Roku Select Series 32R2D5CA 32"

The Roku Select Series 32R2D5CA is a 32-inch 720p smart TV built for secondary spaces like bedrooms and kitchens. It nails the basics with a simple Roku interface and easy setup, but the display quality is a weak spot. At around $165, it's a solid buy if you prioritize simplicity over picture quality.

Performance is a mixed bag, and that's being diplomatic. The 720p resolution on a 32-inch screen is fine for casual viewing. You'll notice softness if you sit too close, but from across a bedroom or kitchen, it's perfectly watchable. The picture quality sits in the 37th percentile, which translates to 'gets the job done but won't impress anyone.' Brightness is adequate for indoor use, but HDR support is basically a checkbox feature here, landing in the 14th percentile. Don't expect any meaningful high dynamic range pop.

Gaming is surprisingly not terrible for a budget 32-inch set. It scores in the 48th percentile, which is middle of the pack. The HDMI 2.1 port is a nice touch, though at 720p you're not exactly pushing high frame rates or 4K signals. Casual gaming on a Switch or older console feels fine. Input lag isn't going to ruin your day, but competitive gamers should look elsewhere. The audio is a 2.0 channel setup that lands right at the 51st percentile. It's clear enough for dialogue but thin on bass. You'll want a soundbar for anything more than background noise.

Stacked against the TCL QM6K Series or the Hisense U8, the Roku Select Series looks like it's playing a different sport. Those are 55-inch 4K QLED TVs with proper HDR and gaming features, and they cost significantly more. The fairer comparison is against other 32-inch budget sets. TCL's 32-inch 1080p Roku TVs often sell for around the same price and give you a sharper picture. If you can find one, it's the better buy for image quality. The Samsung QN80F and LG QNED evo AI models are in a completely different league, both in size and price, so they're not really competitors.

The Sony BRAVIA 5 is another 55-inch option that outclasses this Roku in every performance metric, but again, you're paying for it. What the Roku Select Series has that none of those bigger sets offer is a compact footprint and a dirt-cheap price tag. It's the TV you buy when size and simplicity matter more than picture quality. If you're comparing it to anything with a 4K panel, you're already looking at the wrong category.

At $160 to $170, the value proposition depends entirely on your expectations. If you want a cheap, reliable smart TV for a secondary space, this is a solid buy. The Roku platform alone is worth the price of admission for its simplicity and app selection. But if you're even slightly picky about picture quality, spending a bit more gets you into a 1080p panel from TCL or Hisense that will look noticeably sharper. The 32-inch size category is mostly budget territory, so the Roku Select Series competes on ease of use rather than raw specs. For a dorm room or kitchen, it's a smart pick. For a primary living room TV, it's a hard pass.

The Roku Select Series 32R2D5CA is a 32-inch HD TV that knows exactly what it is: a small, affordable screen for spaces where you don't need anything fancy. It runs around $160 to $170, and for that money you're getting a 720p LED panel wrapped around Roku's famously simple smart TV platform. If you're hunting for a basic bedroom TV, a kitchen screen, or something for the kids' room, this one lands on a lot of shortlists. The social proof is through the roof, sitting in the 98th percentile in our database, which tells you most buyers walk away happy with what they paid for.

But let's be real about what you're not getting. The display itself is about as basic as it gets, landing dead last in our display rankings. It's a direct LED panel with 720p resolution, so don't expect deep blacks or eye-popping clarity. This isn't a movie lover's TV, and our scores back that up with a rough 17.2 out of 100 for movies. Where it shines is in the setup process and day-to-day use. Roku OS is clean, responsive, and doesn't bury you in ads the way some competitors do.

For a secondary screen, the feature set is actually decent. You get dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and even an Ethernet port, which is rare at this size and price. There's also eARC support on the audio side, so you can hook up a soundbar if the built-in 2.0 channel speakers don't cut it. Just keep your expectations grounded. This is a utility player, not a showpiece.

Skip this TV if you care about picture quality at all. Movie fans, anyone sitting closer than six feet, or people who want deep blacks and vibrant colors will be disappointed by the 720p panel and weak HDR. If this is going in your main living room, look at a 43-inch 4K set from TCL or Hisense instead. You'll spend a bit more but get a dramatically better image. Also, if you're a serious gamer chasing high frame rates, this isn't your screen. The display is too limited to make modern consoles shine.

Should you buy the Roku Select Series 32R2D5CA? If you need a small, no-fuss smart TV for a bedroom, kitchen, or kids' room, and you don't want to spend more than $170, yes. It's a straightforward product that delivers exactly what it promises: easy streaming in a compact package. The Roku interface is genuinely pleasant to use, and setup is painless. Most owners are happy, and that 4.8-star rating from over 1,400 reviews isn't an accident.

But if picture quality matters at all, even a little, skip this. The 720p panel is a compromise you'll notice every time you watch something cinematic. For a primary TV or any room where you'll actually sit down to watch movies, save up for at least a 1080p set. This Roku is a utility player, and it's great at that. Just don't ask it to be something it's not.