2 years after the previous model, Roku announced on Sept 24th the release of an upgraded for their top-tier streaming device: Roku Ultra (2024)
Read also: The 2024 Roku Ultra: the streaming player you love just got better (Roku)
What’s new?
The new features compared to the Roku Ultra 2022 model:
- New quad core processor (announced 30% faster)
- Wi-Fi 6
- Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition), backlit
- Lost Remote finder feature
Read Also: Roku Ultra (2022) review (Streaming etc.)
The Roku developer website has not been updated yet and I couldn’t find any information about the hardware to verify the 30% faster claim. I’ll update the article as soon as I’m able to find the details on the CPU and RAM. (Model: 4850X)
The remote control is definitely a nice upgrade, especially since it’s backlit, very few devices offer that comfort but the NVIDIA Shield.
Slight disappointment on the network side. Despite Wi-Fi 6 being a nice addition, Wi-Fi 6e or even Wi-Fi 7, already available, would have been better. Especially since Roku cheaped out with the 100mbps Ethernet instead of a Gigabit Ethernet… it’s still more than enough for 99% of the users but we would expect more for a flagship product and could easily be a dealbreaker for any users using Plex to stream 4K content.
So, should you upgrade?
In my opinion, the device upgrade falls short on innovations and I personally am in no rush to test the device. The previous Roku Ultra still offers a solid experience and the upgrade does not feel significant enough.
The emphasis is made on the faster device, but I have never experienced any latency with the previous model 🤷♂️
Sure, it has a great usb-c, backlit remote I’m sort of excited about but that’s about it. If the 2022 model still works great for your needs, keep it and wait for the next version. But if you’re new in the market for the best Roku device, this is it. If you’re not a Roku maniac, I would look into the Apple TV (2022) or NVIDIA Shield (2019), more expensive but they offer a lot more for the price.
More opinions on the Roku Ultra 2024:
“The latest top-level Roku has a fancy, backlit remote and a speed bump, but it’s still not the best value in the company’s lineup.”
Find the Roku Ultra and more details on the Roku website: https://www.roku.com/en-ca/products/roku-ultra
More discussions on Reddit about the Roku Ultra 2024: