The new streaming device you want

When it comes to streaming devices, Roku continues to dominate market share in North America. Between ease of use, affordability, and format functionality, it’s hard to go wrong with any device in their lineup. At a certain point, however, speed and remote control matter most. If one of these things is a frustrating experience, the rest are no matter.

The all-new Roku Ultra (updated for 2024) nails both of these elements, while maintaining Roku’s continued level of quality and offering the full range of HDR formats, making it truly versatile for any TV.

Personnel selection

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/10

Roku Ultra is now updated for 2024 and boasts 30% faster internal functions and performance. The new streaming box has Wi-Fi 6 and an all-new second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, which has backlighting and USB-C charging, but loses the headphone jack in favor of a Bluetooth connection for private listening. Visually, Roku’s design remains almost exactly the same and continues to support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Benefits

• Faster than any other Roku device offering

• Voice Remote Pro is rechargeable with backlight

• Covers all major HDR formats

Disadvantages

• UX/UI is starting to feel outdated

• Build quality and design could be pushed further

Price, availability and specifications

One hundred dollars might actually be the sweet spot

The Roku Ultra (2024) might just be the most appropriately priced device I’ve come across in a while. Perhaps the gold standard for streaming devices, an Apple TV 4K is $30 more for its entry-level model, but doesn’t offer much more for the extra thirty dollars.

Roku promises their new Ultra is 30% faster than the previous edition and packs coverage for all major HDR formats for the best viewing on any TV brand (Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and more). Plus, you get Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 and a brand new voice remote control to keep up with that speed.

Specifications

Dimensions

4.9 x 5.0 x 1.0 inches

Mark

Roku

What is included

Voice Remote Pro, Power, HDMI cable

Audio outputs

Digital stereo over HDMI

WiFi

6

Ethernet

10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Ports

HDMI 2.1b, Ethernet, USB 3.0, Power

Resolution

Up to 2160p at 60fps (3840 x 2160) with upscaling from 720p and 1080p

Audio Support

DTS Digital Surround passes through HDMI, Dolby Atmos decoding via HDMI

HDR support

Supports Dolby Vision at 60fps, HDR10/10+ and HLG

What’s good about the Roku Ultra (2024)?

Speed ​​and compatibility are the name of the game

Standalone streaming devices need to be fast and easy to use, and the remote control needs to be easy to find and recharge. The Roku Ultra meets all of these needs.

During the setup process, Roku allows you to install all your apps so they’re ready to go when the rest of the system is available. I won’t give away every little detail, just know that all your favorite streaming services, including Apple TV+, are here for you to enjoy, along with Roku’s killer lineup of free programming and live TV.

But my favorite part might be the new, really useful Voice Remote Pro. It has a backlight that turns on when you pick it up, is USB-C rechargeable, has voice recognition and has dedicated buttons for the most popular apps. There is even one branded with a small rocket that can be customized. Oh, and it’s wonderful to find the remote from the base unit when it’s gone: just press a button on the box and the remote will play a sound to help you track it down.

Speed-wise, while not quite as fast as my Apple TV 4K, the difference is practically negligible after an app opens. Most of that slight slowdown comes from going from the Roku home screen to an apps splash screen. Once inside, you fly and content loads quickly. Some mileage may also vary depending on your home internet setup.

I also want to give a quick shout-out to Roku’s Guest Mode, which is a gift from an Airbnb. It allows you to enter a check-out date so that Roku automatically logs users out of all their accounts.

What’s Bad About Roku Ultra (2024)?

It’s time to rethink the Roku interface

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Well, the Rokus interface is starting to feel dated, even though it still works. While it’s not as packed with ads and suggestions as Amazon and Google’s streaming box offerings, it’s hard not to go for Apple’s ultra-clean interface once you use it.

However, my kids quickly got the hang of the navigation and they like the Roku backgrounds and animations. But sometimes they can make everything feel a bit rushed.

Hardware-wise, you’ll save the extra $30 by not opting for something like the Apple TV 4K (and more Nvidia shield) definitely comes from build quality. While everything generally feels nice and sturdy, there’s just a lot of plastic and a lack of heft. It would be nice to get something interesting out of the design other than plain black plastic, especially for the remote control.

I should mention that while the remote worked right out of the box, it wasn’t paired as a Voice Remote Pro until I removed it and re-set it later in the settings menu. Something happened during the initial setup; The Roku was confusing my TV speakers with my soundbar (eARC) while trying to get the remote to also control TV functions like power and volume. I had to skip it in the middle of the process as it kept trying new codes repeatedly.

It wasn’t until I unplugged my soundbar and used only my internal tv speakers to work with the notifications that i got it fully connected.

Should you buy it?

It’s a simple decision

Normally, as a budget-minded parent, I’d just tell you to go for something cheaper like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+. It may be slower, but it does a lot of what the Ultra does. But as someone who actively loves my home TV setup, I want to make sure my experience is the best. The Roku Ultra is the best Roku has to offer in terms of speed and functionality, and the new Voice Remote Pro is truly amazing. Plus, I know the content will look great because the Roku Ultra covers the full game of HDR functionality.

But if you’re looking for something a little more elegantly designed, along with a cleaner interface, spending the extra money on an Apple TV 4K might be worth it. Amazon has its Fire TV series of possibilitiesand Google with their Google TV Streamer, but they are bogged down by clunky interfaces with too many ads and recommendations. In the end, I really think the Roku Ultra is the best choice for most users right now.

Personnel selection

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/10

Roku Ultra is now updated for 2024 and boasts 30% faster internal functions and performance. The new streaming box has Wi-Fi 6 and an all-new second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, which has backlighting and USB-C charging, but loses the headphone jack in favor of a Bluetooth connection for private listening. Visually, Roku’s design remains almost exactly the same and continues to support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+.