Metz Roku TV MRD6000 Review: A Budget-Friendly Gem?

Are you tired of navigating through complicated Smart TV interfaces that seem to require a Ph.D. in technology? Or perhaps you’re simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of options in the TV market, each claiming to be the ‘next big thing’ – for a steep price?

Introducing the Metz Roku TV: A budget-friendly, user-centric Smart TV that promises to ease your streaming experience. Thanks to Roku’s renowned operating system baked right in, this TV aims to eliminate the complexities and frustrations often associated with Smart TVs.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive deep into everything the Metz Roku TV has to offer – from its picture and sound quality to its user interface and channel availability. I’ll also address some of its shortcomings, so you can make an informed decision.

So, if you’re looking for a one-and-done TV solution that combines affordability with ease of use, keep reading.

Who Is The Metz Roku TV For?

Practically all TVs are “Smart” these days – that is, they come with streaming apps. But the major differentiation between TVs nowadays (aside from the hardware qualities) is the operating system.

Some TVs come with their own in-house operating system – but the big fight is between the two streaming OS behemoths – Amazon’s Fire TV and Roku (with Google’s Android TV lagging behind).

Roku is one of the leading streaming device manufacturers in the US. Worldwide, Roku reported more than 60 million active accounts in the 4th quarter of 2022, and numbers have been growing.

Roku’s primary hardware business is the set-top streaming devices market, with the Roku Express, Roku Express 4K and Roku Streaming Stick 4K (see our full Roku comparison). 

But why buy a standalone stick – when you can get Roku already baked into your TV? Which is why Roku has been partnering with TV manufacturers – such as Metz.

METZ (which is owned by Skyworth), one of the longest-established TV manufacturers in Europe, announced its inaugural line of Roku TVs late last year: the 4K UHD MRD6000 series, available in 43″, 50″, 55″ and 65″ sizes, and the 2K Full HD MTD6000 series, available in 32″ and 40″ sizes.

After some delays, the TVs are finally here, and I was able to test the 4K, 43″ model.

Looking at the price points (£269 for the 43″, up to £479 for the 65″ model), this line is certainly positioned as a Budget line. You’re getting 4K / HDR LED picture quality (it’s decent – but don’t expect the moon), and even acceptable sound for tiny TV speakers – but the main event is the Roku interface.

As I often say in my Roku reviews, Roku’s the best choice for those looking for a simple, easy to use streaming operating system.

And that’s doubly true for Roku TVs – they certainly pass the ‘Grandparents’ test (that is – your visiting grandparents will be able to operate the TV without endless phone calls where you need to explain an input switching button on the remote).

It’s fairly easy to find a streaming app when you turn on the TV, and it’s also easy to find live TV (as long as you have an aerial connected, with decent aerial reception) – although Roku missed a beat with the Freeview Play integration (see more on that below).

And, with this being a Roku device, you get Roku’s enormous compatibility, with thousands of supported streaming apps and channels – including, of course, all the major broadcasters like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and others.

So if you’re in the market for a one-and-done TV that won’t require a standalone streaming stick, and is easy to operate – the Metz Roku TV is an interesting option – if you’re willing to ignore some of the places where they had to cut corners for cost.

Let’s take a closer look…

Setting Up The Metz Roku TV

At 6kg, the 43″ Metz Roku TV is quite lightweight (the other sizes are also fairly light). The TV comes with two stands, one for each side – which is something to keep in mind when you’re planning where to place it.

In the box, you get the power cable, the remote, an RCA cable (why?), and that’s about it – if you want to connect an aerial, you’ll have to bring your own cables – and that’s also true if you want to connect an Ethernet cable.

In terms of ports, the 4K variant comes with 3 HDMI ports (one supports eArc), two USB ports (you can use a USB stick for Live Pause), an Ethernet port, and an Optical audio port so you can easily connect an external soundbar.

True to its intention of being an easy-to-use TV, the initial setup of the Metz Roku TV is quite straightforward – you start by connecting it to broadband (either via Ethernet or WiFi) – remember, this is a Smart TV, so there’s no point in getting it if you don’t plan to connect it to broadband.

At that point – it’s time to connect it to Roku’s servers.

Signing Up And Installing Channels

To begin, you need to sign in to your Roku account (which you’ll have to create on your desktop/smartphone if you don’t already have one). 

This is a sore point for some, as you can’t create a Roku account without a payment method (a credit/debit card number or PayPal).

