Hisense A85N serves as the successor to the previous year’s A85K OLED featuring 4K resolution. This new offering will be available in both 55-inch and 65-inch sizes. While the company has recently concentrated on Mini LED LCD technology, it remains committed to producing high-quality OLED televisions that excel in performance.
The Hisense A85N series is known for its outstanding picture quality, characteristic of OLED technology. Additionally, the audio performance is impressively good, and the inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports makes this television an excellent choice for gaming on the latest consoles or PCs. In summary, the A85N stands out as a reliable OLED TV option that is priced competitively compared to leading brands.
Design
The Hisense 65A85N TV features a low-profile tabletop stand that elevates the unit by just a few centimeters, resulting in a low placement that can cause most soundbars to obstruct part of the screen. This design may encourage users to consider wall-mounting the TV. The stand allows for a 25-degree swivel in either direction, although this functionality may not be particularly beneficial for a television of this size.
In contrast to the Hisense A85K, the current stand is robust and hexagonal. The bezels on this model are notably slim, aligning with contemporary design trends. The rear panel resembles those found on certain LG OLED models, with the upper section being exceptionally thin, as the panel is nearly exposed. The hardware and ports are housed within a polycarbonate enclosure located in the lower section.
Cables can be organized using the clip positioned in the center. Overall, the build quality is commendable, featuring minimal gaps, stable construction, and an appealing black plastic casing with a textured finish. However, several ports are oriented perpendicularly to the back wall, which may pose challenges for wall mounting.
Depending on the region, the Hisense A85N TV may come with various remote control options, including a solar-powered remote or one without digital buttons. Regardless of the type, the TV responds promptly to button presses, although there can be a delay of a few seconds for the picture and sound to activate when using HDMI inputs.
Image quality
The A85N, featuring LG’s advanced WOLED display with self-illuminating pixels, achieves an exceptionally deep contrast ratio and the ideal black levels characteristic of OLED televisions. Even with factory settings, the picture quality is subjectively impressive. It is advisable to choose either the “Movie” or “Filmmaker” picture mode for optimal viewing.
While these initial settings may not appear as vibrant or bright at first, they offer a more accurate representation of colors and sharpness in relation to the original image content. Additionally, options such as Movie Night, Imax Enhanced, Game Mode, and Sports Mode are available for selection as needed.
In terms of SDR (standard content like HDTV, DVD, or Blu-ray), the color performance is outstanding. In Filmmaker mode, the Hisense A85N produces exceptionally clean and natural colors when viewing Blu-ray discs. Even when compared directly to the LG B4 OLED, the differences in color are minimal.
However, the ambient light sensor on the Hisense can significantly dim the picture in darker environments. To counter this, users can turn off the sensor in the OLED Brightness menu and manually adjust the panel’s brightness. A lower brightness setting is not only safer for the screen but also more economical, as it decreases power consumption.
Although the Hisense OLED A85N series does not utilize LG Display’s “EX panel,” it still achieves a remarkable peak brightness of approximately 1,000 nits. While this is slightly less than the LG C4’s 1,100 nits, it remains impressive for an OLED TV, especially given that traditional OLED displays often struggle to compete with the brightness levels of Mini LED panels. For reference, the 2023 Hisense A85K reached a peak brightness of 900 nits.
The peak brightness diminishes significantly in large white areas, such as snowy scenes. Additionally, if the image remains on the screen for an extended period, it tends to gradually darken. This phenomenon is typical of OLED TVs and should not be viewed as a specific flaw of the A85N, although it may be slightly more pronounced compared to other models.
It is noteworthy that the Hisense OLED effectively supports all standard HDR formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. This capability allows users to experience content with optimal picture quality, irrespective of the source. HDR analysis conducted with Calman indicates that the A85N shows a slightly greater deviation from reference colors in HDR compared to SDR, yet it still achieves commendable results.
Moreover, the A85N OLED TV nearly fully covers the HDR DCI-P3 color space, providing excellent conditions for producing vibrant and stunning HDR visuals, particularly since it also accommodates Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+. However, in terms of tone mapping and detail retention in shadow regions, it falls short when compared to the LG B4 or Philips OLED809. In well-lit environments, the light sensor may inadvertently raise the black level excessively, even with Dolby Vision IQ, resulting in the deepest blacks appearing more like dark gray.
Motion and Game Processing
The Hisense A85N series excels in motion compensation, delivering exceptionally smooth and clear visuals. Thanks to its 120Hz technology and intermediate frame calculation, the A85N minimizes motion blur, ensuring fluid movement on screen. Activating the Cinema or Filmmaker mode also enhances picture smoothness.
Gamers utilizing the latest PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will appreciate the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports on the A85N, which can handle 4K content at up to 120Hz through HDMI ports 3 and 4. The support for VRR helps eliminate stuttering and distortion. While the Samsung Q80D offers four HDMI ports, it reverts to a QLED display rather than an OLED.
