TCL Q35F 40" Class Series 39.5" 2025 Review

This is a 1080p TV in a 4K world. It's fine for a spare room if you find it on a deep discount, but for your main setup, look elsewhere.

Look, the TCL Q35F is a basic 1080p TV in a world that's moved on to 4K. That's the one thing you need to know. It's a simple, no-frills screen for a spare room or a kitchen, and it runs Fire TV, which is a decent smart platform. But if you're expecting a modern home theater experience, you're looking at the wrong product. It's a budget box that gets the job done, and not much more.

Honestly, nothing here is a surprise. The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 1080p TV at this price. Our data puts its picture quality and smart features squarely in the middle of the pack. The 60Hz refresh rate means it's not built for serious gaming, and the HDR support is basically non-existent. It's a TV that works, but it won't wow you.

At around $150, it's hard to complain too much. You're getting a functional smart TV with a decent interface. But 'value' is relative. If you just need a small, simple screen for casual viewing, it's fine. If you care at all about picture quality, future-proofing, or connectivity, this isn't a good value.

This TV doesn't really compete with the 4K and 8K monsters listed. Its real competition is other cheap 1080p TVs and maybe small 4K models on sale. Compared to a basic Roku TV or an Insignia Fire TV, the Q35F's QLED claim is its main differentiator, but on a 1080p panel, that's more marketing than magic. For not much more money, you can often find a 43-inch 4K TCL or Hisense, which is a much smarter buy.

If you're buying a TV for your living room, skip this. If you care about gaming, skip this. If you watch a lot of sports or movies, skip this. Go find a 4K TV on sale instead. Even a basic TCL 4-Series is a massive upgrade.

We can only recommend the TCL Q35F for one very specific scenario: you need the absolute cheapest new TV possible for a secondary location where picture quality doesn't matter at all. For a bedroom, garage, or kitchen where you just watch the news, it's acceptable. For a primary living room TV, it's a hard pass. Spend a little more and get a 4K model.