Roku TVs feature a built-in interface so you don’t need an additional device to enjoy your favorite Roku channels, which include all of your favorite streaming services and more. The best Roku TVs have 4K resolution and HDR support for brighter colors, deeper darks, and higher contrast that make images pop. There are a few more specs to watch for, including refresh rate port connectivity for connecting game consoles and Blu-ray players.
We’ve done the hard work for you, sifting through everything that TCL and Hisense (the two brands who’ve led the way among Roku TVs) offer to find the best on the market. The TVs on our best Roku TVs list include a budget-friendly model, along with an 8K standout for those who want to future-proof their entertainment. Keep reading to see the best Roku TVs and a shopping guide to help you navigate the growing choices.
— Best Overall: TCL 55-inch 6-Series
— Best for Gaming: Hisense ULD Premium U7G
— Best 8K: TCL 65-inch Class 6-Series 8K
— Best Small: Hisense 43-Inch Class R6090G
— Best Budget: TCL 55-inch 5-Series
How We Picked These Products
Picking the right TV for your home or office depends a lot upon individual circumstances, like how much room you have available, the lighting of the room, and any devices that you’d like to connect. We tried to balance these demands and pick Roku TVs that can meet a variety of situations. We considered:
— Screen Size for the Price: Not everyone needs a 75-inch TV. However, we searched for models that balanced a high-quality viewing experience with a reasonable price.
— Resolution: There are many 720p and 1080p Roku TVs available at bargain prices. However, 4K resolution is so much better and satisfying for a relatively small additional amount. For that reason, all of the models on our list are 4K, and the extra resolution is worth it. If you’re on a tight budget, you can often find a 4K TV for far less than you’d expect.
— Refresh Rate: A TV’s native refresh rate affects the clarity of the picture, especially if it’s an action movie or video game. Gamers should keep in mind that the latest gaming systems have a 120 Hz (hertz) refresh rate. If your TV specs don’t match, you may notice some blurring. We looked for models with at least a 60 Hz refresh rate or higher to offer the best viewing experience. However, if you’re a serious gamer, you’ll be happier with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
— Port Connections: If you’re connecting a game console, Blu-ray player, or any other device, you’ll need an HDMI port. Some game consoles require a HDMI 2.1 port, which doesn’t come standard on all TVs. We looked for models with more than two HDMI ports to give you more connection options. The truth is, you’ll be better off with three or four HDMI ports, which we noted in our reviews.
Best Roku TVs: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: TCL 55-inch 6-Series
Why It Made The Cut: The 6-Series easily rises to the top of the pack with impressive visuals thanks to HDR support, a great refresh rate and VRR to improve gaming, and QLED for deep contrast and brilliant color.
Specs:
— Available Sizes: 55 inch, 65 inch, 75 inch
— Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
— HDR Support: Dolby Vision HDR
Pros:
— Beautiful QLED display with bright colors and deep blacks
— Easy-to-use Roku interface with excellent app selection
— Good Roku remote design
— Excellent gaming performance
— Impressive mini-LED backlight control
— Variable refresh rate (VRR)
Cons:
— Picture settings are complicated
— 1440p resolution for 120 Hz games
The TCL 55-inch 6-Series is excellent for general viewing and gaming. Its 120 Hz refresh rate reduces blurring, though the resolution for gaming consoles is capped at 1440p, which is slightly less than the 4K resolution this TV offers for other content. However, there is a designated gaming mode to lower latency, and it has VRR, which adjusts the refresh rate of the console and game to further improve gaming performance.
This model provides top-of-the-line picture quality with a QLED display. Quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED) technology was first used by Samsung to enhance colors (think true and bright) and contrast (deeper darks). TCL falls under the Samsung umbrella, which gives this Roku TV the same outstanding picture quality as Samsung smart TVs.
From the start, the Roku interface is simple to use and provides access to hundreds of apps. If you’ve ever used Roku before, this TV will feel intuitive and natural, and there’s a good chance the remote will be easier to use than others you’ve used before. If this is your first Roku experience, the learning curve for the interface and remote is shallow.
The only place this TV doesn’t feel intuitive is when you’re adjusting the picture settings. It can take some testing (and time) to get the picture how you like it.
