If you've not jumped on the 4k ultra HD bandwagon just yet it's probably because it can seem so expensive. Wander around any television showroom and you'll see some absolutely amazing screens - and eye-watering prices to go with them.
TCL is looking to change this with affordable, quality panels, and now they've teamed up with streamer Roku to put out a selection that goes right up to 65". We tested out the 43" model which is currently available for just £229.
And as you are about to find out you get plenty for the money. The 4K Ultra HD screen provided decent contrast and clarity. although it's not the brightest you'll ever see. It supports a high dynamic range up to Dolby Vision, while the audio is perfectly fine if you're not plugging in external speakers. Be careful when hunting 4k content, services like Sky and Netflix will try and charge you extra.
The TV isn't the thinnest but it looks great from the front, with thin bezels meaning a lot of it is just screen. The TV comes with easily attachable feet meaning the whole package looks pretty slick. You have a bunch of ports to play with a couple of HDMI slots (one being ARC), composite AV minijack input, USB-A slot, optical digital audio output, and a headphone output.
it's worth noting the TV lacks Bluetooth connectivity, which may limit wireless audio options and also impacts the remote, which is probably the only thing that tips you off that this is a budget TV. It's very lightweight and plasticy, and communicates via IR so you'll need to be pointing at the screen for it to work.
So far, so good. And we haven't got to the best bit yet. The Roku operating system is absolutely first-class. It's massively popular over in the States and you can tell straight away you're getting a mature product,
First off, the set-up is incredibly fast. I was up and running with everything attached and the wifi working within around ten minutes. It offers a seamless and intuitive user interface, with the integration of popular streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video being smooth, so providing easy access to a vast range of content.
You can also get Freeview, while the Roku Channel comes with 10,000+ free films, episodes, and documentaries to choose from, including over 30 Roku Originals titles including the recent BAFTA-nominated WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story starring Daniel Radcliffe.
The OS also flies, being noticeably faster on start-up than any of my other set-top boxes. The big, chunky logos also make it incredibly simple to navigate. You can also download the Roku app on your tablet, phone or watch, which brings next-level control. You can also use it to stream to the TV, which is also AirPlay compatible. Roku is powerful but never lets all it can do get in the way of its useability. In my experience, this can be rather rare!
There are several scenarios where I can see the TCL being right at the top of the list. If you don't want to shell out too much for your main telly then this is more than up to the job, but I'd imagine for many people this would be a perfect second-screen option for, say, a bedroom. Also, because of the Roku software, I'd wager this would be a brilliant choice for anyone who is a little tech-phobic (ort who have relatives who are).
You certainly get a lot of bang for the buck. The 4k TVs are priced up to £549 depending on size, meaning you save a lot no matter what size screen you are looking at. Highly recommended.
