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TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV vs Roku Select 50R5D5

The Roku Select 50R5D5 is the easier TV to live with: Roku OS is simple, the enhanced voice remote is genuinely useful, and its owner rating is very high. The TCL 50Q51K counters with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, a brighter direct-lit QLED panel and the Google TV app ecosystem. Neither has local dimming, so black levels are modest on both. Buy the TCL if picture formats and Google TV matter most; buy the Roku if simplicity and streaming polish matter most.

  • Choose the TCL 50Q51K if you want Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Google TV with Chromecast, and a brighter QLED picture for movies and console gaming.
  • Choose the Roku Select 50R5D5 if you want the simplest smart TV interface, a voice remote that actually helps, and Ethernet plus Bluetooth for a stable, flexible setup.

Prices

  • TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV: $248.00 at Walmart (checked today)
  • Roku Select 50R5D5: $229.99 at Best Buy (last seen Nov 9)
  • Difference: the Roku Select 50R5D5 is $18.01 cheaper than the TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV at the latest prices (Nov 9 and Nov 10)
TCL
TCL 50" Q Series QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart Google TV (New) - 50Q51K

TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV

TCL 50" Q Series QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart Google TV (New) - 50Q51K

4.4(15,402 ratings)
$248.00at WalmartChecked 17 min ago
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos at this size class
  • Brighter direct-lit QLED panel
  • Google TV with Chromecast and wide app choice
  • Motion Rate 240 smooths fast action
  • Large owner base with solid ratings
Cons
  • No local dimming, so blacks look gray in dark rooms
  • 60 Hz panel limits high-frame-rate gaming
  • No Ethernet port listed
  • Google TV interface can feel busy
Roku
Roku Select 50R5D5

Roku Select 50R5D5

4.8(1,858 ratings)
$229.99at Best BuyChecked Nov 9
See all prices and details
Visit Best Buy

Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

Pros
  • Roku OS is fast to learn and uncluttered
  • Enhanced voice remote with speech clarity
  • Ethernet and Bluetooth add setup flexibility
  • HDMI eARC for soundbars
  • Very high owner rating
Cons
  • Around 250 nits peak is dim for bright rooms
  • No local dimming
  • 60 Hz panel only
  • Smaller owner sample than the TCL

What separates them

TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TVRoku Select 50R5D5
Smart platformGoogle TV with Chromecast built in and broad app supportRoku OS, widely praised for simplicity and a clean home screen
HDR formatsDolby Vision plus HDR10+ and HLGDolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG listed across specs
AudioDolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X and DTS:X decodingDolby Audio with optical output and headphone support
BrightnessHigh Brightness Direct LED backlight, no local dimmingDirect-lit QLED rated around 250 nits peak
ConnectivityWi-Fi 5, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0, no Ethernet listedWi-Fi 5 plus Ethernet and Bluetooth, 3 HDMI plus eARC
RemoteStandard Google TV voice remoteEnhanced Roku voice remote with speech clarity
Motion60 Hz native with Motion Rate 240 frame insertion60 Hz native, no motion interpolation claimed
Owner feedback4.4 out of 5 from over 15,000 ratings4.8 out of 5 from about 1,900 ratings

Price history

$359.99$229.99
Nov 1Nov 10
  • TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV: lowest $248.00 on Nov 8 at Walmart; $248.00 on Nov 10.
  • Roku Select 50R5D5: lowest $229.99 on Nov 7 at Best Buy; $229.99 on Nov 9.

