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The TCL 65S41 is a 65-inch 4K Roku TV that TCL built for Walmart in 2022 as a cheaper spinoff of its 4-Series, and in 2026 it’s worth buying only at a deep discount. It became a Black Friday favorite after Walmart dropped it to $228 in November 2022, a remarkable price for a screen this size. This TCL 65S41 review explains what the TV actually offers, where it cuts corners, how it differs from the newer 65S41BR that Walmart sells today, and which budget 65-inch TVs give you more for similar money in 2026.
Quick verdict: The 65S41 gives you a big 4K screen, four High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) ports, and the simple Roku interface for very little money. It’s dim, it has no local dimming or Dolby Vision, and its viewing angles are narrow, so it works best as a casual TV for a dim room. Buy it only at a deep discount. Check the TCL 65S41 price on Amazon.
Key takeaways
- What it is: A 2022 Walmart-exclusive 65-inch 4K Roku TV with a 60Hz panel, four HDMI ports, and no local dimming.
- Price: Walmart dropped it to $228 in November 2022, and Walmart listed the newer 65S41BR at $298. Prices change often.
- Main strengths: Four HDMI ports, the simple Roku interface with AirPlay and HomeKit support, and low input lag (14.1 milliseconds on the related 43S435 in Tom’s Guide’s testing).
- Main weaknesses: A dim picture (about 292 nits on the related 43S435 in Tom’s Guide’s testing), no Dolby Vision or local dimming, and narrow viewing angles.
- Successor: Walmart now sells the 65S41BR, which adds an enhanced audio return channel (eARC) port and DTS passthrough, according to TCL.
TCL 65S41 at a glance
| Spec | TCL 65S41 |
|---|---|
| Release | 2022 Walmart exclusive (now replaced by the 65S41BR) |
| Screen | 65-inch class (64.5 inches diagonal), 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD), 3840 x 2160 |
| Backlight | Direct-lit light-emitting diode (LED) with no local dimming |
| Refresh rate | 60 hertz (Hz) native; “Motion Rate 120” is processing, not a 120Hz panel |
| High dynamic range (HDR) | HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG); no Dolby Vision or HDR10+ |
| Inputs | Four HDMI ports (one with audio return channel), one Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, composite video, antenna, and Ethernet |
| Audio outputs | Optical digital audio and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack |
| Gaming | Auto Game Mode (auto low latency mode, or ALLM); no variable refresh rate (VRR) |
| Smart platform | Roku TV with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit support; works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Wireless | Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 |
| Wall mount | Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) 200 x 200 millimeters |
Specs come from Tom’s Guide’s 65S41 deal coverage, Walmart’s listing, and TCL’s spec sheet for the 65S41BR, which shares the S41 platform. TCL never published a full spec sheet for the original 65S41 that is still online, so a few details come from its close relatives.
Where the 65S41 fits in TCL’s lineup
TCL sold its 2022 4-Series as the S455 at most retailers. The S41 series (55S41 and 65S41) went to Walmart as a stripped-down version for holiday sales, and one Slickdeals commenter couldn’t find it on TCL’s main site at launch. It keeps the core S455 recipe: 4K resolution, Roku TV, and a 60Hz panel. Differences come down to minor picture tuning and the parts list, which TCL never fully disclosed.
Don’t confuse it with the TCL S470G, a 2023 warehouse club model that runs Google TV, or with TCL’s 2022 5-Series. Our TCL 65S555 review covers that step-up model, which adds quantum dot color and full-array local dimming.
65S41 vs. 65S41BR
Walmart now sells a newer version called the 65S41BR under TCL’s S4 Class name. It sticks with Roku, four HDMI ports, and a 60Hz panel, but TCL’s spec sheet lists an enhanced audio return channel (eARC) port, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS passthrough, and a lighter 27.6-pound chassis. Walmart listed it at $298, although it showed as out of stock when we checked. If you find both, the BR model is the safer buy because it’s newer and still supported. You can search current stock at Walmart.
Design and setup
The 65S41 uses a plain black plastic cabinet with slim borders on three sides. Two feet sit near the outer edges. On the 65S41BR, those feet sit about 50.2 inches apart, and the TV measures about 56.9 inches wide, so you need a console at least that wide. Our guide to the best TV stands for a 65-inch TV can help if your furniture comes up short.
Wall mounting is easy thanks to the small 200 x 200 VESA pattern and light weight. The inputs face sideways from a bump on the back, so leave a little room behind the TV or use right-angle HDMI adapters. Most mounts in our best TV wall mounts for 65-inch TVs guide fit, and you can also shop 65-inch TV wall mounts on Amazon.
Ports and connectivity
Four HDMI ports are generous for a TV this cheap; many budget LG and Samsung sets have only two or three. One HDMI port supports the audio return channel, so a soundbar can play TV audio and you can control its volume with the Roku remote. The 2022 model’s port supports standard ARC, which carries compressed Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus form but not lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD. If lossless audio matters, connect your Blu-ray player directly to your receiver. You also get optical audio, a headphone jack, one USB port, Ethernet, a composite input, and an antenna connector.
Roku TV smart features
Roku remains one of the easiest smart platforms to use. Apps and inputs sit in a simple grid, and you can turn off personalized ads and content suggestions in the privacy settings, though the home screen still shows sponsored tiles. The TV supports Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant speakers. Walmart’s listing points to the free Roku mobile app for voice search and private listening, which plays TV audio through headphones connected to your phone. Our smart TV vs. Roku TV guide explains how Roku compares with Google TV and other platforms.
