Hisense has made a foray into the premium market with its flagship OLED TV, the 65A9HTUK. This model boasts a stunning and dynamic image quality, along with a powerful integrated sound system. It supports a range of HDR formats including HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision IQ. The OLED panel is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 1000 nits, enhancing highlights and adding depth to images. In terms of design, the Hisense 65A9HTUK features a robust build quality and a sleek screen that is suitable for wall-mounting.
The TV runs on Hisense's VIDAA U interface, which is both speedy and user-friendly. It incorporates Freeview Play and offers a decent selection of apps including popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. Gamers will appreciate the support for AMD FreeSync Premium and Dolby Vision Game mode, as well as VRR and a native 120Hz panel for smoother motion. With a latency of just 14.9ms in Game Mode Pro, it provides an impressive gaming experience.
The TV's performance is further enhanced with Atmos, providing a convincing sense of dynamism and sharpness in scenes. The Sound Mode is best suited for this purpose. Bass performance is sizeable for a flatscreen, avoiding sounding too boomy, and it can be enhanced with the Waves feature for added weight and presence without distortion.
Overall, the Hisense A9H is an ambitious TV that delivers on its claims in several areas. Its picture quality is rich and colourful, the Sonic Screen audio system provides an immersive experience, it offers higher-end gaming features, and the VIDAA interface is easy to use. However, there are some areas where it lacks refinement compared to its competitors, such as sound system issues and heavy-handed picture processing. Nonetheless, the A9H succeeds in giving established brands more competition in the OLED market.
Exploring the hardware specs
Specification | Description |
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Brand | Hisense |
Model | 65A9HTUK |
Display Type | OLED |
Screen Size | 65 inches |
HDR Formats Supported | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision IQ |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits |
Design | Sturdy build quality, large square black slab at the rear, thin screen suitable for wall-mounting |
Integrated Sound System | Sonic Screen soundbar |
Operating System | Hisense VIDAA U |
Interface | Speedy and easy to use, integrates Freeview Play, offers apps like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV+ |
Gaming Features | AMD FreeSync Premium, Dolby Vision Game mode, VRR, native 120Hz panel, Game Mode Pro with latency of 14.9ms |
Downsides | Heavy-handed picture processing, audio issues, only available in 65-inch size in the UK market |
Price | £1999 (UK RRP) |
Voice Assistants | Built-in Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, VIDAA Voice |
Connections | Four HDMI inputs (two with 2.1 standard), Auto low latency mode on all inputs, HDMI VRR and 120Hz limited to HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB ports, Ethernet, mini composite input |
Picture Presets | Dolby Vision IQ, IMAX Enhanced, Filmmaker mode |
Image Quality | Sharp and detailed, impactful brightness, colors, and contrast, Dolby Vision IQ mode amplifies image, peak brightness over 1000 nits |
Upscaling | Struggles to maintain sharpness, assertive colors |
Sound Performance | Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 system called Sonic Screen, broad soundstage, heft and power, DTS Virtual:X, convincing dynamism and sharpness with Atmos, bass performance |
Overall Assessment | Impressive picture quality and sound performance, good viewing experience, some processing and search accuracy issues, lacks refinement in some areas |
An overview of what to expect from this model
The most important key feature of the Hisense A9H OLED TV is its impressive picture quality and sound performance.
Other potential advantages or benefits of purchasing this TV include:
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Wide range of HDR formats: The TV supports various HDR formats such as HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision IQ, providing a more immersive and lifelike viewing experience.
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Powerful integrated sound system: The A9H features an integrated Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 system called Sonic Screen, delivering a broad soundstage with heft and power for a more immersive audio experience.
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High-end gaming features: Gamers will appreciate the support for AMD FreeSync Premium, Dolby Vision Game mode, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and a native 120Hz panel, providing smoother motion and a lower latency of 14.9ms in Game Mode Pro.
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Simple and speedy interface: The TV runs on Hisense's VIDAA U interface, which is easy to use and integrates popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV+.
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Impressive brightness and contrast: With a peak brightness of 1000 nits, the OLED panel delivers impactful brightness, enhances highlights, and gives images a sense of depth. The OLED's contrast also enhances the image's brighter parts and provides depth to the colors.
Examining the downsides of Hisense 65A9HTUK
The main downside of purchasing the Hisense A9H OLED TV is its heavy-handed picture processing and some audio issues. Here are the specific cons:
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Heavy-handed picture processing: The TV's picture processing can sometimes be too aggressive, resulting in overly saturated colors and a lack of subtlety. This can detract from the overall viewing experience and make the image appear artificial.
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Audio issues: While the integrated soundbar, Sonic Screen, provides a powerful sound experience, there have been reports of some audio issues. The speaker defaults to DTS Virtual:X instead of Dolby Atmos, which is odd given the Atmos support. This can affect the accuracy and immersion of the audio.
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Limited availability in size: Currently, the Hisense A9H is only available in a 65-inch size in the UK market. This limited size option may not be suitable for all consumers who may prefer larger or smaller screen sizes.
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Search accuracy: The TV offers built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as VIDAA Voice for easy content searching. However, the accuracy of the search results could be improved. Users may experience some frustration when trying to find specific content across various services.
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Lack of popular music streaming services: While the TV offers a decent selection of apps including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV+, it lacks support for popular music streaming services like Spotify and Tidal. This may be a drawback for users who enjoy streaming music on their TV.
Buy or pass? Our verdict on Hisense 65A9HTUK
The Hisense A9H OLED TV offers impressive picture quality with vibrant colors and deep contrast. The integrated sound system provides a powerful audio experience, especially with Dolby Atmos content. The TV also offers high-end gaming features such as AMD FreeSync Premium and Dolby Vision Game mode, making it a good choice for gamers. However, there are some downsides to consider, such as heavy-handed picture processing and occasional audio issues. Additionally, the availability of this TV model is currently limited to a 65-inch size in the UK market. Overall, while the Hisense A9H delivers an enjoyable viewing experience, it is important to consider competitive offerings from other manufacturers before making a purchase decision.