Smart TVs · Comparison
Hisense 55E8S vs Samsung S85H: Mini-LED or OLED?
Which should you buy?
Buy the Hisense 55E8S if you watch in a bright room, want loud built-in sound and want to spend far less. Buy the Samsung S85H OLED if you watch films and play games in a dim room and want perfect blacks with Samsung's wider service network.
Choose the Hisense E8S 55-inch Mini-LED 4K TV (55E8S) if
- Your hall gets daylight: it measured a peak near 800 nits against about 620 nits
- You want to skip a soundbar: its 61 W system with a subwoofer measured about 84 dB
- You want a 144 Hz panel for PC gaming
- You want premium picture for about half the price
Choose the Samsung S85H 55-inch OLED 4K TV (QA55S85HAELXL) if
- You watch films in a dim room and want perfect blacks with no blooming
- You want the lowest input lag we measured, about 9 ms at 120 Hz
- Service reach matters: Samsung's network is wide and the panel has a second year of cover
- You want a faster interface: Tizen booted in about 11 seconds against about 17
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Hisense E8S 55-inch Mini-LED 4K TV (55E8S) vs Samsung S85H 55-inch OLED 4K TV (QA55S85HAELXL): side by side
| Hisense E8S 55-inch Mini-LED 4K TV (55E8S) | Samsung S85H 55-inch OLED 4K TV (QA55S85HAELXL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Our grade | B+ 8.2 | A− 8.6 (better result) |
| Test results | ||
| Peak brightness, small window How we test this : Peak brightness, small window | 800 nits (better result) | 620 nits |
| Input lag in game mode How we test this : Input lag in game mode | 11 ms | 9 ms (better result) |
| Speaker loudness at 80% volume How we test this : Speaker loudness at 80% volume | 84 dB (better result) | 76 dB |
| Cold boot to home screen How we test this : Cold boot to home screen | 17 s | 11 s (better result) |
| YouTube launch How we test this : YouTube launch | 4 s | 3 s (better result) |
| Netflix launch How we test this : Netflix launch | 6 s | 4 s (better result) |
| JioHotstar launch How we test this : JioHotstar launch | 8 s | 6 s (better result) |
| Power draw in typical viewing How we test this : Power draw in typical viewing | 140 W | 90 W (better result) |
| Standby under 1 W How we test this : Standby under 1 W | Not tested | Pass |
| Key specs | ||
| Price at review | Not tested | MRP ₹1,06,900 |
| Screen | 55-inch Mini-LED (ULED), 3840 x 2160, 144 Hz | 55-inch OLED, 3840 x 2160, 120 Hz |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, peak about 700 nits rated | — |
| OS | VIDAA U, 16 GB storage | Tizen, Gaming Hub |
| Audio | 61 W with subwoofer | 20 W |
| Ports | 4 HDMI | 4 HDMI |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year, plus 1 year on the panel |
These are the two best 55-inch TVs we have tested, built on different panel technology. The Samsung is the better TV in a dark room; the Hisense gives you most of the experience in a bright room for about half the money.
Is OLED better than Mini-LED for films?
In a dim room, yes. Every pixel on the Samsung S85H switches off, so night scenes and stadium floodlights show no blooming. The Hisense’s local dimming kept blacks deeper than any plain LED set, but we saw slight blooming around bright subtitles on dark backgrounds.
Which is better in a bright Indian living room?
The Hisense. Its measured peak near 800 nits lets HDR highlights stand out even in a sunlit room. The Samsung peaked near 620 nits on a small window and about 250 nits full screen, which is comfortable with the curtains partly drawn but washes out more in direct sunlight.
Which sounds better without a soundbar?
The Hisense, clearly. Its 61 W system with a subwoofer was the loudest in our group, with clear dialogue and real bass. The Samsung’s 20 W speakers are clean for dialogue but thin, so plan a soundbar for films.
What are the ownership risks?
The Samsung’s risk is burn-in if the same channel logo or scoreboard stays on screen for hours every day; we saw no retention in five weeks. The Hisense’s risk is service: owners report slow after-sales visits and some defective panels or black dots, VIDAA has fewer apps than Google TV and misses some regional apps, and the warranty is one year against the Samsung’s second year of panel cover. The Hisense also drew more power in typical viewing, about 140 W against about 90 W.
Questions buyers ask
Which is brighter, the Hisense 55E8S or the Samsung S85H?
The Hisense 55E8S is brighter. We measured a peak near 800 nits on the Hisense 55E8S against about 620 nits on a small window for the Samsung S85H OLED, so the Hisense copes better with a sunlit hall.
Which is better for gaming, the Hisense 55E8S or the Samsung S85H?
Both are good. The Samsung S85H measured about 9 ms input lag at 120 Hz and adds Samsung Gaming Hub, while the Hisense 55E8S measured about 11 ms on a 144 Hz panel. Confirm HDMI 2.1 and VRR on the Hisense box before buying for a console.
Do the Hisense 55E8S and Samsung S85H need a soundbar?
The Samsung S85H does for films, because its 20 W speakers measured about 76 dB with little bass. The Hisense 55E8S has a 61 W system with a subwoofer that measured about 84 dB, so many buyers can skip a soundbar.
Which has better service in India, Hisense or Samsung?
Samsung. The Samsung S85H is backed by one of the widest service networks in India and a second year of panel cover, while Hisense 55E8S owners report slow after-sales service and the warranty is one year.
Read the full reviews
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Hisense 55E8S 55-inch Mini-LED TV Review: Bright, Loud, Loaded
The Hisense 55E8S is a 55-inch Mini-LED with local dimming, 144 Hz and a 61 W speaker system that offers premium-TV picture quality for far less money, provided you accept slower service.
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Samsung S85H QA55S85HAELXL 55-inch OLED TV Review
The Samsung S85H 55-inch OLED has the best blacks and motion of any TV here and Samsung's wide service network, though its 20 W speakers and high price keep it a premium choice for dim-room viewers.
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