Prices at every store

TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV

  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $248.00Checked 17 min ago
    Visit Walmart
  • eBayNew

    In stock

    $438.35Free shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 2 stores and price history →

Roku Select 50R5D5

  • Best BuyNew

    In stock

    $229.99Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Best Buy
  • Lowe'sNew

    In stock

    $229.99Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Lowe's
  • TargetNew

    In stock

    $229.99Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Target
  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $289.99Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit Newegg

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 4 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecTCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TVRoku Select 50R5D5
screen_size50 in50-inch class, 49.5 inches diagonal
colorBlackBlack
Resolution3840 x 21604K Ultra HD
PlatformGoogle TVRoku OS, enhanced voice remote
Refresh rate60 Hz60Hz
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), plus Ethernet and Bluetooth
Smart TVYesYes
Release Year20252026
Screen Resolution3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD)3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD)
Display technologyQLED—
HDR formatDolby Vision—
Sound technologyDolby Atmos—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecTCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TVRoku Select 50R5D5
Motion rateMotion Rate 240—
ProcessorAIPQ Processor—
HDMIHDMI 2.0—
USBUSB 3.0—
ConnectionsHDMI—
Image EnhancementYes—
Wireless & StreamingChromecast—
NFCNo—
Surround Sound FormatsDolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X, DTS:X—
Local dimmingNo

What reviewers say

TCL Q51K QLED 4K Google TV

  • 4.4 / 515,402 ratings

Owners rate the Q51K well overall, calling it a strong value for the picture quality at its size. Most praise the color and brightness for the money; complaints center on black levels, motion and sound.

What people mention
  • Picture qualityPraisedOwners say colors are vivid and bright for a TV in this class.
  • Black levelsCriticisedReviewers note dark scenes look gray because there is no local dimming.
  • MotionMixedSome find Motion Rate 240 helps, others see blur on fast action.
  • SoundCriticisedOwners call the built-in speakers thin and suggest a soundbar.

Roku Select 50R5D5

  • 4.8 / 51,858 ratings

With 4.8 out of 5 from 1,858 ratings, owners largely praise the Roku Select 50R5D5 for easy setup, the familiar Roku interface and good picture for the price. Complaints center on brightness and black levels in bright or dark rooms, and on the 60Hz panel for sports and gaming.

What people mention
  • Picture qualityPraisedOwners say 4K content looks sharp and colors pop for the price.
  • BrightnessCriticisedReviewers find the panel dim in bright rooms and want more nits.
  • Black levelsCriticisedWithout local dimming, dark scenes look gray and washed out.
  • Ease of usePraised

Questions and answers

Which is better for dark-room movie watching?
The TCL has the edge on brightness and adds Dolby Atmos, but neither set has local dimming, so blacks stay gray on both. A bias light behind either TV helps more than the panel difference.
Which has the better smart TV system?
Roku OS is simpler and faster to navigate; Google TV bundles more apps and Chromecast casting. Pick Roku for ease of use, Google TV for app depth.
Which is better for gaming?
Both are 60 Hz with no variable refresh rate or HDMI 2.1, so they suit casual console play only. The TCL's motion processing and Dolby Vision give it a slight edge for cinematic games.
Does either support Dolby Vision?
Yes, both list Dolby Vision, along with HDR10+ and HLG. The TCL adds Dolby Atmos and DTS decoding for sound.
Is the Roku worth stepping up to over the TCL?
Step up to the Roku only if interface simplicity, Ethernet and the voice remote matter more than brightness and Atmos. Otherwise the TCL offers more picture and sound features for the same class of TV.
Which lasts longer?
Neither brand publishes a lifespan figure, and both are budget QLED sets with similar panel construction. Owner ratings favor the Roku, but the TCL sample is far larger, so treat durability as a wash.

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  • Samsung 50" Class U8000H Series Crystal UHD 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV 2026 vs Roku Select 50R5D5

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best cheap 50-inch flat screen TVs
—
MHLNo—
AmbilightNo—
HDRYes—
Operating SystemGoogle TV—
CECNo—
Screen designFlat—
Backlit LEDYes—
Edge-lit LEDNo—
HDR TypeHDR10, Dolby Vision, HDR10+—
Refresh Rate (Hz)60—
3DNo—
ARCeARC—
ALLMYes—
WCGYes—
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)—
DisplayQLED—
Panel type—4K QLED, direct-lit backlight
Native refresh rate—60Hz
The Roku interface and voice remote are called simple and fast.