TCL FS4610R (Roku TV)

There's nothing special about the exterior of TCL Roku TV. Aside from the trapezoidal glass stand, the look is utilitarian to the point of being generic. That base, plus a narrow strip of chrome running along the bottom edge, at least gives the TCL an element of class that's a step above the Vizio E series.That advantage is more than erased, however, by the two tiny legs TCL recommends you install to help avoid tip-over. If you prioritize aesthetics over extreme safety, you can elect not to screw them in. Or just buy an anti-tip strap.

Aside from the Roku TV logo to the far right, the set looks almost identical to other TCL TVs, such as the 48FS4690 and 48FS4610. Refreshingly small, the TCL and Roku TV logos are almost exactly the same size. The Roku TV remote is the simplest full-function TV clicker I can remember. Patterned after the pint-size remote used on Roku devices, it includes only the trademark purple cursor control, a minimum of other buttons required for menu navigation and video control, side-mounted volume/mute, and four branded app shortcuts. The Roku TV has the best menu system on any TV I've ever used. It uses plain language and thorough explanations to make using the TV a piece of cake. Thoughtful touches are everywhere, starting with initial setup. After signing on to WI-Fi, it asks you to link the TV to your Roku account at Roku.com. There, on your PC, tablet, or phone browser screen, you're presented with a list of apps (Roku calls them channels) installed by default, and you have the option to immediately remove them or add more. After the link succeeds, the TV updates with the apps you've chosen at the website.

After everything is set up, the home screen appears, which should be familiar to any Roku veteran. The big app tiles are there, along with easy access to Search, the Channel Store, and Settings. The most obvious difference is the presence of extra icons along the top, one for each input device you've set up. Highlight an input and the tile activates to show a live preview of that source; for example the live TV feed from your cable box or the screensaver from your game console. You can also move inputs around on the grid, just like any other app.