Subj : I tested Hisense's first RGB mini-LED TV and it delivers exciting To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Oct 03 2025 14:30:09 I tested Hisense's first RGB mini-LED TV and it delivers exciting picture quality and features, but there are still some setbacks that make its sky-high price a tough sell Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:16:04 +0000 Description: Hisense's first RGB mini-LED delivers solid performance, but its eye-watering price is tough to ignore. FULL STORY ======================================================================Hisense 116UX review: Two minute review The Hisense 116UX is the brands flagship 4K TV, and it introduces RGB mini-LED technology to the world in a 116-inch screen size. Some elements of its picture rival the best TVs , and it has a wide array of features, but its appeal is limited by key shortcomings. With a launch price of $29,999 / 24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is an expensive TV that will exceed most budgets. And while it features exciting new RGB mini-LED tech, Hisense will also be introducing RGB mini-LED in 100- and 85-inch models in the future, and more buyers are likely to gravitate to those. The 116UXs bold, vibrant colors take mini-LED to the next level. Textures are crisp, and the high brightness gives pictures a strong level of punch. Contrast and black levels are mostly good, but backlight blooming and inconsistent backlight control lead to a clouding effect in some dark scenes that hamper what would otherwise be a remarkable picture. Even with the TVs large size, viewing angles are limited, with pictures losing contrast when viewed from off-center seats . A 6.2.2-channel sound system delivers mostly solid performance, with immersive effects, impressive accuracy and clear dialogue. Bass has good impact, but the 116UXs soundstage isnt as wide as Id hoped for. A screen this size deserves one of the best soundbars to match, ideally a premium option like the Samsung HW-Q990F . The 116UX is great for gaming, with 4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all supported across three HDMI 2.1 ports. While its 14.6ms input lag time is higher than the best gaming TVs , its overall gaming performance is good enough for an enjoyable experience on a big screen. This TVs high price is hard to ignore, and even though the 116UX features an RGB mini-LED panel and has a gargantuan screen size, you can build a truly great home theater system with some of the best 4K projectors at this price. The 116UX will deliver better value when its price drops, but right now, its a big ask. Hisense 116UX review: Price & release date (Image credit: Future) Release date: September 2025 Price: $29,999 / 24,999 / AU$39,999 The Hisense 116UX, Hisenses flagship 2025 TV, uses a new RGB mini-LED panel. It sits above the Hisense 110UX , U9Q, U8Q, U7Q and U6Q mini-LED TVs and is priced at $29,999 / 24,999 / AU$39,999. Although the 116UX had only been available for a few weeks at the time I reviewed it, the price has dropped to $24,999 in the US. I expect the TV's price will drop even further over the coming months. Hisense 116UX review: Specs Screen type RGB mini-LED Refresh rate Up to 165Hz (4K) HDR support Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG Audio support Dolby Atmos Smart TV Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK& Aus) HDMI ports 3 x HDMI 2.1 Built-in tuner ATSC 3.0 Hisense 116UX review: Benchmark results Hisense 116UX review: Features (Image credit: Future) RGB mini-LED panel Hi-View AI Engine X processor Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support The 116UX features Hisenses RGB mini-LED panel, which uses RGB mini-LEDs to produce a wider, more refined color gamut. HDR support includes Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+, as well as the HDR10 and HLG formats. It also supports IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode. Hisenses flagship TV comes equipped with a 6.2.2-channel speaker system, totaling 110W in power. It supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. Alongside the usual sound presets - Standard, Movie, Sport - it also has AI sound, which adapts the sound and dialogue based on both the content showing onscreen and the viewing environment. The 116UXs gaming features include 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM support. All features are supported across the TVs three HDMI 2.1 ports. Hisenses smart TV platform varies by region. Google TV is used in the US, while Hisenses own VIDAA smart TV platform features in the UK and Australia. I reviewed the UK version, so I used VIDAA, which has access to popular streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, and also UK apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. If you want a review of the Google TV smart TV platform, check out our Hisense U8Q review . Features score: 4.5 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Picture