Hisense Group Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong, China. Television sets are one of its principal products. In the first quarter of 2026, Hisense accounted for 13% of global television shipments, behind Samsung and TCL, according to Counterpoint Research. Hisense also operates as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), producing some goods that are sold under brands other than Hisense.
Two major subsidiaries of Hisense Group are publicly listed: Hisense Visual Technology () and Hisense Home Appliances Group (, ).
History
Qingdao Number 2 Radio Factory, the predecessor of Hisense Group, was established in September 1969. The factory initially produced radios, including sets sold under the Red Lantern brand, before beginning experimental production of black-and-white televisions. Three employees received television-production training at the Tianjin 712 factory, and the Qingdao factory had produced 82 televisions by 1971. It developed transistor television sets by 1975. A CJD18 television model was produced in 1978.
In 1979, Qingdao Number 2 Radio Factory was merged with three other local factories to form Qingdao General Television Factory. The company expanded its television manufacturing during the 1980s, including through technology and equipment obtained from foreign manufacturers.
In 1992, Zhou Houjian became head of the television factory, and Hisense Group was established in 1994. Hisense Electrical Appliance Share Holding Company, subsequently known as Hisense Electrical Co., was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in April 1997. During the 1990s, the group expanded through acquisitions and had acquired ten financially troubled enterprises by 1998. It also expanded beyond televisions into household appliances, computers and telecommunications.
Hisense obtained technology from a number of foreign companies, including Matsushita, Hitachi, Lucent, NEC, Sanyo, Toshiba and Qualcomm. In 2005, the company developed the HiView digital video-processing chip for television sets.
At the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, Hisense demonstrated a transparent 3D television.
In July 2015, Hisense acquired Sharp's television manufacturing facility in Mexico for $23.7 million and obtained rights to use the Sharp brand on televisions in North and South America.
In November 2017, Hisense agreed to acquire a 95% stake in Toshiba Visual Solutions for approximately US$113 million. In 2018, Hisense became the majority shareholder of Slovenian appliance manufacturer Gorenje, increasing its stake to approximately 95.4%.
In May 2022, Hisense introduced its first television using Amazon's Fire TV platform, a 4K model produced as part of its U6 television range.
Products and services
Hisense manufactures white goods, televisions, set-top boxes, digital TV broadcasting equipment, mobile devices (including phones), wireless modules, wireless PC cards, optical components, personal computers (desktops and laptops), projectors and monitors, as well as POS solutions. In 2018, Hisense released its first OLED television, and its first 8K television was released in 2021. In the early 2020s, the company has expanded into the projector market. At the 2023 CES, Hisense also presented several gaming monitors.
Hisense has developed mobile devices, including regular Android-based smartphones and tablets, as well as Android smartphones with e-ink displays, and other related portable devices, marketed as e-ink music players and e-readers. Hisense has created a customized version of Android called Vision. In some regions (e.g. in Mexico and South Africa), Hisense is a major mobile phone manufacturer, primarily offering budget or mid-tier devices. In Indonesia, the company's mobile phones were largely offered under Smartfren's Andromax brand. In 2019, Hisense phones were made available in Serbia.
Although Hisense's core business are budget TVs, the company has a broad market coverage, offering devices in all price ranges. Particularly since the 2020s, the company has been offering high-end television models in large screen sizes, being the largest manufacturer of 100-inch TVs by shipment as of 2023. As of 2023, Hisense's flagship TV line is the UX series of mini LED TVs, which are positioned above the company's OLED models.
Hisense retails products under several brand names, including Hisense, Toshiba, Gorenje, Sharp, Kelon, Hitachi, Asko and Ronshen.
VIDAA
VIDAA is a Linux-based smart TV operating system developed by VIDAA USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Hisense. Introduced in 2014, VIDAA is designed to provide an integrated platform for accessing multimedia content, including streaming services, live TV, and applications, on smart televisions. It is implemented on a range of smart TVs produced by manufacturers such as Hisense, Toshiba, Polytron, and Loewe. The operating system is able to aggregate content from various sources, allowing users to access content from different services from a unified platform.
As of 2023, VIDAA reportedly operated on over 30 million connected devices worldwide. In 2024, VIDAA was the second most installed smart TV operating system behind Tizen.
VIDAA's partners include over 400 content providers, including services such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Viu, iQIYI, DAZN, iWant, HBO Max, Disney+, Viaplay, Crunchyroll.
Projector Hisense entered the projector market in the mid-2010s. Popular models include the PX1-Pro and L9G, known for 4K UHD, HDR support, and advanced laser technology, offering vibrant visuals and excellent home cinema performance.