While this makes future content purchases easier, some people aren’t too keen on giving their payment details before they have had a chance to see what the device does – but that’s how most streaming devices operate these days.

Once you sign in, Roku will install some of the “default” channels (in Roku’s world, apps are called channels), and if you have another Roku device (or ever had one), the Metz TV will remember the channels you chose in the past, and will install those as well – so you can start right where you left off.

Once all that’s done, you will finally go to Roku’s “Homescreen” – which you can customise to your liking, by choosing different themes (there are plenty of choices, which is fun), and your very own screensaver.

With this being a TV, the top tiles will be dedicated to the HDMI ports (so you can connect 3rd party devices like Sky Q or Sky Stream, for example), and the Live TV part – which requires an aerial.

If you have an aerial and decent reception – you can continue to that stage, and let the TV scan for Freeview channels.

Using The Metz Roku TV

Most of Roku’s streaming devices are known for their seamless performance, and the Roku brains inside the Metz TV are no exception.

The interface is quite responsive, with menus gliding effortlessly and apps launching fast. It’s not AS FAST as some top-tier standalone streaming devices (like the Amazon Fire TV Cube or Apple TV) – but it’s certainly better than many old-school Smart TVs that have their own cumbersome (and slow) interface.

Booting up is particularly fast – as the main Roku OS goes to sleep rather than turn itself off completely – therefore when you press the On button on the remote, you get to the main Roku homescreen almost instantly.

Speaking of the remote – the Metz Roku TV remote is a mesh-up of Roku’s familiar remote and a TV remote.

You get Roku’s usual set of buttons – including one for going Home, navigational buttons, a “Go Back One Step” button, and 4 shortcut buttons that will load (as of this writing) Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and Spotify.

And since this is a TV – you also get Volume buttons, Channel up and down buttons (mostly for the live Freeview section), channel numbers, and colour-coded action buttons.

Sadly, this is NOT a voice remote – therefore you can’t use voice commands or voice search (unless you use Roku’s smartphone app to control the TV – which you can).

The Roku Interface

The Roku interface on the Metz TV is refreshingly straightforward. The main home screen features a grid of your installed channels/apps, tiles for the HDMI ports and live TV, and that’s about it.

Unlike other platforms (I’m looking at you, Fire TV) that push their own services, Roku allows you to customize your home screen freely.

Installing a new channel is simple, and it will appear at the bottom of your channel list, allowing you to then move it wherever you prefer – so you can instantly access the apps/channels you watch the most.

And if you connect a 3rd party device via HDMI such as a pay-TV box, a video game console, etc. (I tested this with Sky Stream) – it will get its own named tile on the home screen.

Roku’s interface hasn’t changed much over the years, which could be a pro or a con depending on your perspective. However, its simplicity makes it accessible even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Channel Availability

The Metz Roku TV, like any Roku-based device, supports a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+. It also features “The Roku Channel,” a free ad-supported service that offers a variety of TV shows, movies, and Roku Originals.

The Roku Store on the Metz TV offers a plethora of apps, but the lack of curation means you’ll find a mix of both high-quality and less desirable apps.

While all apps undergo basic security checks, navigating through the store can sometimes be a challenge.

And while the TV primarily focuses on video streaming apps, you’ll also find some basic games, fitness apps, and even weather services. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no built-in VPN support or internet browser.

With the TV’s OS being handled by Roku, you can rely on it being updated for many years to come (though not forever, mind you) – this solves a common issue, where some Smart TVs stop being updated after just a few years, with streaming apps no longer working (case in point: last year’s ITV Hub debacle on Samsung TVs).

Freeview Play On The Metz Roku TV

With this being a Freeview Play device, you also get some integration between the live TV guide and the UK broadcasters’ streaming apps – though it does get a bit confusing…

Freeview Play is an extension to Freeview, that combines over-the-air Freeview channels with over 60,000 hours of on-demand content that you stream via the internet.

Unlike the “linear” version of Freeview, which only requires an aerial and a Freeview tuner (either on your TV on via a set-top Freeview box), Freeview Play also requires an internet connection.

Once you have everything connected, both Freeview and Freeview Play are free to watch, without any monthly subscriptions (though you would still need to pay the TV Licence in most cases).

Freeview Play includes catch-up services from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, as well as on-demand apps like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS Catchup and more.

And this is where things get confusing: Most of these apps are already available on the “traditional” Roku apps section – there’s an iPlayer app, ITVX app, etc.

Then there’s a separate “Freeview Play” menu section on the TV, that shows you… all the apps that are officially part of Freeview Play. Why would you need them in a separate section?

