Hisense A7 Series 43A7NF 42.5"

The Hisense A7 43A7NF is a budget 4K TV with surprisingly good HDR and audio support for $250. Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Atmos at this price is rare. The display panel is basic and gaming is capped at 60Hz, but for everyday streaming it's a solid buy.

The HDR support is the star here, sitting in the 94th percentile. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ both on board means you'll get the best version of whatever streaming service throws at it. Audio is also a standout at 82nd percentile, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding plus eARC for passing lossless audio to a soundbar. Gaming is middle of the pack at 57th percentile, with VRR, ALLM, and Game Mode Plus, but it's capped at 60Hz. The 4K AI upscaler does decent work on older content. The weak spot is the display itself, 6th percentile, which means viewing angles and peak brightness won't wow anyone.

Against the TCL QM8K or Samsung Neo QLED QN70F, the Hisense A7 gets smoked on display quality and brightness. Those are mini-LED sets with real HDR punch. The Sony BRAVIA 5 and LG OLED C6 are in a completely different league for picture. But here's the thing: all of those cost several times more. The Hisense wins on pure bang for buck. If you want the best picture, save up. If you want a solid 4K streamer for under $300, this is the one.

At $250 USD, this thing is hard to argue with. You're getting Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Atmos, and a full Fire TV experience for less than a decent soundbar costs. The picture won't compete with a $1,000 OLED, but it doesn't need to. For a bedroom, kitchen, or secondary living space, this is excellent value. Just don't expect it to be your main home theater centerpiece.

The Hisense A7 Series 43A7NF is a budget 4K TV that punches above its weight where it counts for most people: HDR and audio. It's got Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos support, which is rare at this price point. The Fire TV interface is built right in, so you're streaming within minutes of plugging it in.

But it's not a home theater monster. The display itself lands in the 6th percentile, which means the panel quality is basic. Picture quality overall sits at 36th percentile, so don't expect deep blacks or crazy brightness. This is a living room streamer, not a reference monitor.

Skip this if you're building a serious home theater or want to game at 120Hz. The 60Hz panel and basic display quality will frustrate anyone who cares about motion clarity or deep blacks. Also skip it if you need a PC monitor, the input lag is a dealbreaker there.

Buy this if you want a no-fuss 4K TV for streaming in a bedroom, office, or secondary room. The Fire TV integration is seamless, the HDR support is genuinely impressive for the price, and setup is painless. Skip it if you're building a home theater or want to game at high refresh rates. This is a value play, and it plays that game well.