Roku 40-Inch Select Series TV Review: 5 Drawbacks to Know

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Roku 40-Inch Smart TV 2026 Worth It?

Forty inches of Full HD is a modest ask in 2026, and that is the whole bargain here: Roku gives up 4K resolution and high refresh rates in exchange for software that almost anyone can set up and live with. The Select Series panel is 1080p at 60Hz with direct LED backlighting, and Roku Smart Picture adjusts the mode to whatever you are watching. Around it sits the familiar Roku home screen, free live TV, a voice remote, AirPlay and Bluetooth Headphone Mode. It makes most sense as a second TV for a bedroom, kitchen, dorm or RV.

NoFussDeal rates the Roku 40-Inch Smart TV 2026 4.5 out of 5 at $158.00, compared against 4 alternatives sold on Amazon. Last updated September 28, 2026.

Key Facts

Product Dimensions: 7.1"D x 35.1"W x 21.9"H
Wattage: 50 watts
Voltage: 120 volts_of_alternating_current
Color: Black
Item Weight: 10.6 pounds
Item Weight Without Stand: 10.4 pounds

What Stands Out

40-inch 1080p Full HD LED panel at 60Hz with direct LED backlighting
Roku OS with free live TV, a voice remote and support for Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant
Bluetooth Headphone Mode for private listening, plus a star-key shortcut that turns the screen off while audio keeps playing
Three HDMI ports, one USB port and an optical audio output, with a built-in ATSC tuner for antenna channels
Two-channel Dolby Audio speakers with 14 watts of output, plus auto speech clarity and a night mode

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

Setup is easy enough for first-time smart-TV owners, and quicker still with an existing Roku account
Clear picture and sound for a 40-inch set, a big step up from older secondary TVs
Voice remote plus Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant support, with AirPlay 2 and Miracast casting
Bluetooth Headphone Mode and a night mode make late viewing easy on the household
Three HDMI inputs, optical audio out and an antenna tuner for free local channels
Light at 10.6 pounds with a 200 x 300 mm VESA pattern, so it suits wall mounts and RV installs

What does not

No printed guide to Roku basics such as exiting apps properly
The automatic picture mode can look too dark until you adjust it
1080p at 60Hz, so no 4K and no high-refresh gaming
Antenna channels can drop out of the live guide, as one owner found before an update fixed it
Connectivity and reliability draw more mixed reports than the rest of the set

Features in Depth

1080p Picture with Roku Smart Picture

Resolution 1080p Full HD Refresh Rate 60Hz Backlight Direct LED with dimming

At 40 inches and normal viewing distances, 1080p is still enough resolution; the individual pixels only start to show on bigger screens or when you sit very close, which is why Full HD survives in this size class. The panel runs at 60Hz with direct LED backlighting and dimming, and Roku Smart Picture reads the incoming signal and chooses a picture mode for you. That automation is convenient but not infallible: one owner found the automatic picture too dark and fixed it in the picture settings. If the image looks off out of the box, the settings menu is the first place to go, not the returns page.

$158.00 4.5/5 Check price

Roku OS, Free Live TV and the Voice Remote

Operating System Roku OS Voice Assistants Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant Screen Mirroring AirPlay 2, Miracast

The software is the reason to buy this set. Roku's home screen puts apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu and Apple TV+ alongside free live TV and personalized picks, and the voice remote searches across apps. It also works with Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can cast from phones and laptops with AirPlay 2 or Miracast. Setup draws praise from first-time smart-TV owners and from people who already had a Roku account, which shortens the process further. What the box does not include is a printed guide to the basics. One owner only learned from a web search that pressing Home is the proper way to leave an app, and that going back to the home screen before switching off stops an app streaming in the background.

$158.00 4.5/5 Check price

Speakers, Speech Clarity and Bluetooth Headphone Mode

Speaker Output 14 watts Audio Channels 2 (Dolby Audio) Bluetooth Headphone Mode Yes

Thin TVs usually have weak, muddy speakers, so Roku has tuned these two Dolby Audio speakers (14 watts in total) for clear speech and volume rather than bass. Auto speech clarity and a night mode help with dialogue at low volume, and owners who moved from an older set or an RV's stock TV describe the sound as a clear step up. Bluetooth Headphone Mode sends audio to wireless headphones, so one person can watch late without waking the house. The star key on the remote can also turn the screen off while the audio keeps playing, which is handy for music or a podcast. For films with real low end, the optical output can feed a soundbar.

