The best Roku TV in 2024

All-new Roku TV unveiled at CES 2023 is one of the best Roku TVs
(Image credit: Roku)

Four years ago, the best Roku TVs were among the best TVs you could buy. The TCL 6-Series, a vaunted screen for budget TV buyers, was the gold standard for which all 4K HDR TVs was compared against. Sadly, it's no longer on sale.

These days, there aren't many Roku TVs left and the ones that are still here are made by the likes of Onn and Westinghouse, two companies that don't have the best reputations when it comes to making quality TVs.

The good news is that, in 2023, Roku started making its own TVs. The Roku Plus Series was one of the first to be released and by all accounts, it's a good TV. In 2024, Roku plans to release a new model called the Roku Pro that uses a Mini-LED backlight. When that comes out, expect to see it at the top of this list.

For now, your best and really only option in this category is the Roku Plus Series.

The best Roku TVs you can buy

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Roku Plus series TV 2023Editor's Choice

(Image credit: Roku)
The de facto pick for the best Roku TV

Specifications

Available Screen Sizes: 55, 65, 75 inches
Screen Type: QLED
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
HDMI ports: 4 HDMI 2.0
Size: 33.1 x 57 x 4 inches
Weight: 36.7 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent value
+
First-rate HDR color
+
Good sound
+
Solid Roku TV smart interface

Reasons to avoid

-
So-so brightness
-
Only 60Hz refresh rate
-
No HDMI 2.1 ports

There's really no competition when it comes to the best Roku TV — it's Roku's own Plus Series. It's a solid 4K QLED TV that doesn't break the bank and delivers really strong performance with vivid colors and high peak brightness, plus the exceptionally easy-to-use Roku smart platform.

If there's a downside here it's that the Plus Series isn't as thin as, say, an OLED screen and picture vibrancy does start fading as you move away from the center of the screen, which means you'll have to sit as close as possible to the center of the screen for the best picture. The other minor gripe we have is that it has a limited 60Hz refresh rate and that makes it less-than-ideal for super-fast action movies, sports and gaming.

Still, as a basic TV with good picture and sound quality, plus the stalwart Roku smart platform, there's none better than the Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV.

Read our full Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV review.

What is Roku?

The Roku name applies to both smart TVs using the Roku operating system, as well as a range of standalone streaming devices, such as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. (Check out the best Roku devices for our favorites.) While smart TVs using Roku software are all manufactured by other companies, the streaming devices are made by Roku itself. But the thing they have in common across both TVs and streaming sticks, is that they all use the same Roku interface and app store.

We've been big fans of Roku for years, as it emerged early on as a full-featured smart TV platform that wasn't tied to a specific manufacturer. We also appreciate the ease of use that Roku offers, with a simple interface that lays out all of your apps in a basic tiled layout. When so many smart TVs rely on crowded menus with multiple rows of scrolling apps and shows, Roku keeps things simple and offers easy customization.

We also like that Roku offers such a wide range of content and apps, which Roku calls "channels", just to make traditional TV users a little more comfortable. This includes major streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Disney Plus and HBO Max. (See our collection of the best Roku Channels to learn more.)

It also includes dozens, if not hundreds, of smaller independent streaming services. This includes everything from local channels offering a streaming app for news and weather to genre-specific channels that serve up a steady flow of public domain movie classics, ranging from westerns to horror films.

There are also plenty of free services, such as Pluto TV, Tubi and PBS Kids, not to mention The Roku Channel, Roku's own ad-supported streaming service. (Find out more in our roundup of the best free channels on Roku.) 

How much do Roku TVs cost?

You can find Roku TV sets on our lists of the best TVs under $500 and the best TVs under $1,000, with models ranging from budget-friendly to premium home theater systems. When it comes to budget TVs, we find the sweet spot to be $600 and $1,000. In this price range you will find excellent performance with features like QLED displays, support for Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, and all of the apps you want. 

More expensive models will give you a few fine touches and features for the money (see: Roku Pro Series) but the overall experience will still be quite similar. 

If you decide to go with a Roku TV from Westinghouse or Onn to save some money, you'll have to make some big sacrifices, such as stepping down to 1080p or 720p resolution, settling for smaller screen sizes, or giving up features like voice search.

How to choose the best Roku TV for you

When it comes to buying the best Roku TVs, our general advice for TV shopping holds true: Find the right screen size for your space, figure out what your budget is, and be smart with where you try to save a buck.

Always go 4K: Lower-resolution TVs may be tempting with super low prices, but you'll definitely see the difference on a 4K TV, and that quality is worth paying more for. And the latest 8K Roku TV from TCL may look tempting, but we still recommend holding off on 8K until you can actually get movies and shows that use the higher resolution. (Update: TCL has announced the first 8K streaming service, exclusive to TCL's 8K Roku TVs, but we still don't think it's enough to warrant you buying one.)

HDR support: For the best picture, we recommend getting a set that offers high dynamic range (HDR) support. HDR10 is the base standard, while Dolby Vision is a higher-caliber format, and we recommend opting for Dolby Vision support when you have the choice. 

Port selection: Connectivity is another chief concern. More HDMI ports will let you connect more devices, like game consoles and satellite boxes. And if you have a soundbar, you'll want to connect it using an HDMI port with ARC.

From smart functions to port selection, we offer plenty of advice in our TV buying guide, which explains the ins and outs of features like HDR, different types of display, and even extended warranties. And if you still have questions about smart TV features and capabilities, check out Smart TVs: Everything you need to know.

And by shopping for a Roku set in particular, you guarantee that you are able to enjoy the best of streaming services and an easy-to-use smart TV interface.

How we test Roku TVs

Evaluating Roku TVs is about more than just kicking back to watch a movie. That's why every TV we review is put through a rigorous testing process that measures key standards of picture quality and performance.

We lab test every TV, measuring color gamut, color accuracy and brightness to objectively see which sets are the best for these key indicators. We also test for lag time – a key detail for gaming – measuring to the millisecond how long it takes for content to travel from the original source to the screen. We use these results to make numbers-based comparisons about color and display quality.

We also spend time with each set for real-world evaluation and see how our lab results translate into more subjective performance. We also compare sets side by side and view samples from the latest movies, specialized test patterns that highlight strengths and weaknesses of each display, and a range of content across several sources. With that information, we can tell you which Roku TVs look best, sound best and offer the best viewing experience.

If you've narrowed down your TV shopping by brand, price range or screen size, check out our picks for the best TVs in each.

Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming

The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500

Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best OLED TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs

The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs

And don't forget to watch out for the latest TV reviews.

Nick Pino
Managing Editor, TV and AV

Nick Pino heads up the TV and AV verticals at Tom's Guide and covers everything from OLED TVs to the latest wireless headphones. He was formerly the Senior Editor, TV and AV at TechRadar (Tom's Guide's sister site) and has previously written for GamesRadar, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer and other outlets over the last decade. Not sure which TV you should buy? Drop him an email or tweet him on Twitter and he can help you out.