Picture quality
No major lab reviewed the 65S41 itself, but Tom’s Guide tested a closely related TCL 4-Series Roku TV (the 43S435). It measured about 292 nits of brightness, near-complete coverage of the Rec. 709 color space used for HD content, and decent color accuracy. Those results line up with what owners report on the 65S41: natural color for the price, but limited punch.
That low brightness is the main weakness. HDR10 content looks only slightly different from standard video because the TV can’t produce bright highlights, and it lacks Dolby Vision. It also has no local dimming, so it can’t darken parts of the screen independently; our explainer on what local dimming is covers why that matters. In a dark room, blacks look reasonably deep for the price. In a bright room with windows, glare and reflections wash the picture out.
Viewing angles are narrow. One Slickdeals buyer returned a 55S41 because the picture looked poor at even a slight angle, a common trait of vertical alignment (VA) panels. Sit near the center of the screen for the best results.
Gaming and motion
Roku’s Auto Game Mode switches the TV to its low-lag setting when a console starts a game. Tom’s Guide measured 14.1 milliseconds (ms) of input lag on the related 43S435, which feels responsive for casual play. The 60Hz panel caps games at 60 frames per second (fps), though, and there’s no VRR to smooth out frame drops. If you own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and want 120fps, read our guide to 60Hz vs. 120Hz TVs.
Sound
The S41 platform uses two 10-watt speakers with Dolby Digital Plus processing, according to TCL’s 65S41BR spec sheet. They handle dialogue well enough for news and sitcoms but lack bass for movies. A Roku-compatible soundbar connected to the ARC port is the easiest upgrade.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very low price for a 65-inch 4K TV
- Four HDMI ports
- Simple, fast Roku interface
- AirPlay and HomeKit support
- Low input lag with Auto Game Mode
- Light and easy to wall mount
Cons
- Dim picture with weak HDR
- No Dolby Vision or local dimming
- Narrow viewing angles
- 60Hz panel with no VRR
- Poor reflection handling in bright rooms
- Sponsored tiles on the home screen
TCL 65S41 vs. current budget 65-inch TVs
Amazon is our main affiliate partner, and it carries most of the best budget 65-inch TVs. Here’s how the 65S41 compares with newer models:
Compare similar budget 65-inch TVs on Amazon
| TV | Display type | Smart platform | Best for | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCL 65S41 (2022) | LED, 60Hz | Roku TV | Deep clearance or used bargains | Check price |
| TCL 65S41BR | LED, 60Hz | Roku TV | The newer version of the same TV | Check price |
| Roku 65-inch Select Series | LED, 60Hz | Roku TV | Roku fans who want Roku’s own hardware | Check price |
| TCL 65-inch Q65 (Q651G) | Quantum dot LED (QLED), 60Hz | Google TV | Dolby Vision and richer color | Check price |
| Hisense 65-inch QD6 | QLED, 60Hz | Fire TV | Alexa households | Check price |
| TCL 65-inch QM6K | QLED with Mini LED local dimming, up to 144Hz | Google TV | Gaming and HDR for a bit more money | Check price |
- TCL Q65: It adds quantum dot color, Dolby Vision, and VRR for a small premium. Our TCL Q5 review covers its predecessor. See the TCL Q65 on Amazon.
- Roku Select Series: Roku designs this TV itself, so it keeps the same interface with a newer chassis. See the Roku Select Series on Amazon.
- TCL QM6K: Its Mini LED backlight and local dimming deliver far brighter HDR and much better contrast, plus high refresh rate gaming. See the TCL QM6K on Amazon.
For more options, see our picks for the best 65-inch TVs under $1,000.
Who should buy the TCL 65S41?
Buy the 65S41 if you find it used or on clearance for around $200 and want a big screen for a bedroom, basement, or kids’ room where you watch mostly from the center. It’s also a sensible pick for Roku fans who need four HDMI ports for a cable box, game console, and streaming gear.
Skip it if your room gets lots of daylight, if you care about HDR movies, or if you play games at 120fps. The newer 65S41BR costs about the same, and a TCL Q65 or QM6K looks noticeably better for a little more.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TCL 65S41 a Roku TV or a Google TV?
The TCL 65S41 is a Roku TV, not a Google TV. TCL’s Google TV models from the same era use names ending in G, such as the S446 and S470G.
Does the TCL 65S41 support Dolby Vision?
No, the TCL 65S41 doesn’t support Dolby Vision. It supports HDR10 and HLG only. For Dolby Vision on a budget, look at the TCL Q65.
What’s the difference between the 65S41 and 65S41BR?
The 65S41BR is the newer Walmart version. It keeps the Roku platform and four HDMI ports and adds an eARC port and broader audio passthrough, including DTS, according to TCL.
What wall mount fits the TCL 65S41?
The TCL 65S41 uses a VESA 200 x 200 pattern and weighs under 30 pounds, so almost any mount rated for 65-inch TVs works.
Final verdict
The TCL 65S41 delivered a lot of screen for very little money in 2022, with accurate color, low input lag, four HDMI ports, and Roku’s easy interface. Its dim panel, narrow viewing angles, and lack of Dolby Vision and local dimming keep it in casual territory, and the newer 65S41BR has replaced it. Grab one only at a bargain price. Check the current TCL 65S41 price on Amazon, or check stock at Walmart.