Roku Select Roku - 40" Class Select Series Full HD (1080p) LED Review

The Roku Select 40-inch is the ultimate no-fuss streaming TV for a secondary room. Its brilliant Roku software is fast and full of free content, making it a joy to use. Just don't expect a stunning picture or any gaming features—it's a 1080p screen in a 4K world. For around $200, it's a fantastic value if you prioritize simplicity over specs.

Let's be real, you're not buying a 40-inch 1080p TV in 2026 to be the centerpiece of your home theater. That's not what this is for. The Roku Select is for a bedroom, a kitchen, a guest room, or a dorm—any spot where you need a simple, reliable screen for casual watching that doesn't cost a fortune.

What makes it interesting is how it leans into its strengths. It's not trying to win a spec war it can't win. Instead, it offers one of the best, most polished smart TV experiences you can get, period. The Roku platform lands in the 94th percentile for smart features in our database, which means it's faster, more intuitive, and more comprehensive than most other TVs, even ones that cost five times as much.

Think of it as a fantastic streaming monitor that also happens to have a tuner. If your main goal is to fire up Netflix, YouTube, or free Roku Channel content without any fuss, this thing is purpose-built for you. It's the anti-frustration device.

The performance story here is all about the software. Apps launch fast, the interface is snappy, and navigating feels responsive. That's the benefit of a platform that's optimized across millions of devices. Where the hardware specs show their age is in the display. With a 1080p direct-lit LED panel, picture quality sits around the 41st percentile. That means it's fine for daytime TV and sitcoms, but don't expect deep blacks or eye-popping contrast. It's a serviceable picture, not a spectacular one.

The 60Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.0 ports put gaming performance in the 34th percentile. For casual gaming on a Switch or last-gen console, it's perfectly adequate. But if you're hooking up a PS5 or Xbox Series X and care about high frame rates or variable refresh rate, this is a hard stop. The TV just isn't built for that. The audio, surprisingly, scores a bit better at the 76th percentile. Dolby Audio processing helps dialogue sound clear, which is honestly the most important thing for a secondary TV.

Here's where the Roku Select makes a lot of sense. It typically floats between $130 and $230. For that money, you're getting a complete package: a decent 40-inch screen and the best smart TV platform on the market. You don't need to buy a separate streaming stick.

Compared to other budget TVs, the value is in the polished software experience. A similarly priced no-name brand might have a slightly better panel on paper, but it'll likely be hamstrung by a slow, ad-ridden, and confusing smart interface. The Roku Select avoids that trap entirely. You're paying for convenience and reliability, not cutting-edge specs.

The obvious competitors are other small, budget TVs. Compared to an Amazon Fire TV or a basic Google TV model, the Roku Select often wins on interface speed and simplicity. Roku's menu system is less cluttered with recommendations and more focused on your apps and the free Roku Channel.

Where you might look elsewhere is if picture quality is your top priority. A TCL Series 4 or a Hisense A4 series TV in a similar size might offer a 4K resolution for not much more money, though their smart systems (like Google TV) can be more sluggish. And if you're even remotely a gamer, you should skip this and look at TCL's Q-series or Hisense's U6 series, which offer 120Hz panels and HDMI 2.1 for a couple hundred dollars more. The Roku Select is for people who value a great streaming experience above all else.

Skip this TV if you're setting up a primary home theater. The 1080p resolution and average picture quality (41st percentile) will disappoint on a main screen where you watch movies or sports. You'll want a 4K TV with better contrast, ideally with local dimming or an OLED panel.

Also, skip it if you're a gamer. With a gaming score in the 34th percentile, this TV lacks the basic features modern consoles need. Look for a TV with at least a 120Hz panel, HDMI 2.1, and VRR support. Brands like TCL and Hisense offer great gaming TVs in the $300-$500 range. Finally, if you're deeply invested in the Google or Amazon smart home ecosystems and want deep integration, you might prefer a TV with Google TV or Fire TV built-in, though you'll likely sacrifice some interface polish.

We'd wholeheartedly recommend the Roku Select 40-inch if you need a dead-simple TV for a bedroom, kitchen, or office. It's the perfect 'second TV' or first TV for someone who just wants to stream without any hassle. The excellent Roku platform and easy setup make it a joy to use for everyday viewing.

However, we can't recommend it as a primary living room TV in 2026, unless your living room is very small. The 1080p resolution and average picture quality will feel dated on a main screen. And gamers, even casual ones with newer consoles, should steer clear due to the 60Hz limit. For those uses, spending a bit more on a 4K TV with better gaming features is a much better long-term investment.