Toshiba V35RU 40" Class V35 Series 39.5" 2025 Review

The Toshiba V35 Series is a basic 40-inch 1080p Fire TV. It's one of the most affordable new smart TVs you can buy, but you're giving up 4K resolution and good audio to get that low price. It's only worth considering for a tight budget in a secondary room.

Looking for a basic 40-inch smart TV for a bedroom or kitchen? The Toshiba V35 Series is a straightforward 1080p Fire TV that's easy to set up and won't break the bank. It's designed to be a simple, no-fuss screen for streaming Netflix or watching the news, with a minimalist look that's meant to blend into your space. At around $120, it's one of the cheapest ways to get a Fire TV experience on a new screen, but you're definitely making some big compromises to hit that price.

The picture quality is about what you'd expect for the money. The 1080p resolution is fine on a 40-inch screen, but the HDR support is basic and the overall picture quality scores in the middle of the pack compared to other TVs. For gaming, the 60Hz refresh rate and Game Mode are fine for casual play, but it's not built for serious gaming. The audio is a weak spot, scoring in the bottom third of TVs we've tested. The built-in speakers get loud enough, but don't expect much bass or clarity.

For $120, you're getting a functional TV with a smart platform. That's the value proposition. You could spend a bit more for a 4K TCL or Hisense and get a much better picture, or you could buy a used TV. But if you need a brand new, small screen right now and your budget is absolutely locked at this price, this is an option.

This TV is in a different league than the competitors listed, like the Sony BRAVIA 5 or Samsung Neo QLED. Those are premium, large-screen 4K and 8K models. A more direct comparison would be something like the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series or a TCL 4-Series. Both often go on sale for not much more than this Toshiba and offer 4K resolution. The Omni has better integration with Alexa, and the TCL usually has Roku TV, which many people prefer over Fire TV. If your main goal is a cheap Fire TV, this Toshiba works. If you want better picture quality for movies or a slightly larger screen, spending an extra $50-80 gets you a significantly better TV.

Skip this TV if you're looking for your main living room screen, if you care about 4K HDR for movies, or if you're a gamer. The small 1080p screen and mediocre audio won't cut it for a primary entertainment hub. Also, if you dislike the Fire TV interface, look for a Roku TV or Google TV instead. For those uses, saving for a TCL 4-Series 4K TV or a similar model from Hisense is a much better investment.

Should you buy this? Only in one very specific scenario. If you need the absolute cheapest new TV you can find for a secondary room, and you're a die-hard Fire TV user who doesn't care about 4K, this gets the job done. For everyone else, we'd recommend saving up just a little more. The jump from 1080p to 4K is noticeable, even on a 40-inch screen, and the audio and overall build quality on slightly more expensive models are simply better. This TV feels like it exists solely to hit a price, and it shows.