Hisense U7K vs TCL Q7: Which should you buy? (2024)

Since their release, the Hisense U7K and TCL Q7 have been popular picks among shoppers looking to save some money on their next TV. These mid-range models offer better hardware and more features than entry-level options, but still manage to come in at a price that most folks will find easy to swallow.

Making matters complicated is the fact that the U7K and Q7 have quite a bit in common with one another, from their price down to specific gaming features. Fortunately, having spent an extensive amount of time with each, we’re here to help.

Hisense U7K vs TCL Q7: Price

Because these models were released several months ago, the street price for both has never been lower. Here’s how each series compares based on their current sale price.

Hisense U7K:

• 55-inch (Hisense 55U7K), $479.99
• 65-inch (Hisense 65U7K), $679.99
• 75-inch (Hisense 75U7K), $899.99
• 85-inch (Hisense 85U7K), $1,499.99

TCL Q7:

• 55-inch (TCL 55Q750G), $498
• 65-inch (TCL 65Q750G), $698
• 75-inch (TCL 75Q750G), $898
• 85-inch (TCL 85Q750G), $1,498

Each series features the same set of size options. Only the 55- and 65-inch models are separated in price by about $20, while the 75- and 85-inch options are on sale for the same price. They’re about as close as you get when comparing TV series.

Our pick: Draw

Hisense U7K vs TCL Q7: Design

Neither of these TVs has been blessed with the precise fit and finish of a high-end TV, but they’ll slot into just about any living space seamlessly. If I had to describe their vibe, I’d go with, “prop TV in the background of a contemporary movie.”

Both the U7K and the Q7 make use of a pair of feet rather than a central, pedestal-style stand. The U7K’s feet—two metal, straight-facing bars—poke out from underneath the panel and can be configured in either a narrow or wide-set configuration.

The Q7’s plastic, boomerang-shaped feet can also be configured in a narrow configuration to accommodate narrower media consoles. Between the two, I prefer the look of the U7K’s feet more, but not by a significant margin. Their panels are about the same thickness, too, but the Q7 is more uniform in its thickness distribution. The U7K, on the other hand, narrows out in its top half.

It all comes down to the clicker. Hisense’s remote control is among my least favorite of all I held in 2023. Its rounded body causes it to rock back and forth on surfaces, and its buttons are chunky and unpleasantly squishy. The Q7’s remote control, on the other hand, is one of the best I used last year, if only for one key feature: backlighting. It makes nighttime far easier, especially as you familiarize yourself with the button layout.

Our pick: TCL Q7

Hisense U7K vs TCL Q7: Features and smart platform

The U7K and Q7 are almost identical in price, so it’s no surprise that they cover similar ground when it comes to hardware- and software-related features. Before I dive into their differences, here’s a list of the features they share.

• Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)

• Quantum-dot color: Yes

• HDR support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

• Dolby Atmos: Yes

• eARC support: Yes

• Smart platform: Google TV

• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): Yes

• Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM): Yes

• Other features: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, Apple Home

Both of these TVs support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which is about the most you can ask for when it comes to HDR support in 2024. You’re covered for Dolby Vision-mastered shows on Netflix, HDR10+ movies on Amazon Prime, and everything in between.

It’s more of the same when it comes to software, too. The U7K and Q7 both arrive with Google TV pre-installed, and it’s a pretty nice suite for folks who plan on skipping the use of a dedicated streaming device. You’ll have to sift through ads on almost every tab, but the library of downloadable apps is vast and the user interface is intuitive.

For gaming features, there are two distinctions to highlight. Both TVs support 4K gaming at 120Hz, but the U7K can also support a 4K signal at 144Hz, too. This only benefits PC gamers, but it’s a nice feature to have on hand.

And, while both TVs limit their HDMI 2.1-related features to two inputs, only the Q7 keeps those inputs separate from its eARC input. This is absolutely critical for people who own (or plan on owning) two current-gen gaming consoles and an eARC-enabled soundbar. If you opt for the U7K, you’ll have to relegate one of your consoles to an input that’s capped at 4K/60Hz if you want to game with a soundbar.

Once again, this category is too close for me to call.

Our pick: Draw

Hisense U7K vs TCL Q7: Performance

The U7K has one major hardware advantage over the Q7: mini-LEDs. With smaller LED backlights spread across a higher number of zones, the U7K is better equipped to display bright objects with less of that hazy, bluish halo effect, and to keep the darker areas of the picture appropriately dark. That said, the Q7’s offers deeper black levels across the board, and I find that it often showcases HDR content in a more pleasing way. In comparison, HDR content on the U7K sometimes appears washed out.

Each TV offers roughly the same average picture brightness in both SDR and HDR, but HDR highlights are slightly punchier on the U7K. Keep in mind, however, that neither one of these TVs is as impressive as higher-end models when it comes to driving brightness to small pinpoints of light.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the performance of these two TVs concerns their out-of-the-box accuracy. In Filmmaker mode, the U7K delivers an impressively accurate presentation. The Q7, on the other hand, suffers from a wildly inaccurate white point, which throws off the rest of the picture. You could always try to fix this with a professional calibration, but at that point, why wouldn’t you just spring for a pricier TV?

It’s worth noting, too, that the U7K comes saddled with a quirk I often see on Hisense TVs, where a ghostly, red glow can sometimes be seen along the edges of light-colored objects in motion. It’s not constant, and it’s most noticeable during dark, warmly-lit scenes, but it might bother you if you’re sensitive to such things.

If I had to guess, I’d say that the U7K’s picture would probably win a higher percentage of votes in a blind test. Each of these TVs has its own quirks, but the U7K’s accurate presentation and mini-LED backlighting go a long way.

Our pick: Hisense U7K

And the winner is… a tie

Between their near-identical price tags and a staggeringly long list of similarities, this match-up is too close to call.

If I were choosing for myself, I’d probably end up going with the U7K just on the basis of it having a more accurate picture. For better or worse, my profession makes the Q7’s wacky white point hard to ignore. That said, if you own two current-gen gaming consoles and a soundbar, the Q7’s HDMI input flexibility is probably going to be much more attractive to you than the U7K’s impressively accurate picture.

Since these two TVs overlap in so many ways, my recommendation is take stock of what’s most important to you over the course of your next TV’s lifespan. Be confident in the knowledge that this is a great time to buy either TV, too, given their time on the shelf.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.