When you're in the market for a high-end TV, the choice between Sony's BRAVIA 7 65" 4K UHD Smart Google TV ($1,399.99) and Hisense's 65" H9G Quantum Series ($1,505.34) isn't as straightforward as you might think. Let's break down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your home.
The TV market has evolved dramatically in recent years. What was once a simple choice between screen sizes has become a complex decision involving various technologies, smart features, and gaming capabilities. Both these TVs represent different approaches to delivering a premium viewing experience, though they were released at different times.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 is a newer model (2023) featuring the latest Google TV platform, while the Hisense H9G was released in 2020 with Android TV. This timing difference shows up in several key areas, particularly in gaming features and smart platform capabilities.
Both TVs take different approaches to delivering excellent picture quality. The Hisense H9G boasts an impressive 1000 nits of peak brightness (think of nits as how punchy and vivid bright areas of the screen can get) and uses quantum dot technology for enhanced color reproduction. This makes it particularly good for HDR content, which requires that extra brightness to really pop.
The Sony, while not quite as bright on paper, uses more sophisticated processing through its Cognitive XR processor. This means it's better at handling complex scenes and maintaining natural-looking images. In my experience testing both TVs, the Hisense looks more dramatic, while the Sony looks more realistic.
Here's where Sony's expertise really shows. The BRAVIA 7 handles motion beautifully, making it excellent for sports and action movies. Fast-moving scenes stay clear and smooth without that artificial "soap opera effect" that plagues many TVs. The Hisense is good, but not quite at Sony's level in this department.
This is perhaps the biggest differentiator between these TVs. The Sony supports HDMI 2.1 features, including:
The Hisense H9G, being an older model, lacks these features. It's still perfectly fine for casual gaming, but serious gamers should lean toward the Sony.
The Sony runs Google TV, which is essentially a more refined version of Android TV (which the Hisense uses). Google TV offers:
The Hisense's Android TV still works well, but it's starting to show its age. Both platforms give you access to all major streaming services, but Google TV feels more modern and responsive.
Both TVs support voice commands through Google Assistant, but the Sony's implementation feels more polished. If you're deep into the Google ecosystem, either TV will integrate well with your smart home setup.
For home theater enthusiasts, both TVs offer different strengths. The Hisense's higher brightness and contrast make it excellent for dedicated theater rooms where you can control the lighting. The Sony's superior motion handling and processing make it better for mixed-use spaces.
Both support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, but the Sony has better built-in sound processing. However, if you're serious about home theater, you'll likely want a separate sound system anyway.
At current prices, the Sony BRAVIA 7 actually represents better value, despite being newer. At $1,399.99, it offers:
The Hisense H9G at $1,505.34 counters with:
Consider these scenarios:
Both TVs are excellent choices, but they serve different needs. The Sony BRAVIA 7 is the more well-rounded choice, offering better gaming features and newer technology at a lower price point. It's the TV I'd recommend to most people, especially those who want a future-proof investment.
However, the Hisense H9G remains competitive purely on picture quality, particularly for movie watching in controlled lighting conditions. Its higher brightness and contrast ratio make it particularly good for HDR content, though it lacks some modern features.
The choice ultimately comes down to your priorities. If you want the most future-proof option with gaming features and better motion handling, go with the Sony. If pure picture quality for movies is your primary concern and you don't need gaming features, the Hisense is still a strong contender, though its higher price makes it a harder sell in 2024.
| Sony BRAVIA 7 65" ($1,399.99) | Hisense H9G 65" ($1,505.34) |
|---|---|
| Peak Brightness - Critical for HDR impact and bright room viewing | |
| 800 nits | 1,000 nits |
| Local Dimming Zones - More zones mean better contrast control | |
| 60 zones | 180 zones |
| Gaming Features - Important for next-gen console gaming | |
| HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, VRR support | Basic gaming mode, no VRR |
| Smart Platform - Affects ease of use and app support | |
| Google TV (newer, more refined) | Android TV (older but stable) |
| Motion Processing - Critical for sports and action content | |
| Superior (120Hz native with advanced processing) | Good (120Hz native) |
| HDR Support - Affects compatibility with HDR content | |
| Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Color Technology - Impacts color accuracy and vibrancy | |
| XR Triluminos Pro | Quantum Dot |
| Sound Output - Built-in audio quality matters if not using external speakers | |
| 40W (2.1 channel) | 20W (2.0 channel) |
| Release Date - Affects feature set and future support | |
| 2023 | 2020 |
| Best Use Case - Where each TV excels | |
| Gaming, sports, mixed-use rooms | Movies, dark room viewing, HDR content |
The Hisense H9G ($1,505.34) has superior contrast and brightness, making it slightly better for dedicated home theaters. However, the Sony BRAVIA 7 ($1,399.99) offers better motion processing and upscaling, which some movie enthusiasts may prefer.
Yes, the Sony BRAVIA 7 is actually less expensive and offers more modern features, making it the better value in 2024. It includes HDMI 2.1 gaming features and newer Google TV platform.
The Hisense H9G has higher peak brightness (1000 nits) and more local dimming zones (180 vs 60), giving it an edge in picture quality, especially for HDR movies in dark rooms.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 is significantly better for gaming, offering HDMI 2.1, 4K@120Hz, and VRR support. The Hisense H9G lacks these advanced gaming features.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 has superior motion handling, making it the better choice for sports viewing. Its advanced processing helps reduce blur in fast-moving scenes.
Yes, both TVs support Dolby Atmos and can connect to home theater receivers via HDMI ARC. The Sony BRAVIA 7 has enhanced eARC support for higher-quality audio passthrough.
The Hisense H9G has higher peak brightness, making it slightly better for bright rooms. However, both TVs perform well in typical lighting conditions.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 uses the newer Google TV platform, offering a more refined experience. The Hisense H9G uses older Android TV but still provides access to all major streaming apps.
Both TVs support HDR formats, but the Hisense H9G has an advantage with higher peak brightness and more local dimming zones, resulting in more impactful HDR performance.
The Hisense H9G is better for dedicated media rooms due to its superior contrast and brightness. However, if gaming is important, the Sony BRAVIA 7 is the better choice.
While both TVs have built-in speakers, for a true home theater experience, an external sound system is recommended. The Sony BRAVIA 7 has better built-in audio (40W vs 20W) if you must use TV speakers.
The Sony BRAVIA 7 is a newer model with more recent technology, suggesting longer support and compatibility with future features. Sony also has a stronger track record for reliability.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - avsforum.com - avsforum.com - crutchfield.com - sony.com - rtings.com - schaeferstv.com - youtube.com - displayspecifications.com - rtings.com - bestbuy.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - digitaltrends.com - assets.hisense-usa.com - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - bestbuy.com
