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TCL 3-Series Smart Roku LED TV Review: Best for Sports

Searching for the best TV to watch sports? Then the TCL 49S325 Smart Roku TV is the ultimate pick.

TCL 3-Series Smart Roku LED TV

TCL 3-Series Smart Roku LED TV

This TV is best for watching sports thanks to its 1080p resolution coupled with a 60Hz refresh rate.

  • Brand: TCL
  • Product number: 49S325
  • Screen sizes: 32"/ 40"/ 43"/ 49"

Evaluation

The TCL 49S325 runs on the smart and intuitive Roku TV interface. This gives you access to a vast collection of streaming apps. The TV is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, which allow you to control your TV and other smart home devices using your voice. On the flip side, the TV is not HDR compatible, limiting you from watching HDR movies and shows. It also doesn’t get very bright, so it does not fight glare well when put in a brightly lit room.

Pros

  • Intuitive Roku TV interface
  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
  • Has a powerful mobile app

Cons

  • Not HDR-compatible
  • Doesn’t get very bright
4.0/5
Overall
Features
4
Design
4
Ease of use
4
Value for money
4

The details

Just because a TV is ranked the best in the market doesn’t necessarily make it suitable for watching sports. Sure, these TVs might offer a cinematic experience but sports watching is an entirely different animal.

The reason for this is that televised sport includes a great deal of on-screen motion. In other words, images are constantly in motion. It means a TV should be able to handle motion well.

Thankfully, the TCL 49S325 passes with flying colors when it comes to motion handling. Plus, it has several other features that make it ideal for sports watching. Read on to learn more about this TV.

Design

When watching sports, the bigger the TV, the better the experience, and this 49-inch TCL is big enough to give you a unique and immersive experience.

The TV also has a sleek design,  making it stand out. Thin plastic bezels surround the screen, and they are not distracting when you are watching. It also has wide, V-shaped feet that provide firm support to the television.  

Features

This TCL features a 1080p full HD resolution, which delivers all your content in amazing detail, color, and contrast. Its ability to showcase images with such remarkable clarity is one of the reasons why it’s great for watching sports.

Another factor that helps is the 60Hz refresh rate. It means you can watch fast-moving content, especially sports, with zero motion blur.

It also features a built-in Roku TV and a vast library of streaming apps. With this, you get access to more than 5,000 streaming channels; hence, making it easy to find your favorite sports channels.

Other than streaming, you have the option of paying for cable or having a satellite subscription to watch your favorite shows. You can also watch free over-the-air channels thanks to the built-in tuner.

Ease of use

Roku will walk you through the initial setup process, including connecting to your home Wi-Fi and software updates. Since most streaming apps are built-in, getting them is easy and quick.

The TV is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can use your voice to navigate the countless channels, search for your favorite TV shows and control other TV functions.  

It comes with a small remote control with just 20 buttons, making it easy to navigate. You can use your smartphone as a remote by downloading Roku’s powerful mobile app, which also has voice control.

Value

This TCL is a premium-quality TV with high-tech features, including the Roku TV platform and a powerful mobile app. But despite all these wonderful features, it is still reasonably priced, giving you great value for money.

Final verdict

The TCL 49S325 is designed for homeowners who like watching televised sports. It comes in a 49-inch size, which is decent enough for this application.

More importantly, it has a 60Hz refresh rate, reducing the risk of motion blur to zero. And, it’s very fairly-priced so you won’t end up spending too much on your new TV.

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