TCL S-Series 55S4R 55"

The TCL S-Series 55S4R is a budget 55-inch 4K Roku TV that nails the basics. It's affordable, easy to use, and packed with free streaming content. Picture quality and gaming performance are average, but for the price, it's a solid deal.

The 55S4R's picture quality lands in the 36th percentile of our database, which is about average for a budget 4K TV. The Direct LED backlight gives it a 5000:1 contrast ratio, which is fine for a panel in this price range but won't blow you away in a dark room. HDR performance sits right around the middle of the pack, so HDR 10 and HLG content will look decent, but don't expect the eye-searing highlights you'd get from a mini-LED or OLED set.

Gaming is a mixed bag. The 60Hz panel and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) mean it'll automatically switch into Game Mode when you fire up a console, which is nice. Input lag should be low enough for casual play, but competitive gamers will want something with a 120Hz panel and VRR. The HDMI 2.1 port is a nice touch, though at 60Hz it's not unlocking the full potential of a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Motion Rate 120 is TCL's marketing term for motion smoothing, not a true 120Hz refresh rate, so keep that in mind.

Stacked against the Roku Plus Series 55R6C7, the 55S4R gives up some picture quality and HDR performance. The Plus Series has a QLED panel and better brightness, so if you care about HDR pop, that's the better buy. The Hisense U8 Series 65U8QG is in a completely different league with mini-LED backlighting and much higher peak brightness, but it also costs significantly more. The Samsung Neo QLED QN70F and Sony BRAVIA 5 K65XR50 are both premium options that outclass the 55S4R in nearly every way, but they're also way more expensive.

Where the 55S4R wins is simplicity and price. The Roku platform is easier to navigate than Samsung's Tizen or LG's webOS, and the four HDMI ports give you plenty of room for a console, soundbar, and streaming stick. If you're comparing budget 4K TVs, the 55S4R is a strong contender, but it's not going to compete with mid-range or premium sets on picture quality.

For the money, the 55S4R is hard to beat if you just want a big 4K screen with a great smart platform. The USD 157 to USD 240 price spread means you should definitely shop around. Best Buy is the primary retailer, and their price match guarantee can help you lock in the lowest price. At the low end of that range, this TV is an absolute steal. At the high end, you're getting into territory where a Roku Plus Series or a step-up TCL model might make more sense.

The TCL S-Series 55S4R is a 55-inch 4K LED TV that sits firmly in the budget category, and it leans hard into the Roku smart platform to deliver a lot of value for not much money. It's a Direct LED panel with HDR 10 and HLG support, a 60Hz refresh rate, and four HDMI ports, one of which supports eARC. If you're hunting for a cheap 4K TV that's easy to set up and even easier to live with, this one checks a lot of boxes.

Roku TV is the star here. The interface is simple, fast, and packed with free content, including 500+ live TV channels through the Roku Channel. You also get voice control support for Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, plus mobile-to-TV casting. It's not the fanciest panel on the shelf, but for everyday streaming and casual viewing, the 55S4R is a solid pick.

At the time of writing, prices in the US range from USD 157 to USD 240 across five listings. That's a pretty wide spread, so it pays to shop around. Best Buy is the main retailer carrying this model, and their price match guarantee can help if you spot a better deal elsewhere.

Skip the 55S4R if you're a serious gamer who wants 120Hz, VRR, and low input lag for competitive play. You should also look elsewhere if you care about HDR performance or watch a lot of movies in dark rooms, since the contrast and brightness are just average. Home theater enthusiasts will want something with better audio and picture quality, like the Hisense U8 Series or a step-up TCL model. And if you're planning to use this TV outdoors or in a very bright room, the display's 17th percentile ranking means it'll struggle with glare and washed-out colors.

Should you buy the TCL 55S4R? If you want a cheap, reliable 4K TV for streaming, casual gaming, and everyday use, yes. The Roku platform is genuinely great, the setup is painless, and the price is right, especially if you can snag it near that USD 157 mark. It's a no-brainer for a bedroom, guest room, or first apartment.

But if you're a serious gamer or a home theater enthusiast, this isn't the TV for you. The 60Hz panel, average HDR, and weak built-in audio mean you'll be making compromises. For most people, though, those compromises are easy to live with at this price.