Hisense South Africa is marking 30 years in the country by putting the rewards back in the hands of the consumers who made the milestone possible. Under the banner “Our Anniversary. Your Rewards,” the brand’s anniversary reward campaign is now underway, running from 15 September to 31 October 2026, and offering customers a direct thank-you for three decades of support.

“For thirty years, South African consumers have welcomed Hisense into their homes,” shares Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager at Hisense South Africa. “This is our anniversary, but it’s South Africans who receive the rewards.”

How it works

Consumers who purchase a participating Hisense television, laser or refrigeration product at participating retailers* during the campaign period qualify for a R500 digital reward voucher, redeemable for one of three options:

• A Checkers/Shoprite grocery voucher
• An Uber Eats voucher
• A TLC Travel national flight voucher.

To claim, customers simply buy a qualifying product, scan the in-store QR code or visit the campaign microsite, submit a clear proof of purchase, and receive their voucher via SMS or email once verified.

Qualifying products span Hisense’s television range (U7S PRO, U7S, E8S, U6S), Laser projector range (L9Q, PT1, PX4 Pro, M2 Pro, C2 Ultra, C3 Ultra, XR10), and refrigeration range (H680SIT, H68SIT-WD, H680SMIB-WD, H370BIT, H370BITWD, H370BMIB-WD).

An extra reward for the flagship refrigerator

Customers purchasing Hisense’s H820FSB-IMV refrigerator can enter into a draw for one of 10 R3,000 Checkers/Shoprite grocery vouchers, on top of any R500 voucher they qualify for; an added thank-you tied to one of the products at the centre of Hisense’s anniversary celebrations this year.

A tradition of giving back

Rewarding customers directly is only one part of how Hisense marks this milestone. Over three decades in South Africa, the company has built a track record of practical, sustained community investment rather than once-off campaigns, from its “Load of Love” initiative with the Dis-Chem Foundation, which has delivered washing machines and refrigerators to care facilities including Tehillah Children’s Home, The Pride Centre and SPCA shelters nationwide, to a donation of appliances worth over R300,000 to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in support of public healthcare infrastructure.

That commitment extends into youth development and education, through recurring STEM excursions and Smart TV donations for primary school learners at the Cape Town Science Centre, just one of several ongoing programmes in Hisense’s community footprint. Underpinning all of it is the Atlantis manufacturing facility, which has created over 1,000 direct jobs and supports an estimated 5,000 more through its local supplier network, including a dedicated learnership programme offering 100 young South Africans a year-long, hands-on opportunity at the facility every year.

“This anniversary was never just about looking back at 30 years, it’s about the people who made those 30 years possible, whether that’s the customers we’re thanking through this campaign or the communities we’ve stood alongside along the way,” says Nortje. “Giving back, in ways big and small, is part of what it means to be built here.”

Whether it’s a voucher for a customer who’s just bought a new fridge, or a washing machine delivered to a shelter that needed one, the same idea runs through both: after 30 years in South Africa, Hisense’s way of saying thank you isn’t a single campaign, it’s a habit the company has built into how it does business, one household, one hospital ward, one classroom and one community at a time.

*Participating retailers can be found on the campaign page via https://hisense.co.za/campaign/hisense-anniversery/ 

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Hisense SA’s manufacturing plant in Atlantis last week celebrated the graduation of 80 young people from the local community, who successfully completed a year-long learnership and skills development programme. The initiative, led by the consumer electronics and home appliances company, in partnership with EduPower Skills Academy, was supported by the Manufacturing, Engineering & Related Services Education and Training Authority (MERSETA) and the Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA).

The programme gave unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 28 the opportunity to gain both theoretical training and practical work experience, culminating in a SETA-accredited qualification. Over the past year, learners attended classes and participated in full-time, Monday-to-Friday workplace environments, building a well-rounded foundation for their future employment. Of the 100 young people who began the programme, 80 have now graduated with their qualifications.

Building on the success of this first cohort, Hisense SA has since welcomed a new intake of 120 young people from Atlantis, who began their own year-long learnership programme in September 2026. This growing pipeline of talent reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to youth development, with an even larger group of learners now set to benefit from the same combination of SETA-accredited theoretical training and hands-on workplace experience that helped shape this year’s graduates.

