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Roku Streaming Stick and 4K Streaming Player
While it sounds like something to replace Zumba as the latest exercise craze, the “Roku box” (as some call it) is the easiest way to stream video to your television. Roku is a small square device for your television used to watch movies and TV shows through apps (also called channels.) For those looking to buy a new TV, a Roku TV has all the functionality of a Roku built into a quality TV.
When Roku came out in 2008, the only streaming service available was Netflix. Now, streaming internet TV has enjoyed widespread adoption. Today, there is very little content available on cable TV that you can’t stream with a Roku and watch on your TV.
The most important of which is the Roku OS software on each Roku box is the same. This means you will have the same channel availability and user experience no matter which Roku device you choose.
I’ll cover the Roku OS features later in the article. Roku also has a few remotes available on the market. While I touch upon the topic in this article, I put together a guide that covers Roku remote device compatibility in more detail.
Roku Express 4K+
The Roku Express 4K+ has 4K video in HDR with HDR10+ support, along with 802.11 ac wireless, and it’s priced under $40. These features and this price point make the Roku Express 4K+ my recommended streaming device for those not looking for a top-of-the-line device like the Roku Ultra.
The Roku Express 4K+ is perfect for entry-level streamers that want access to 4K video in HDR at a great price. For more details on this device check out our review of the Roku Express 4K+.
Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra was released in October of 2020. The device is regularly priced at $99, but you can order it from Amazon for under $70. It is Roku’s most powerful streaming device. The 2020 Roku Ultra boasts more memory and an enhanced processor. It has the most powerful processor of any of the new Roku devices. It also includes the following functionality
USB Storage – The Roku Ultra allows its USB 3.0 port to play video from an external hard drive. Roku Ultra supports FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and HFS+ drive formats.
