TCL vs. Hisense: Which Budget TV is Right For You?
It's never been easier to find a cheap HD TV. You can get a great two or three year old 4K TV starting for less than $300. They may not last you decades like the box TV you bought in 2004, but they are still worthy investments... if you get the right one. These days, when it comes to budget-friendly TVs we turn to two brands, TCL and Hisense.
If you're not willing to shell out for an art TV or a fancy laser projector, the question then becomes which TV brand will serve you best on a budget? You'll want something with great picture, both vivid colors and clear blacks, and a high refresh rate no matter if the word "game" means March Madness or Fortnite. And of course, access to all your streaming apps like Netflix, Apple TV, and HBO whatever it's called now. In terms of size, 55 inches is the sweet spot; it won't overpower small apartments living rooms, but can travel with you when you upgrade to a real home. Both TCL and Hisense are making new TVs to this exact spec, but you only have room in your life for one, don't you?
We've taken each brand's 2025 entry-level 55-inch TV and stacked them up head-to-head. These are currently two of the best value propositions in 4K smart TVs—55 inches of glorious sound and picture for less than $600—but which one is better? We found out.
- Halo Control for the most precise dimming
- Game accelerator mode for higher refresh rates
- Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and more HDR formats
- Dolby Atmos audio
- Glare
- Limited viewing angles
| Dimensions LxWxH | 2.2 x 48.4 x 27.7 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 26.8 pounds |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| HDR Formats | HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Speaker | ONKYO 2.1 Speaker system with built-in subwoofer |
| Operating System | GoogleTV |
The 2025 QM6K from TCL doesn't leave anything out on the field. It is a modern 144Hz 4K TV with stunning contrast and black levels, variable refresh rate settings for gaming, and a 2.1 surround sound speaker built-in. It has access to all the streaming apps you need, and has enough HDMI ports for both your PS5 Pro and your Switch 2. The GoogleTV interface is friendly, easy to set up with or without giving it your gmail info. And with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, it's equipped with all the latest to turn your movie nights into an excuse to show off your home theater.
Where this year's entry-level TCL levels up is the new Halo Control system for precision dimming. This means, compared to other TVs at its price point, the QM6K excels at showing contrast, light and shadow, and a distinction between deep darks that other TVs can't make. I'm really glad TCL didn't save this feature for its high-end offerings, because it's one of the things setting this TV apart. It's also got some pretty advanced VRR (variable refresh rate) options for super high frame rates on video games. If you're playing on a console, this probably isn't worth taking into consideration since the best of 'em top out at 120 FPS.
Noticeably, if you're using this TV in the day time in a bright room, the budget starts to show. You will get some glare and the viewing angles are limited, so you aren't viewing it straight on from the couch on a sunny day, expect some trouble seeing clearly.
- Up to 1000 nits peak birghtness
- Dolby Vision and Atmos
- Vivid colors
- Alexa built-in
- Small remote
- FireTV OS
- Lacks the Gaming Modes of other Hisense
- Color range doesn't match TCL
- Also suffers from glare and some lousy viewing angle
| Dimensions LxWxH | 3 x 48.3 x 28.1 Inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 31.3 pounds |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| HDR Formats | HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Speaker | 2.0 channel Speaker with built-in subwoofer |
| Operating System | Fire TV |
Display Tech: Each of these TVs uses Mini-LED tech to make its screen work. These basically use a ton of tiny LED lights to create the overall image. TCL calls this QD-Mini LED and Hisense calls it ULED. Whether or not these displays from TCL and Hisense are actually QLEDs is a hotly contested matter, but for the sake of this comparison it doesn't really matter. While we love the vivid brightness of the Hisense, the TCL makes better use of local dimming for darker blacks.
Winner: It's a Tie.
User Interface: All 4K TVs from TCL and Hisense manufactured in the last year run on the Google TV OS or Amazon's Fire OS. This has been a stark change from Roku as the default OS for many 4K TVs in the early 2020s. If that's the OS you're most comfortable with you can still find some older Roku TV models on the Hisense and TCL websites.
The TCL offering is a Google TV, while the Hisense TV is on Fire OS. Of the two current offerings, we much prefer the Google OS to the Fire OS. Google account integration makes them a breeze to set up, is generally snappy, responsive, and easy to navigate. The only annoyance is the constant home page ads for content it thinks you might like, on platforms you may or may not subscribe to.
TCL wins this round.
Gaming Features: Both these TVs have refresh rates of 144 Hz, optimal for achieving an optimal frame rate while gaming. They are both great for smooth, lag-free gaming without making you tinker with many settings. HDR, VRR, it's all there no matter which you choose. When you connect a console, each will automatically turn to its game mode every time.
It's another close race, but TCL pulls ahead with its Game Accelerator 240, allowing for variable refresh rates of up to 240 hertz (280 on the 65-inch models and larger). It's a bit of an unnecessary flex for an entry-level TV, but technically it allows for smoother gameplay than the Hisense U6's Game Mode Pro—provided you have the right hardware.
TCL takes it again.
If you want an entry-level 4K TV that will let you stream movies, game big, or watch the big game, either of these will get the job done. I'm a fan of both these brands' products, and I actually think the Hisense U7 rules closer to the $1,000 price point. But at this level TCL cannot be beat at the moment. With more dimming options for darker blacks, better HDR performance, and the preferred OS, we have to give it up for the QM6K.
Overall Winner: TCL
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