Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV Review: A Budget QLED That Punches Far Above Its Weight

For years, my home entertainment setup was a compromise. I longed for the vibrant, punchy colours of a high-end QLED display and the immersive audio of Dolby Atmos, but my living space—and my wallet—demanded a more modest screen size. The market seemed to be split: you could either get a massive, feature-rich television that dominated the room, or a smaller, more affordable set that sacrificed all the cutting-edge technology. It was a frustrating search for the perfect middle ground. The fear was always settling for a TV that would feel outdated in a year, with dull colours and a clunky interface that made streaming a chore. Finding a television that could deliver a premium 4K HDR experience in a compact, stylish package felt like searching for a unicorn.

What to Consider Before Buying a 4K Smart TV

A television is more than just an item of electronics; it’s the central hub of modern home entertainment. It’s where we gather for movie nights, binge-watch our favourite series, cheer on our sports teams, and immerse ourselves in the latest video games. The right TV can transform a simple viewing experience into something truly cinematic and engaging. It solves the problem of disparate media sources by unifying them into one easy-to-navigate interface, providing access to broadcast TV, streaming services, and personal media all in one place. The main benefits are convenience, superior visual and audio quality, and a shared experience for family and friends.

The ideal customer for a product like the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV is someone facing the exact dilemma I described. They might be furnishing a smaller living room, a bedroom, a home office, or a dedicated gaming nook where a 55-inch or larger screen would be overpowering. This buyer is tech-savvy enough to desire modern features like Quantum Dot colour, Dolby Vision, and smart home integration, but is also budget-conscious and looking for maximum value. Conversely, this TV might not be suitable for those building a dedicated, no-compromise home cinema in a large room. Those users would likely prioritise screen sizes of 65 inches and above, and potentially look at higher-end technologies like OLED for perfect black levels, albeit at a significantly higher cost.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 43-inch screen is incredibly versatile. Before purchasing, measure your intended space, whether it’s a media unit or a wall. Consider the stand’s footprint (this model uses a dual stand, which provides stability but requires a wider surface) and check the VESA pattern compatibility if you plan to wall-mount it to ensure your bracket will fit.
• Performance: The key performance metric here is the display technology. QLED (Quantum Dot) offers a significant step up from standard LED, producing a wider range of purer, more vibrant colours. Also, look for comprehensive HDR support—this model includes Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, ensuring you get the best possible picture from a wide variety of sources. A 60Hz refresh rate is standard for this category and perfectly adequate for movies and most gaming.
• Materials & Durability: Look for a TV that feels well-built. The Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV features a modern, bezelless design that gives it a premium appearance. While the chassis is primarily plastic, as is common at this price point, user feedback confirms it feels solid and well-constructed, suggesting good durability for everyday use.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The smart operating system is your gateway to content. The VIDAA OS on this model is known for being snappy and straightforward. Check for the availability of your must-have apps (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc.) and consider ease of navigation. For maintenance, a simple wipe with a soft, dry microfibre cloth is all that’s needed to keep the screen pristine.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV stands out in several areas, offering a remarkable feature set for its size and price. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.

While the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Premium Design Meets Effortless Setup

From the moment the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV arrived, I was impressed. The packaging was robust and secure, a sentiment echoed by several users who were initially worried about shipping damage but received their units in perfect condition. Unboxing was a straightforward affair. Inside, the television was well-protected, along with the two stand feet, a remote control with batteries, a power cable, and a quick start guide. Assembling the dual stand was refreshingly simple, requiring just a couple of screws for each foot, and the whole process took less than five minutes.

Once set up on my media unit, the TV’s design immediately stood out. The ‘Bezelless’ frame isn’t just marketing jargon; the borders around the screen are incredibly thin, lending the set a sleek, modern aesthetic that you’d typically associate with much more expensive models. It looks clean and unobtrusive, allowing the picture to be the star of the show. The build quality feels solid and reassuring, a significant step up from budget TVs of just a few years ago. This initial experience set a high bar for what was to come.

A Deep Dive into the Hisense 43E77NQTUK’s Performance

A great first impression is one thing, but a television lives or dies by its day-to-day performance. Over several weeks, I put the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV through its paces with a wide range of content, from 4K Dolby Vision blockbusters and fast-paced sports to next-generation console gaming and everyday broadcast television. The results were, for the most part, deeply impressive.

