Roku 65" Pro Series smart TV review: Tons of features at a low price
You probably already know about Roku streaming sticks. But did you know you can get a high-end smart TV actually designed and manufactured by Roku? The main reason to do this can be summed up in two words: simplicity and value.
The company's higher-end, 2024 Roku Pro Series smart TV offers the same features you'd find in much more expensive TVs, but in this case, you get a 4K resolution TV with a 120Hz refresh rate and a stunning QLED display for under $1,200. Intrigued? Well, so was I. The folks at Roku sent a review unit of its 65-inch Pro Series TV so I could check out its features for myself. In short: It's easy to use, and a steal for the price.
Roku Pro Series TV: Ideal for almost any living room
After working with this TV hands-on, I found it to be easier to navigate and use than most. This makes it a viable TV option for people who are not tech-savvy, but who want easy access to live and on-demand programming.
The 65-inch version of this smart TV fits nicely in an average size living room or bedroom. Its picture and sound quality, and its overall performance, are better than what you'd expect from a TV in its price range.
I was particularly impressed with how well the TV automatically adapts to its viewing environment and with the different types of programing that people tend to watch. And while it automatically makes settings adjustments in real time, users can also tweak the picture and sound on their own to achieve a more customized viewing experience.
2024 Roku Pro Series smart TV: At a glance
Model number: 65R8B5 | Display type: QLED (mini-LED) | Resolution: 4K | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Operating System: RokuOS | HDR Support: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HLG | Speakers: 4.1 wireless surround (with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Audio) | Main Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, HDMI, HDMI eARC, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, cable/antenna, Optical, Ethernet | Overall dimensions: 57.2 x 33 x 1.9 inches (without stand) | Weight: 62.3 pounds (without stand) | Voice remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro 2nd edition (included) | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Roku Smart Home, Apple AirPlay, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home | Other sizes available: 55-inch, 75-inch
Roku currently offers three categories of its own smart TVs. There's the lower-end Roku Select series, the mid-range Roku Plus series, and the higher-end Roku Pro series. Each comes in a variety of sizes.
Pro Tip: All Roku TVs are often discounted by up to 25% on Amazon and other popular retailers, like Walmart, Best Buy and Target.
At the heart of these TVs is Roku's own RokuOS operating system. It's delightfully simple to navigate. It also works with all of the popular video streaming services and your existing cable TV service. Plus, you get unlimited and free programming from the Roku Channel. This includes a library of classic TV series and movies, special interest programming and some original content.
The technology within the Roku Pro series TVs nicely complements the features offered by its operating system. You get a beautiful QLED display with a quick 120Hz refresh rate, along with tech that automatically enhances picture quality and boosts sound quality. What you wind up with is a nicely equipped, general purpose TV that's ideal for watching any type of video, including live sports and action movies. It also does an impressive job showcasing games.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the 65-inch Roku Pro series TV is that it's priced under $1,200. But, if you want something a bit larger to serve as the centerpiece for a home theater system, a 75-inch version of this smart TV is also available.
2024 Roku Pro Series smart TV: Why I love it
The 65-inch Roku Pro series TV offers features like enhanced picture detail and color vibrancy; upscaling that makes video look as close to 4K resolution as possible; consistent brightness and terrific color accuracy.
Still more tech works to ensure clear and immersive sound. This starts with the TV's built in speakers on the sides of the TV (instead of the center. This allows the speakers fill the viewing space with more immersive sound. This is complemented by Dolby Atmos support and enhanced dialogue quality, which works particularly well when music and sound effects are also playing in the background.
The TV's voice remote makes navigating really easy. The remote features well-labeled buttons and a minimalist design. But, if you don't want to use the remote, the Roku mobile app can also be used to control the TV from a smartphone or tablet.
Another stand out feature is auto brightness. It measures the ambient light in your viewing space and the vibrancy of the content your watching, so brightness remains consistent without needing to manually adjust settings. But, if you want to delve in and customize the picture, this can be done, too.
Meanwhile, if you're watching TV at night and don't want to disturb anyone else, it's easy to pair your favorite headphones or earbuds with the TV for a private listening experience. And while the speakers do an impressive job with sound quality, Roku has made it easy to use its soundbar, subwoofer and satellite speakers (each sold separately) to create a wireless surround sound system.
Roku has also announced a feature called Backdrops that'll launch later this year. It will give users access to a vast catalog of free artwork, as well as their own digital photos, which can be showcased on the TV as a screensaver. While other TV brands, like Samsung, charge for access to a library of art, Roku will offer it for free.
The Backdrops feature will come in the form of a streaming app, just like Netflix, Paramount+ or Disney+. It can be customized to display artwork or digital photos. In the meantime, the TV's Roku Photo Streams feature can showcase your favorite photos as a screensaver.
5 things I like most about the 65-inch Roku Pro Series smart TV
- Dolby Vision IQ support makes TV shows, movies and games look fantastic -- with vivid and life-like colors.
- The TV automatically adjusts its brightness level based on what you're watching and the ambient lighting in your viewing space.
- The RokuOS is easy-to-navigate, supports all of the popular video streaming services you subscribe to, and makes Roku Channel programming readily available (for free).
- The included Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd Edition) offers large, easily identifiable buttons, four quick access buttons -- for Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime Video -- plus a Quick Launch shortcuts button. The remote also accepts voice commands.
- The TV's Game mode auto-adjusts settings to accommodate the video game you're playing. You get tear-free gaming with FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and VRR support.
4 things I dislike about the 65-inch Roku Pro Series smart TV
- The Roku wall mount, which offers a flat design, is sold separately for $100. Since the TV's ports are located on the back of the TV, the bottom of the mount is on a hinge that can angle forward to make the ports more easily accessible.
- If you don't subscribe to Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime Video, four of the quick-launch shortcut buttons on the remote are not usable, since they're pre-programmed specifically for these services.
- The TV is about 1.9 inches thick. While it offers a contemporary design, it's not bezel-less or as thin as 65-inch TVs from other brands.
- The power cord for the TV is too short (about five feet long) and plugs into the back center of the TV. You'll probably need an extension cord.
2024 Roku Pro Series smart TV: Final thoughts...
The RokuOS does a nice job displaying your streaming service options on one main screen. The guide feature allows you to browse live programming. Using the voice remote, finding a TV series, movie or sporting event can be done by pressing the remote's microphone button and asking for what you want to watch. It's this ease of operation that helps the TV stand out from its competition.
The 2024 Roku 65-inch Pro Series TV offers impressive and well-rounded performance that's well-equipped to meet the needs of a typical household. It offers a really good value.
If you're shopping for any type of TV, we recommend checking out our coverage of the six best TVs for 2024, the five best TVs for video gamers and the four best 8K TVs in 2024. We've also done an in-depth review of Samsung's 2024 Frame TV and Samsung's QN900D 8K resolution smart TV.
