Roku Pro Series 4K TV | Review - video Dailymotion

Tom's Guide

In this Roku Pro Series 4K TV review, we tell you whether it’s worth it for the 55-inch model compared to what you get from Hisense and TCL?   In case you missed news about Roku, the brand started making TVs separate from Roku streaming devices that still have the same great interface and even Roku screensavers.

Transcript

00:00I'm shocked by how many people still don't know Roku makes its own TVs, but are they

00:04worth buying?

00:05I'm here with the new Roku Pro Series TV to let you know.

00:09Roku might be best known for its slew of streaming sticks and devices, but since the launch of

00:13its first-party QLED TV in the Plus series last year, it's gaining traction in the

00:17conventional TV space.

00:19This is due largely to Roku's price-to-performance ratio, with solid quality specs made for those

00:24looking to get a well-rounded display without the hefty surcharge.

00:28Enter its newest design feat, in the Roku Pro Series.

00:31Its 2024 flagship TV that's pretty impressive on paper.

00:34Like other budget TV rivals in the space, like TCL and Hisense, Roku's Pro Series leverages

00:39a QLED panel in tandem with mini-LED backlighting for superior color coverage and contrast.

00:44It comes in three sizes, including a 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch model, starting at the

00:50low $900 mark.

00:52Obviously, you won't get nearly as good clarity as you would on a more premium OLED TV, like

00:57the LG C4, which you can go check out in our full review video.

01:01But the Roku Pro still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, namely incredible gaming coverage.

01:06It sports four total HDMI 2.1 inputs on a 120Hz panel that supports both ALLM and VRR,

01:13as well as AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for expert screen tearing coverage.

01:17While I wish it had a dedicated game bar as seen on alternative displays like Samsung

01:21and Hisense, I still had a great experience.

01:24The second reason to buy the Roku Pro Series is its use of mini-LED backlighting, a first

01:28for Roku that brings avid support against blooming and haloing.

01:32Thanks to its newly equipped mini-LEDs, the Pro Series hits far deeper dark scenes and

01:36improved brightness, which we measured at around 918 nits in a 10% window in standard

01:40mode.

01:41Impressive as its underlying specs are for the price, few truly compare to its brilliant

01:46interface.

01:47Roku has sealed a name for itself in this category by many years' worth of delivering

01:51expert streaming devices, and it shines through, most impressively on the Pro Series, which

01:56sports a snappy and fluid OS.

01:58What makes Roku so beloved is its underlying levels of personalization, allowing you to

02:02customize your home screen with varied themes and screensavers.

02:06Any Samsung The Frame fans out there?

02:08Roku's newest Backdrops mode makes it easy for you to turn your TV into a window of imagination.

02:13It's not for everyone, but definitely is a welcome addition as other TV makers, like

02:17Hisense, are jumping into the space.

02:20That's all well and good, but what about the bad?

02:22Well, the Roku Pro Series isn't exactly the best display when it comes to reflections.

02:27Without any dedicated anti-screen reflective measures, as seen on Samsung's new S95D OLED,

02:33the Roku Pro simply can't combat glare very well.

02:35Plus, ocean processing can take a major hit in certain scenarios.

02:39As with most mini-LEDs, off-access viewing invites diminished colors and some blooming.

02:44That being said, while the Roku Pro Series is priced at the lower end, there are a range

02:48of other options to consider, like the Hisense U8n and TCL QM8, both of which might give

02:53better performance at the same or lower price point.

02:57Last on our reasons you might want to skip the Roku Pro Series TV is more of an overarching

03:01Roku problem, as the firm has been the target of several successful data breaches over the

03:05past few months.

03:07While it might not be a major concern for most TV buyers, it's definitely something

03:11to consider when looking at the Pro Series.

03:13So should you buy or skip the Roku Pro Series TV?

03:17Personally, I'd skip this year's model, as I truly believe there are better budget

03:21options in the same price range, if not cheaper.

03:23However, as Roku's second TV release, the Pro Series is a serious contender in the space

03:28with ample specs and performance built on one of the most beloved interfaces.

03:33It's a serious competitor in a space that's ever-evolving and serves as a balanced budget

03:37mini-LED TV for those who love Roku's deeper personalization measures and ease of use.

03:43But what do you think?

03:44Is Roku's budget mini-LED TV right for you, or do you prefer one of the more brightness-heavy

03:48rivals out of Hisense and TCL?

03:50Let us know in the comments section below, and don't forget to subscribe for more awesome

03:54tech reviews.

03:55My name is Ryan Epps, and we'll catch you in the next one.

Roku Pro Series 4K TV | Review

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