Hisense 100U8QG 100" VS LG 86QNED9MAUA 86"

Both the Hisense 100U8QG and the LG 86QNED9MAUA share a strong display foundation: native 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, 10-bit color depth, 1070 million displayable colors, Mini-LED backlighting, and identical 178° viewing angles in both directions. In everyday use, these shared traits mean both TVs can render wide color gradients and maintain image quality off-axis. However, the panel technology diverges in one meaningful way: the Hisense adds a QLED quantum dot layer on top of its Mini-LED LCD stack, which typically enables broader color volume — meaning richer, more saturated colors especially at high brightness levels — while the LG relies solely on its Mini-LED LCD without quantum dot enhancement.

The refresh rate and HDR ecosystem tell a clear story for users who care about motion and content compatibility. The Hisense runs at 165Hz versus the LG's 144Hz, a meaningful edge for gaming and fast-motion content. More significantly, the Hisense supports HDR10+ in addition to Dolby Vision and HLG, while the LG omits HDR10+. HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata — similar to Dolby Vision — to optimize brightness scene by scene, so the Hisense covers a broader range of premium HDR-mastered content. On adaptive sync, the Hisense goes further with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro (which adds low-framerate compensation and HDR support in variable refresh rate mode) versus the LG's entry-level AMD FreeSync.

Despite the LG's slightly higher pixel density (51 ppi vs. 44 ppi on the Hisense) — a natural consequence of packing the same 4K resolution into a smaller 86″ panel rather than a 100″ one — the Hisense holds a clear overall edge in this display category. It leads on panel technology (QLED), refresh rate, HDR format breadth, and adaptive sync capability. The LG's pixel density advantage is real but only perceptible at closer viewing distances that a 86–100″ screen rarely demands. For buyers prioritizing display versatility and future-proofing across gaming and premium streaming content, the Hisense 100U8QG has the stronger display specification sheet.

Connectivity is essentially a dead heat between these two TVs. Both arrive with the same wired backbone — 3 HDMI 2.1 ports, 2 USB ports, and a dedicated RJ45 ethernet jack — and an identical wireless stack: Wi-Fi 6E (the latest mainstream standard, offering faster throughput and less congestion in crowded networks), Bluetooth 5.3, and Miracast screen mirroring. In practice, HDMI 2.1 across all three ports is the headline here, as it unlocks 4K at high refresh rates and variable refresh rate passthrough for consoles and PCs without any port-switching compromises.

The only tangible split in this group is the 3.5mm audio jack present on the Hisense 100U8QG but absent on the LG 86QNED9MAUA. This matters more than it might initially seem: it allows direct connection of wired headphones for late-night private listening without requiring a separate Bluetooth headphone setup or an external DAC. For users who rely on that workflow, it is a genuine convenience advantage.

Overall, connectivity is a near-perfect tie, with the Hisense earning a narrow practical edge solely due to the 3.5mm jack. Buyers who never use wired headphones with their TV will find the two sets functionally indistinguishable in this category.

On the shared audio foundation, both TVs are well-matched: stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and HDMI ARC plus eARC are all present on each. The eARC port is particularly worth noting, as it allows high-bandwidth audio formats — including lossless Dolby Atmos from compatible soundbars — to pass bidirectionally over a single HDMI cable, making external audio system integration clean and future-proof on both sets.

Where the specs diverge is in built-in speaker hardware and surround format support. The Hisense 100U8QG includes a built-in subwoofer and supports DTS:X, neither of which the LG 86QNED9MAUA offers. A dedicated subwoofer extends low-frequency reproduction directly from the TV's own speaker system, adding bass weight to movies and music without requiring any external hardware. DTS:X, meanwhile, is an object-based surround format used on a significant portion of Blu-ray discs and streaming content — its absence on the LG means that DTS:X-encoded tracks would fall back to a downmixed version, potentially losing spatial audio dimensionality.

The Hisense holds a clear advantage in this category. Its subwoofer and DTS:X support meaningfully expand its out-of-the-box audio capability compared to the LG, which is a more relevant gap for users who plan to watch TV using the built-in speakers rather than a dedicated external audio system.

The physical scale difference here is substantial and entirely expected given the screen size gap. The Hisense 100U8QG is a genuinely massive installation — 2230mm wide and weighing in at 63.5kg — while the LG 86QNED9MAUA comes in at 1927mm wide and 45.5kg. That 18kg weight difference is not trivial: it directly affects how many people are needed for safe installation, whether existing wall mounts need to be re-evaluated for load rating, and how manageable the TV is during setup. Both support VESA mounting, so wall installation is an option for either, but the Hisense will demand significantly more structural consideration.

Thickness is another meaningful gap. The Hisense measures 81.3mm deep versus the LG's notably slimmer 50.8mm — a 60% difference. In a wall-mount scenario, greater depth means the panel protrudes more from the wall surface, which can affect both aesthetics and cable management. For console or furniture placement, the LG's slimmer profile also makes rear-port access marginally easier to plan around.

Framing this category fairly requires acknowledging that the Hisense's larger footprint is a direct consequence of its 100″ screen — not a design inefficiency. Still, for installation planning purposes, the LG 86QNED9MAUA has the practical edge here: it is lighter, thinner, and easier to handle and mount. Buyers considering the Hisense should factor in professional installation costs and structural wall-mount requirements from the outset.

Across the smart features landscape, these two TVs are remarkably aligned. Both run a built-in smart platform with voice command support, are compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, support AirPlay, allow smartphone remote control, and offer USB recording. Neither supports Apple HomeKit/Siri integration, and both draw an identical 0.5W in standby — a minor but real consideration for always-on devices. For the vast majority of users, the day-to-day smart TV experience will feel essentially interchangeable between the two.

The single differentiator in this category is the warranty period: the Hisense 100U8QG includes a 2-year warranty versus the LG 86QNED9MAUA's 1-year coverage. On a large-screen premium television — where repair or replacement costs can be significant — an extra year of manufacturer protection has tangible financial value. It effectively reduces the ownership risk during the period when component failures are most statistically likely.

Given that every other feature in this group is identical, the Hisense earns the edge here on the strength of its longer warranty alone. It is a straightforward value advantage that requires no trade-off.