(Yicai Global) March 8 -- China's Hisense Co., a state-owned electric appliance manufacturer, reached an average shipped product size of 47.3 inches last year, surpassing Japan's Sony Corporation and gapping away from South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.

The Qingdao-based Hisense's average TV unit size it shipped last year, up from 44.1 inches in 2016, ranked it first as the fastest growing TV brand globally in respect of product size, showed data from the market intelligence firm IHS Markit. Hisense's average unit price of television also increased to USD407 last year from USD385 in 2016, taking the top spot among Chinese TV manufacturers. It has also established a high-end quality brand image.

In recent years, Hisense has been constantly upgrading its research and development capabilities in display technology, focusing on high-end markets such as large-screen TV sets, as well as 4K ultra-high definition and smart ones. The company unveiled a laser TV model with 150-inch ultra-large screen at the International Consumer Electronics Show, often referred to as CES, in Las Vegas, the U.S., in early January. Hisense will also introduce the world's largest, 300-inch, laser home theater setup in Shanghai in the future, the company revealed at the CES.

In terms of TV set shipments and consumer choices, North America region will lead with 14.6 million high dynamic range, or HDR, TV sets shipping in 2021, while China will be second with 11.8 million, IHS Markit forecasts. "Chinese consumers are buying the biggest TV sets; price sensitivity is higher and UHD [ultra-high definition] content is scarcer," said Paul Gray, associate director for consumer devices at the firm, on the company website earlier. HDR TV shipments will grow to 47.9 million in 2021 from 12.2 million in 2017 globally, IHS estimates.