Hisense H4 Series 43H4F 42.5"

The Hisense 43H4F is a basic 1080p TV with a great Roku interface and surprisingly good sound. Picture quality is its biggest weakness, landing in the bottom 10% of our database. It's a solid buy for a secondary room if you can snag it for a low price, but anyone wanting a main TV should look at a budget 4K set instead.

Picture quality is a weak spot, sitting in the 37th percentile. It's a 1080p panel, so it's sharp enough for casual viewing, but colors and contrast are just okay. The motion rate 120 does a decent job cleaning up fast action, but don't expect it to compete with a native 120Hz set. Gaming performance is similarly mediocre at the 37th percentile. Input lag in game mode is fine for casual play, but serious gamers will feel the sluggishness. On the plus side, the audio is a pleasant surprise, ranking in the 68th percentile. The 70W DTS TruSurround speakers get loud and clear enough that you might not need a soundbar for dialogue-heavy shows.

Stacked against the TCL QM6K or an LG G5 OLED, this Hisense looks like a toy. But that's not a fair fight. Those are premium 4K sets with real HDR and gaming chops. The 43H4F competes with other ultra-budget options where the Roku interface is its main weapon. A TCL 4-Series will give you a similar experience, often with a slightly better panel. The Samsung Neo QLED and Sony BRAVIA XR are in a different universe entirely. If you just need a screen that streams Netflix without a dongle, this Hisense does the job. If you care about picture quality at all, spend a bit more on a budget 4K model.

Pricing is all over the map for this model, with a spread of over $120,000 across vendors. That's clearly some junk listings inflating the range. The real price for this TV should be well under $200. At that level, it's a solid value for a secondary screen. You're getting a reliable Roku experience and surprisingly good sound for very little cash. Just don't overpay. If you see it listed for anything close to the high end of that range, you're looking at a pricing error, not a deal.

The Hisense 43H4F is a budget 1080p TV that knows exactly what it is: a cheap screen for streaming. It doesn't try to wow you with 4K or fancy HDR tricks because it can't. What it does is slap Roku's excellent smart platform onto a basic 43-inch panel and call it a day. For a bedroom or a kitchen, that's honestly not a bad pitch.

But let's be real about the specs. The display is a basic FHD LED panel that lands in the 6th percentile of our database. That's rough. The motion rate 120 processing helps a bit with sports blur, but this is a 60Hz screen at its core. You're buying this for the Roku interface and the low price, not for picture quality that'll blow you away.

Skip this if picture quality matters to you at all. The 1080p panel and lack of HDR mean movies and shows will look flat compared to even a cheap 4K TV. Gamers who want smooth motion should also pass. The 60Hz refresh rate and mediocre input lag won't cut it for fast-paced shooters or competitive play. If this is going in your main living room, spend the extra cash on something with 4K and real HDR support.

This TV is for someone who needs a cheap, no-fuss screen for a guest room, kid's room, or kitchen. The Roku platform is the star here, making it easy to jump into any streaming app. The audio is a nice bonus that saves you from buying a soundbar. Just know that the picture quality is strictly entry-level. If you're a movie buff or a gamer looking for a main display, this isn't it. But for casual streaming on a budget, it's a perfectly fine choice.