In addition to way too many streaming services, I have an outdoor antenna to pick up over-the-air TV broadcasts. Rather than distributing the signal via coax through the house, the signal is distributed over ethernet and the WiFi network courtesy of an HDHomeRun box. In order to access the OTA channels on the various TVs, HDHomeRun has apps for various streaming boxes. The problem is the app that they have for the Roku platform isn't very good. On certain channels, the Roku app throws a "malformed data" error that freezes the screen and does not automatically recover. This doesn't happen on the appletv app. You'll find discussions of the issue in Roku Community and Reddit. If you are to believe those discussions, the issue may have more to do with the Roku development environment rather than the HDHomeRun's manufacturer. It is such a specific issue that I didn't feel like the box merited any less than four stars. The box otherwise seems pretty great. It is a great price for an ethernet-capable box, particularly when compared to the appletv with an ethernet jack. The box and the remote are nice and responsive, and I think I prefer the Roku remote over the appletv remote. I like the user interface design too. The box is also pretty lightweight compared to the appletv, which makes mounting behind the tv easier. So if you don't have my specific setup--OTA TV distributed over the ethernet/WiFi network via an HDHomeRun--then I think you will like this box. But I wouldn't buy it if you do have my setup. I am probably going to return the Roku and splurge on an AppleTV since I know the app for that box works great. Read more

Really like the Roku because it is a great product and the ultra just shines as one of the best interactions with a different services I use for TV. Has great human factors designed so that things are easy to figure out and use. I prefer this over the USB plug-in ones for whatever reason seem to Run a little bit hotter, but I do live near the ocean and maybe salt air has some effect on those things. I have Roku on all my TVs, but I prefer the ultra as the best interaction. Read more

I purchased the Roku Ultra streaming device for a number of reasons, primarily due to its easy setup, backlit remote, rechargeable battery, and Bluetooth pairing to my wireless headphones. Once I set up the device, I found the menus relatively easily to navigate. Since I am an Amazon Prime Video user, I was pleased to see that the remote has a button for that app. All in all, I think I made a sound choice in spite of the rather high price. Over the long ran, it will have been well worth the cost! Read more

**Roku Ultra 2024 vs. Roku Ultra 4800x (2020) – A Worthy Upgrade** I recently upgraded from the Roku Ultra 4800x (2020) to the Roku Ultra 2024 edition after experiencing frequent HDCP errors and noticing a decline in processing speed. The new 2024 version is a significant improvement, and here’s why: **Performance** The Roku Ultra 2024 is much faster compared to the 4800x. Roku claims a 30% increase in speed, but in my experience, it feels more like a 50% boost. Navigating through apps is smooth and snappy, with near-instantaneous loading times for major streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, MAX, and Netflix. There's no buffering, and 4K resolution kicks in immediately—no pixelation or cloudy images, which is a big improvement over the 2020 model. It's worth noting that my fiber internet connection is 2000mbps, which may contribute to my flawless streaming experience. Still, the improvement in speed and performance is impressive. **Wi-Fi 6 & HDMI 2.1** This new edition supports Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1, which are great upgrades for future-proofing your system. I’m unsure if the included HDMI cable is fully 2.1 compatible, but I used my own HDMI 2.1 cable just to be safe. The inclusion of these modern standards is crucial for handling faster streaming and better video quality. ### **Installation** Setup was a breeze. Using my smartphone, I quickly linked the device to my existing Roku account, and it automatically downloaded all of my apps. The whole process was hassle-free, which is one of Roku's strengths. ### **Wi-Fi Compatibility** One thing to note: if you're relying on Wi-Fi instead of a wired connection, the Roku Ultra 2024 won’t detect 5GHz channels. It did, however, connect to my 2.4ghz Wi-Fi 6 network without issues. Just keep this in mind if you're trying to use a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection—this may not work as expected. **Connectivity** The device still features a USB 3.0 port and a 10/100 LAN port, which I found disappointing. If you’re looking to use a wired connection, the lack of a gigabit LAN is a noticeable shortfall. Given the improvements in Wi-Fi speed and capability, you’ll likely get faster performance through a high-speed wireless setup. **Comparison to Other Devices** Before this upgrade, I tried the Firestick 4K and Google Chromecast, but even my older Roku 4800x outperformed both. The Roku Ultra 2024 surpasses all of them in speed and reliability. However, if you're using a NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, I would recommend sticking with that device unless NVIDIA releases something new. The Shield is still a top performer for those invested in it. **Final Thoughts** The Roku Ultra 2024 edition is a worthy upgrade, especially if you’re coming from a device older than four years or using a "stick" version. It’s fast, future-proof with Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1, and makes navigating and streaming content seamless. My only critiques are the lack of 5GHz Wi-Fi detection and no gigabit LAN port. Otherwise, this is a powerful streaming device that should last for years to come. **Rating: 4.8/5** Read more

So far, so good. The last time I purchased Roku was 2019 and it didn't last very long. So I thought I would try a more expensive one. I really like the backlight on the remote. Now I don't have to have the lights on to be able to locate the buttons. That's a great help. It was really easy to connect to my tv and seems like the apps do load faster. The picture quality is great. I don't really use the volume control because I have a sound bar so I can't speak to that. Being able to recharge the remote is a plus. Read more