Best for Gaming: Hisense ULD Premium U7G
Why It Made The Cut: The Hisense comes in large sizes without blowing moderate budgets out of the water, giving budget-conscious gamers a beautiful big screen on which to play.
Specs:
— Available Sizes: 55 inch, 65 inch, 75 inch
— Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
— HDR Support: Dolby Vision HDR
Pros:
— Excellent HDR support
— 1,000-nit brightness
— Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
— 120 Hz refresh rate can keep up with top-of-the-line game consoles
— Variable refresh rate
Cons:
— Poor off-angle performance
The Hisense ULD Premium U7G opens the door to a large TV with an excellent picture for less than $1,000. Gamers, in particular, will like this model for a couple of reasons. First, it has a native 120 Hz refresh rate to keep up with the latest game consoles like the PlayStation 5. That’s combined with VRR that optimizes the refresh rate to improve the performance of each game and consul. It also has a low latency mode to further improve gaming.
Outside of gaming, this model has a bright ULED display. ULED enhances the colors and depth of darks for greater contrast. At 1,000-nits (the unit used to measure brightness), the colors jump off the screen. Plus, it’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control over basic functions.
Where this model requires some compromise is the off-angle performance. Viewing isn’t as sharp, clear, or bright if you’re not sitting close to the center.
Best 8K: TCL 65-inch Class 6-Series 8K
Why It Made The Cut: This TV gives you the ease of Roku with the unmatched visual clarity, brightness, and contrast of 8K.
Specs:
— Available Sizes: 65 inch or 75 inch
— Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
— HDR Support: HDR Pro Pack with Dolby Vision
Pros:
— Excellent gaming performance
— Optimum viewing of 8K content
— Intuitive remote control design
Cons:
— Little 8K content available
— Poor off-angle viewing
— Average sound
The TCL 65-inch Class 6-Series 8K offers the best resolution available on the market. That’s combined with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR Pro Pack with Dolby Vision, and a remote control that’s well-thought-out and intuitive to use. That Dolby Vision Pro adds extra contrast, dimension, detail, and brightness (up to 10,000 nits). As you can imagine, all of that makes for an excellent gaming or viewing experience with this premium TV.
The downside with this model is the same that comes with any 8K television or monitor at this point in time. There currently isn’t very much 8K content available for the average consumer. If you buy an 8K TV, you’re future-proofing your viewing rather than accessing content that’s currently available. Also consider that this particular model offers average sound and poor off-angle viewing.
Best Small: Hisense 43-Inch Class R6090G
Why It Made The Cut: This Hisense model fits in smaller spaces and still offers 4K resolution and Dolby Vision HDR.
Specs:
— Available Sizes: 43 inches, 50 inches, 55 inches, 65 inches
— Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
— HDR Support: Dolby Vision HDR
Pros:
— Great balance of picture quality and price
— Easy to navigate simple home screen
— Three HDMI ports
Cons:
— Bare-bones design may leave some users disappointed
The Hisense 43-Inch Class R6090G is what many people consider a bare-bones Roku TV. It doesn’t have some of the more advanced features of a more expensive model like Bluetooth or VRR. However, for a small TV, it has an excellent picture and simple interface. Some people may not consider 43 inches small, but if you’ve got limited space, this one could definitely function as your main TV because it still offers bright, clear 4K resolution. It also balances that picture quality with an affordable price. Even though it’s smaller, it still has three HDMI ports.
Best Budget: TCL 55-inch 5-Series
Why It Made The Cut: The 5-Series response time and HDRS outpace its price, making this a budget-friendly option.
Specs:
— Available Sizes: 50 inch, 55 inch, 65 inch, 75 inch
— Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
— HDR Support: Dolby Vision HDR
Pros:
— Affordable price of the 50- and 55-inch models
— Good response time despite 60 Hz refresh rate
— Low lag
— Impressive contrast for the price
Cons:
— 60 Hz refresh rate
— Dimmer than more expensive models
The TCL 55-inch 5-Series is pared down when compared to the 6-Series, but it comes at a reasonable price, especially for the 50- and 55-inch models. It has 4K QLED with low input lag. That definitely works in your favor if you do any gaming. The 60 Hz refresh rate may not take advantage of the highest refresh rates available with some game consoles, but when it’s combined with low input lag, there’s far less blurring than you might expect. Dolby Vision HDR improves the visual experience with some additional contrast.
