When it comes to buying a new TV, there are plenty of options to choose from. In fact, there are probably way too many options to choose from! Two popular brands that often come up in discussions for TV purchase recommendations are Onn and Hisense, and while the product pages make the offerings look pretty much the same, there are some details that make the brands unique.
While Onn is Walmart's in-house brand and thus almost always has a better price, Hisense TV's are a better option if you're doing a lot of gaming or want better features.
So, let's look more at the details of which of these brands we recommend in what use cases, and we'll start by picking some comparison models to focus our conversation on.
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Comparison Models + What's Really Important
To help us compare Onn and Hisense, we'll focus on two popular models from each brand that use the Roku TV operating system. These models are the Onn 55-Inch Class 4k HDR10+ Smart TV with Roku and the Hisense 55-Inch Class Roku 4K UHD Smart TV.
Why these two models? We think most people are in the market for a 55 inch panel, and we also feel really strongly that you should use a TV with a better operating built in, so, we're not going to address the differences in Onn and Hisense smart tv operating systems that aren't based on Roku.
Pro-Tip: All hardware manufacturer operating systems suck. So, we recommend buying a panel with Roku built in, or immediately adding a Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, or other option to install a better “brain” for your system.
Comparing two models using Roku will also help us focus on the other features that really matter, which we'll step through in the following sections. You should also be aware of our articles on comparing TCL and Hisense Roku TVs as well as Onn and TCL TVs if you'd like to consider a few more options. We'll start with the one that's the most interesting: price!
Pricing of ONN vs. Hisense
When it comes to pricing, Onn and Hisense offer budget-friendly options for consumers. Onn TVs are known for their affordability, with prices ranging from $100 to $400. On the other hand, Hisense offers a slightly wider range of prices, with their TVs typically costing between $200 to $800.
Onn is a brand that is exclusive to Walmart. Their TVs are known for being affordable and easy to use, with a range of sizes and features to choose from. On the other hand, Hisense is a Chinese brand that has been around since 1969. They offer a range of TVs at various price points, with a focus on providing high-quality picture and sound.
So, what about our two comparison models? Well, there's no getting over the fact that the Hisesense 55in panel is hundreds of dollars more than the Onn one here, and with few compelling features. The Hisense model we listed is “renewed,” but, that still doesn't fully explain the yawning price gap here.
Top Hisense Picks
Hisense 40-Inch Class A4 Series FHD 1080p Smart Roku TV
- Hisense 40-Inch Class A4 Series
- 1080p Smart Roku TV
- Google Assistant, Alexa compatible
- LED backlight
- Dolby Audio
The Hisense A4NR Series Roku TV has a 40-inch 1080p LCD display. The picture looks bright and colorful, thanks to a decent LED backlight. It uses the Roku streaming interface and the remote has dedicated buttons for quick access to streaming services.
Things we like
Things we like The image quality is fine for everyday viewing, with noise reduction that cleans up any rough-looking scenes. The Dolby Audio does a good job at delivering clear dialogue, though the sound is not as full as higher-end systems. The TV is lightweight, so it’s easy to move or mount on the wall.
This TV would work well in smaller rooms or as an extra TV for casual use. It’s also good for people who don’t want to deal with overly complicated menus or settings. However, there are a few downsides.
Things we don’t like
Things we don’t likeOne big issue is the inability to turn off motion smoothing, which might annoy anyone who prefers to watch movies or shows at their original frame rate and avoid a “soap opera effect.”
Overall, it’s a good choice if you want something simple and affordable without too many bells and whistles.
Hisense U8 Series 65U8N 65-Inch ULED 4K Google TV
- Hisense 65-inch 4K Google TV
- QLED Quantum Dot colors
- 144Hz Game Mode Pro
- Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos
- 2.1.2, 50W multi-channel audio
- IMAX Enhanced, Filmmaker Mode
The Hisense U8 Series 65U8N is a 4K TV geared toward both entertainment and gaming. It supports Dolby Vision IQ, IMAX Enhanced, and a 144Hz refresh rate, with built-in Dolby Atmos for added sound quality. While it has plenty to offer, it’s not without a few quirks.
Things we like
This TV feels like it’s built for both movie fans and gamers. It supports Dolby Vision IQ, IMAX Enhanced, and Filmmaker Mode, so you can watch movies exactly how they were intended to look. For gaming, the 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium Pro make it super smooth and responsive, even for fast-paced games. I also liked the built-in Dolby Atmos – the sound is surprisingly rich for a TV.
The setup was pretty straightforward, except for the stand. The instructions are just pictures, like something out of an IKEA manual, and the TV is heavy, so you’ll need a second person to help. Once it was on the stand, though, it looked great.
Things we don’t like
I’ll admit, there are some downsides. The brightness can get overwhelming sometimes, especially with subtitles or bright daytime scenes. I also noticed the viewing angles aren’t great. If you’re not sitting right in front of it, the colors and contrast don’t look quite as good. There are also some reports of software glitches and random reboots, though I didn’t experience that myself.
