Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"

Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"

Roku
79 Overall Score
vs
Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32"

Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32"

Sony
51 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"

92 out of 100 medium confidence 26 reviews

The Roku Pro Series TV receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional picture quality, vibrant colors, and deep blacks. Users praise the built-in sound, often finding it good enough to skip a soundbar, and highlight the responsive, user-friendly Roku interface. The rechargeable, backlit remote with a locator feature is a standout convenience. A few minor criticisms include the glossy screen causing reflections, non-customizable shortcut buttons, and occasional initial issues like local dimming quirks that resolved quickly.

Pros
  • Exceptional picture quality with vibrant colors
  • Deep blacks and excellent contrast
  • Great built-in sound, often no soundbar needed
  • Responsive and fast Roku interface
  • Rechargeable backlit remote with locator
Cons
  • Glossy screen causes reflections
  • Non-customizable shortcut buttons on remote
  • Initial local dimming artifacts (resolved quickly)
  • Heavier than expected
  • Bass can struggle at times
👍 Picture quality 10
👍 Sound quality 9
👍 Ease of use 8
👍 Remote control 7
👍 Value for money 6
👍 Gaming performance 3

Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32"

72 out of 100 low confidence 8 reviews

The Sony 32-inch 4K TV receives mixed reviews, with many praising its excellent picture quality, vibrant colors, and deep blacks for gaming, but some criticize the washed-out look and poor viewing angles. A major point of contention is the remote control: the included one lacks a microphone, making Google Assistant inaccessible without a separate $65 purchase. The operating system is also debated, with some calling it Android TV rather than Google TV, though others confirm it is Google's Android OS. Overall, it is seen as a great monitor or secondary TV for 4K streaming and gaming, but not ideal as a primary TV due to sound and tuner limitations.

Pros
  • Excellent 4K picture quality
  • Vibrant colors and deep blacks
  • Great for gaming with good contrast
  • Fast operating system
  • Crisp and clear display for monitors
Cons
  • Missing microphone on remote control
  • Google Assistant inaccessible without extra purchase
  • Washed out picture for some users
  • Poor viewing angles compared to larger models
  • Mediocre sound quality
👍 Picture quality 6
👎 Remote control issues 2
🤔 Operating system debate 3
👍 Gaming performance 2
👎 Sound quality 3
👎 Viewing angles 2

Scores

Smart Home
Roku
78
Sony
43
Budget
Roku
75
Sony
57
Streaming
Roku
75
Sony
48
Gaming
Roku
74
Sony
54
Sports
Roku
70
Sony
51
Corporate
Roku
66
Sony
49
Movies
Roku
60
Sony
41
Portable
Roku
47
Sony
53
Outdoor
Roku
46
Sony
34

Specifications

Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32"
Display
Size55"32"
Resolution4K4K
Panel TypeQLED★LED
BacklightFull-Array LEDDirect LED
Aspect Ratio16:916:9
Curved✗✗
Screen Finishglossy—
Picture Quality
Brightness—300 nits★
Contrast Ratioinfinite3000:1
Motion TechRoku Smart Picture Max—
ProcessorRoku Smart Picture Max4K HDR Processor X1
HDR
HDR FormatsDolby Vision, HDR 10+, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
Dolby Vision✓✓
HDR10+✓★✗
HLG✓✓
Gaming
Refresh Rate120 Hz★60 Hz
Response Time—6 ms★
VRRFreeSync Premium Pro, VRR—
ALLM✓★✗
Game Mode✓★✗
Smart TV
PlatformRoku TVAndroid TV
Voice AssistantNot Applicable, Not Applicable—
Screen MirroringApple AirPlay 2, Miracast—
Works WithApple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home—
Audio
Speaker Config42-Channel
Wattage—10W★
Dolby Atmos✓★✗
Surround SoundDolby Atmos, Dolby Audio—
eARC✓★✗
Connectivity
HDMI Ports44
HDMI Version2.1★2.0
USB Ports22
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6★Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth5.2★4.2
Ethernet✓✓
Optical Audio✓✓
VESA Mount200x200100x200
Power & Size
Power235W40W★
Energy Star✗✗
Annual Energy238 kWh★—
Weight18.55 kg7.50 kg★

Pros & Cons

Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"

  • Strong user sentiment (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong connectivity (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong gaming (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile

Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32"

  • Strong hdr (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong connectivity (73rd percentile)
  • Below average smart (20th percentile)20th %ile
  • Below average audio (27th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)

Verdict

★ Winner: Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55"

Scores 79 overall, wins 8 of 9 usage categories and 11 of 41 specs.

Roku Pro Series 55R8C5 55" Better at:

BudgetGamingMoviesSportsOutdoorCorporateStreamingSmart Home

Sony BRAVIA BZ30J 32" Better at:

Portable