TCL 43S405 43"

A dirt-cheap 4K Roku TV that nails the basics and skips the frills. Buy it for the interface, not the HDR.

The 120Hz refresh rate on the spec sheet is a bit of a head-scratcher. Most content you'll watch is 60Hz, and the panel itself isn't doing true 120Hz motion handling like a gaming monitor. What actually surprised us is the low input lag owners report for gaming. For a budget TV from 2017, that's a real win. The 4K picture is decent with native content, but HDR is more of a checkbox than a feature. It'll accept an HDR signal, but with direct-lit LED and no local dimming, don't expect dramatic highlights. Black levels are mediocre, which owners confirm. The 16W 2.0 channel speakers are thin. Plan on a soundbar if you care about audio at all.

Stacked against something like the Hisense U7 Series, the TCL gets smoked on HDR brightness and black levels. The Hisense has local dimming and a much brighter panel. But the TCL's Roku interface is friendlier than Hisense's Google TV for non-techy folks. Against the Roku Pro Series, the TCL is the budget cousin. Same ecosystem, way less picture quality. If you want the Roku experience with better specs, the Roku Pro is the upgrade path. The Sony BRAVIA 3 II and LG QNED are in a completely different league, both in price and performance. This TCL only makes sense if you're strictly budget-constrained and want the simplest streaming box built in.

At $298 USD, this is a budget TV doing budget TV things. You're not getting premium picture quality, but you're also not paying for it. The Roku platform alone is worth the price of admission for a secondary room. If you find it cheaper on a deal, even better. Just don't expect it to hang with a Hisense U7 or anything with real HDR hardware.

The TCL 43S405 is a 2017 budget 4K TV that still shows up in listings, and honestly, it's a reminder of how far cheap TVs have come. The one thing to know: this is a Roku TV first and a 4K panel second. You're buying it for the dead-simple streaming experience and the price, not for picture quality that'll blow your socks off. At 43 inches with direct-lit LED and HDR compatibility, it's a fine bedroom or kitchen screen, but it's not competing with anything modern.

If you want real HDR performance, deep blacks, or a TV that'll be the centerpiece of your living room, this isn't it. Go grab a Hisense U7 or a Roku Pro Series instead. This TCL is for secondary rooms and budget buyers who prioritize simplicity over picture quality.

The TCL 43S405 is a solid budget pick for a bedroom, kitchen, or guest room where you just want something that works without fuss. The Roku interface is the star here, and the picture is good enough for casual viewing. If you're building a home theater or want real HDR punch, spend more and get something with local dimming. But for under $300, this is a no-brainer for a secondary screen.