However, it lacks brightness or more expensive models, leaving some blacks to look slightly gray in the dark. However, for the price, you get a good size Roku TV with 4K resolution for under $500.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Roku TV
Screen Size and Budget
Before you spend your hard-earned cash on a dream TV, measure your available space and set a budget. Within that budget, balance the TV’s size and features. Roku TVs run between $150 to $1,500, which is a pretty wide range. Measure your space, keeping in mind that TV screens are measured on the diagonal. Within the available size range, consider the features that are must-have, like 4K resolution or a 120 Hz refresh rate (best for gaming).
Resolution
Roku TVs come in 740p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K resolution. You can find a few bottom of the barrel bargain deals for small 740p models, but it’s often worth the extra cash to invest in a 4K model. A TV with 4K resolution greatly improves clarity, color, and your overall viewing experience, making it well worthwhile. Consequently, we didn’t include any on our list (even the budget pick) that aren’t 4K. You’ll be happier in the long run even if you have to spend $100 for the 4K.
Port Selection
The available port selection is more important than you may think. For example, if you have a PlayStation 5, you need an HDMI 2.1 port to take full advantage of the resolution and refresh rate of the game console. HDMI 2.0 ports are more standard, but you definitely want a TV with more than one. Most of the extra devices you connect, game consoles and Blu-ray players, require an available HDMI port. Think of it as the more, the merrier.
HDR Support
High dynamic range (HDR) support improves the color clarity, quality, and brightness of the TV. Any type of HDR support will provide better viewing than a TV without HDR. The HDR will also include a number after it, like HDR10+ HDR400, or HDR1000. HDR10+ is standard. The larger numbers indicate how many nits the TV has. Higher nits means a brighter screen. We recommend models with HDR for a better overall viewing experience. While it doesn’t matter on the HDR type, keep in mind that higher numbers will mean a brighter picture.
FAQs
Q: What is a good Roku TV to buy?
The TCL 55-inch 6-Series is one of the best Roku TVs to buy. It’s got 4K resolution, HDR support, lots of ports and works for streaming or gaming. You can’t do a whole lot better unless you want to invest in the 8K equivalent, the TCL 65-inch Class 6-Series 8K.
Q: Are Roku TVs any good?
Yes, Roku TVs can be great TVs, especially if you’re familiar with the Roku interface. They can have the same great specs as other smart TVs with an easy-to-use built-in interface.
Q: Is a Roku TV better than a smart TV?
A Roku TV is a smart TV that has a built-in Roku interface to operate. Many are compatible with Alexa for voice control and offer other premium features.
Q: Is Hisense Roku TV better than TCL Roku TV?
Whether Hisense Roku TV or TCL Roku TV is better is often a matter of opinion. TCL offers more models from which to choose, and their model, the TCL 55-inch 6-Series, gets the top pick. However, it depends on your budget, the size of the TV, and the features that matter most to you. In some cases, a Hisense will be a better fit for your needs.
Q: Do smart TVs have Roku built-in?
Smart TVs with a built-in Roku interface are called Roku TVs. You don’t need a separate device to connect Roku since it’s already built into the TV.
Q: Is Roku better than Samsung smart TV?
Roku can be better than Samsung smart TV in some cases. It really comes down to personal preference. If you’re already familiar with Roku’s interface, a Roku TV can offer a premium viewing experience with an easy-to-use interface.
Q: How much does a Roku TV cost?
Roku TVs can cost as little as $150 to over $1,500 for a large 8K model. Most of the best models hover between $700 and $1,000. These models balance price, size, and features.
Final Thoughts
The TCL 55-inch 6-Series is the complete package. It has the Roku interface with an intuitive remote. Plus, an exceptional picture and 120 Hz refresh rate to keep up with movies and gaming. It also has VRR to further enhance your gaming experience. If your budget is more limited, the TCL 55-inch 5-Series produces a beautiful image and decent gaming at a more affordable price.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism’s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.