Hisense U8N (65U8N)

Hisense's latest premium Mini LED TV takes the fight to OLED with mixed results

65in MiniLED TV £1499 whf.cm/Hisense U8N

The U8N is Hisense’s latest pitch to prove Mini LED is a valid alternative to OLED for serious movie fans and gamers looking for the best home cinema experience possible.

To help with this is a wealth of upgrades designed to fix our biggest issues with the Hisense U8K, which hinted at greatness when we tested it last year. Certainly the U8N is a big step forward for the brand’s Mini LED offering, and if for whatever reason you are dead set against getting an OLED, then the U8N is well worth considering; but it’s still not quite perfect.

The Hisense U8N is available in 65in and 75in sizes. As premium Mini LED sets go, it is cheaper than most of its rivals, and at the time of writing the 65in set’s price has already dropped by around £300 from its £1800 launch price. Still, price drops elsewhere mean you can get a step-down OLED for not too much more, including the LG C4 and Award-winning Sony A80L.

The moment we unbox the U8N it is apparent how much work has gone into its design. The previous model’s soundbarsized bottom speaker has been reduced in size to more of a thin grille. Set to its top height this means there’s enough space to comfortably fit a regular-sized soundbar underneath it. The U8N’s stand has also been tweaked and now feels incredibly well made and durable. The added heft is a good thing, as the TV is surprisingly heavy and indicative of the robust build quality.

For a Mini-LED TV the Hisense U8N is fairly well stacked, features-wise, and matches if not beats many of the rival sets you will find in its class. The TV features a 4K VA-panel with Quantum Dot tech and Mini LED backlighting; what Hisense calls ULED.