Have you been looking around for a new TV? Then you've probably come across loads of acronyms like OLED, QLED, LED... the list goes on. Now, Hisense are adding their own TV tech acronym with the ULED TV.
There's no need to feel confused by all these terms though. We're here to explain what Hisense ULED TVs are, why they might be the perfect screens for sports and movies, and what makes them different from the other types of smart TVs out there.
What is a ULED TV?
ULED, or Ultra LED, is Hisense's own TV tech. According to Hisense, it combines "20 different patents around four key areas: Ultra Wide Colour Gamut, Ultra Local Dimming, Ultra 4K Resolution and Ultra Smooth Motion Rate." Sounds technical, but a ULED TV is basically just an LED TV with some serious upgrades.
What's the difference between OLED, QLED and ULED TVs?
To fully understand what ULEDs are all about, it’s a good idea to compare it to other TVs currently available. So, here’s a bit of TV tech revision:
Feature | OLED | QLED | ULED |
---|---|---|---|
Display Technology | Organic Light Emitting Diode | Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode | Ultra LED (Light Emitting Diode) |
Picture Quality | Infinite Contrast Ratio, Deep Blacks, Wide Viewing Angles | Bright and Colourful, High Luminance | Accurate Colours, Smooth Picture Quality, Local Dimming |
Light Source | Individual Pixels | LED Backlight | LED Backlight |
Peak Brightness | Moderate | High | High |
Burn-in Risk | Low | Very Low | Very Low |
Lifespan | Medium | Long | Long |
TV Sizes | Small to Large | Medium to Large | Medium to Large |
OLED TVs
OLED stands for 'Organic Light-Emitting Diode'. These TVs are packed with millions of miniscule LEDs that all emit their own light, so they don't need an LED backlight like other televisions. As every pixel can be individually turned off, OLED TVs offer incredible colour contrast with true blacks that are as dark as when the screen's turned off. Perfect for horror films or moody, atmospheric games!
Their colour accuracy and contrast makes everything look rich and detailed, but OLED TVs don't have quite the level of peak brightness of some other tellys.
QLED TVs
QLED is short for 'Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode'. QLED TVs feature a layer of tiny quantum dots fitted between an LCD screen and a backlight. These dots then produce clear and vivid colours when the backlight illuminates them.
This unique design makes QLED TVs some of the brightest on the market, with everything on screen looking vibrant and realistic. But as they’re backlit, QLED TVs can't produce true blacks like OLEDs.
ULED TVs
Right, so what about ULED TVs then? These are based on LED tech but come upgraded with some Hisense wizardry. Hence the 'Ultra' part. Hisense use the ULED name for their 4K TVs that feature their colour gamut, local dimming, and motion smoothing enhancements. But what do they all do?
Well for starters, Hisense ULED TVs can display 99.98% of the DCI-P3 colour space. This is a colour gamut used in movie production that shows a wider range of colours than the standard sRGB colour gamut used in most TVs. Think of it as a larger box of crayons — the more colours you have, the more accurate the colours will be in the content you watch. And this is all thanks to their 'Quantum Dot Colour' tech, so ULED TVs share some similarities with QLED TVs. We're talking over one billion different shades for some seriously stunning, lifelike images.
ULED TVs also achieve much deeper blacks and more contrast than normal LED televisions with their 'Ultra Local Dimming' tech. They don't dim or turn off individual pixels like OLEDs, but have loads of backlight zones that can be dimmed to achieve a similar effect.
Then there's the 'UltraSmooth Motion' system that removes blur from fast-paced action scenes in your favourite thrillers. And if you love some footy, it'll help you keep your eye on the ball.
How do I choose the right ULED TV?
This all depends on which screen size fits your space the best (we've got some great tips for this in our how to measure a TV screen guide). Hisense U6, U7 and U8 series ULED TVs range from 55 to 100 inches, so you’re bound to find the perfect one for your lounge, bedroom, or home cinema.
If you’re looking for the best, the Hisense U8K is a top TV filled with cool stuff. It features a Mini-LED Pro display that’s razor-sharp, and it can even give low-res shows and movies a makeover by upscaling content to 4K and enhancing colours with Ai.
But if you’ve got a lot of space to fill, check out the new 110-inch Mini-LED TV Hisense unveiled at CES 2024. It's got a whopping 110-inch screen, delivers a peak brightness of 10,000 nits, and has a staggering 40,000 local dimming zones for incredible contrast and depth. Whoa.
FAQs
Are ULED TVs good for gaming?
ULED TVs can be a great option if you're a keen console gamer. Aside from the brilliant brightness and contrast ULED tech offers, Hisense tellys like the U7K and U8K have great gaming-focused features that’ll take your PS5 or Xbox Series X to the peak of its capabilities.
There's Game Mode Pro, which ramps the standard 120Hz refresh rate up to 144Hz for lightning-fast, blur-free gaming. And you can forget about any screen tearing or controller input lag with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and the Auto Low Latency Mode too.
Are Hisense TVs good?
Hisense TVs pack in loads of high-quality features at a great price. A lot of current models now come with built-in Amazon Alexa so you can ask it to play your favourite series in seconds. Plus there’s Dolby Vision IQ, which will keep your picture looking its best according to the brightness of the room the telly's in.
Any more questions?
We hope that’s cleared up all your questions on ULED televisions. If you’re still looking around and want help with your TV shortlist, check out our TV buying guide.