You probably didn’t know, but Hisense is the world’s fifth-largest TV manufacturer.
Though Hisense is a relatively unknown brand in the United States, they produce televisions for a number of major brands.
Here, I’ll discuss Hisense’s TV production facility in China, the suppliers they work with, and the other brands they own.
Who exactly is Hisense’s manufacturer?
Hisense and other brands of TVs are manufactured by the Hisense Group, which also manufactures televisions under the Sharp and Toshiba names.
After opening in 1969, they expanded to become China’s largest TV producer. One may find a dozen of their establishments across Europe, Central America, and South Africa, and that’s not even including the ones in other nations.
The company’s main factory is located in the Yellow Sea coastal city of Qingdao. It covers an area of 12 square kilometres and is home to over 39,000 people (4.63 square miles).
Hisense’s Market Share For TVs
According to Statista’s estimates, Hisense shipped 15.7 million TVs in 2019. Compared to competitors like Sony, this is a lot, but it still lags well behind industry leaders Samsung (42.7 million) and LG (27.9 million) (12.9 million).
But the reality is more nuanced than that. It would seem that the number of people who like Hisense televisions grows each year.
According to Statista’s graph, Hisense’s market share (depicted in red) has been steadily increasing since 2017. They have much higher rates of expansion in both 2018 and 2019.
I’m wondering what the secret is to Hisense’s TVs’ more success than the competition. Hisense televisions are known for their superior size and image quality at a reasonable price.
A large majority of satisfied buyers believe the price is fair for the quality of this product. A Hisense TV is the best bargain on the market since it provides more advanced features and higher picture quality without breaking the bank.
Some further features that set this firm apart:
They’ve developed a new kind of ULED that outshines everything else on the market in terms of efficiency and luminosity.
Hisense is unique in that it produces its own LCD display panels rather than relying on suppliers. In 2021, LG is still the only maker of OLED panels, therefore they remain the only option for consumers.
Compared to competitors like Sony, who have to get their display components from Samsung and LG, this gives them a significant advantage.
Component Production for Hisense TVs
Hisense is a vertically integrated company, meaning that it manufactures a large percentage of its own components.
Hisense televisions are all made by the same company, so getting a replacement when anything goes wrong is simple.
Hisense TVs rely on components from other companies, including LED backlight film, colour filters, chipsets, and electrical components.
Hisense Android TVs include several parts, including the CPU, that are manufactured in facilities in other countries. Some of the most well-known manufacturers of these parts are Intel, LG Electronics, and TDK.
Technology company Intel is a leading producer of flash memory chips. OLED panels for Hisense televisions are manufactured by LG. All of Hisense’s LCD panels are manufactured in-house.
Additional TVs from Hisense
I said at the opening that Hisense owns many well-known brands. One part of Hisense’s plan for global expansion is to buy up other, established companies.
In 2015, this corporation acquired Sharp and one of Sharp’s television assembly factories in Mexico. In the years that followed, in 2017, they purchased a 95% stake in the parent business of the Toshiba brand, Toshiba Visual Solutions Corporation.
Sharp Televisions (2015-2019)
Sharp TVs are mid-range, although they often have advanced functions that are only seen on more costly models.
Hisense, which purchased Sharp America in 2015, is the only manufacturer of Sharp-brand TVs at this time. As of the year 2019 however, Sharp Japan has regained ownership after purchasing them from Hisense.
The popularity of this kind of television might be attributable to:
- Stunning 4K video for pennies on the dollar
- Sharp’s TVs from the Hisense era are remembered for their very cheap full-HD (1080p) displays.
- Superior acoustic quality
- Because of Sharp’s history as an audio industry pioneer, you could expect its TVs’ built-in speakers to be of high quality.
- Featuring ingenious additions
- Sharp was an early pioneer in the field of smart televisions.
Still, there were certain limitations on what could be seen on a Sharp TV. Low-light colour distortion and overall picture degradation were among those problems.
There was just a little variation in perceived brightness between standard definition and high definition when representing bright or well-lit scenes.
In general, Hisense’s Sharp TVs met or exceeded the quality and price expectations of their target market. Since Sharp has just repurchased the TV company, you will no longer be able to find any new models at your neighbourhood shop as of this year (2019).
American Toshiba Corp. (2017-)
After its deal with Sharp ended, Hisense bought Toshiba Visual Solutions and the rights to produce televisions in North America.
Sharp and Toshiba both make excellent televisions that provide great bang for the buck.
Hisense LCD panels used in Toshiba TVs retain a high degree of clarity, realism, and detail even during fast-motion scenarios such as those seen in sports events or action movies.
Despite some minor flaws, Toshiba TVs are a great buy for the money. They feature a large screen, bright colours, and great audio.
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Conclusion: Who Makes Hisense TVs?
Hisense is a leading TV maker that develops many of its own components.
The same holds true for LCD TVs. In addition to producing its own line of televisions, Hisense also makes Toshiba models specifically for the North American market.