Picture Quality: Is Quantum Dot Colour a Game-Changer at this Price?

Let’s get straight to the point: the picture quality on this television is its crowning achievement. The move to QLED (Quantum Dot) technology at this price point is a genuine game-changer. Immediately after the initial setup, I fired up a nature documentary in 4K Dolby Vision, and the difference was palpable. Colours weren’t just bright; they were nuanced, rich, and incredibly lifelike. The deep greens of a rainforest canopy, the electric blues of a tropical fish—it all popped with a vibrancy that standard LED TVs simply cannot replicate. As one user aptly put it, the image is “truly remarkable.” We found this to be true right out of the box; unlike many TVs that require extensive tweaking, the default picture settings were already beautifully calibrated. The colours are “really bright and vivid,” just as another satisfied owner noted.

The 4K AI Processor does a commendable job behind the scenes. The AI Picture feature intelligently analyses the content frame-by-frame, optimising colour, brightness, and contrast. This was particularly noticeable when watching fast-moving sports. The AI Sports Mode, combined with the Smooth Motion (MEMC) technology, worked to reduce motion blur during frantic football matches, keeping the ball and players clear and distinct. The AI Adaptive Depth feature also adds a subtle but effective sense of three-dimensionality to the image, making landscapes feel more expansive and immersive. While it can’t match the pixel-perfect blacks of an OLED, the contrast is excellent for an LED-based set, delivering deep blacks and bright highlights that make HDR content shine. For anyone upgrading from an older 1080p or even an entry-level 4K TV, the visual leap forward will be, as one user was, “gobsmacked” by the quality.

Smart Experience: Navigating the VIDAA OS and Freely Integration

A smart TV is only as smart as its operating system, and Hisense’s VIDAA U7.6 is both quick and clever. From a cold boot, the TV is up and running in seconds. The interface is clean, intuitive, and generally “snappy,” with no noticeable lag when navigating menus or launching applications. All the essential UK and international streaming apps are present and correct: Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and NOW. For UK viewers, the inclusion of BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and My5 covers all the major catch-up services.

The headline feature for the 2024 model, however, is the integration of Freely. This is a genuinely transformative feature for many households. Freely allows you to watch and stream live and on-demand TV from the major UK broadcasters directly over your Wi-Fi connection, completely eliminating the need for a traditional television aerial. For our testing, we unplugged the aerial entirely, and the experience was seamless. The Freely guide integrates live channels and on-demand content beautifully, making it easy to browse what’s on now or catch up on something you missed. As one user celebrated, “It comes with FREELY installed so no need for TV aerial any more.” This simplifies setup immensely, especially for wall-mounted TVs or in rooms where an aerial socket isn’t conveniently located.

The included voice remote is a handy addition, allowing you to search for content or change settings using Alexa. While some users found the remote’s button layout a bit busy, the core functionality is solid. We also appreciated the ability to control the TV via a smartphone app, which is perfect for those moments when the physical remote inevitably disappears down the side of the sofa.

Audio and Gaming Performance: Capable, with a Caveat

If there’s one area where the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV reveals its budget-friendly nature, it’s the audio. The built-in 14-watt speakers are perfectly functional for casual viewing. Dialogue in news broadcasts and sitcoms is clear, and the TV can reach a surprisingly loud volume without distorting—as one user noted, they “can’t go more than 10 it gets loud.” The TV supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, which do a decent job of creating a wider, more spacious soundstage than you’d expect from the TV’s slim frame. However, the experience is held back by a distinct lack of low-end punch. For action movies, epic soundtracks, or immersive gaming, the sound feels thin.

This was a consistent theme in user feedback. One reviewer stated the sound quality is “average, there is a lack of bass,” while another was more direct: “the soundbar is a must to fully enjoy a movie.” We wholeheartedly agree. Pairing this TV with even a modest soundbar elevates the entire experience from good to great, allowing you to take full advantage of the Dolby Atmos support and create a truly immersive audio-visual package. For anyone serious about their movie nights, budgeting for a soundbar is highly recommended.

