It’s no secret that the cost of TVs has come down substantially in recent years, with OLED and Micro-RGB technology readily available in sets for less than $1500. However, if you’re looking for something in the budget category (under $1000) that works in multiple lighting conditions and has compatibility with Dolby Vision, HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos, it can be hard to find something less expensive that doesn’t make a bunch of concessions.

Enter the Hisense U6SF Pro. This budget TV starts at $650 for the 55-inch model, and simply does not compromise on features in the way that a lot of other sub-$1000 TVs do. If you are in the market for a second TV, or even a cheap replacement for your main living room set, this is absolutely one of the best TVs you can buy for your money.

Though the trained eye will notice that this set doesn’t have the insane brightness, or striking contrast of pricier models, its QLED panel and Mini LED backlight combined with anti-glare screen and built-in subwoofer (part of a surprisingly clear 2.1-channel, 40-watt speaker system) makes this a budget TV you can feel good about buying.

4.5/5

Operating System

Fire OS

Display Type

QLED

Display Resolution

4K

Connectivity

4 HDMI ports

Pros & Cons

• Glare-resistant matte-like screen looks great in light and dark
• Solid sound system with onboard subwoofer
• Inexpensive

• Fire TV is clunky
• Lacks advanced features for gaming

Price, availability, and specs

An easily accessible TV at just the right price point

The standout hardware feature is the U6SF Pro’s matte-like screen. Once reserved for art TVs, this screen not only does an amazing job diffusing glare and reflections in sunlit rooms but also gives this TV an instant high-end feel.

The U6SF Pro features a bright Mini-LED panel that produces dazzling color, striking contrast and deep, inky blacks, the latter of which you’ll be able to enjoy no matter what the lighting conditions thanks to the TV’s matte-like anti-glare screen.

As far as the sound is concerned, this TV has the rare budget feature of having a built-in subwoofer, as part of its larger 2.1-channel, 40-watt speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos out of the box.

On the back of the TV are four HDMI ports, two of which support gaming features such as VRR at up to 144Hz as well as a separate HDMI eARC port, perfect for connecting a soundbar or receiver. In addition, there is also a pair of USB ports as well as the standard Ethernet, optical digital, and coaxial antenna ports.

The Hisense U6SF Pro comes in several sizes, ranging from 55 to 100 inches, with prices starting at $650 for the smallest 55-inch size and $700 for the mid-size 65-inch model and going up to $2300 for the oversized 100-inch set.

What I liked about the Hisense U6SF Pro

Stunning picture quality in light and dark

I was a little apprehensive about the Hisense U6SF Pro when I first unboxed it, as I have had some hit-or-miss experiences with budget TVs. Fortunately, setup was easy and took only around 15 minutes to go from unboxing to powered on, as I just needed to connect two little feet to the bottom of the TV before plugging it in.

Once it was on and I was able to get through all of Fire TV’s setup nonsense (more on that in a few) I was pleasantly greeted with one of the best mini-LED screens I’ve seen, with striking contrasts that were extremely visibile even in strong daylight thanks to the TV’s anti-glare screen. I decided to test out how well this TV could stand up to glare and sunlight by putting on Blade Runner 2049, a very dark film, at 1PM in the middle of the day with my blinds completely open, and I was shocked by how well the film displayed blacks and darker colors with no glare at all. Though the matte-like screen used to be a feature reserved only for expensive art TVs, I’m glad to see it used here for a set intended for everyday viewing, as it really does elevate the watching experience.

And speaking of elevated experiences, I was also impressed by the TV’s onboard sound system. Though I’m used to poor-quality speakers with muddied dialog, limited volume and poor bass in budget TV sets, the U6Sf Pro’s 2.1-channel, 40-watt speaker system with onboard subwoofer delivered a surprisingly good sound experience when watching Blade Runner 2049 with Dolby Atmos. Though surround capabilities are of course limited without external speakers, I didn’t feel like I was immediately being shortchanged by using the onboard speakers instead of a soundbar.

As far as gaming is concerned, I played Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Ball x Pit on the PlayStation 5 as well as Mario Kart World and Cult of the Lamb on the Nintendo Switch 2 to test out the U6SF Pro’s 144Hz refresh rate, which was smooth as butter on this model. There was also no detectable input lag at all and sound from both the game as well as voice chat came through the sound system excellently.

What I didn’t like about the Hisense U6SF Pro

Fire TV is a pain and gaming features could be better

My main gripe with the Hisense U6SF Pro is its use of the ad-forward, clunky Fire TV OS. Though getting the TV up and running was a breeze, adjusting advertising, Alexa, and login settings using Amazon’s spyware-feeling operating system is a real pain and ate up over an hour of my time.

Though Amazon has been touting its new and improved Alexa+ voice command system, I didn’t want this feature enabled on my set and turning it off ( as well as the endless, auto-playing ads that have become ubiquitous with Fire TV) took far longer than it should have. Both Roku and Google TV offer superior experiences, and while plugging in an Apple TV, or just using my PlayStation 5 as a media hub, would help alleviate this issue, getting around Fire TV does come with an additional expense, which is something to consider when you’re looking at budget TVs.

Another issue I had with this TV is that, while the gaming features made for easy playing on its high-refresh screen, this TV doesn’t have a gaming bar for quick settings adjustments, which might be a deal-breaker for serious gamers who like to alter their settings to get the best picture quality possible.

Should you buy a Hisense U6SF Pro?

A shockingly good budget 4K TV that looks good in any room

I have to say that the Hisense U6SF Pro took me by surprise as a budget TV that makes almost no compromises. With a bright, glare-resistant, matte-like screen that performs incredibly well in both light and dark, plus a surprisingly high-quality built-in audio system, the Hisense U6SF Pro is easily one of the best budget TVs you can buy, no matter whether you are looking to build a home theater on a budget, or are looking for a secondary set for a bedroom or den.

4.5/5

Operating System

Fire OS

Display Type

QLED

Display Resolution

4K

Connectivity

4 HDMI ports

A budget-friendly TV with a glare-free screen that includes native 144Hz, Dolby Vision IQ/ Atmos, HDR10+ and Alexa+