Overall, this TV is impressive if you want stunning picture quality, especially for movies and games. It’s not perfect, and the quirks might be annoying for some, but for the price, it delivers a lot of higher end features you usually see in more expensive models.
Hisense U7 Series 55U7N 55 Inches ULED 4K Google TV
- Wide color, true hues
- Dolby Vision, Atmos sound
- Fire TV, Alexa remote
- 4K AI upscaling
- Game Mode, low latency
- Voice remote control
The Hisense U7 Series 55U7N is a 55-inch 4K TV with Mini-LED backlighting and QLED Quantum Dot technology. Priced in the mid-range, it runs on Google TV and has a mix of features aimed at both entertainment and gaming.
Things we like
The Mini-LED backlighting and QLED Quantum Dot technology make the colors and brightness great for movies and games. It handles both bright and dark scenes really well.
Setup was fine. The physical instructions were clear and the Google TV interface works as expected.
The sound is decent for a built-in system. The 2.1-channel setup with Dolby Atmos and a subwoofer gives it depth, but it’s not a replacement for a soundbar or surround system if you’re picky about audio.
Things we don’t like
Some customers mentioned issues with external devices or glitches, but that didn’t come up in my experience. Still, it’s something to be aware of. If you end up with a TV that flickers or has issues, be aware that Hisense customer service is not that great.
Still, if you want a TV with a great picture and smooth gaming performance, the U7 Series is absolutely worth a look.
Pro Tip: Check out these 33 money-saving hacks savvy homeowners are using to cut costs!
Gaming Features and Latency
When it comes to gaming, both Onn and Hisense offer TVs with features that cater to gamers. Onn TVs come with a built-in gaming mode that optimizes the picture and sound settings for a better gaming experience. Hisense TVs also have a game mode that reduces input lag and enhances the image quality.
Input lag is a crucial factor for gamers as it can affect the gaming experience. Hisense TVs generally have lower input lag than Onn TVs, making them a better choice for gamers. For instance, the Hisense U7G has an input lag of around 10ms, which is excellent for gaming. On the other hand, the Onn TV has an input lag of around 20ms, which is decent but not as good as the Hisense TV.
And users seem to notice. There are discussions online (forum), and we agree, that if gaming is your focus, Hisense is a better pick than Onn overall.
Picture Quality, Resolution, and Viewing Angle
When it comes to picture quality, both Onn and Hisense offer decent options for budget TV brands. However, there are some notable differences between the two. Hisense TVs generally have a Quad-Core processor that provides superior image processing capabilities compared to the Amlogic processor found in Onn TVs. This means that Hisense TVs can offer better upscaling of non-4K content and smoother motion handling.
In terms of resolution, both brands offer 4K options. Hisense has been known to produce some of the best budget 4K TVs on the market, with models like the Hisense H8G Quantum Series offering impressive color accuracy and brightness. Onn, on the other hand, offers more basic 4K models that may not have the same level of picture quality as some of the higher-end Hisense models.
Viewing angle is another important factor to consider when choosing a TV. Hisense TVs tend to have better viewing angles than Onn TVs, meaning that the picture remains more accurate even when viewed from the side. This is due to Hisense's use of VA (Vertical Alignment) panels, which offer better contrast but narrower viewing angles, compared to Onn's use of IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels, which offer wider viewing angles but lower contrast.
But, to be clear, every detail in this section is basically the same on the two panels we're discussing here. So, you really don't need to base your decision on this…for instance, fractionally better viewing angle is only going to be useful to someone in a large room with complicated viewing angles, and in our experience that's simply not the case for most home theater enthusiasts.
HDR and Color Accuracy
When it comes to HDR and color accuracy, both Onn and Hisense offer decent options. Onn TVs generally support HDR10, which is a standard HDR format that provides a wider range of colors and a higher contrast ratio. However, some Hisense models, such as the H9G, also support Dolby Vision, which is a more advanced HDR format that provides even better color accuracy and contrast.
In our comparison case, both the Onn and Hisense models here have HDR 10, but only the Hisense one also has Dolby Vision. How important is that? Well, we think that if you're making a decision based on budget, it's not worth paying more for Dolby Vision. It's just not going to effect the quality that much, like the latency would in gaming.
So, again, while there are technically brand differences here, none of them are big enough to really need to influence your decision in (at least in our experience).
Onn VS Hisense Breakdown
After comparing Onn and Hisense TVs, we can say that both brands have their strengths and weaknesses. Onn TVs are typically less expensive than Hisense models, so they're a good option for budget-conscious consumers. However, Hisense TVs tend to have better picture quality and more advanced features, like local dimming and a wider color gamut.
That said, only some features are worth paying more for. We think Hisense is a great option for most since you can enjoy high end features that aren't too expensive.