Then there’s the live TV integration – if you connect an aerial and scan for channels, you’ll get the live TV guide (the EPG) where you can jump between channels to watch live shows.

If a specific channel has an app (iPlayer for BBC, ITVX for ITV, etc.) then you can jump directly from a show’s name on the EPG to its catch-up version on the app, and basically “go back in time” to stream older shows – even though there’s no actual recording on the Metz Roku TV.

Since the METZ Roku TV doesn’t have a hard drive, there are no built-in Freeview recording capabilities. But if you connect a USB stick, you can at least use it to pause live TV (and then rewind and fast forward), for up to 90 minutes.

It’s a shame Metz didn’t go the extra step and allow true recording (by connecting an external hard drive, for example). As it stands, you need a 16GB USB stick at the very least, for the live pause function – but even if you connect a 1TB drive – you will still only get Live Pause for 90 minutes, and not actual recording.

Also, I think Roku and Metz missed a beat by not making better integrations between the Freeview part and Roku’s OS.

You can’t, for example, mark programmes on the Freeview EPG and add them to Roku’s “My Feed” (which is sort of a TV favourites list), and you can’t even mark watch reminders in the EPG (if you want to get a notification when a live TV show you’re interested in is starting) – something that’s available in almost every decent Freeview box.

At the moment, the Roku part and the Freeview Play part feel like two disconnected limbs – the search, for example, is also completely separate.

You can go into the Freeview Play Search (which is somewhat hidden) if you want to look for information about upcoming live shows – but then if you use the global Roku search, it will only search for content on supported streaming apps – and will NOT search for anything on the Live TV guide.

It’s a pity Roku (as well as Amazon with its Fire TV televisions) isn’t pushing for better integration with Freeview. 

Roku Metz TV Picture And Sound Quality

The 4K /HDR models support HDR10 and HLG but lack Dolby Vision.

The panel brightness is rated at 250 cd/m² across all models. While HDR performance is satisfactory, the TV struggles with glare, particularly in well-lit rooms, and the black levels leave something to be desired.

This could be a significant drawback for daytime viewers or those without the luxury of a dark viewing environment.

With a 50/60 Hz refresh rate and a typical response time ranging from 8 to 9 ms depending on the model, the Metz Roku TV offers smooth motion handling.

However, it may not be the best choice for fast-paced action scenes or sports content – and it’s not ideal for next-generation gaming (on a PS5, for example).

The TV offers decent viewing angles, ranging from 176° to 178°. This means the picture quality remains consistent even when viewed from the side, making it suitable for larger living spaces.

All in all, the picture quality is good but not exceptional. The 4K content looks vibrant, but it lacks the crispness found in more premium models.

The glare issue could be a deal-breaker for some, especially if you’re planning to watch TV in a bright room.

As for the sound, the Metz Roku TV comes equipped with two integrated speakers, delivering a music output power of 2 x 10W for most models and 2 x 8W for the 43-inch model.

It supports Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital, but not Dolby Atmos.

While the sound quality is not groundbreaking, it is louder than expected, making it sufficient for everyday use – and, you can always add a 3rd party soundbar for improved sound levels, especially with the digital audio out port.

The Bottom Line: Is The Metz Roku TV Good Enough?

The Metz Roku TV offers a compelling package for those looking for a budget-friendly, user-friendly Smart TV.

With Roku’s operating system at its core, the TV provides a seamless and intuitive user experience that even passes the ‘Grandparents’ test.

Its setup is straightforward, and the range of available apps and channels is impressive, making it a one-stop solution for all your streaming needs.

However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The picture quality, while good, doesn’t quite match up to more premium models, especially in well-lit rooms where glare becomes an issue.

The sound is decent but not groundbreaking, although it’s louder than you might expect from a TV in this price range.

Freeview Play integration could be smoother, and the lack of voice control on the remote might be a letdown for some.

In summary, if you’re in the market for an affordable, easy-to-use Smart TV and can overlook some minor shortcomings in picture and sound quality, the Metz Roku TV is worth considering.

It’s particularly well-suited for those who prioritize a simple, straightforward streaming experience. But if top-tier picture and sound are what you’re after, you might want to explore other, more premium options.

At the moment, it’s also a bit difficult to find – it’s available on retail chains such as Euronics, but it’s not available yet on big online stores such as Amazon and Argos.

Note: The Metz Roku TV was supplied by the manufacturer for this review. As always, this did not influence my unbiased opinion of the product.