Roku Select Series 50R5D5CA 50"

A budget QLED that's really just a great Roku TV with a mediocre panel. Fine for streaming, forget it for HDR and serious gaming.

The 4K QLED panel is a bit of a mixed bag. Colors pop nicely in bright scenes, and the Roku interface is as snappy as ever, but that 330-nit peak brightness means HDR content looks more like SDR with a slight glow. Gaming is serviceable with VRR and HDMI 2.1, but you're capped at 60Hz, so don't expect buttery-smooth 120fps action. The 2.1-channel audio is surprisingly decent for built-in speakers, and eARC means you can easily add a soundbar later. What surprised us most? The connectivity. Four HDMI ports and Ethernet on a budget TV is a rare treat.

The TCL QM6K Series 55QM6K is the obvious step up. It has a brighter panel, better HDR, and a 120Hz refresh rate, and it's usually only a bit more expensive. The Hisense U7 Series 65U75QG also outclasses this Roku in picture quality, especially for gaming. But if you're locked into the Roku ecosystem or just want the simplest possible setup, the Select Series holds its own. The Sony BRAVIA 3 II and LG QNED are in a different league entirely, and you'll pay for it.

At CAD 300, this is a solid deal if you just want a big, easy-to-use 4K screen. But don't mistake it for a premium QLED. You're paying for the Roku experience and decent connectivity, not for picture quality that'll make you cancel your movie theater plans. If you can stretch your budget a bit, the TCL QM6K offers a much better panel for not much more money.

The Roku Select Series 50R5D5CA is a budget QLED that nails the smart TV basics but won't blow you away with picture quality. The one thing to know? It's a Roku TV first, a QLED second. You're buying this for the dead-simple interface and the price, not for HDR fireworks. At 300 nits peak brightness, this thing is fine for a bright living room but it's not going to make your jaw drop during a dark movie scene.

If you're looking for a bright, punchy HDR experience or smooth 120Hz gaming, this isn't it. Go get the TCL QM6K or Hisense U7 instead. And if you need a perfectly centered VESA mount for an RV or tight cabinet space, the off-center holes on this Roku will drive you nuts.

Buy the Roku Select Series 50R5D5CA if you want a no-fuss 4K TV for streaming and casual viewing, and you don't care about HDR or high refresh rates. It's a great bedroom or secondary TV. But if this is your main living room screen and you watch movies or play games, save up for the TCL QM6K instead.