quality Color is where the Hisense 116UX really shines, thanks to its RGB mini-LED panel (Image credit: Disney / Future) High brightness and brilliant color Refined detail Black uniformity issues The 116UXs peak HDR brightness hit 5,441 nits and fullscreen HDR brightness was 1,090 nits, with both measured in Filmmaker Mode. That peak brightness result is over twice what I measured on the Hisense 110UX, a TV that uses a standard mini-LED panel. The 116UXs measured HDR color gamut covered 99.3% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is an excellent result for a mini-LED TV. Its BT.2020 color gamut coverage was even more impressive at 92.64%, which is the highest amount weve measured on a TV to date. I first started my testing with some SDR content, beginning with an HD stream of Fight Club on Disney+. I chose Filmmaker Mode but set brightness and local dimming to medium as the picture was too dim at the default settings. I was impressed by the 116UXs effective upscaling of textures, which gave the picture a crisper look. Even at a 116-inch size, the image was clean. Lower resolution content on YouTube didnt fare as well, with the image looking blocky on the large screen. Color is where the 116UX shines literally. Watching Elemental on Disney Plus in Dolby Vision IQ picture mode, reds and oranges were vibrant and punchy, with the 116UXs brightness adding real pop in a scene where Ember makes a vase. In Wicked on 4K Blu-ray, pink flowers in a tree in the Wizard & I scene had a bold look, as did the greens of the Emerald City. Image 1 of 2 The 116UX sometimes handles dark scenes well (1) but struggles with others (2), even in the same movie, as shown here with Alien: Romulus (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2 (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future ) As Ive discovered with most Hisense TVs, motion handling requires a bit of setup. I watched a stream of a soccer game on Prime Video and found that most motion presets worked, but either Standard or Custom, with Blur set to 3 and Judder set to 5, produced the smoothest image. This was also true for movie viewing, as a scene from No Time To Die where a camera pans across a rocky hillside looked much smoother with the above settings. Textures looked consistently crisp and realistic on the 116UX, with close-up shots of peoples faces showing fine details such as marks or hair. Clothing was also true-to-life and given a 3D look. Watching black and white scenes from Oppenheimer on the 116UX, whites looked bright and there was a good range of gray tones. Blacks were slightly raised, but they still looked solid. The 116UX also delivered good shadow detail in darker scenes, such as objects against dark walls in a scene where Strauss and Oppenheimer are in an office after their first meeting. Dark scenes ultimately were a mixed bag on the 116UX. Blacks appeared rich and deep in some instances, such as the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-rays demo footage, but they came across as more of a dark gray in movie scenes from The Batman and Alien: Romulus . While contrast was also strong in these movies, there was a clouding effect across the screen in dark sections of the image. Strangely, one exterior space shot in Alien: Romulus demonstrated good accuracy in the blacks, but another in a dark tunnel revealed the clouding effect at its worst. The 116UX also demonstrated some backlight blooming around bright objects against dark backgrounds when viewed from off-center. Plus, the clouding issue became more apparent when viewing from more extreme angles. I reached out to Hisense regarding dark scene viewing and the clouding effect and it said it was aware of and looking into it, but couldn't provide a fix at this time. If there are any updates, I'll be sure to add them to this review. Picture quality score: 4 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Sound quality The 116UX delivers decent built-in sound, but overall a screen like this deserves a soundbar to match (Image credit: Future) 6.2.2-channel speaker array Clear, expansive, accurate sound Only average soundstage The 116UX comes with a built-in 6.2.2-channel, 110W Devialet sound system that supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. It has subwoofers built into the rear of the screen, with two speakers running down each side of its frame and height speakers positioned on the top of the TV. Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman , the 116UX accurately connected the sound to the action on screen. The overall sound was punchy with clear dialogue. The 116UXs sound was also immersive at times, going beyond the borders of the screen and making Dolby Atmos effects, such as rain in The Batman, feel as if theyre overhead. While the 116UXs built-in sound system is good, at times it felt restrained. Bass in particular lacked fullness. And while there was some suggestion of surround effects, I expected a sound system like this to produce a wider soundstage. Some people will be happy with the 116UXs sound, but I feel it deserves a sound system to match its gargantuan, cinematic picture. Sound quality score: 4 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Design Image 1 of 2 The 116UX uses metal feet to support its heavy weight (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 2 But the 116UX is surprisingly thin despite is large size (Image credit: Future) Sleek, modern design Weighty and cumbersome Basic support feet At 116 inches, the 116UX requires a large space. Its big screen will be too cumbersome for most living rooms and, unlike retractable projector screens of a similar size, it will dominate a space. Hisense has done its best to make the 116UX appear as sleek as possible while still housing a substantial built-in sound system. Its frame is trim, and its made of a premium-looking black metal. As a result, the 116UX is an incredibly weighty 239lbs (108kg), meaning youll need to carefully consider installation, although there are two carry handles on the rear. The TV is supported by two metal feet, which, although plain, are expected for a TV this size. The 116UX comes with Hisenses solar remote, which is reminiscent of Samsungs SolarCell remote and can be charged using the rear solar panel or by USB-C. It has a nice design with a burnished steel finish and feels more premium than Hisenses standard TV remotes. Design score: 4 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Smart TV & menus VIDAA (Hisense's smart TV platform in the UK) has plenty of picture settings and good app access (Image credit: Future) Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK & Australia) Good number of picture settings Performance can lag at times Like all Hisense TVs, the 116UXs smart TV platform will be different based on your region. In the US, it uses Google TV, and in the UK and Australia, it uses Hisenses own VIDAA smart TV platform. I reviewed the 116UX in the UK, so I will be focusing on VIDAA. Check out our Hisense U8Q review to read about a Google TV Hisense model. VIDAA has access to all major streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video, and all UK-based streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also supports Freely, a service in which you can watch live TV over Wi-Fi with no need for an antenna or satellite connection. There are a good number of picture settings on the 116UX. VIDAAs overall look is plain and not as user-friendly as LGs webOS, and the 116UXs overall performance during navigation suffered from lag on occasion. VIDAA could do with a visual overhaul, as it does look dated in some of its menus. Smart TV & menus: 4 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Gaming The Hisense 116UX has great gaming features and impressive picture quality for gaming (Image credit: Future) 4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium 14.6ms input lag Three HDMI 2.1 ports The 116UX has impressive gaming features, such as 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, and these are all supported on three HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also a 288Hz game booster mode for PC gaming and a Game Board pop-up menu that displays useful information such as frame rate and VRR, as well as settings that can be adjusted, such as Dark Detail. Gaming performance on the 116UX is generally smooth and responsive. Playing a demo of Dynasty Warriors: Origins on PlayStation 5, the action felt fast-paced and chaotic as expected at both 60Hz and 120Hz. I noticed during gameplay that the frame rate varied a lot in the 120Hz Performance mode, but I chalked this up to the game itself, due to its rendering of many enemies on screen. The 116UXs measured input lag is 14.6ms, which is higher than rivals like Samsung and TCL, but still under the 15ms threshold most gamers look for. Gaming score: 4.5 / 5 Hisense 116UX review: Value The Hisense 110UXN comes with Hisense's premium remote, which has both a USB-C port and a solar cell on the bottom rear for charging (Image credit: Future) Expensive Similarly priced to big-screen OLED TVs Much pricier than the 110-inch 110UX At $29,999 / 24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is a pricey, premium TV. It may come with an exciting, new RGB mini-LED panel that produces superb brightness and color, but thats still a lofty price, even for a TV this feature-packed. At this price range, you can pick up some of the best projectors on the market, such as the JVC DLA-NZ800 ($15,999 / 15,999 / AU$24,999). It wont have the 116UXs brightness, but it will still produce an excellent picture. Plus, you can build an entire home theater system around it with the same budget. The 116UX is also much pricier than the step-down 110UX ($14,999 / 18,999 / AU$24,999), and while it delivers better performance and picture quality, that's still a significant price gap. Value score: 3 / 5 Should