TCL 4-Series 65S435 65"

A 65-inch 4K Roku TV for $485 with a 4.6-star rating from 23,515 reviews. The smart platform is solid at the 63rd percentile, but picture quality and HDR both sit in the 36th percentile. Gaming is rough at 22.3 out of 100, so this is a streaming TV, not a gaming TV.

Let's talk about what this panel actually delivers. The 4K resolution is there, and TCL's upscaling does a decent job with HD content. But the picture quality score sits in the 36th percentile, which means most TVs in our database outperform it. HDR support is technically present, but it's also in the 36th percentile. On a budget LED panel without local dimming or high peak brightness, HDR is more of a checkbox than a feature. You'll see the HDR badge light up on your streaming apps, but don't expect the eye-searing highlights you'd get from a mid-range QLED or OLED.

The smart platform is where this TV earns its keep. Roku TV is genuinely good, and the smart score lands in the 63rd percentile, solidly above average. The interface is simple, fast, and gets out of your way. Voice control works with Alexa and Google Assistant, plus the Roku mobile app. Audio is a 2.0 channel setup that scores in the 34th percentile, so plan on a soundbar if you care about dialogue clarity or any semblance of bass. Connectivity is bare bones: one HDMI port, one USB, and Wi-Fi. That single HDMI is going to sting if you have a console, a streaming stick, and a cable box all fighting for space.

Stacked against the competition, the 65S435 is playing a different game. The LG C5 OLED55C5PUA and Sony BRAVIA 5 K65XR50 are in a completely different league for picture quality, but they cost several times more. The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F and Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG both offer dramatically better HDR performance, higher refresh rates, and more HDMI ports. Even the Roku Pro Series 55R8C5, which shares the same smart platform, steps up the panel quality significantly. Where the TCL wins is pure size per dollar. None of those competitors come close to 65 inches at this price. If your budget is fixed around $500 and you want the biggest screen possible, the TCL is the answer. If you can stretch to $700 or $800, the Hisense U8 gets you real HDR and a 120Hz panel.

At $485 for a 65-inch 4K TV, the price per inch is hard to argue with. That's about $7.46 per diagonal inch, which is budget territory by any measure. The value proposition is simple: you're paying for size and the Roku platform, not for picture quality or gaming chops. The Mexican listing at 20,694 MXN is a different market with different pricing dynamics, so we won't compare those directly. For US buyers, this is one of the cheapest ways to get a 65-inch screen from a recognizable brand. Just know that the low price comes with real compromises in HDR performance, audio, and connectivity.

The TCL 65S435 is a 65-inch 4K TV that nails the basics and skips the frills. At $485, you're getting a big screen with Roku built in and HDR support, which sounds great on paper. But our database tells a more nuanced story. Social proof is where this thing shines, sitting in the 88th percentile with a 4.6-star average across 23,515 reviews. People buy it, people like it. The picture quality though? That lands in the 36th percentile, which is a polite way of saying it's fine, not fantastic.

This is a budget TV through and through. The 60Hz panel and HDMI 2.0 port mean it's built for streaming and casual viewing, not competitive gaming. Our gaming score of 22.3 out of 100 is the weakest area by a wide margin. If you want a big screen for Netflix, YouTube, and the occasional sports game, this does the job. If you're plugging in a PS5 and expecting buttery smooth 120Hz action, keep walking.

Skip this if you're a gamer. The 22.3 out of 100 gaming score and 18th percentile ranking make it one of the weakest options for anyone who cares about input lag, refresh rates, or HDMI 2.1 features. Also skip it if you're picky about picture quality. The 36th percentile HDR and picture scores mean you'll notice washed-out blacks and limited brightness in dark room viewing. And if you have more than one HDMI device, the single port will drive you nuts. This is a one-device streaming TV, not a home theater hub.

The TCL 65S435 is a big, cheap TV that does exactly what it promises: streams content on a 65-inch 4K screen with a genuinely pleasant smart interface. The 4.6-star rating from 23,515 buyers tells you that most people who buy it are happy with what they got. But our data shows the picture quality and HDR performance are below average, and the gaming score of 22.3 out of 100 is a dealbreaker if you care about input lag or refresh rates. Buy it for a bedroom, a guest room, or a first apartment. Don't buy it expecting a home theater centerpiece.