“We launched this initiative because we care deeply about creating opportunities that expand access to education for young people, especially those that combine classroom learning with on-the-job training. Seeing 80 of our learners graduate today is proof that a year-long learnership provides a powerful pathway capable of equipping our youth with the skills and experience they need to take meaningful steps toward a successful and fulfilling career,” said Robin Murray, HR Group Director at Hisense SA. 

This graduation reflects Hisense SA’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which it operates. Through its investment in the talent and workplace experience of young people in Atlantis, the company has contributed meaningfully to the region’s long-term prosperity. Its objective was to equip these learners with the skills, confidence, and experience required to thrive in today’s workplace, and this graduation stands as confirmation that this objective has been achieved.

Ward Councillor Allister Lightburn, who attended the graduation ceremony, commended Hisense SA and its partners for the impact of the programme on the local community: “As the ward councillor for Atlantis, I have seen first-hand how youth unemployment affects our families and our community’s future. Today, watching 80 of our young people graduate with real, accredited qualifications is a proud moment for Atlantis. This is exactly the kind of partnership between business, training providers and local government that our community needs. I want to thank Hisense SA and EduPower for investing in our youth, and I encourage other companies operating in Atlantis to follow this example.”

The programme was facilitated by EduPower Skills Academy, a specialist training provider, who delivered the academic components while ensuring learners gained relevant industry exposure.

Divan Barnardo, Sales Director for EduPower, stressed the value of meaningful partnerships in expanding opportunities for youth to obtain the training and qualifications they need to succeed in today’s competitive economy: “We are proud to have partnered with Hisense SA on this initiative. Over the past year, participants have not only obtained a formal qualification but also valuable workplace experience that bridges the gap between education and employment. Today’s graduation shows that this combination is key to empowering young people to enter the job market with a competitive edge.”

Funded by Hisense SA, the programme was designed to tackle youth unemployment by providing qualifications linked to real industry opportunities. Hisense SA’s commitment to local skills development reflects its broader mission to uplift and support the communities in which it operates.

For 30 years, Hisense has been part of South Africa’s story. Since entering the market in 1996, the company has grown its footprint while carrying forward a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, creating local jobs and exporting “Made in South Africa” products across the continent and beyond. Three decades on, Hisense remains committed to putting world-class technology in South African hands, and giving South Africans a hand in building it.

This graduation symbolises Hisense SA’s hope for, and shared sense of duty to, the youth of South Africa. The company looks forward to seeing these 80 young graduates grow, succeed, and contribute positively to their families, their community, and the broader South African economy.

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This month, Hisense South Africa unveils the XR10, a premium laser projector designed to deliver true cinematic immersion at home. XR10 combines powerful performance with refined design, bringing a big-screen experience into everyday life—whether for movies, gaming, or shared family moments.

With 6,000 ANSI lumens, XR10 ensures bright, vivid visuals even in well-lit spaces, so users can enjoy clear, lifelike images from morning news to late-night movies—no need to dim the room. Its industry-widest 0.84–2.0:1 optical zoom and 4K Lossless lens shift (±130% vertical, ±46% horizontal) make setup effortless, projecting perfectly aligned images up to 300 inches, turning any wall into a truly cinematic canvas that adapts naturally to different room layouts.

An advanced Iris Lens boosts viewing contrast up to 60,000:1, automatically adapting to each scene—revealing subtle details in shadow and adding depth and intensity to every highlight, so stories feel more immersive and emotionally engaging, whether you’re watching a blockbuster or a quiet drama.

The experience is further elevated with sound co-engineered with Devialet | Opéra de Paris, creating rich, room-filling audio that brings viewers closer to the action. Powered by Auto Magic AI Adjusting 3.0, along with QuadCam and ToF Smart Sense, XR10 intelligently optimizes picture quality and alignment in real time, enabling a truly effortless, plug-and-play experience. An advanced liquid cooling system ensures stable, consistent performance, even during extended viewing sessions, maintaining brightness and image quality over time.

Building on its broader display innovation strategy, Hisense continues to expand large-screen solutions across both home cinema and living room environments. With XR10, Hisense brings cinema closer, more immersive, and seamlessly integrated into everyday life, transforming how people experience content at home.

For 30 years, Hisense has been part of South Africa’s story. Since entering the market in 1996, the company has grown its footprint while carrying forward a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, creating local jobs and exporting “Made in South Africa” products across the continent and beyond. Three decades on, Hisense remains committed to putting world-class technology in South African hands, and giving South Africans a hand in building it.

