For gamers, the peak performance expected from the best gaming TVs so far has been a huge display with a 144Hz refresh rate. But a new 4K model from Hisense makes that seem positively slow. The new 98-inch Hisense 98S57 TV, which has just launched in China, has a blisteringly fast 264Hz refresh rate – faster than any current console can offer. And the firm has also launched a new, brighter laser TV that’s coming to Europe and will likely launch in the US later (via Notebookcheck).
The Hisense TV 98S57 is a surprisingly affordable behemoth, coming in at around $1,400, which means some corners have been cut to keep the price down while still offering a fast refresh rate. Brightness tops out at 1,000 nits, and there are fewer dimming zones (384) than on its flagship gaming TV, the Hisense 98UX. And the direct LED panel only offers 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut compared to 98% on the 98UX.
The big question here is how exactly you'll benefit from that refresh rate – according to HDTVtest, there are only two HDMI 2.1 ports, and they appear to max out at 144Hz. So it's not the case that PC gamers with a huge GPU and a desire for super-fast response times will be able to take full advantage of the 264Hz refresh rate, but it might help keep latency as low as possible, at least.
We don't expect this particular TV to go on sale in the US or Europe, but the firm's new Laser TV is expected to launch here soon.
Hisense PL2 Laser TV: Key Features
As the name suggests, the Hisense PL2 Laser TV is the successor to the Hisense PL1 Laser TV. Hisense Laser TVs are basically an ultra-short throw projector paired with a matching specialist projector screen, purchased for a specific size. The new model is capable of delivering near-4K resolution in sizes up to 150 inches wide (larger than the previous model), and has a lower throw ratio than the existing model – 0.22 instead of 0.25 – so it can be placed closer to the wall – for an 80-inch picture it can be 11.6cm from the wall, rising to 45.7cm for a 120-inch picture. Peak brightness is 2,700 lumens, and the light sources have a claimed lifespan of over 250,000 hours.
Hisense says the refresh rate has been improved for 2K signals, and the PL2 supports HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision; its built-in 30W up-firing speakers support Dolby Atmos. There are dedicated sports and gaming modes, 4K upscaling, and the PL2 supports AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. Smart TV apps include Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Rakuten, Paramount+, and more.
The Hisense PL2 is launching in Europe this month with an RRP of €2,499 – that’s roughly $2,735 or £2,140 – and will be very competitive with the best ultra-short throw projectors out there. A US launch hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the PL1 laser TV arrived in the US shortly after its European launch, so we’re expecting the same to happen this time around – perhaps we’ll hear more about it at CEDIA 2024 in September.
If you can read German, you can find more information about the PL2 Laser TV on Hisense's German website here.