$158.00 4.5/5 Check price

Ports, Antenna TV and Everyday Connectivity

HDMI Ports 3 USB Ports 1 Tuner Type ATSC

Roku fits three HDMI inputs, one USB port and an optical audio output. That is enough for a console, a streaming stick or a sound system, and one owner's Nintendo Switch 2 games look great on it. The ATSC tuner means a plain antenna brings in local channels, which then appear in Roku's live TV guide. Connectivity is one of the two areas where owners are split. One owner's antenna channels kept dropping out of the guide at first, although the voice remote still pulled up the channel they wanted, and the problem went away after a software update changed the home screen. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 are built in, and the set takes H.264 and H.265 video.

$158.00 4.5/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 28, 2026
Compared against: TCL 40-Inch R3D QLED Roku TV, Roku 40 Inch Select Series Bundle, INSIGNIA 40" F40 Fire TV, Hisense 40-Inch QD4SR Roku TV, on what their Amazon listings state and, where owners compared them, what those owners say.
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Roku Smart TV. Eight things come up most in owner feedback: six draw praise and two split opinion. Its ratings average 4.5 stars (79% five stars, 9% four, 3% three and 9% one or two), so every score starts at 90, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read eight owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.5 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Nothing comes off here, so it stays at 4.5. Read our editorial standards

Quality

Five of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

95Positive

Picture Quality

Roku lists the picture quality enhancement technology as Full HD, Roku Smart Picture. Seven of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

95Positive

Easy Setup

Seven of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

95Positive

Sound Quality

Roku lists the audio input as HDMI and the audio output mode as Digital. Seven of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

95Positive

Reliability

None of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. 12% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

84Mixed

Connectivity

Roku lists the wireless technology as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the bluetooth version as 5.2. None of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. 12% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 90 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

84Mixed

Owner Satisfaction

79% of ratings are five stars and 9% are four. 3% are three stars and 9% are one or two. The spread skews positive, but enough ratings sit low that the drawbacks below are worth reading. Score 90: its 4.5 star average on a 100 point scale.

90Positive

Value for Money

Five of the eight owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 95: we started at 90 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

95Positive

How It Compares

Alternatives sold on Amazon, with facts from each product's own listing. Prices are Amazon US prices on the date shown and may have changed since.
Model	From the listing	Price
Roku 40-Inch Smart TV 2026	1080p Full HD 40-inch LED Bluetooth Headphone Mode	$158.00
TCL 40-Inch R3D QLED Roku TV3.9 out of 5 · 20 ratings on AmazonRead our review →	QLED, 1080p resolution 2 HDMI inputs (1 with ARC) 2x10W speakers, Dolby Digital+	See price
Roku 40 Inch Select Series Bundle4.6 out of 5 · 19 ratings on AmazonRead our review →	1080p Full HD 250 nit max brightness 3 HDMI ports	See price
INSIGNIA 40" F40 Fire TV4.1 out of 5 · 5,556 ratings on AmazonRead our review →	1080p resolution DTS Virtual-X Sound 2 HDMI ports	See price
Hisense 40-Inch QD4SR Roku TV4.4 out of 5 · 365 ratings on AmazonRead our review →	Hi-QLED, 1080p Full Array LED Dolby Audio	See price

Value check

TCL 40-Inch R3D QLED Roku TV is rated 3.9 from 20 ratings against 4.5 from 1,899 ratings for this product.
INSIGNIA 40" F40 Fire TV is rated 4.1 from 5,556 ratings against 4.5 from 1,899 ratings for this product.

Worked out from the Amazon prices above; prices change, so check the current price before you buy.

Specifications

Size and weight

Product Dimensions: 7.1"D x 35.1"W x 21.9"H
Item Weight: 10.6 pounds
Item Weight Without Stand: 10.4 pounds

Power

Wattage: 50 watts
Voltage: 120 volts_of_alternating_current

Materials and warranty

Color: Black

What Buyers Say

Setup is the thing owners talk about most, including first-time smart-TV buyers who describe themselves as hopeless with technology. Picture and sound get steady praise for a set this size. The gripes are small but real: no printed guide to the Roku basics, an automatic picture mode one owner found too dark until they adjusted it, and antenna channels that briefly dropped out of the live guide before a software update settled them.

Based on 1,880 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.5 out of 5, recorded 20 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars		79%
4 stars		9%
3 stars		3%
2 stars		2%
1 stars		7%

★★★★★

No instructions with tv.

So far this has been a good tv. Good picture and sound. I was not happy with the roku auto picture as it was too dark. I went into picture settings and was able to adjust it to suit me. At f… Read it on Amazon

Skydiver · July 11, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

It’s Awesome!