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Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, announced at IFA 2026 that it will continue its partnership with UEFA as an Official Partner of UEFA EURO 2028, marking the fourth consecutive UEFA European Championship supported by Hisense.

Hisense’s football journey began with UEFA EURO 2016 and has grown ever since, extending across successive UEFA EUROs and the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022 and 2026. For Hisense, the final whistle is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of the next chapter.

“Great partnerships are built over time, and our journey with UEFA reflects that belief,” said Catherine Fang, VP of Hisense Group and President of Hisense Global Commercial Center. “As the first Chinese sponsor of the UEFA EURO, over the past decade we have grown beyond pure brand sponsorship to become UEFA’s dedicated display technology partner, progressing hand-in-hand. Through cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences, we bring audiences closer to the thrill of football. Looking ahead, we are eager to write the next chapter together with UEFA, creating more meaningful moments for fans everywhere.”

UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Hisense for UEFA EURO 2028. Their sustained commitment to European football across four consecutive EURO tournaments demonstrates the strength of our relationship and a shared ambition to create meaningful experiences for fans. We look forward to working together to make the next EURO memorable.”

At IFA 2026, visitors can explore a dedicated UEFA EURO 2028 activation zone at the Hisense booth, featuring a football challenge with goals tracked and photos automatically generated for sharing. Together with Hisense’s latest innovations, the activation reflects the brand’s vision of “Innovating a Brighter Life” – using technology to make moments that bring people together more engaging and memorable.

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Toshiba’s television business has quietly re-entered the South African market, and the 75M450RP QLED 4K TV is leading the charge. For a brand that many South African shoppers haven’t seen on shelves in years, this comeback comes with real backing: Toshiba’s global TV business has been owned and manufactured by Hisense since 2018, and Hisense itself operates a local South African manufacturing plant. That means this isn’t an orphaned budget brand, there’s an actual local infrastructure and support network standing behind the badge again. We put the 75-inch model through a full hands-on review to see whether the picture quality, features, and price back up the comeback story.

What’s In The Box

The 75M450RP ships with the table-top stand and screws, a Bluetooth/IR remote with batteries, a quick-start guide, warranty documentation, and the power cable. It’s a no-frills unboxing experience, the value here is clearly going into the panel rather than bundled extras.

Specs

Setup & Remote

Setup is straightforward: attach the stand, power on, and VIDAA walks you through Wi-Fi and app sign-in. The included remote is a lightweight plastic Bluetooth/IR combo with dedicated Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, SABC Plus, VOD, Showmax Disney Plus, TV channels and Vida Kids buttons, plus a microphone button for voice search. It doesn’t feel premium, but it’s responsive and pairs instantly.

Who Is This TV For?

The 75M450RP is not aimed at home theatre purists chasing OLED-level black levels or 120Hz competitive gaming performance. It’s built for South African households wanting a genuinely large, genuinely 4K, QLED-quality screen for the main lounge, for movies, sport, and everyday streaming, without paying flagship prices.

Pricing & Where To Buy

At the time of writing, the 75-inch model sits between R10,000 and R10,500. Toshiba has also reintroduced smaller sizes in the same line, with the 65-inch around R8,000 and the 55-inch around R5,800. Prices move regularly at South African retailers, so always check current pricing before buying.

You can currently find the Toshiba 75M450RP at:

• New World
• Takealot

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent price-to-screen-size ratio for a 75-inch QLED in the SA market
• Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support at a budget price point
• Direct Full Array local dimming improves contrast over typical edge-lit budget panels
• Real local support and service infrastructure now standing behind the brand via Hisense
• Unexpected gaming extras (ALLM, Game Deck) for a budget-focused set

Cons

• 60Hz panel only, not suited to gamers chasing 120Hz motion clarity
• Only three HDMI ports, all HDMI 2.0 (no HDMI 2.1, no 4K/120 pass-through)
• VIDAA’s app catalogue is solid but shallower than Google TV’s

Final Verdict

Toshiba’s return to South Africa, backed by Hisense’s local manufacturing and service network, is well-timed. South African shoppers want bigger screens without flagship prices, and the 75M450RP delivers a genuinely large, genuinely 4K QLED picture with Dolby Vision and Atmos support at a price that undercuts a lot of the competition. It won’t replace a flagship OLED for the true enthusiast, and 60Hz will rule it out for some gamers, but for the price, the size, and the fact that there’s now real local support behind the badge, it earns a solid recommendation for anyone shopping in this bracket.