On the gaming front, however, the Hisense delivers features that are a fantastic surprise at this price. The inclusion of three HDMI 2.1 compliant ports with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is a huge win for console gamers. When I connected my PlayStation 5, the TV instantly switched to Game Mode, thanks to ALLM, minimising input lag for a more responsive feel. VRR helps to synchronise the TV’s refresh rate with the console’s output, eliminating screen tearing and ensuring a smoother gameplay experience. While it’s limited to 60Hz, the performance is excellent for the vast majority of console games. One gamer confirmed it “does the job satisfactorily” for their consoles, and another exclaimed that the “Ps5 picture is excellent.” It’s a fantastic, high-performance gaming display for the price, making it a brilliant choice for a bedroom or den setup.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the user sentiment for the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV is overwhelmingly positive, with many buyers expressing surprise at the level of quality offered for the price. A common narrative comes from users who have historically been loyal to more premium brands like Samsung. One such customer, after buying a Hisense for their son years ago and finding it reliable, decided to switch and was “really impressed with the quality.” This speaks volumes about Hisense’s growing reputation for reliability and performance.

The most frequently praised aspect is, without a doubt, the picture quality. Phrases like “great colour,” “brilliant picture quality,” and “vibrant colours” appear in numerous reviews. The negative feedback is sparse but consistent, focusing primarily on two points. The most significant is the “mediocre sound quality,” with several users stating that a soundbar is a necessary addition for an immersive experience. A secondary, more minor critique was aimed at the remote, with one user wishing for a “point scroll feature” and another finding it had “too many buttons.” These are valid points, but they don’t detract from the core value proposition of the television.

How Does the Hisense 43E77NQTUK Compare to the Alternatives?

While the Hisense 43E77NQTUK is a formidable contender in its class, it’s important to see how it stacks up against other popular options on the market. Here’s a look at three notable alternatives.

1. TCL 75P7K-UK 75″ QLED 4K Google TV 120Hz

The TCL 75P7K-UK represents a significant step up in both size and performance. Its massive 75-inch screen and 120Hz refresh rate make it an ideal choice for a dedicated home cinema or for serious gamers who demand the smoothest possible motion. While both TVs feature QLED technology, the TCL’s higher refresh rate and Google TV operating system might appeal to users who prefer that ecosystem or prioritise next-gen gaming performance. This TV is for someone with a larger room and a bigger budget, who wants a truly cinematic scale that the 43-inch Hisense cannot provide.

2. TCL 55PF650K 55-inch 4K HDR Smart LED Fire TV

This TCL model offers a larger 55-inch screen and integrates deeply with the Amazon ecosystem via its Fire TV OS. It’s a strong choice for users who are already invested in Alexa and Prime Video. However, the key difference lies in the display technology; this is a standard 4K LED TV, not a QLED. This means that while it is larger, it won’t produce the same range or vibrancy of colour as the Hisense. A buyer might prefer this TCL if they prioritise screen size and the Fire TV interface over the superior picture quality of the Hisense’s QLED panel.

3. Hisense 40″ FHD LED TV

For the most budget-conscious buyer, this 40-inch model from Hisense is a compelling alternative. It’s important to note the key downgrades: the resolution is Full HD (1080p) instead of 4K, and it uses a standard Direct Lit LED panel instead of QLED. However, it retains many of the smart features of its bigger sibling, including the excellent Freely service. This TV is perfect for a secondary room like a kitchen or a child’s bedroom, or for anyone who doesn’t own 4K source devices and simply wants a reliable, easy-to-use smart TV at the lowest possible price.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Hisense 43E77NQTUK Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV is an absolutely phenomenal television for its price. It shatters the old assumption that you have to accept major compromises when buying a smaller, more affordable TV. The QLED display delivers a picture that is genuinely stunning, with vibrant colours and excellent clarity that bring movies, shows, and games to life. The addition of a fast, feature-rich VIDAA OS with the game-changing Freely integration makes it incredibly user-friendly and future-proof.

The only significant compromise is the built-in audio, which is merely adequate. However, this is a common issue with slim TVs across all price points and is easily remedied with a soundbar. When you factor in the impressive gaming features like ALLM and VRR, you have a complete package that offers unbeatable value. We would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-performance TV for a bedroom, office, or smaller living room without breaking the bank.

If you’ve decided the Hisense 43E77NQTUK 43 Inch 4K QLED Smart TV is the right fit for your home, you can check its current price and purchase it here.