TCL Q35F 40" Class Series 39.5" 2025 Review
The TCL Q35F is a simple 1080p TV with Fire TV. It's fine for a spare room, but its outdated resolution and limited ports make it a poor choice for a main TV.
The 30-Second Version
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.
Overview
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.
Performance
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.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fire TV is simple and has tons of content. 91th
- The bezel-less design looks clean and modern. 91th
- Bluetooth audio support is a nice touch for headphones.
- Direct LED backlight is better than cheap edge-lit TVs.
Cons
- 1080p resolution is a major step down in 2025. 14th
- Only two HDMI ports is very limiting. 18th
- Audio quality is below average. 24th
- Gaming features are basically nonexistent. 28th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 40" |
| Resolution | Full HD (1080p) |
| Panel Type | QLED |
| Backlight | Direct-Lit |
| Curved | No |
| Year | 2025 |
Picture Quality
| Motion Tech | Motion Rate 120 |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
Smart TV
| Platform | Fire TV |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa |
| Works With | Amazon Alexa |
Audio
| eARC | No |
Connectivity
| HDMI Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Ethernet | Yes |
| Optical Audio | No |
| VESA Mount | 100x100 |
Power & Size
| Power | 106 |
| Energy Star | No |
| Annual Energy | 106 |
| Weight | 4.6 kg / 10.1 lbs |
Value & Pricing
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.
Price History
vs Competition
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.
| Spec | TCL Q35F 40" Class Series 39.5" | Sony BRAVIA 3 Sony - 43" Class BRAVIA 3 LED 4K UHD Smart Google | Hisense QD7 Mini-LED Hisense - 50" Class QD7 Series MiniLED QLED 4K UHD | LG LED 4K - UA77 LG - 50” Class UA77 Series LED AI 4K UHD Smart | Samsung U8000F Samsung - 43” Class U8000F Series Crystal UHD 4K | Toshiba 350NU Toshiba - 55" Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 40 | 43 | 50 | 50 | 43 | 55 |
| Resolution | Full HD (1080p) | 3840x2160 | 4K (2160p) | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | QLED | LED | MiniLED | LED | LED | LED |
| Refresh Rate | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Hdr | - | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Fire TV | Google TV | Fire TV | webOS | Tizen | Fire TV |
| Dolby Vision | - | true | true | false | false | true |
| Dolby Atmos | - | true | true | false | false | true |
| Hdmi Version | - | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | - | 2.0 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Hdr | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL Q35F 40" Class Series 39.5" | 18.3 | 27.6 | 90.7 | 24.1 | 13.6 | 48.5 | 90.6 | 43.1 |
| Sony BRAVIA 3 43" Class LED Compare | 92.8 | 73.8 | 95.9 | 58.3 | 51 | 97.2 | 90.6 | 90.9 |
| Hisense QD7 Mini-LED 50" Class QD7 Series MiniLED Compare | 98.1 | 90.4 | 93.8 | 59.8 | 12.9 | 94 | 84.2 | 96.1 |
| LG LED 4K - UA77 50” Class UA77 Series LED AI Compare | 81.8 | 62.7 | 90.7 | 58.9 | 53.6 | 89.6 | 90.6 | 43.1 |
| Samsung U8000F 43” Class Series Crystal Compare | 89.9 | 66.4 | 96.6 | 51.6 | 51 | 66.5 | 94.3 | 43.1 |
| Toshiba 350NU 55" Class C350 Series LED Compare | 92.8 | 90.4 | 93.8 | 59.8 | 17 | 88.3 | 90.6 | 43.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the picture quality good?
It's okay for a cheap TV. The QLED tech helps colors a bit, but it's still only 1080p. Don't expect it to look amazing next to a modern 4K screen.
Q: Can I use this for my PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X?
You can plug it in, but you shouldn't. It only does 1080p at 60Hz, so you'll be missing out on everything that makes next-gen consoles look good. It's a waste of your console.
Q: Are two HDMI ports enough?
Barely. One will likely go to a soundbar (using ARC), leaving you with just one free port for a game console or streaming stick. It's a hassle.
Who Should Skip This
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.
Verdict
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.