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Cape Town – The National Business Initiative (NBI), Hisense SA and Northlink TVET College launched the Hisense-Northlink Technical Academyon26 August 2026 at the Belhar Campus of the Northlink TVET College in Cape Town, establishing a dedicated training and workplace development initiative for technical skills in the domestic appliance repair sector. 

The Academy forms part of the NBI’s Installation, Repair and Maintenance (IRM) Initiative, through the Appliance Repair and Dismantling (ARAD) programme, which aims to address skills shortages in the formal appliance repair market and expand opportunities for young people to enter employment. 

The initiative responds to barriers limiting young people’s entry into the formal appliance repair sector, including: limited access to formal training and recognised certification, limited opportunities for practical workplace experience, and linkages between training institutions and formal manufacturer service networks, which can make it difficult for students to transition from training into the workplace. 

“For us, the value of the Hisense-Northlink Technical Academy lies in bringing industry and TVET education closer together. It creates an opportunity to ensure that young people are gaining skills that respond to a real market need, while giving them exposure to the workplace and the standards expected by industry,” says Gugu McLaren-Ushewokunze, Head of Economic Inclusion at the NBI.  

The Hisense-Northlink Technical Academy brings together industry expertise and public TVET education to ensure training is aligned with current market requirements. Students will combine college-based learning with structured workplace experience, creating a practical pathway into the appliance repair sector. 

As part of the collaboration, Hisense will support the Academy with training appliances, technical equipment and expertise, and opportunities for students to gain workplace experience within its service network. 

 “This partnership is an important investment in the future of technical skills in South Africa.” shares Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager at Hisense South Africa. “We are developing a pipeline of qualified technicians who understand our products and meet industry standards. This strengthens service quality and supports the long-term sustainability of the appliance repair ecosystem.”

For 30 years, Hisense has been part of South Africa’s story. Since entering the market in 1996, the company has grown its footprint while carrying forward a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, creating local jobs and exporting “Made in South Africa” products across the continent and beyond. Three decades on, Hisense remains committed to putting world-class technology in South African hands, and giving South Africans a hand in building it.

“Northlink TVET College highly values the partnership established with the National Business Initiative (NBI) and Hisense South Africa for this project,” shared Lebuhang Mosia, Acting Campus Manager for Belhar Campus, Northlink TVET College.  “This collaboration will significantly contribute to the College’s vision of expanding Occupational programmes that respond to skills in high demand within industry, while creating meaningful opportunities for our students to enter the workplace.”

“As part of this initiative, the College is committed not only to equipping students with relevant technical skills and practical industry experience, but also to supporting them beyond their training,” continued Mosia. “We aim to facilitate pathways for graduates to be absorbed into industry or, where appropriate, to establish and grow their own businesses. Through partnerships such as this, we can strengthen the link between TVET education, industry requirements and sustainable employment opportunities for our graduates.” 

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Cape Town, South Africa. Hisense South Africa marked Women’s Month with a gesture rooted in dignity, care and practical support, donating R20 000 worth of pads, pantyliners and sanitary wipes to PERIOD.project in support of its Cape Town awareness event.

Created as a space for honesty, creativity and connection, the event invited women and girls to speak openly about an experience that is still too often hidden, whispered about or met with discomfort. At its heart was a simple belief: menstrual dignity is not a women’s issue. It is a human issue, and every girl deserves to move through the world without shame.

Through documentary portraits, hands-on learning and interactive discussion, participants were encouraged to reflect on what dignity means in everyday life. Aurora Marcopoulos, founder at The Cora Project, co-hosted a workshop exploring sustainable menstrual solutions and the realities many girls face in managing their periods, while Eveline Gerritsen, Founder of the PERIOD.project, guided a broader conversation around menstrual dignity, confidence and inclusion. A Myth or Fact quiz helped unpack the misconceptions that continue to drive stigma, embarrassment and silence.

The most powerful moments come from the girls themselves. Through PERIOD.project, learners from Bulumko Secondary School and Salt River High School transform menstrual products into crowns, headbands and necklaces, reclaiming items too often hidden away and turning them into symbols of pride, dignity and self-expression. The message is unmistakable: periods should never diminish a girl’s confidence. Every girl deserves to feel seen, supported and unashamed of her body.

