Chinese TV maker Hisense recently launched the E6N, a 55-inch UHD 4K smart TV, which I got for review. The UHD TV, which also comes in a 65-inch variant, packs loads of features -- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Game Mode Plus (ALLM and VRR), and AI Sports Mode, which the company claims ensures vivid visuals, clear audio, smooth gameplay, and optimized sports settings.
Unboxing and initial feel
The TV came in a sturdy and secure packaging that showed all the specifications in the box. Once opened, it had all the usual accessories – wall mount and table top stands, TV remote with batteries and instruction manuals and warranty booklets.
The review unit I got was black in colour with a greyish-black panel and had a slim profile and width. The TV has a sturdy plastic build that didn't flex, with very slim bezels and chin.
On the connectivity front, the E6N has it all – HDMI, HDMI ARC, dual-USB ports as well as Ethernet ports. In fact, the TV comes with 3 HDMI ports, with the third one being eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) port, which enables the viewer to transmit the original full resolution audio signal through an HDMI cable and reproduce the best sound without compromise. The eARC output also allows connecting one’s laptop or playstation consoles and enjoy gaming with variable refresh rates and low latency.
Setting up
This being a review unit, I preferred to install the TV in my living room TV cabinet with the provided stands, which was easy. With the stands, the TV weighs around 7.4 kgs.
Since the E6N is Google TV compatible, setting up the same was a breeze. All I needed to do was input by Google ID and password and all the setup, including installing and updating the in-built apps was seamless. The entire process took around 15-20 minutes, and the TV being dual-band Wi-Fi compatible was helpful, since I was able to connect the TV to my 5Ghz Wi-Fi network.
I found the UI of the TV a bit choppy despite one software update during my review period, and there were occasional lags while switching between channels or apps. I also noticed delay when giving commands on the remote while playing 4K videos on YouTube. So, Hisense can work on this front with future software updates.
Display and sound
The Hisense E6N TV comes feature packed on the display front – the 55-inch variant that I had UHD 4K resolution with Dolby Vision and HDR10 compatibility. This led to sharp colours and vibrant images when viewing content on OTT apps such as Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar and Sony Liv when viewing from the front of the TV. However, since the display here uses a VA panel, the colours become a bit distorted when viewed from sides. I also noticed the brightness of the TV drops suddenly when there is a dark/night scene and soon the brightness seems to be up. Not sure if this issue was particular to my unit, but I hope Hisense will look into this issue.
Since the TV is a Euro Cup football championship-edition, the inbuilt AI Sports Mode was particularly helpful while watching sports content, where the scene would be optimized to enhance sports viewing by making the football or cricket balls appear less hazy during motion.
The HDR and Dolby Vision functions work well, with distinct separation being noticed in the dark and light parts. However, I did notice occasional noise during watching black parts of the content, which becomes more pronounced while watching TV channels via JioTV or Tata Sky.
When it comes to sound, the Hisense E6N comes with 20 watt-dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support, packing various sound profiles such as Dynamic, Standard, Sports, PC/Game, Energy Saving, Cinema, and filmmaker mode. The sound equalizer modes can be easily tweaked.
The sound is loud enough to fill a living room and I enjoyed watching action, music and sports on the TV. However, I felt the bass could have been better, and there were also volume-levelling issues while switching between apps of TV channels, despite the auto volume leveler being switched on.
Verdict
Overall, I feel the Hisense E6N TV is a compelling mix of good quality display and audio, packing in all the modern specs one can expect from a 55-inch smart TV in a price that will excite many. However, the slightly laggy UI, noise and auto brightness issues in some cases may deter some buyers. I hope Hisense will look into these issues and fix them with future software updates.
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