The best Roku TVs: Expert tested

We chose the Roku Pro Series as the best Roku TV for its Dolby Vision IQ support, 120Hz refresh rate, and 4K resolution. It's built with a QLED panel for enhanced contrast and detailing over traditional LED screens as well as an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts your screen's brightness to your environment for optimal viewing. 

*Best price at time of writing. Please note that actual price may vary between retailers or due to available offers, discounts, coupons, and promotions.

While many Roku-based TVs are quite affordable, there are a few that push their price point into "mid-range" territory. But they also provide a few more premium-grade features like Apple HomeKit support, higher refresh rates, and Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos support. If you need to stick to a modest budget the Roku Select Series retails for about $150 for the 32-inch version. And if you're looking for a solid gaming TV that also supports the Roku platform, the TCL S4 (2023) has an automatic low-latency mode for console gaming as well as four HDMI inputs for connecting multiple consoles. 

If you've settled on the idea of a Roku TV for your next home theater upgrade, there are a few things to keep in mind while you shop: 

• Price: Setting and sticking to a budget is the most important task when shopping for any new item, and especially when shopping for a new TV. Not only does it keep you from overspending, it also helps you focus on your must-have features so you can get the best value for your budget. 
• Picture and audio quality: A TV is only as good as it looks and sounds. We've come a long way from tinny, built-in speakers and low-resolution screens, but not all Roku TVs are created equal. Make sure the TV you have your eye on has the resolution, refresh rate, and sound support that you prefer for your home theater. 
• Screen size: Aside from budget, making sure your new Roku TV actually fits into your space is one of the top priorities when shopping. If you're having trouble figuring out how big your new TV should be, measure the distance (in inches) from where it will sit on a stand or be wall-mounted to where you will be watching from. So if your couch is 12 feet (144 inches) from your TV, your ideal screen size will be about 75 inches. You can go a bit larger or smaller depending on your budget and what's available, but a screen that is too large for your space can cause motion sickness as well as overwhelm your room. And a screen that is too small will force you and your friends and family to crowd around to see, which can make movie nights and watch parties a pain. 

While testing and researching the Roku TVs featured on this list, I and other ZDNET experts kept these criteria in mind: 

• Streaming support: Whether you want free live TV without a cable provider or binge the latest movies and shows as soon as they drop, your Roku TV needs to support a wide variety of apps to be a true entertainment hub for your home. Each TV selected supports popular apps like Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video. 
• HDR and audio support: While not every TV needs to support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to provide great picture and audio quality, it does help if you're a movie buff who wants cinema-quality sound. Each TV that was chosen supports either Dolby Vision or HDR10 as well as Dolby Atmos or DTS audio processing. 
• Refresh rates: Higher-end TVs have higher refresh rates for smoother action while streaming fast-paced movies and shows or watching sports. However, a 60Hz refresh rate is more than enough for most folks who just want a TV that can provide a good picture for family movie night.

Up until 2023, TCL had partnered with Roku to provide the streaming platform to their smart TV users. However, it was in 2023 that Roku launched their own Select and Plus Series TVs. And combined with the CES 2021 announcement that TCL had partnered with Google TV for their flagship models pushed the brand away from the Roku platform. 

There are a couple of ways you can watch free, live TV channels on your Roku device without a cable or satellite provider or monthly subscription to streaming apps. The Roku platform itself offers support for the Pluto TV app, which offers free, live news, sports, and entertainment channels via a dedicated app. However, since it is a web-based streaming app, you'll need a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to use Pluto TV.  

If you don't have reliable access to an internet connection for streaming online content, all TVs are built with an internal digital antenna for picking up over-the-air (OTA) TV channel signals, which are also free to access. But do be aware that depending on where you live and how your house is built, you may need to invest in an indoor or outdoor TV antenna to boost your TV's ability to pick up a strong, steady channel signal.

Nope! The Roku platform requires you to set up an account in order to sign into the TV or streaming device's home menu and download apps, but it's always a free service. However, do be aware that many apps do charge subscription fees every month. So while Roku may not be charging you, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon will.