Roku LED 4K – Select 50" Class Select Series 49.5" 2025 Review
The Roku Select Series TV proves you don't need to spend a fortune for a great smart TV experience. We think it's the best budget TV for people who hate complicated menus.
The 30-Second Version
Buy this TV for the brilliant Roku software, not the screen. For $250, it's the easiest and most satisfying budget TV you can get. Just add a soundbar.
Overview
Look, if you're hunting for a cheap, dead-simple 4K TV for streaming, this Roku Select is basically a no-brainer. It's not going to win any picture quality awards, but for the price, it gets you a shockingly good smart TV experience. The one thing to know? You're buying this for the Roku platform, not for a mind-blowing screen. It's a fantastic streaming box that happens to have a TV attached.
Performance
The performance story is all about the software. The Roku interface is lightning fast and stupidly easy to use, which is a huge win. The picture quality is fine for the money, but our data shows it lands in the 39th percentile for picture quality, so don't expect miracles. It's a solid, basic 4K HDR image that cleans up cable TV signals decently. The real surprise is how good the smart features are for a TV this cheap.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The Roku OS is the best in the business for simplicity and speed. 98th
- Insanely good value for a full-featured 4K smart TV. 94th
- Voice remote with a 'find my remote' feature is a lifesaver. 93th
- Excellent connectivity with HDMI 2.1, AirPlay 2, and all the major voice assistants. 90th
Cons
- Picture quality is just okay. It's a basic direct-lit LED panel.
- Only a 60Hz refresh rate, so hardcore gamers should look elsewhere.
- Built-in speakers are serviceable at best. Plan on a soundbar.
- The design is functional, not fancy. It's a black rectangle.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 50" |
| Resolution | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | LED |
| Backlight | Direct-Lit |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Curved | No |
| Year | 2025 |
Picture Quality
| Processor | HDR Plus |
HDR
| HDR Formats | HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | No |
| HDR10+ | Yes |
| HLG | Yes |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| VRR | VRR |
| Game Mode | Yes |
Smart TV
| Platform | Roku TV |
| Voice Assistant | Not Applicable, Not Applicable |
| Screen Mirroring | Apple AirPlay 2, Miracast |
| Works With | Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home |
Audio
| Surround Sound | Dolby Audio |
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 3 |
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| USB Ports | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | Yes |
| VESA Mount | 400x300 |
Power & Size
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 219 |
| Weight | 8.3 kg / 18.4 lbs |
Value & Pricing
At around $250, this thing is an absolute steal. You're getting a competent 4K TV wrapped in the best streaming platform available. For the price of a mid-tier streaming stick and a cheap monitor, you get a fully integrated solution. It's absolutely worth it for a secondary room or a budget-conscious main TV.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to other budget TVs, the Roku's software smokes the competition. A similarly priced Hisense or TCL might have a slightly better panel, but their clunky, ad-filled interfaces are a chore. If picture quality is your top priority, spend more on a TCL QM6K Mini-LED. But if you want a TV that just works without fuss, this Roku is the clear choice in the budget category. It makes the smart part of 'smart TV' actually smart.
| Spec | Roku LED 4K – Select 50" Class Select Series 49.5" | TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K TCL - 65" Class QM6K Series 4K UHD HDR QD Mini LED | Sony Bravia Sony BRAVIA 5 55" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | Samsung S90 Samsung S90F 48" 4K HDR Smart OLED TV | LG OLED - B5 series LG - 48" Class B5 Series OLED AI 4K UHD Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 50 | 65 | 55 | 75 | 48 | 48 |
| Resolution | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | LED | MiniLED | MiniLED | MiniLED | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 144 | 120 | 144 | 120 | 120 |
| Hdr | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Roku TV | Google TV | Google TV | Fire TV | Tizen | webOS |
| Dolby Vision | false | true | true | true | false | true |
| Dolby Atmos | - | true | false | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Hdr | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roku LED 4K – Select 50" Class Select Series 49.5" | 90 | 66.1 | 92.6 | 62 | 54.1 | 93.6 | 97.6 | 43 |
| TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K 65" Class QM6K Series Compare | 96.5 | 90.5 | 98.6 | 98.4 | 62.7 | 96.1 | 97.6 | 86.1 |
| Sony Bravia 5 55" Compare | 97.6 | 67.8 | 91.6 | 94.8 | 57.1 | 99 | 94.4 | 97 |
| Hisense U65QF Mini-LED 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED Compare | 98.9 | 90.5 | 93.9 | 96.5 | 69.3 | 97.2 | 97.6 | 97 |
| Samsung S90 S90F 48" Compare | 86.6 | 90.5 | 99.4 | 95.7 | 72.3 | 97.2 | 97.6 | 43 |
| LG OLED - B5 series 48" Class B5 Series Compare | 92.9 | 90.5 | 95.3 | 94.4 | 35.7 | 97.2 | 94.4 | 43 |
Common Questions
Q: How's the sound? Do I need a soundbar?
It's fine for watching the news, but it's thin and lacks bass. For movies or sports, you'll want a soundbar. We'd treat it as a required upgrade.
Q: What's the remote like?
It's the excellent Roku voice remote. You can search by talking, it has shortcut buttons, and yes, it beeps if you lose it in the couch. It's a highlight.
Q: Can I cast my iPhone to this?
Yep, it has Apple AirPlay 2 and Miracast built right in. Streaming from your phone or laptop is seamless.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a home theater enthusiast or a serious gamer who needs 120Hz, this isn't it. Go get a TCL QM6K or save up for an LG OLED. Also, skip it if you're putting it in a super bright room; this basic panel won't fight glare well.
Verdict
We're giving this a strong recommendation for anyone who values simplicity and value over cutting-edge picture quality. It's the perfect guest room, kid's room, or budget living room TV. The Roku platform is so good it elevates the entire package. Just pair it with a $100 soundbar, and you've got a fantastic little setup for under $350.