The need for this work remains urgent. At a parliamentary colloquium on access to menstrual hygiene products held in April 2026, participants heard that 83% of girl learners in South Africa lack consistent access to menstrual hygiene products at home and at school. As a result, one in four girls misses school every month because safe, accessible products are out of reach.

For Hisense South Africa, the donation was a practical way to support both immediate need and longer-term awareness.

“A donation of menstrual products may look simple, but it can change the shape of a girl’s day. It can mean going to school, taking part in a conversation, or moving through the world without having to hide a basic part of life,” said Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager, Hisense South Africa. “Hisense is proud to support PERIOD.project because dignity needs both action and conversation. When practical support is paired with honest dialogue, we help create spaces where girls can feel seen, respected and included.”

For 30 years, Hisense has been part of South Africa’s story. Since entering the market in 1996, the company has grown its footprint while carrying forward a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility. Three decades on, Hisense remains committed to putting world-class technology in South African hands, and giving South Africans a hand in building it.

For Marcopoulos, the workshop was about giving participants knowledge they could use beyond the event itself. “When girls understand their bodies and have access to the products and information they need, they are better equipped to make choices with confidence. Menstrual health should be something people can talk about without judgement. Workshops like this help shift the conversation from embarrassment to education, and from silence to support.”

PERIOD.project founder and documentary photographer Eveline Gerritsen used visual storytelling to invite guests to look again at an experience many people carry quietly. Visitors responded to prompts such as “What does dignity mean to you?” and “When have you felt excluded?”, adding their own reflections alongside the portraits. In the afternoon’s Pass The Mic session and closing circle, guests were invited to listen as carefully as they spoke.

“I watched girls make crowns from products that are usually tucked away or spoken about in whispers. That act of creativity said so much about strength, self-worth, and the power of being seen,” shared Gerritsen. “PERIOD.project exists to make room for these stories, and Hisense’s support helped us create a day where people could learn, share and leave with a deeper understanding that menstrual dignity deserves action.”

The work will continue beyond Women’s Month. PERIOD.project will carry the conversation into WOMEN.project, a collaborative exhibition opening at artHarare on Saturday, 29 August 2026. Bringing together women photographers and visual artists, the exhibition will explore womanhood, identity, resilience and social justice through a wider collection of women’s stories.

Hisense SA’s contribution gives PERIOD.project essential products to support its menstrual-dignity work, while reinforcing the broader message heard throughout the event: every woman and girl deserves access, information and the freedom to participate fully in everyday life.

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Three portable Bluetooth speakers bring big sound, bold bass and all-day play to South Africa’s outdoor lifestyle.

Hisense is preparing to turn up the energy with the arrival of the Hisense Boom Family, a new range of portable Bluetooth speakers launching on Takealot from 1 August 2026.

Created for beach days, braais, road trips, campsites and relaxed moments at home, the range combines portable design, powerful bass, long battery life and outdoor-ready durability. With three distinct models – Flex Boom, We Boom and Voyage Boom – consumers can choose the speaker that best fits the size of the moment.

One family. Three ways to bring the boom.

From easy everyday listening to bigger outdoor gatherings, each member of the Boom Family is designed to make music more portable, more powerful and easier to enjoy wherever people come together.

The Hisense SA Boom Family

Flex Boom: Compact and ready to travel, Flex Boom is the everyday choice for spontaneous plans, smaller gatherings and music on the move.

• Big Sound 
• Up to 20 hours playback 
• IP67 water and dust proof  
• Auracast and TWS pairing

We Boom: We Boom adds stronger bass, ambient lighting and a practical dual-way strap for long days outdoors and late nights with friends.

• Bass Boost  
• Up to 24 hours playback  
• IP67 water and dust proof  
• Dual-way strap  
• Ambient light

Voyage Boom: At the top of the family, Voyage Boom is built for larger gatherings, extended listening and adventures that need more sound and staying power.

• Massive Bass  
• Up to 24 hours playback  
• IP67 water and dust proof  
• Ambient light  
• Built-in power bank

A speaker for every kind of plan

The Boom Family gives South African consumers a clear step-up choice. Flex Boom keeps everyday listening light and flexible; We Boom brings added bass, lighting and carry convenience; and Voyage Boom delivers the range’s biggest presence, together with a built-in power bank for longer days away from a plug point.