I stopped watching tv in 2009 when we switched from analog to digital tv. I did still watch vhs movies & DVDs on my box tv. Then years later, I watched movies & shows through movie apps on m… Read it on Amazon

Raven · September 12, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

What an incredible tv at an affordable price.

I had been using a 24 inch TV for about 2 years. My eyesight isn't that great anymore due to my MS, and I've been wanting a Roku TV for many years. And this TV is incredible. So easy to set … Read it on Amazon

J.L. Harviel · September 8, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Great quality great prize

Amazing TV for Only $100!I couldn’t be happier with this Roku TV! The picture quality is excellent, and the TV has a sleek, lightweight design that looks great in the room. It was incredibly… Read it on Amazon

Jeff Frost · September 12, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Perfect replacement for our RV TV! Install was a snap!

I purchased this Roku 32 inch Smart TV to replace our RV stock TV. Huge difference. The mounting was easy and the slightly larger TV fills the area much better. The internal speaker is so mu… Read it on Amazon

Mike Quarles · August 21, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Great set at excelent price.

I purchased a Sharp Roku LCD 8 years ago and I have been very happy with the perormance as a bedroom set . I bought the new set to replace an off brand set I had for my kitchen. The price wa… Read it on Amazon

BBC · September 10, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

Stand or wall-mount it

Fit the included stand, or use the 200 x 300 mm VESA pattern for a wall or RV mount. Without the stand the set weighs 10.4 pounds, light enough for most mounts.
Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in

Power on and follow the on-screen steps to join Wi-Fi and link a Roku account. If you already have one, have the email and password ready; owners with an existing account found setup noticeably quicker.
Check the picture settings

Roku Smart Picture chooses a mode automatically. If the image looks too dark, open the picture settings and adjust it, as one owner did, before deciding the panel is the problem.
Add antenna channels and devices

Connect an antenna to scan for local channels, plug consoles or a streaming box into the three HDMI ports, and pair wireless headphones through Bluetooth Headphone Mode.

Common Questions

Is 1080p enough on a 40-inch TV?

For most rooms, yes. At 40 inches and a normal sofa or bed distance, the gap between 1080p and 4K is hard to see; it becomes obvious on bigger screens or up close. Owners describe the picture as clear, and one found their Switch 2 games looked great. If you want 4K streaming detail, or you sit very close, a 4K set is the better buy.

How do I fix the picture if it looks too dark?

Open the picture settings. Roku Smart Picture picks a mode automatically, and one owner found the automatic result too dark until they adjusted it by hand. It is a settings change, not a sign of a faulty panel.

What is Bluetooth Headphone Mode and how do I use it?

It sends the TV's sound to your own wireless headphones, so you can watch without disturbing anyone else. Pair the headphones through the TV's Bluetooth settings. For quieter viewing without headphones, the night mode and auto speech clarity keep dialogue clear at low volume.

Does this TV come with an instruction manual?

Roku includes a user manual, but it doesn't cover everyday Roku habits. One owner had to look up that pressing Home is the way to leave an app, and that going back to the home screen before switching off stops apps streaming in the background. Roku's support site fills the gaps.

Can I watch local channels without cable?

Yes. The built-in ATSC tuner picks up free over-the-air channels through an antenna, and they appear in Roku's live TV guide. One owner's channels dropped out of the guide for a while, though the voice remote still found them, and the problem went away after a software update.

On Video

6 videos

Roku TV 40" FHD 1080p Select Series Smart TV Dolby Audio Unboxing Setup Review Walmart 40ba 40r3bx

DaveWeLike

All videos

Roku 40-Inch Select Series Review: Simple Roku TV for Secondary Rooms

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Roku 40-Inch Smart TV 2026 Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

1080p Picture with Roku Smart Picture

Roku OS, Free Live TV and the Voice Remote

Speakers, Speech Clarity and Bluetooth Headphone Mode

Ports, Antenna TV and Everyday Connectivity

How We Scored It

Quality

Picture Quality

Easy Setup

Sound Quality

Reliability

Connectivity

Owner Satisfaction

Value for Money

How It Compares

Value check

Specifications

Size and weight

Power

Materials and warranty

What Buyers Say

No instructions with tv.

It’s Awesome!

What an incredible tv at an affordable price.

Great quality great prize

Perfect replacement for our RV TV! Install was a snap!

Great set at excelent price.

Setting It Up

Stand or wall-mount it

Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in

Check the picture settings

Add antenna channels and devices

Common Questions

On Video

Roku TV 40" FHD 1080p Select Series Smart TV Dolby Audio Unboxing Setup Review Walmart 40ba 40r3bx

The Verdict

Who should buy it

Who should skip it

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