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, since input lag is typically better on Hisense. For everyone else, Onn is probably a better bet, since much of the actual panel quality is equivalent.
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 R6090G Roku 4K UHD Smart TV.
Why these two models? We think most people are in the market for a 55in panel, and we also feel really strongly that you should use a TV with a better oprerating 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.
Checking another common size–45in–yields similar results. Onn is more affordable across the board.
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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 Beatdown
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, making them 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. Unless you're an intense gamer, we think the Onn is a great option for most, allowing you to get moving and using your home theater. You can always upgrade later if you'd like to!