Across the range, IP67 water and dust protection helps the speakers keep up with outdoor use, while extended battery life means the playlist can continue from the first arrival to the final track.

Made for the way South Africa listens

Music is part of how South Africans connect – at family celebrations, weekend braais, beach gatherings and on the road. The Boom Family is designed around those real-life moments, giving listeners the freedom to take their sound beyond the living room without sacrificing bass, battery life or confidence outdoors.

“South Africans know how to make the most of time together – from braais and beach days to family celebrations and road trips,” says Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager of Hisense South Africa. “The Boom Family was designed to make those moments sound bigger, with a portable option for every kind of gathering.”

Available on Takealot from 1 August 2026

The Hisense Boom Family will be available to South African consumers through Takealot from 1 August 2026. Shoppers will be able to compare the three models online and select the right balance of portability, battery life, bass performance and outdoor features for their lifestyle.

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Cape Town, South Africa. Every journey starts somewhere. For many South Africans, sport is a unifier, a unifier of belief, a unifier of hope and, often, the platform gifted to pioneer dreams. As a centralised muscle to our nation’s heartbeat, soccer can be found as this connective tissue catapulting young stars to brighter futures and developing lives around our country.

Last week, Hisense South Africa united the journey from the soccer field to the daily commute through a uniquely Cape Town experience that celebrated football, community, and the power of believing that anything is possible.

As the Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hisense South Africa launched Hands on the Future, a proudly South African initiative that took a group of young footballers from Khayelitsha on a journey from their local pitch to places of possibility. Convoying with a set of custom-branded Hisense FIFA World Cup™ taxis, the children travelled through the city, visiting the Hisense Atlantis Factory before making their way to one of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks: Table Mountain.

The destination had been chosen for a reason.

Standing high above the city, with Cape Town stretching out in every direction, each young player was asked to answer one simple question: What is your biggest dream?

For some, the dream was to proudly wear the Bafana Bafana jersey one day, an honourable logo in the form of a left chest lockup. Others spoke about becoming teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and leaders within their own communities. There were no right answers. The exercise was simply about encouraging young hearts to look beyond where they are today and imagine where life could take them.

The choice of Table Mountain was equally symbolic. From the summit, perspective changed when the cable cars climbed higher, as in life, sometimes all it takes is someone encouraging you to see what’s possible.

The journey also included an educational visit to the Hisense Atlantis Factory, the largest television manufacturing facility in Sub-Saharan Africa. There, the children witnessed local manufacturing and technology firsthand, connecting a global sponsorship to South African production, skills development and real industrial pride. It was a moment that said ‘belief starts here, with homegrown love’.

But the journey did not end here.

Following the Table Mountain experience, the group visited the iconic Tevolution Museum, where the children played a part in creating a new mural. By adding their own touches to the artwork, they were able to leave a lasting mark on the city of Cape Town, cementing their place in the narrative of the city’s creative and cultural evolution.

To ensure a lasting practical legacy, this Hands on the Future journey culminated in a major kit handover and community football tournament in partnership with the Pitso Mosimane Youth Football (PMYF) programme. Ten local teams, comprising 160 children, received essential football kits, equipment and professional coaching. The event featured a mini-tournament where the young athletes competed for the Hisense Future Trophy, celebrating teamwork, resilience and community upliftment.

Every day, taxis carry children to school, players to training, families to work, and supporters to football matches. Along the way, they carry conversations, friendships, and countless stories. For many communities, the taxi has become far more than transport. It is part of everyday life. Through Hands on the Future, Hisense honoured that spirit and showed that a global platform could be locally lived.

For more information about Hisense South Africa and the Hands on the Future campaign, please click here.  

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Cape Town, South Africa – The era of the passive screen is over. For years, the smart television operating system was little more than a static grid of applications waiting for a command. Today, that paradigm is undergoing a structural collapse. Driven by the latest advancements in generative artificial intelligence, the television is transitioning from a display device to the central intelligence node of the household ecosystem.

This shift is not anecdotal; it is quantifiable. The global AI TV market, globally valued at $6.67 billion in 2024, is currently surging at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.8%, projected to reach an astonishing $56.41 billion by 2034. At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), industry analysts from ABI Research confirmed that AI has officially moved from concept to execution, noting that intelligence and autonomy are now central to product strategy and platform differentiation.

