TCL F35 Series 43F35 43"

A dirt-cheap 4K TV that punches above its weight on smart features and color vibrancy. Dolby Vision at this price is a genuine win, but the low brightness and weak built-in audio mean it's best suited for a dim bedroom or office. For under $150, it's an easy yes for a secondary screen.

Picture quality lands in the lower third of our database, which sounds harsh but makes sense for a budget panel. The direct LED backlight helps with uniformity, and owners rave about vibrant colors and surprisingly deep blacks for the price. HDR formats are well covered with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, though the peak brightness won't make HDR content truly pop the way it does on pricier sets. Gaming is a mixed bag. You get Auto Low Latency Mode for responsive play, but you're capped at a 60Hz panel with HDMI 2.0 ports, so current-gen console owners won't see 120Hz or VRR. Motion Rate 240 is marketing speak for motion smoothing, not a true 240Hz refresh rate. Audio is decent on paper with Dolby Atmos decoding, but in practice, the built-in speakers are thin. Multiple owners mention a soundbar is the way to go for anything beyond casual viewing.

Stacked against the Hisense U6 Series, the TCL gives up a lot in brightness and overall picture punch, the Hisense is simply in a different league for HDR impact. The LG QNED and Sony BRAVIA 3 are non-starters as direct competitors since they live in much higher price brackets. Where the 43F35 shines is against other ultra-budget options and older 1080p sets. It's a smarter buy than a no-name brand from an online marketplace, and the Fire TV integration is cleaner than what you'd get slapping a streaming stick on a dumb panel. If you can stretch your budget, the Hisense U6 is the better TV. If you can't, this TCL is the best of the bottom shelf.

For the $114 to $150 street price, this thing is a steal. You're getting a name-brand 4K set with Dolby Vision and a fully loaded smart platform for less than a fancy dinner out. It's not going to compete with a $500 TV, and it shouldn't have to. If you need a solid screen for a guest room, kid's room, or a kitchen wall, the value here is hard to beat. Just budget another fifty bucks for a basic soundbar and you'll be set.

The TCL 43F35 is a budget 4K TV that knows exactly what it is. It's not trying to blow your mind with next-gen brightness or 120Hz gaming, but it nails the basics for a bedroom or secondary setup. You get a sharp 4K picture, Dolby Vision support, and the full Fire TV smart platform built right in, no extra dongle required. Setup is dead simple, and the direct LED backlight keeps the screen looking more uniform than a lot of edge-lit sets at this price. Just don't expect it to light up a sun-drenched living room, its brightness is firmly in the 'dim room' category.

Skip this if it's going in your main living room with lots of windows. The low peak brightness will struggle against daylight, and the off-angle viewing isn't great. Serious gamers should also look elsewhere since the 60Hz cap and lack of VRR will hold back a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

The TCL 43F35 is the definition of a 'good enough' TV that overdelivers on smart features. It's perfect for anyone who wants a simple, all-in-one streaming setup without spending real money. Buy it for a secondary space, a first apartment, or as a gift for someone who just wants to watch Netflix without a headache. Just keep your expectations in check on brightness and audio, and you'll be happy.