro if glare is your main problem.
This is where Hisense pulls ahead. The Hisense U7SG is RTINGS' best mid-range TV in several sizes and one of its top Mini LED picks: very bright, with excellent local dimming, a matte screen that handles reflections well, and four HDMI 2.1 ports. The TCL QM7L is a bright Mini LED with Dolby Vision and Google TV that's usually a little cheaper, but its glossy screen handles reflections noticeably worse and it has two HDMI 2.1 ports instead of four.
Our pick: the Hisense U7SG. It's the best value in either brand's lineup right now. If you're also weighing Hisense's step-up model, see Hisense U7SG vs. U8QG.
At the top, TCL wins. In RTINGS' testing, the TCL QM8K is brighter in HDR, shows less glow around bright objects, has more accurate color, and has clearer motion than the Hisense U8QG. The U8QG has better image processing, a native 165Hz panel, and a USB-C video input, and it's often cheaper. On Amazon, the QM8K is easiest to find in its 98-inch size.
Our pick: the TCL QM8K for the best picture; the Hisense U8QG if the price gap is large.
The best Hisense or TCL TV for most living rooms: very bright, great contrast for an LED TV, a matte screen that handles glare, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and four HDMI 2.1 ports running 4K at up to 165Hz. It's our mid-range pick for 65-inch and 75-inch TVs.
Worth knowing: like most Hisense TVs, it's tuned a little bright and punchy out of the box. Use Filmmaker Mode for movies.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.The most TV for the money from either brand. Local dimming gives it deeper blacks than most budget TVs, it supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and two HDMI 2.1 ports run 4K at up to 144Hz with VRR for consoles.
Worth knowing: it handles daytime glare less well than the Hisense picks and shows more glow around bright objects in a dark room.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.A well-rounded budget Mini LED with a matte anti-glare screen, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and VRR. It's the better budget choice for a room with windows.
Worth knowing: fast motion looks blurrier than on the TCL, and it runs Fire TV, whose app selection is a bit narrower than Google TV's.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.TCL's best widely available TV: very bright, with excellent local dimming, vibrant color, and an anti-reflective screen. In RTINGS' head-to-head testing, it beats the Hisense U8QG for HDR brightness, blooming, color accuracy, and motion. It's our mid-range pick for 98-inch TVs.
Worth knowing: it's TCL's 2025 model, so watch for sales as newer models arrive.
Check price on Amazon Prices change often — verify current pricing on Amazon.Considering an OLED instead? Our OLED vs. QLED vs. Mini LED guide explains which suits your room, and our best TVs under $1,000 compares these against Sony and LG.