You’re standing in the middle of a big-box retailer or scrolling through Amazon, and there it is: a 65-inch screen for a price that feels like a typo. It’s got the purple logo. It says "Roku TV" on the box. You wonder if it’s a steal or just cheap plastic destined for a landfill in three years. Honestly, the answer isn’t as simple as a yes or no, because "Roku" isn't actually a TV manufacturer in the way Sony or Samsung are—well, at least they weren't until recently.
Basically, for years, Roku was just the "brain" inside TVs made by companies like TCL, Hisense, and RCA. But now, Roku is making their own hardware too.
Is Roku a Good TV for your living room?
When people ask is Roku a good TV, they usually mean one of two things. They’re either asking about the interface—the menus and how you find Netflix—or they’re asking if the actual glass and metal are high quality.
If we’re talking about the software, Roku is arguably the best in the game for people who hate technology. It’s "grandma-proof." You get big, chunky squares for your apps. There are no hidden menus that require a PhD to navigate. It doesn't try to outsmart you. Unlike Google TV, which feels like a giant advertisement for things you haven't watched yet, Roku just stays out of the way.
But the hardware is where things get dicey.
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If you buy a $200 Roku TV from a brand you’ve never heard of, it’s probably going to have a "budget" panel. This means blacks will look more like dark grey, and if you have a bright window behind your couch, the glare will be brutal. However, if you look at the newer Roku Pro Series or the Roku Plus Series, you’re actually getting some serious tech like QLED and Mini-LED backlighting.
The Longevity Problem
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: how long these things last.
I’ve seen plenty of Reddit threads where users complain that their budget TCL Roku TV died after exactly 25 months. It’s a pattern. These entry-level sets are built to a price point. They use cheaper capacitors and less-than-stellar cooling.
- The "Smart" part gets slow: This is the most common gripe. The processor inside a cheap Roku TV is often barely powerful enough to run the software when it's new. Three years of software updates later, and suddenly opening YouTube takes ten seconds.
- The Backlight failure: Cheap TVs often lose their "glow." You’ll see dark spots on the screen or the whole thing will just go black while the sound keeps playing.
- The Remote: Roku remotes are simple, which is great, but the budget versions feel like hollow toys.
If you want the Roku experience but want a TV that lasts ten years, you’re often better off buying a "dumb" high-end TV or a Sony/Samsung and plugging a $50 Roku Ultra stick into the back. The stick has a much faster processor than the one built into most TVs.
Why the 2026 Roku Models are Different
Roku finally got tired of being blamed for bad hardware made by other companies. Their own branded TVs—the Select, Plus, and Pro lines—are surprisingly decent.
The Roku Pro Series is actually impressive. We’re talking about a 120Hz refresh rate, which is the magic number for gamers using a PS5 or Xbox Series X. If you’re watching football, that 120Hz means the ball doesn't look like a blurry comet as it flies across the screen. It also features "Smart Picture Max," which uses AI to detect what you’re watching. If it’s a dark movie, it tweaks the contrast; if it’s a bright cartoon, it cranks the saturation.
You don't have to fiddle with settings. Only about 9% of people ever touch their picture settings anyway, so having the TV do it for you is actually a huge win.
Comparing the Tiers
If you're shopping right now, don't just grab the first one you see.
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- Roku Select Series: This is the "college dorm" TV. It’s fine for a bedroom or a kitchen. It’s usually basic 4K (or even just 1080p on the tiny ones). Don't expect it to wow you, but it’ll play Netflix just fine.
- Roku Plus Series: This is the sweet spot. It uses QLED technology. For the uninitiated, QLED uses "Quantum Dots" to make colors look way more vivid. It also has local dimming, so the black parts of the screen actually look black.
- Roku Pro Series: This is the flagship. It’s thin, it mounts flush to the wall, and it has the best speakers of the bunch. It’s meant to compete with the big dogs.
The Trade-offs Nobody Mentions
Roku is neutral. That’s their biggest selling point.
Amazon Fire TVs want you to buy things from Amazon. Google TVs want you to stay in the Google ecosystem. Roku doesn't care. They’ll show you Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix all on the same level.
But there is a catch. Because Roku is "neutral," they make their money on ads and data. Your Roku home screen will have a big ad on the right side. You can't turn it off. They also track what you watch to sell better ad slots. In 2026, this is pretty standard across all brands, but Roku is a bit more aggressive about it because they don't sell phones or cloud computing to make up the revenue.
Is it Good for Gaming?
For a casual gamer? Yes. Most Roku TVs have an "Auto Game Mode" that reduces lag.
For a pro? Maybe not the budget ones. The input lag on a $250 Hisense Roku TV can be frustrating in a fast-paced shooter like Call of Duty. But again, the Pro Series handles this well with its 120Hz panel and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support. VRR stops the "tearing" effect you sometimes see when the game's frame rate drops.
Real Talk on Audio
The speakers on almost every Roku TV are... fine. Just fine. They’re downward-firing, which means the sound hits your TV stand and bounces toward you. It sounds "thin."
If you're buying a Roku TV, factor in another $150 for a Roku Soundbar. The cool thing is that if you stay in the ecosystem, the TV remote controls the soundbar automatically. No setup required. You just plug it in and the TV says, "Hey, I found a soundbar, want to use it?"
It’s that simplicity that makes is Roku a good TV a "yes" for most households.
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The Verdict
So, is it a "good" TV?
If you are a cinephile who wants the perfect, inky blacks of an OLED screen and you have $2,000 to spend, no. Go buy an LG C-Series or a Samsung S90D. A Roku TV will look "cheap" to your trained eyes.
However, if you just want a TV that works, doesn't require a manual to operate, and has every app imaginable, then yes. It’s a great value. Just try to step up to the Plus or Pro models if you can afford the extra hundred bucks. Your eyes will thank you in the long run.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your lighting: If your room has lots of windows, avoid the "Select" series; the "Pro" series has much better anti-glare coating.
- Measure your wall: The Pro series is designed to sit flush, but you'll need the specific Roku wall mount to get that "picture frame" look.
- Test the remote: If you're buying for a senior, look for the models that include the Voice Remote Pro. It has a "lost remote finder" that beeps when you can't find it in the couch cushions.
Find the Roku TV that fits your budget, but don't ignore the "Plus" series if you want the screen to actually look good for more than a year.