Hisense, renowned for its value-packed TVs, has made a significant splash at CEDIA Expo 2023 by unveiling its colossal 100-inch U8K Mini-LED 4K TV. This behemoth of a TV is the world's largest mini-LED backlit 4K TV to date and is poised to redefine the home entertainment experience. Despite its mammoth size, the Hisense 100-inch U8K comes at an accessible price point, retailing for $10,000. While this might seem substantial, given the TV's sheer size and capabilities, Hisense TVs often receive discounts shortly after launch, making this a potentially more budget-friendly option.

A Stellar Entry in the Big-Screen Market

David Gold, President of Hisense USA, expressed the company's enthusiasm for offering this massive screen, saying, "Popularity and consumer interest in big screens continues to grow." Hisense's lineup already includes impressively large laser TVs, but they wanted to provide an option showcasing their superior mini-LED technology, leading them to the 100-inch U8K series. According to Gold, Hisense is the only brand offering mini-LED technology at this level, making this TV a unique and compelling choice.

A Bigger U8K with Stellar Features

The 100-inch U8K builds upon the success of the previously reviewed Hisense 65U8K TV, lauded for its exceptional brightness, vibrant colors, high contrast, and impressive gaming performance. The 100-inch version inherits all these fantastic features, including IMAX Enhanced and Dolby Vision support, a quantum dot-enhanced mini-LED backlight, a 144Hz variable refresh rate (VRR), AMD FreeSync Premium, auto low-latency mode (ALLM), and Dolby Vision Gaming. This Google TV-powered smart TV also boasts compatibility with ATSC 3.0 (NextGenTV) and houses a 2.1.2-channel built-in speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. For those seeking a wireless sound system without the need for an AV receiver or soundbar, WiSA SoundSend support is included.

The Battle for Big Screens

The competition for producing larger-than-life TVs is in full swing. Samsung recently unveiled its colossal 98-inch QN990C mini-LED 8K TV with a staggering price tag of $40,000. On the other end of the spectrum, TCL introduced its 98-inch S Class S5 LED 4K TV at a more accessible $5,000.

Hisense's 100-inch TV, part of the U7KQ range in Europe and U8K range in the US, is set to be available in September or October 2023. In Europe, it is expected to retail between €3,500 and €5,000, while in the US, it will be priced at $9,999. Information about availability in other regions is yet to be officially announced.

Comparing the U7K and U8K

Looking at the specs of both the Hisense 100U7K and 100U8K, they share several key features, including a 144Hz refresh rate and two 2.1 HDMI ports with VRR and ALLM capabilities for gaming. Both TVs support a wide array of HDR formats, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and offer Dolby Atmos audio with a 2.1 speaker configuration. However, the U8K model enhances the audio experience by adding two speakers for Dolby Atmos, creating a 2.1.2 setup.

While the Hisense 100U7K reportedly features just over 1,600 dimming zones, it falls short of the dazzling brightness of some of TCL's 98-inch models, such as the X955 with its reported 5,000 dimming zones. In our review of the U8K, we measured its peak brightness at 1,500 nits, which again lags behind TCL's claim of 5,000 nits for the X955.

A New Era of Big Screens

The proliferation of TVs with ever-increasing screen sizes is reshaping the market. Consumers now have a plethora of choices in screen technologies, and this competition is likely to lead to lower prices. While 98-inch TVs typically hover around the $8,000-$10,000 range, the introduction of more affordable options like the TCL S5 and Hisense 100U7K at around $5,000 for their respective regions is making large screens more accessible. This trend toward affordability is good news for consumers, allowing them to enjoy massive displays without breaking the bank.

Behind the Scenes: A Wave of Big Panels

The availability of large panels, particularly 98-inch panels produced in China, has enabled manufacturers like Hisense, Samsung, Sony, and TCL to create larger TVs at lower price points. This surge in panel production has significantly driven down the cost of near-100-inch TVs in recent years. For instance, Sony's 98-inch 8K TV in 2019 carried a price tag of $70,000, while Samsung's current 98-inch 8K TV with Mini-LED technology costs around $20,000. Hisense's 100-inch TV is now available at just $10,000, with potential discounts during shopping holidays.

A Bright Future for Large Screen Enthusiasts

As the big-screen market continues to expand, consumers can look forward to more choices and competitive pricing. While budget-friendly options may not match the specs of premium models, they bring larger-than-life screens within reach for many. The push for bigger screens, combined with fierce competition, promises exciting times ahead for home entertainment enthusiasts.