Hisense Vs. TCL: Which Brand Is Worth Your Money?

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Model	Hisense R6 Series	Hisense U8 Series	Hisense H9 Series	TCL Class 4-Series	TCL Class 6-Series	TCL Class 6-Series
Screen Size	50"	55"	65"	50"	55"	65"
Display Type	LCD	LCD	LCD	LED	QLED	QLED
Resolution	4K	4K	4K	4K	4K	4K
UHD	✓	✓	✕	✓	✓	✓
HDR	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Refresh Rate	60Hz	120Hz	60 Hz	120Hz CMI	120Hz	48Hz-120 Hz
VRR	✕	✕	✕	✕	✕	✓
HDMI	3	4	4	3	4	4
Wi-Fi	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Bluetooth	✕	✓	✓	✓	✕	✕
Smart TV	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Weight	21.4 lbs	38.1 lbs	52.7 lbs	20.7 lbs	43.7 lbs	63.9 lbs
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

If you’re looking for a new television set that offers a great picture quality for a lower price, your two best bets are going to have to be either Hisense and TCL. While these brands don’t quite have the long running reputation of other TV manufacturers such as Sony or Samsung, there is no denying that both Hisense and TCL have made their mark in the market over the past few years thanks to their high value products. Normally you get what you pay for, but with Hisense and TCL, you actually end up getting quite a fair bit more.

So now we’ve reached the question that has inevitably come into your mind: which brand should you pick? If you want to find out who we think wins in the battle of Hisense vs TCL then our comparisons of both these brands in several key categories will surely have the insight you are looking for.

Hisense Vs. TCL: Price

For some people, the price point is going to be their ultimate factor in deciding on a TV. While there is no doubt that both Hisense and TCL offer very affordable television sets, they can’t both be equal.

For the most part, TCL is the winner of this category. While there are some Hisense models that are a bit more expensive such as the 65” Quantum Dot, Hisense typically ends up being slightly more expensive for mid to large sized 4K UHD TVs by $50 to $100. While Hisense’s popular 50H8F model is a 50 inch 4K set, TCL offers another 50 inch 4K set called the 49S325 for a cheaper price.

If you browse online marketplaces long enough you will find some instances in which Hisense offers cheaper 30 inch models at 1080p. But if you want to go all out and buy a large screen UHD set that is cutting edge, TCL will offer you the better value.

Winner: TCL

Our pick

TCL 50″ Class 4-Series 4K UHD Smart Android TV

• 4K Ultra HD Resolution
• HDR (High-Dynamic Range)
• Dolby Digital Plus Audio
• Google Assistant
• Chromecast built-in

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Our pick

Hisense 50″ Class R6 4K UHD HDR Roku TV with Alexa Compatibility

• Dolby Vision HDR
• Impressive and Detailed Sound
• Faster Gaming
• Motion Rate 120

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Hisense Vs. TCL: Picture Quality

While Hisense and TCL won’t be giving you a perfect picture, they can still both look really good for the price. It really is impressive how anyone can get a large screen set with UHD and HDR and solid color accuracy for lower prices.

Despite that, both Hisense and TCL have their flaws, and for the most part they are pretty similar. What you will end up getting when you decide to go with either one of these brands is a viewing angle and a brightness that just can’t compare with more expensive brands.

What that means is that both Hisense and TCL will not display an optimal image when viewed at angles or locations that aren’t directly facing the screen. The lower brightness ends up having images appear more muted and not as clear.

But while these are issues that many cheaper screens have, TCL still manages to have some impressive picture quality of its own. The TCL Class 6 Series are known to have very good color uniformity as well as a great contrast ratio. That means that the Class 6 sets display pretty accurate looking blacks as well as brighter and richer colors that span the entire spectrum. For this reason alone, TCL produces better looking picture quality than even the best that Hisense has to offer.

Winner: TCL

Our pick

TCL 55-inch 6-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR QLED Roku Smart TV

• Superior 4K HDR picture quality
• HDR Pro Pack featuring Dolby Vision
• Advanced Digital TV Tuner
• Easy Voice Control
• THX Certified Game Mode

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Our pick

Hisense 55″ Premium U8 Series ULED 4K Smart TV with Alexa Compatibility

• Dolby Vision HDR picture and Dolby Atmos
• Ultra Motion and 120Hz Native Refresh Rate
• IMAX Enhanced and DTS®
• Game Mode Pro
• Hands Free Voice Control

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Hisense Vs. TCL: Technological Features

While UHD and HDR picture quality are undoubtedly what helps define cutting edge TVs these days, another vital category is how good a TV set is at having Smart TV functions. Both Hisense and TCL do pretty well in this category but there are several smaller details that separate the two.

One of these differences lies in the fact that Hisense uses Android for its Smart TV OS and TCL typically uses Roku. When it comes to the user-interface, my vote has to go to Hisense. The effective use of Android OS makes the menus look and feel more intuitive, plus the Android functionality opens up the door to easier connectivity with things like Alexa, Chromecast and Google Assistant.

Hisense TVs also tend to have more quality of life features. Their televisions almost always have an extra HDMI port or an extra USB port compared to TCL. Hisense sets also have superior artificial intelligence that will automatically calibrate the darkness of the screen to fit what you are viewing.

Winner: Hisense

Our pick

Hisense 65″ H9 Quantum Series 4K ULED Android Smart TV

• Quantum Dot Color
• Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos
• Game Mode
• Motion Rate 480
• Google Assistant Built-In

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Our pick

TCL 65″ 6-Series 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR QLED Roku Smart TV

• Superior 4K HDR picture quality
• Advanced Digital TV Tuner
• Natural Motion 480
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
• Auto Game Mode

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Hisense Vs. TCL: Build Quality

One of the biggest fears people have when buying a new but cheaper TV set is that it won’t last as long and will have to be replaced every couple of years. There is very little concern that either Hisense or TCL have this issue but from my own experience I do believe that TCL does indeed have the better build quality.

While they both look similar at an initial glance, TCL sets have better support from their leg stands and have frame casings that feel tighter and more durable.

Winner: TCL

Final Verdict

At times, it was a little difficult for me to make this choice as I believe both brands have a lot to offer for what their asking prices are. But when it comes to Hisense vs TCL, my answer has got to be TCL. I really enjoyed Hisense’s TV sets for their smooth Android OS interfaces, their beautiful thin framed and flat screen design as well as their great remote controls. But when it comes to two undeniably important factors – pricing and picture quality – TCL was the winner for me.

TCL television sets are usually cheaper by as much as $100 if you plan on getting a full sized set with the works. Plus, TCL sets offer a crisp and colorful presentation that still brings out a lot of what ultra high definition and high dynamic range have to offer.

While their TVs may be lagging behind just a little bit when it comes to offering a full blown Smart TV experience, they really nail down the fundamentals of delivering good picture quality for a very reasonable price, and this is something that everyone is looking for.