The Hisense ULED X Mini-LED TV (or UX for short) is a terrific television set that offers a great viewing experience. The picture quality is excellent with blacks that are OLED-like, but at the same time, the UX gets really bright. The built-in speakers, which include upward-firing ones, are better than most TV speakers (and even cheap soundbars). Most Hisense TVs are focused on value, but the UX is a top-tier no-expense-spared model that holds its own against other premium TVs.
Quick specs
- 4K resolution with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ
- 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 2x HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K@144Hz
- Comes in 65″ (tested), 75″, and 85″ sizes
- Supports ALLM, VRR, and eARC
Hisense says the ULED X Mini-LED TV has over 5,000 dimming zones. It's an impressive figure, but it's only for the largest 85-inch model (5,184 to be exact, the 75-inch has 2,040 zones). My 65-inch review set has 1,456 zones, which is still quite the jump from the mid-range 65-inch Hisense U7K (384). Because it has a good number of dimming zones, the UX has excellent lighting control. It performs close to an OLED, while maintaining a high peak brightness (2,500 nits according to Hisense) that's beyond most OLEDs. Blacks are deep with little to no blooming, while lowlight scenes retain details without crushed shadows. It's not perfect. I noticed some splotchy parts at the black bars of some movies. But the viewing angles are great, there's no dirty screen effect, and scenes like the sky look smooth without any banding.
Besides its excellent picture quality, the UX also supports everything you'll find in a premium TV, from Dolby Vision IQ to to IMAX Enhanced. It has the same MediaTek chipset as the U7K, so you get the same two HDMI 2.1 ports with variable refresh rate (up to 144Hz) and two HDMI 2.0 ports (4K 60Hz). The other key differentiator is sound. The UX sounds really immersive for a TV. It packs 82W of audio output in a 4.1.2ch system with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X. There are upward firing speakers as well as ones at the sides, and a subwoofer at the back. This does mean that the TV chassis is considerably thicker than most. While my Sonos Arc system still sounds better, especially in the bass department, the UX sounds larger, and more room-filling than any TV speakers in my experience. It's even better than your average cheap soundbar.
The 65-inch and 75-inch UX comes with a central stand that elevates it slightly, but not enough to fit a soundbar underneath. The 85-inch model has two feet that can be set close or far apart. Like the mid-range U7K, the UX runs Hisense's VIDAA operating system. It has most of the “essential” streaming apps from Disney+ to Viu. No MeWatch for local users, though. The interface is snappy enough. And gamers will find the Game Bar overlay with the usual game-related settings useful. However, I think Hisense can do better with the remote control, which is the same one as the U7K. It has a backlight, which is nice. But for a premium TV, I expected a remote with more posh.
Going by current market prices (at the time of this review), the Hisense ULED X Mini-LED TV (S$5,099 for 65-inch) is in premium territory. For a mini-LED TV, it's comparable in price to Sony's flagship X95L, which says everything. The UX is also about as expensive as the top OLEDs from LG and Samsung (around $5,000 or less). In terms of picture quality, the UX is definitely competitive with the top TVs. You get searing highlights with the UX, though the blacks are close, but not quite OLED perfect. However, if you factor in the UX's audio prowess, the pricing makes sense. With the Hisense UX, the Chinese TV maker shows that it's not just making waves in the budget and mainstream segments, it feels like a statement of intent: Bring on the big boys! You can buy the UX at Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon SG (cheapest).
Note: Review unit provided by Hisense.
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