In addition to its compatibility with the adaptive refresh rates of HDMI 2.1, this television incorporates AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology. However, it lacks support for variable refresh rate synchronization via NVIDIA G-Sync. The input lag remains below 20ms across all resolutions, which is commendable, though it falls short compared to some rivals. Hisense claims a panel response time of 3ms, aligning well with typical OLED performance.
Smart TV
The core of the A85N’s functionality lies in the Vidaa operating system. This model features the latest Hisense Vidaa 7.6, which grants access to a wide array of popular international streaming applications. However, it is worth mentioning that the selection of regional apps may not be as extensive as that found on more established platforms like Android TV or Tizen.
The graphical interface of Vidaa closely resembles that of Google TV. Users can easily access shared content through shared folders on their home network. High-performance USB drives are read seamlessly, ensuring smooth operation. Vidaa’s system is highly responsive, with exemplary menu navigation and quick application launches.
The main page offers a selection of recommended content, and users can create multiple profiles for family members, allowing everyone to enjoy personalized recommendations. The search feature is conveniently located in the left column, alongside sections for Accounts, Notifications, Sources, and Settings.
Additionally, the system supports AirPlay compatibility and allows for screen sharing from mobile devices. Music sharing via Bluetooth is also available. For those who wish to display content when the TV is not in use, Vidaa Art provides a platform for viewing images and illustrations.
Sound
The audio performance of the 65A85N TV is impressively noteworthy. This is attributed to its configuration of six speakers, each powered by a dedicated class D amplifier capable of producing 10 W of output. Furthermore, the integrated processing algorithm supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X formats, enhancing the overall sound experience. The audio is vibrant, with clear differentiation of voices from other frequencies.
The system effectively achieves a high sound pressure level before any distortion becomes noticeable, which typically occurs when the volume exceeds 75% of its maximum capacity. However, like many televisions, it has a limitation: while the bass is adequate, it lacks the depth required for certain cinematic experiences. To enhance the audio quality, utilizing a soundbar such as the Hisense AX3100G or a dedicated multi-channel speaker system is recommended.
Connections
The Hisense A85N provides an extensive array of connectivity features. Among its four HDMI inputs, two are compliant with the HDMI 2.1 standard and include the eARC functionality. Additionally, it is equipped with one USB 2.0 port and one USB 3.0 port, a CI slot, and an optical digital audio output. It also includes an AV input and a headphone jack, which are traditional analog connections that are becoming less common. Furthermore, the television has antenna jacks, a LAN port, and supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth connectivity.
Conclusion
The Hisense A85N stands strong against competitors in the same price range, including LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and Philips. Its design and build quality are exceptional. More importantly, the image quality is impressive as well. The television supports all major HDR formats currently in use, and its VIDAA operating system features a user-friendly interface that operates smoothly. In summary, the A85N is a well-rounded television that merits consideration, especially if it is offered at a competitive price.
Hisense A85N Specifications
| Panel | |
| Matrix type | OLED |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| HDR | Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Resolution | Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 |
| Screen size | 65 inches 164 cm |
| Wide range of colors | Yes |
| Dynamic tone mapping | Yes |
| Color depth | 10 bits |
| Peak brightness | 1000 nits |
| Contrast | 150000:1 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Display | |
| CPU | 4-core Hi-View Engine 4K, MT9900 |
| Upscaling to 4K | Yes |
| Motion interpolation | Yes, Ultra Motion up to 120 Hz |
| Decoder | HEVC (H.265), VP9, H.264, MPEG4, MPEG2, AV1 |
| Image output lag (in games) | <10 ms |
| Audio | |
| Sound power | 4 x 10 W + 2 x 10 W |
| Functions | Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual X |
| Equalizer | Yes |
| Smart TV | |
| User interface | VIDAA U7.6 |
| Web browser | VEWD |
| HbbTV | HbbTV 2.0.3 |
| Anyview Cast app | Yes |
| Connections | |
| HDMI ports | x 2 version 2.0, x 2 version 2.1 |
| USB | USB 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 1 |
| Digital audio output (optical) | Yes |
| Headphone output | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi6) |
| Composite AV input | Yes |
| Bluetooth | v5.0 |
| Ethernet (local area network) | RJ45 |
| RF Antenna Sockets | x 2 |
| Nutrition | |
| Power supply | 100 … 240 V |
| Standby power consumption | < 0.5 W |
| Design, dimensions and weight | |
| Frame | Dark silver |
| Stand | Black/dark grey, metal |
| Dimensions with stand (WxDxH) | 1449 × 290 × 838 mm |
| Dimensions without stand (WxDxH) | 1449×68×873 mm |
| Weight with stand / without stand | 32.2 kg / 25.5 kg |
| VESA wall mount | 300×400 mm |