For the South African consumer, this global macro-trend is manifesting as a fundamental rewrite of digital service delivery: “We are no longer simply selling screens, we are delivering an intelligent service layer that resides in your living room,” notes Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager at Hisense SA. 

“The television is the largest and most powerful computing device in the average South African home. By embedding generative AI directly into the operating system, that screen becomes a proactive service delivery mechanism that understands context, anticipates preferences, and connects seamlessly to the broader smart home.”

Solving the Expectation Gap

This shift toward embedded intelligence is arriving precisely when consumer expectations regarding after-sales service are at an all-time high. A recent global survey by Salesforce found that 90% of consumers consider the post-purchase experience to be just as important as the quality of the product itself. The 2026 Qualtrics Customer Experience Trends Report also revealed that South African consumers now demand speed, seamless service, and deep personalisation as the baseline standard. 

Yet a clear expectation gap persists. The same research shows that 83% of consumers see substantial room for improvement in the post-purchase experience, while three in ten firms are already placing growth at risk through generic, poorly executed AI self-service.

This is where the true value of an embedded, generative operating system becomes clear. Traditional after-sales service is reactive, waiting for the consumer to report a problem. Embedded AI platforms transform the post-purchase experience into a proactive, continuously evolving relationship between the user and the hardware.

The VIDAA OS Proof Point

The practical application of this trend is best observed through the evolution of proprietary platforms such as Hisense’s VIDAA Smart TV OS. Built on a secure Linux foundation, VIDAA currently powers over two billion hours of content consumption globally every month. However, its current iteration serves as a living proof point for the industry’s shift toward generative service delivery.

Through strategic collaborations with global technology leaders, including Microsoft, platforms such as VIDAA are embedding generative AI capabilities directly into the ecosystem. Integrations like Microsoft Copilot enable the television to respond to complex queries, summarise information, and manage digital tasks through natural language processing, removing the need for a secondary device.

The integration of services like Xbox Cloud Gaming signals a further fundamental shift in entertainment delivery. South African gamers can access world-class, console-quality titles directly through their TVs, with AI architectures optimising latency and visual performance in real-time. No physical console is required. The screen itself has become the service provider. 

The End of the Search Bar

The defining metric of a modern operating system is how quickly it can deliver exactly what the user wants. To this end, the traditional search bar is being replaced by intent-driven discovery engines. Advanced “fuzzy search” capabilities utilise AI-driven algorithms that understand user intent even when search terms are imprecise, misspelled, or conversational. This is augmented by sophisticated voice assistants, which now support dozens of languages and recognise complex, multi-step commands. Whether a user asks for “movies directed by Christopher Nolan from the 1990s” or commands the system to “dim the lights and start the next episode,” the AI parses the request and executes the service delivery instantly.  

The Golden Thread: Hardware Built for Intelligence

An intelligent operating system requires hardware capable of translating its commands into sensory reality. The software revolution is therefore driving a parallel hardware evolution. Modern displays must be engineered specifically to maximise the potential of these AI platforms. Technologies, including the Hi-View Engine X, utilise real-time AI analysis to adjust colour, clarity, and peak brightness frame-by-frame, ensuring that the content delivered by the operating system is rendered with absolute precision. 

The power of intelligent service delivery is available across Hisense’s current South African television lineup, powered by the VIDAA AI platform (prices reflect recommended retail pricing in South Africa as of April 2026. Subject to retailer variation).

Flagship ULED & Mini LED Series:

• Hisense 100″ Smart Mini LED TV (100UX): R 149,999.99
• Hisense 85″ Smart Mini ULED TV (85U7Q-PRO):  R 29,999.99
• Hisense 85″ 144Hz Mini ULED Smart TV (85U7Q): R 22,999.99
• Hisense 65″ Mini ULED Television (65U8Q): R 19,999.99
• Hisense 65″ Mini LED 144Hz Smart ULED TV (65U7Q): R 11,999.99
• Hisense 65″ Mini LED Smart TV (65U6Q-PRO):  R 11,599.99

Premium QLED & UHD Series:

• Hisense 98″ QLED Smart TV (98Q6Q):  R 29,999.99
• Hisense 85″ UHD 4K VIDAA Smart TV (85A6Q): R 15,999.99
• Hisense 70″ Smart UHD TV (70A6Q):  R 9,999.99
• Hisense 55″ UHD 4K VIDAA Smart TV (55A6Q): R 5,499.99

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