Every 4K TV review aims to let you know what the best 4K TV is, and the TCL S425 is definitely a great option. More than just a monitor (fit only for home security streaming), this device is one of the best tv monitor/smart devices available. It seamlessly integrates streaming services alongside basic movies/tv capabilities far better than even the best 1080p TV, perfect for any smart home. Why We Like It - TCL 43S425 The TCL 43S425 is a Roku TV designed to give you easy access to multiple streaming services. This ultra HD smart LED TV provides excellent picture quality on its 43-inch screen in an affordable price range. Performance (Display/Resolution/Refresh) These TCL smart TVs, which are a “ best smart TV for streaming” top pick, are available in multiple screen sizes (43 inches, 50 inches, 55 inches, 65 inches, & 75 inches). Each TV has a 4K UHD display that automatically upscales non-4K content to near-4K quality. The LED display has a refresh rate of 120hz, which is good for gaming, but lacks any local dimming or full-array local dimming technology often found in the best TVs. Still, it will be pretty easy to watch 4K movies and TV shows on this TV thanks to the integrated Roku system. Sound The sound quality on this TV is decent. Most customers seem happy with the stock speakers (at least initially), but a few do recommend using a soundbar. Unfortunately, the speakers themselves don't seem to last very long on these TVs; best-case scenario, you won't run into any problems. Worst case scenario, the speakers will crackle, pop, and give out after less than a year. The TV doesn't have Bluetooth capabilities, but it does have both a digital optical output and a headphone jack which should be sufficient. You can also use headphones with the Roku app for private listening. Smart Features This HD smart Roku TCL TV is a step up from an Amazon Fire TV. Rather than needing to take up a valuable HDMI port to provide smart capabilities, there is a smart Roku system built right into this tv! TCL also added Google Assistant and Alexa capabilities to this TV, but they are very limited (for a full Amazon Alexa experience on a smart TV, try the LG SM9000). You can control some features on the TV by voice, but not all the features (or other smart devices) like you can with some premium smart TVs. Ports & Expandability This TV has 3 HDMI inputs (as opposed to Samsung NU6900 55-inch TVs, which have only 2 HDMI inputs). Two of the HDMI inputs have HDCP 2.2, which protects against copying via a recorder. The third HDMI port is an HDMI ARC port that makes it easy to connect your TV to a soundbar. It also has a USB port (for media playback) and an ethernet port. For audio, this TV has a digital output and a 3.5mm audio jack. Value The TCL 43S425 has free delivery and returns provided by Amazon Prime. This TV is much cheaper than other smart TVs (such as the Sony X720E), costing only $229 for the 43-inch model. It comes with a one-year limited warranty (six months for commercial use) and there are also protection plans available. However, as it scores a 4.6 out of 5-stars on Amazon (based on 31,221 ratings!), it seems unlikely that you will need to take advantage of either the warranty or the protection plan. TCL 43S425 Wrap Up The TCL 43S425 may not be the best tv around, but it's still one of the best options within its price range. For less than $230, you get a 4K LED smart with the Roku system built-in. The Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant capabilities are lacking, so we consider them more "previews" than full features, but even without those, this TV delivers an excellent "smart" experience for the price!
