When it comes to streaming devices, Roku continues to dominate market share in North America. Between the ease of use, affordability, and format functionality, it’s hard to go wrong with any device in their lineup. At some point, however, performance speed and remote control matter most. If any one of these things is a frustrating experience, the rest doesn’t matter.

The new Roku Ultra (updated for 2024) captures both, while maintaining Roku’s ongoing level of quality and offering the full range of HDR formats that make it truly versatile for any TV.

Staff selection

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/10

Now updated for 2024, Roku Ultra boasts 30% faster internals and performance. The new streaming box has Wi-Fi 6 and a brand new second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, which has a backlight 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 it continues to support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Pro

• Faster than all other Roku device offerings

• Voice Remote Pro is rechargeable with backlight

• Covers all major HDR formats

Cons

• UX/UI is starting to feel outdated

• Build quality and design could be pushed further

Price, availability and specifications

A hundred dollars might be the sweet spot, actually

The Roku Ultra (2024) might just be the most reasonably priced device we’ve come across in a while. A Apple TV 4Kwhich is probably the gold standard for streaming devices, it’s $30 more for its entry level, but it doesn’t offer much more for the extra thirty dollars.

Roku promises that their new Ultra is 30% faster than the previous edition and offers coverage for all major HDR formats for optimal viewing on any TV brand (Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and more). Plus, you’ve got Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and a brand new voice remote to go along with that speed boost.

Specifications

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

Speed ​​and compatibility are the name of the game

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

During the setup process, Roku lets you install all the apps so they’re ready to go when the rest of the system is available. I won’t give you every detail, just know that all your favorite streaming services, including Apple TV+, are here for you to enjoy, along with Rokus 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 lights up when you pick it up, is rechargeable via USB-C, has voice recognition and has dedicated buttons for the most popular apps. There’s even one labeled with a little rocket that can be customized. Oh, and finding the remote from the base unit when it’s lost is great: just press a button on the box and the remote plays a sound to help you find it.

Speed-wise, while it’s not as fast as my Apple TV 4K, the difference is practically negligible after opening an app. Most of the slight slowdown comes from switching from the Roku home screen to an app input screen. Once you’re inside, you’ll 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 the Rokus Guest mode, which is a Godsend on an Airbnb. Allows entering a check-out date so that Roku automatically logs users out of all their accounts.

What’s wrong with the 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 outdated, even if it still works. Even though it is not as criticized with ads and suggestions as Amazon and Google streaming box offers, it’s hard not to doubt Apple’s ultra-clean interface once you’ve used it.

My kids picked up the navigation quickly and love the Roku backgrounds and animations. However, they can sometimes make everything feel a little busy.

Hardware-wise, that extra $30 saves you if you don’t go for something like the Apple TV 4K (and more for Nvidia Shield) definitely comes from the build quality. While everything generally feels good and sturdy, there’s just a lot of plastic and a lack of weight. It would be nice to get something interesting from the design aside from the basic black plastic, especially for the remote.

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

It wasn’t until I unplugged my soundbar and used it only my internal tv speakers to work with prompts that i have it fully plugged in.

Should you buy it?

It’s a simple decision

Normally, as a parent on a budget, I’d say go with something cheaper like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+. It may be slower, but it does a lot of what the Ultra does. However, as someone who actively loves their home TV setup, I want to make sure my experience is the best it can be. The Roku Ultra is the best Roku has to offer in terms of speed and functionality, and the new Voice Pro remote is really cool. Plus, I know the content will look great because the Roku Ultra covers the full gambit of HDR functionality.

But if you’re looking for a slightly sleeker design along with a cleaner interface, spending the extra cash on an Apple TV 4K might be worth it. Amazon has his Fire TV line of optionsand Google with Google TV Streamer, but are bogged down by clunky interfaces with too many ads and recommendations. In the end, I truly believe that the Roku Ultra is the best choice for most users right now.

Staff selection

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/10

Now updated for 2024, Roku Ultra boasts 30% faster internals and performance. The new streaming box has Wi-Fi 6 and a brand new second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, which has a backlight 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 it continues to support HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+.