Here is a list of Hisense projectors available in 2024:
Hisense C2 Pro Hisense PL2 Hisense C2 Ultra Hisense PX3-PRO Leica also provides a projector using Vidaa : Leica Cine Play 1 based on Hisense C2 Ultra with improved optical bloc from Leica
Brands Hisense sells under multiple brand names:
Fridgemaster: A British fridge brand gained in 2012. Gorenje: Acquired 100% of shares in 2019 of the Slovenian Gorenje. Combine: Affixed to no frills air conditioners and refrigerators, Combine-branded products may be purchased by Chinese farmers. Hisense-Hitachi: A brand of commercial air-conditioners designed and manufactured by a joint venture of Hisense and Hitachi. Hisense Kelon: A high-end brand under Hisense can be found on refrigerators and air-conditioners.Investor Relations: Kelon; Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Company Ltd Hisense Official Site Ronshen: High quality, middle-end air conditioners and refrigerators retail under this brand name.Kelon: "We Are a Multibrand Company" Bloomberg, 8 November 2004 Savor: A home appliance brand, from the eponymous Modern English word.Hisense Profile: Brand Hisense Official Site Toshiba Regza: On 15 November 2017, Hisense reached a $114 million deal to acquire a 95% stake of Toshiba Visual Solutions. It continues to run as an independent-run subsidiary of Hisense.
Sharp dispute In 2015, Hisense received a five-year license to use the Sharp brand on televisions in the America. Hisense also bought a Sharp factory in Mexico.
In June 2017, Hisense was sued by Sharp under its new owner Foxconn, seeking to have the license agreement halted. Sharp accused Hisense of damaging its brand equity by utilizing its trademarks on products it deemed to be "shoddily manufactured", including those that it believed to have violated U.S. safety standards for electromagnetic radiation, and deceptive advertising of their quality. Hisense denied it engaged in these practices, and stated that it planned to defend itself in court and "will continue to manufacture and sell quality televisions under the Sharp licensed brands."
In February 2018, Sharp dropped the lawsuit. In May 2019, a mutual agreement was reached and finalized in which Sharp will regain the legal trademark rights from Hisense.
Operations
Subsidiaries
Hisense owns over 40 subsidiaries,About Us Hisense USA official site both inside and outside China.
Hisense and Hitachi established Hisense-Hitachi Air-conditioning System Co Ltd in 2003. It designs, manufactures and markets its products, which include commercial and household central air-conditioning systems, in China. They sell Hisense-Hitachi products in Japan. It operates a commercial air-con production facility in the Hisense Information Industrial Park.
Hisense Air Conditioning Co Ltd is a subsidiary set up in the Hisense Pingdu Home Appliance Industrial Park in Pingdu, China, in 1996 to produce air-conditioners using frequency conversion air-conditioner technology purchased from Sanyo.
Hisense Australia Pty Ltd is headquartered in Qingdao, China. Hisense's Australian subsidiary helps distribute Hisense products.History/Profile: Brief History of Hisense Australia Hisense Australia Official Site
Hisense (Beijing) Electric Co Ltd took over a modern refrigerator factory near Beijing with the help of the local government after Whirlpool withdrew from the project in 1998. Hisense (Beijing) Electric Co Ltd is now responsible for R&D, production and marketing of refrigerators.
Hisense-Whirlpool (Zhejiang) Electric Appliances Co Ltd is a joint venture between Hisense Kelon and Whirlpool formed in 2008 for the development and production of washing machines and refrigerators,Whirlpool closing Shanghai washing machine plant reuters.com, Tue 7 April 2009 12:34pm EDT Hisense provides this joint venture with refrigerator know-how and Whirlpool, its washing machine manufacturing expertise.Whirlpool, Hisense in China appliance venture reuters.com, Mon 28 April 2008 9:30am EDT The company operates a plant in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, which manufactures washing machines and large capacity refrigerators.Timeline Hisense Official Site
They created Hisense Export & Import Co Ltd in 1991, this subsidiary is tasked with establishing OEM contracts with foreign companies.
Hisense Hungary Kft is a failed subsidiary established in 2004 as a joint venture with Flextronics. It was in Sárvár, Vas County, Hungary. Hisense Hungary Kft assembled TVs.
Initially, few of the products it manufactured sold under the Hisense brand name, and they focused on OEM products instead. As of 2009, the television plant has been shut down because of falling orders, and Hisense Hungary Kft operates with a staff of 13.Hisense Company Ltd's E-Trade Profile businessweek.com
In 2001, Hisense (Shandong) Information Technology Co Ltd created a subsidiary in Jinan, Shandong province, and this subsidiary handles infrastructure-use IT. It develops and markets security technology and intelligent traffic control products and their software.
Hisense Kelon Electrical Holdings Ltd is listed on two stock exchanges. Hisense Kelon is a large Hisense subsidiary.
Hisense Intelligent Commercial Equipment Co Ltd was founded in 1989, this subsidiary manufactures, designs, markets and services POS terminal, electronic cash registers and other specialized peripheral equipment for retailing, tax monitoring and finance.Hisense Intelligent Commercial Equipment Co. Ltd. (HICE) Hisense Official Site It is also responsible for R&D and manufactures at the Hisense Yellow Island Information Product Manufacturing Park.
Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd was created in 2005. Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Co Ltd has its roots in the Hisense Mobile Communications Research Institute, an R&D team created in 2000.Company Profile Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Official Site Holding 233 patents, 64 inventions and 116 software copyrights,Hisense Mobile Technologies at 4th Rank in Qingdao's Software Revenue News, Hisense Mobile Communications Technology Official Site, 08-12-03 its products include mobile handsets, Linux OS smart phones, wireless modules, PC cards and industry customized terminals.