Every TV Is 4K Now, So Choose on the Backlight, the Screen and the Software
Walk down the TV wall at Best Buy and nearly every screen says the same thing: 4K. The 50-inch model at the end of the aisle says it. The 85-inch one in the middle says it. So why do two 4K TVs of the same size look so different when they are side by side?
Because resolution stopped being the difference years ago. What separates a good TV from a great one now is three things the box barely mentions: how the screen is lit, how it handles the light in your room, and the software you use every evening.
Choose on those three and you buy a TV you still love in five years.
📺 Browse Best Buy TVs by the specs that matter
Resolution stopped being the difference
4K is now the baseline across almost every size worth buying. That is good news for your wallet, because it means you are no longer paying extra for pixels. It also means the pixel count on the box tells you almost nothing about how the picture will look in your living room.
Hisense’s 2026 range at Best Buy makes the point neatly. Its S7 Canvas, U6, U7, M7, QD6, UR8 and UR9 models are all 4K. They differ in the backlight, the screen surface and the smart platform, and those are exactly the things that change what you see.
The backlight decides how the picture looks at noon and at midnight
Most TVs in this range are lit from behind, and the way that light is arranged shapes contrast, brightness and how deep a dark scene looks.
QLED. Hisense’s QD6 Hi-QLED and S7 Canvas models use quantum-dot colour, the familiar step up from a basic LED set.
Mini-LED. The U6, U7 and M7 series move to a Mini-LED backlight, which uses many more, much smaller lights. More lights means finer control over which parts of the screen are bright and which stay dark.
RGB Mini-LED. At the top of the range, the UR8 and UR9 use RGB Mini-LED backlighting. This is the tier to look at if picture quality is the main reason you are upgrading.
The screen finish decides whether you can watch with the curtains open
A picture that looks perfect in a dark showroom can disappear under afternoon sun. That is why the screen surface has become one of the most useful things to compare.
Hisense lists its U6 and U7 Mini-LED models as Glare-Free, and the UR8 and UR9 with an Anti-Reflection Screen. The S7 Canvas Series takes a different approach with a Hi-Matte Display and an UltraSlim Wall Mount, built to hang flat against the wall.
If your TV faces a window, put this near the top of the list. It matters more in a bright room than any number on the spec sheet.
☀️ Compare glare-free and anti-reflection screens
The software is the part you touch every day
You will spend more time in the menus than you ever will reading the manual, so pick the platform you like using. Best Buy lets you filter TVs by smart platform, including Google TV, Fire TV, Roku TV and VIDAA.
Hisense covers all three of the big names across its range. The U7 and the UR8 and UR9 run Google TV with Gemini. The U6 runs Fire TV with Alexa+. The QD6 and M7 run Roku TV. If your household already lives in one of those worlds, that is the tie-breaker.
Gamers and sports fans should also check the refresh rate filter, which on Best Buy’s Hisense listings runs from 60Hz up to 180Hz. A higher number means smoother motion in fast games and fast-moving sport.
Buying the right panel once, at the right price
Once you know the backlight, the screen and the software you want, the shortlist is usually two or three models. That is the moment to buy, and to buy carefully.
Best Buy’s Price Match Guarantee covers new TVs sold by Best Buy, and if Best Buy lowers its own price during your return and exchange period, it will match the lower price on request. Marketplace listings from third-party sellers are excluded, so look for “Sold by Best Buy” before you add to cart.
A TV chosen on how it is lit, how it handles your room and how it feels to use is one you will not be tempted to replace next year. Pick the three, then pick the size that fits the wall.
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