Hisense has become a popular choice for the budget-conscious consumer. The brand’s TVs are affordable, although Hisense compromises a bit of quality to drive down its cost.
That said, can Hisense TVs handle the task of providing smooth gameplay?
Are Hisense TVs good for gaming?
About Hisense TVs and Their Capacity for Video Games.
Hisense TVs are budget-friendly TVs that can work great for casual gamers. While it is great for basic gaming, high-intensity games may not perform well on Hisense TVs as they have much longer lag times than computer monitors. Serious gamers will want a computer monitor for gaming.
How Much Input Lag Do Hisense TVs Have?
The input lag of Hisense TVs can go as low as 12.5ms at 1080p resolutions and 60 Hz refresh with Game Mode on.
The highest input lag on a Hisense TV is 127.4ms at a 60 Hz refresh rate with Game Mode off.
Game Mode is a helpful feature for these TVs, as it drops input lag by 10 – 35ms marks when activated.
What Are The Refresh Rates On These Models?
The refresh rates of Hisense TVs are limited to 60 Hz, which is unusual, as some Hisense TVs use 120 Hz panels.
Do Hisense TVs Have a Variable Refresh Rate?
Hisense TVs do not have a Variable Refresh Rate feature.
Variable Refresh Rate helps your TV smoothly keep up with the spontaneous movement of video games.
Do Hisense TVs Have a “Game Mode”?
Game Mode is a standard feature found on Hisense TVs.
It moves processing power from graphics processing and toward improving the input lag. Game mode significantly improves the performance of Hisense TVs when it comes to games.
To turn on Game Mode, you need to be on the HDMI input source of your gaming console. You can then open the picture settings and select Game Mode.
Can All Hisense TVs Be Used As Computer Monitors?
Hisense TVs may be used as a computer monitor, but you should manage expectations, which is true regardless of the brand.
- First of all, you should expect input lags when using your TV as a computer. Unlike dedicated computer monitors, TVs have higher input lags. This problem can be mitigated by switching to Game Mode.
- Another consideration, although not related to gaming, is how text is rendered on the screen. Only the higher-end Hisense TVs can render text with total clarity.
What About Hisense PlayStation and Xbox Compatibility?
Hisense TVs currently are limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate and may encounter some issues when playing games that are optimized for 120 Hz.
Many of these games are found with the Sony PlayStation.
- An example of these games are shooters, and racer games, which have intense, fast motion graphics.
- You might encounter some issues with games that run at 120 frames per second (fps), as these work best with a higher refresh rate, such as 120 Hz.
- But that does mean you can’t use a PlayStation with Hisense TVs, as you can lower the settings to match your TV’s specs and get decent results.
When it comes to the Microsoft Xbox, you won’t have many issues using a Hisense TV.
- Most games on the Xbox only have 30 or 60 fps.
- That makes the difference between 60 and 120 Hz gaming negligible.
Do People Generally Use Hisense TVs For Gaming?
Hisense TVs are not a very popular choice when it comes to gaming.
There are more powerful TVs on the market that can provide a smoother gaming experience. But that does not mean all Hisense TVs are not worthy of gaming.
There are good ones, such as the H9G, which performs remarkably with video games.
How Good Is the Image Quality and Resolution?
The image quality and resolution of average Hisense TVs are OK, and their top-tier TVs can provide vivid images.
Image quality is lower for their more affordable options, and Hisense TVs can display up to 4k.
For those looking into HDR content, Hisense can handle it, but the image quality won’t be as vibrant as the big name brands.
Are Hisense TVs Durable?
Hisense TVs are durable, but like any other TV in the market, they need proper care and maintenance to last.
You can get up to 60,000 hours of usage when set to the brightest settings with heavy usage.
You may even get more when you tame the brightness and don’t heavily use it!
What Features Should I Look for in a Gaming TV?
If you plan to get a TV for gaming, there are crucial features that need to be present for a smooth gaming experience.
The first on the list of qualities is low input lag.
- Low input lag is essential since this dictates how fast the actions you input on your controller is reflected on the screen.
- The lower the input lag, the better.
- Ideally, you should be looking at a TV with an input lag of 30ms and below.
The next thing you need to look at is the Refresh Rate.
- While 60 Hz is fine for many games, having a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz helps a lot for fast action games.
- If it is possible, you should consider getting a TV with a Variable Refresh Rate, which helps a TV adapt to different gameplay.
- You should also look for a TV with HDMI 2.1 so you can play video games with 4k resolution at 120 Hz.
Another feature to look out for is HDR support for games.
Ideally, you would want to have all these features. But having all these features would mean shelling out a lot of money. So, if there would be any feature to focus on, you should give priority to the low input lag, and possibly HDR support.
What Are the Best Hisense TVs for Gaming?
Hisense may have a lot of options for TVs, but if you are looking for something meant for serious gaming, Hisense might not be the best pick for you.
However, if you’re a casual gamer and don’t have much need for fancy graphics, their current lineup of TVs might be perfect.
Here are two options to consider.
Hisense H9G
The Hisense H9G is the brand’s flagship TV.
- It features a ULED, or Ultra Light Emitting Diode, panel, which is Hisense’s take on LG’s OLED TVs.
- The H9G comes with a 4k resolution and image quality that is comparable to the higher-end models on the market.
- HDR performance is quite remarkable, as it makes use of a wide color gamut.
- You won’t have any problems using the H9G in any lighting condition. It features an excellent contrast ratio for dim environments and can get bright enough to remove glare and reflection.
- When it comes to its gaming features, the input lag of the H9G is quite low, has a near-instantaneous response time, and Black Frame Insertion to reduce motion blur.
- The H9G comes loaded with Android TV for its operating system, which gives you access to thousands of apps on the Google Play Store.
The weakness of the H9G is its lack of Variable Refresh Rate and has a narrow viewing angle.
Hisense H8G
For those looking for a cheaper alternative, the Hisense H8G is a viable option for gaming.
- It features a 4k resolution VA panel that can handle different kinds of content.
- The H8G has full-array local dimming and a high contrast ratio for nighttime viewing and can handle glare and reflections without any issues.
- The H8G has a quick response time and Black Frame Insertion to improve fast-moving scenes.
- For gaming, the H8G has a low input lag and Game Mode.
- It also has an outstanding color gamut for HDR content, which delivers vivid images.
- The H8G also comes with Android TV, which gives a wide choice for apps.
For the weaknesses of the H8G, its viewing angles are narrow, it also does not have a Variable Refresh Rate, and lacks HDMI 2.1 ports.
When compared to the H9G, the H9G has much better image quality and gaming handling.
Final Thoughts
Hisense may not exactly be the best choice for gaming, given its limitations. But it does not mean you can’t use them for gaming.
The ability of Hisense TVs in general to handle gaming depends a lot on the kind of games you plan to play.
It’s not the best choice for First-person shooters or racing games, but it might work for less intensive video games.
For more recommendations on gaming TVs, check out our articles Are Samsung TVs Good For Gaming?, Are Vizio TVs Good For Gaming?, Are LG TVs Good For Gaming?.
Sources:
Should I buy a Hisense TV? A look at the budget smart TV brand
Buying a TV for Gaming? Here’s What to Look For