Roku’s first OLED arrives at a price that feels surprisingly affordable, starting around $1,000 and dropping to $900 on Amazon after the recent October Prime Day discount that shaved $300 off the list. The set scores a 7/10 overall, offering strong picture performance with vibrant colors and deep blacks, while Roku’s Smart Picture Max feature reduces the need for constant manual tweaking. The platform’s interface and remote remain among the most user‑friendly on the market, though the TV’s peak brightness is modest and it only comes in two sizes, 55 and 65 inches.
If you’ve been dreaming of an OLED but are watching your budget, the Roku Pro Series provides a compelling entry point. Its image quality exceeds what the price might suggest, delivering dazzling hues and impressive contrast, but it does have a few trade‑offs. The panel isn’t exceptionally bright, and the limited size options may be a drawback for some, yet the overall experience should satisfy anyone upgrading from an older, lower‑end screen.
Installation is straightforward. A brief printed guide walks you through attaching the tool‑free feet, which feature large thumbscrews and can be set at two different heights—handy if you need to raise the TV to keep a soundbar out of the way. Once the stand is in place, Roku’s on‑screen setup walks you through the usual steps, many of which can be completed on a smartphone instead of fiddling with the remote.
The back panel hosts four clearly labeled HDMI ports on the left side, all within easy reach. The top port, marked “eARC,” is highlighted in Roku’s signature purple, while the two lower ports are white and support 120‑Hz operation for gaming. Additional inputs include a coaxial connector for antenna or cable, an optical audio jack for legacy soundbars, and an Ethernet port for wired networking. The TV uses Wi‑Fi 5 rather than the newer Wi‑Fi 6, which may feel like a step back, but in practice the connection proved stable and reliable with a typical home router.
Roku’s operating system continues to lead in simplicity. Oversized, colorful app icons and uncluttered menus make navigation easy for beginners. Recent updates allow you to choose between three‑column or four‑column icon layouts, and the whimsical “Roku City” screensaver appears when the TV is idle. There’s also an optional “Roku Backdrops” art screensaver that mimics the look of Samsung’s The Frame. Advertising does appear on the home screen and as a banner at the bottom of menus, but the ads are mostly for streaming services rather than hard‑sell product placements. A minor annoyance remains: a handful of apps such as HBO Max and Paramount+ still require you to type in credentials with the remote, as they do not support QR‑code sign‑in like their Google TV equivalents.
The remote itself is a highlight, featuring a bright purple navigation pad, dedicated play/pause and skip buttons, a programmable shortcut, and side‑mounted volume controls. It is backlit and comfortable to hold, though it is not rechargeable—a surprising omission for a “Pro Series” model. Voice control works for basic Roku functions but does not extend to Alexa or Google Assistant, except for Roku’s own smart‑home devices. If the remote is misplaced, a button on the TV’s right side will trigger a “Here I am!” tone to help locate it.
Performance testing included a mix of sports, movies, TV shows, and gaming on an Xbox Series X. The color reproduction is impressive, but the panel’s brightness falls short of premium OLEDs. In the opening dark scenes of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” on Disney+, the TV handled contrast well, though some details were harder to see than desired. A bright hallway sequence in “Mythic Quest” season three showcased the TV’s ability to differentiate subtle shades against a white background, confirming strong black levels and contrast, even if the whites could have been a touch brighter.
Overall, the Roku Pro Series OLED delivers a compelling package for its price point. It offers excellent color, deep blacks, and an intuitive software experience, while accepting compromises in brightness and size variety. For budget‑conscious buyers looking to step into OLED technology, it stands out as a solid choice.