Two operating systems under one brand
Depending on the model and the country, a Hisense television runs either VIDAA, which is Hisense's own system, or a version of Android TV or Google TV.
The difference matters more than any other specification on the box. One of them has an open app store with the mainstream IPTV players in it; the other has a curated store with a smaller selection and no way to install anything from outside it.
Working out which one you have
Look at the home screen
A Google TV or Android TV set will show rows of recommendations and a Play Store icon. A VIDAA set shows its own layout and a store branded as the VIDAA app store or app gallery.
The settings menu will also name the system, usually under an "about" or "system information" entry.
Check before you buy, not after
If you are choosing a television now and IPTV is part of the reason, this is the single specification worth checking. It is rarely on the front of the box and it changes between model years within the same range.
On a VIDAA television
The VIDAA store carries a limited set of applications, and which of them are available differs by country and changes over time. Some playlist-capable players do appear there; others do not, and there is no sideloading route to fall back on.
If the player you want is present, setup is straightforward: install it, enter the details you were sent, and let the guide load. Our setup guide covers the login step, which is the same everywhere.
If it is not present, you have the same options as anyone on a closed platform, and they are covered below.
On a Hisense running Android TV or Google TV
This is the straightforward case. The Play Store carries the mainstream players, they install directly, and the television behaves like any other Android TV device.
Our Android TV guide covers it, and the player comparison covers which app to choose.
Setting up on a VIDAA television, step by step
Assuming a suitable player is available in your store, the sequence is the same as on any television, with one addition at the start.
Connect the television to the network first and let it complete any pending system update. VIDAA sets often hold an update back until the first restart, and installing an application either side of that is the most common reason one disappears a day later.
Open the app store from the home screen and search rather than browsing the featured rows, which are usually promotional. Install the player, open it once before entering anything, and let it finish its own first-run setup.
Then enter the details you were sent. Some television players ask for a device key rather than a username and password — the app shows a code on screen and you add it through the provider or through the app maker's own site. Our setup guide covers both patterns.
Finally, leave the guide to load fully before judging anything. A television processor is slower than a dedicated box, and the first load of a long list takes a while.
What to check before buying a Hisense set
None of this is on the front of the box, and it changes between model years within the same range. Ten minutes checking beforehand saves buying a television that cannot run the software you had in mind.
- Which operating system that exact model year runs — not the range, the model
- Whether the store in your country carries a player you are willing to use
- Whether the set has enough HDMI inputs left for a stick if you need one later
- Whether the remote has a number pad, which some players make good use of
If your television cannot run what you need
A television is a long purchase and an operating system is not something you can change. Adding an input is a far smaller decision than replacing a set. Our guide on whether you need a streaming box covers how to decide.
- Add a small streaming stick to an HDMI input — the cheapest and most reliable fix
- Use a playlist-capable app that is in your store, if one is available and it does what you need
- Keep the television for its own apps and use the stick for IPTV; there is no need to choose one or the other
Keeping the app working after a system update
Television manufacturers update their systems on their own schedule, and an application that worked before an update occasionally stops afterwards. This is more common on manufacturer-run platforms than on Android.
If an app disappears or refuses to open after an update, our guide on when an IPTV app will not install covers the usual causes. Keeping a note of your login details somewhere other than the television is sensible on any platform, and our guide on backing up your player setup covers what is worth recording.
What to expect either way
Neither operating system changes the stream you receive. A channel that is soft on one is soft on the other, and picture quality is set by the source rather than by the television's software.
What the platform decides is which player you can run, how quickly the guide loads, and how comfortable the whole thing is to live with. That is worth getting right, and on a closed platform the answer is often a twenty-pound stick rather than a new television.
Frequently asked questions
Is VIDAA the same as Android TV?
No. VIDAA is Hisense's own operating system with its own app store. Some Hisense televisions run Android TV or Google TV instead, and those have the Play Store.
Can I sideload an IPTV player onto a VIDAA television?
No. VIDAA only installs applications from its own store. If the player you want is not there, a streaming stick on an HDMI input is the practical answer.
How do I tell which system my Hisense uses?
Look for a Play Store icon and rows of recommendations, which indicate Android TV or Google TV. The settings menu will also name the system under system information.
My IPTV app vanished after a television update. What now?
Check whether it is still in the store, since availability changes. If it has gone, a streaming stick avoids depending on the manufacturer's store at all.
Will a newer Hisense give me a better IPTV picture?
Not by itself. Picture quality comes from the channel. A newer set may run the app more smoothly, which is a different thing from a sharper image.