you buy the Hisense 116UX? The Hisense 110UXN comes at a premium price that most won't be able to afford (Image credit: Future) Hisense 110UXN Attributes Notes Rating Features RGB mini-LED panel with good amount of smart and gaming features 4.5/5 Picture quality Superb color reproduction, brightness and realistic textures, but dark scene viewing can be an issue 4/5 Sound quality Punchy, precise sound system with decent bass, but sound feels narrow at times 4/5 Design Trim design considering size, and feels sturdy as well 4/5 Smart TV and menus VIDAA has good number of picture settings and apps, but looks dated 4/5 Gaming Great array of gaming features including 165Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and 3 HDMI 2.1 ports 4.5/5 Value An exciting step forward for mini-LED, but expensive price means it remains exclusive 3/5 Buy it if... You want a cinema-sized screen The Hisense 116UX gives you the experience of a cinema at home, delivering high brightness and vibrant color. You want a big screen for gaming The 116UX has a great range of gaming features and solid performance to match, but the novelty of gaming on such a large screen is where gamers will be most excited. Don't buy it if You're on a budget The 116UX carries a very premium price tag and although prices will drop over the coming months, it's unlikely to become affordable for 99% of people. You want a perfect picture The 116UX has screen uniformity issues and struggles with some dark scenes. It struggles even more when these scenes are viewed off-center. Also consider Hisense 116UX Hisense 110UXN Samsung QN90F (65-inch) Hisense U8QG (65-inch) Price $24,999 / 24,999 / AU$34,999 $14,999 / 19,999 / around AU$24,300 $2,499.99 / 2,499 / AU$3,499 $2,199 / 2,199 / AU$2,999 Screen type RGB Mini-LED Mini-LED Mini-LED Mini-LED Refresh rate 120Hz (up to 165Hz) 120Hz (up to 144Hz) 120Hz (up to 144Hz) 120Hz (up to 144HZ) HDR support Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10/HLG/HDR10+ HDR10+/HDR10/HLG Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG Smart TV Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK/Aus) Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK) Tizen Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK) HDMI ports 3 x HDMI 2.1 4 (2x HDMI 2.1) 4 x HDMI 2.1 3 x HDMI 2.1 Hisense 110UXN The Hisense 110UXN is the step-down model from the 116UX and while its standard mini-LED panel doesn't deliver as vibrant a picture as the 116UX, it does have similar features and is significantly cheaper, while still delivering a big screen experience. Read our full Hisense 110UXN review Samsung QN90F Though it lacks the Hisense's RGB mini-LED panel and doesn't hit the same brightness levels as the 116UX, the Samsung QN90F delivers outstanding picture quality and has one of the most complete feature sets on the market, including an effective anti-reflection screen. Plus, it's a lot cheaper. Read our full Samsung QN90F review Hisense U8QG The Hisense U8QG is one of Hisense's flagship TVs at a more affordable price. While it again doesn't deliver the same picture quality as the 116UX, it is excellent value for money and does deliver strong performance and a brilliant set of features for a good price. It's also frequently on sale. Here's our full Hisense U8QG review How I tested the Hisense 116UX (Image credit: Future) Tested in light controlled testing room Tested SDR and HDR sources for picture quality I tested the Hisense 116UX in a light-controlled demo room at Hisense Europe HQ in Leeds, England. I first established which picture modes I would use for my testing with some casual viewing. For my critical viewing, I used several reference scenes from both SDR (broadcast TV and streaming) and HDR sources (4K Blu-ray and streaming). I tested the 116UX's picture for brightness, color, shadow detail and contrast, screen uniformity, upscaling and motion. I also used these same sources to test the UX116's audio performance. To play 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player . I also tested gaming performance and features using a PlayStation 5 . Measurements for the Hisense 116UX were taken by my colleague Matthew Murray, Head of Testing at Future, at a separate event in the US. These tests included peak (10% window) and fullscreen (100%) SDR and HDR brightness, measured on a white window test pattern. HDR color gamut was also measured, examining the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. Color and grayscal accuracy were measured using Delta-E values (the margin for error between the test pattern signal and what's shown on screen). Finally, the TV's input lag was measured using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester. For a more detailed explanation of how we test TVs at TechRadar , check out the link. First reviewed: September, 2025 Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/hisense-116ux-rgb-tv-review --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .