The Hisense UR9: A New Contender in Display Technology

Hisense has launched the UR9 RGB LED TV, a notable entry into the competitive world of high-end televisions, primarily dominated by OLED technology. Priced at $3,500 for the 65-inch model, this television leverages individual red, green, and blue LEDs to enhance backlight performance, offering a vivid HDR experience.

This model represents the first significant look at RGB LED technology in a consumer product, stepping beyond the confines of demo rooms and previous mini-LED models. The UR9 promises impressive HDR capabilities with colorful and accurate image reproduction that exceeds the P3 color space, offering a visual treat for movies and shows designed with wider color palettes.

Performance Overview

Despite being the first RGB LED TV released by Hisense in a more affordable range, the UR9 still faces stiff competition from established OLED brands like LG and Samsung, both of which have flagship models priced similarly around $3,400 for the same screen size.

Hisense's previous release was the extravagant 116-inch 116UX, priced at $30,000. The UR9 and its sibling, the UR8, are positioned as more accessible RGB LED options, but they are still more expensive than last year's flagship mini-LED TVs, such as the TCL QM9K.

Key Features of the Hisense UR9

Pros

• Exceptional brightness and color accuracy
• Wider color coverage beyond P3
• Good HDR performance

Cons

• Experiences occasional motion judder
• Higher price point compared to other mini-LED TVs

The UR9 is available in various sizes: 65 inches ($3,500), 75 inches ($5,000), 85 inches ($6,000), and 100 inches ($9,000). This pricing strategy places it directly against premium OLED displays, creating high expectations for its performance.

The 65-inch UR9 has a thickness of 1.8 inches and utilizes a pedestal stand. It includes three HDMI 2.1 inputs, with a fourth USB-C DisplayPort input located on the side, which can be visually distracting when connected continuously. The TV supports a 180Hz native refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, with plans for a future update to enable Dolby Vision 2.

Testing Methodology

In my testing, I set up the UR9 in a typical living room environment, streaming content through various apps and using high-quality players. I assessed performance under different lighting conditions, ensuring a broad understanding of how the TV performs in real-world settings.

Using advanced calibration tools, I evaluated color accuracy and HDR capabilities. One of the advantages of RGB LED TVs is their potential to cover the entire BT.2020 color space. However, most HDR content still utilizes the smaller P3 color space, which limits the immediate benefits of this capability.

Visual Performance

While the UR9 performs admirably, especially with vibrant content like the BBC's Planet Earth II, which showcased its ability to deliver rich greens and vibrant colors, there were noticeable motion judders during fast panning scenes. Adjusting the motion settings improved this without compromising the overall image quality.

Another concern with RGB LED technology is the potential for color crosstalk. However, during testing, the UR9 exhibited excellent performance with no significant crosstalk, suggesting effective processing and filtering capabilities.

Comparative Analysis with OLED

Despite its strengths, the Hisense UR9 still lags behind OLED technology, particularly in contrast and overall picture quality. OLED offers superior contrast due to its pixel-level control, crucial for depth and detail in visual content. Although the UR9 demonstrates strong performance in brightness and color accuracy, it operates on an LCD panel, which inherently limits viewing angles and can lead to light blooming.

Conclusion

The Hisense UR9 is an exciting development in the realm of television technology, showcasing the potential of RGB LED displays. While it faces challenges against established OLED models, its competitive pricing and impressive features make it a noteworthy option for consumers in 2026. The future of RGB LED technology appears promising, with the potential to bridge the gap with OLED as content creators begin to embrace wider color spaces.

Source: The Verge News