Is the LG C4 OLED TV just out of your budget? Hisense has just the TV for you… well, if it gets a release where you live. The new Hisense A85N has the same 2024 W-OLED panel made by LG Display that's used in the LG C4 and the excellent Philips OLED908, but where the LG launched in Germany for €2,399 for 55 inches, the Hisense will be €1,600. There's also a 65-inch model and that's cheaper too, with a suggested selling price of €2,200.
The above launch details are for Germany, where it is expected to launch in September 2024 with a cashback promotion, but it will come to other parts of Europe too. Hisense has also confirmed the A85N will be coming to the UK as well, most likely in October 2024.
We're still awaiting details about a US or Australian release, as well as UK pricing, but we'll be sure to keep you updated.
In the meantime, here's what you need to know in terms of specifications.
Hisense A85N: key features and specifications
The new Hisense A85N is OLED – an interesting move as Hisense has been a key promotor of mini-LED tech and is a founding member of the QLED alliance – and its panel is rated to deliver 1,000 nits of peak brightness, which is basically what you get from the LG C4. The panel has a 144Hz refresh rate, and is accompanied by two 6W speakers, meaning you'll likely need one of the best soundbars to accompany it.
The four HDMI ports include two with HDMI 2.1 features including ALLM and VRR for gamers, whereas the LG does come with a full four HDMI 2.1 ports - one reason why it rates among the best gaming TVs . However, the A85N supports a wide range of HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision IQ, so it has the LG model beaten there, as the LG doesn't support HDR10+ (Philips and Panasonic OLEDs also offer full HDR support). There's also support for IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound.
The operating system is Hisense's own Vidaa, which delivers most of the popular streaming apps. According to the specs published by FlatpanelsHD it supports AirPlay 2 but not Chromecast, and it also works with Alexa.
We haven't tested this TV yet but we've tested the LG C4, so we know what the panel delivers. And for an OLED panel it's very impressive, gaining 4.5 out of 5 in our tests. The Hisense TV will of course have a different processor and firmware to the LG, but to get the same panel at a much lower price means this could be a very impressive, comparatively affordable buy that challenges the best OLED TVs on the market for price.
We recently published our LG B4 review, and that model is a good 30% less bright than the Hisense promises to be, and costs €1,899 for the 55-inch model in Germany, so the Hisense would be far brighter, and yet still cheaper.
