Review: The updated Roku Ultra is still the best jack-of-all-trades streaming device (2024)

When it comes to streaming devices, Roku continues to dominate the 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, though, performance speed and the remote matter the most. If either of those things is a frustrating experience, the rest of it doesn't matter.

The brand new Roku Ultra (updated for 2024) nails both of those elements, while maintaining Roku's continued quality level and offering the full range of HDR formats that make it truly versatile for any TV set.

Staff pick

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/ 10

$90 $100 Save $10

Now updated for 2024, the 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, the Roku's design remains almost exactly the same and continues to support HDR formats such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Pros

• Faster than all other Roku device offerings
• Wi-Fi 6
• Voice Remote Pro is rechargeable w/ backlight
• Priced competitively
• Covers all major HDR formats

Cons

• UX/UI is starting to feel outdated
• Build quality and design could be pushed further

$90 at Amazon

Price, availability, and specs

A hundred dollars might be the sweet spot, actually

The Roku Ultra (2024) might just be the most appropriately priced device I’ve come across in a while. An Apple TV 4K, which is perhaps the gold standard for streaming devices, is 30 dollars more for its base level but doesn’t offer much more for that extra thirty bucks.

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

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

Speed and compatibility are the names of the game

Standalone streaming devices should be snappy and easy to use, and the remote should be easily found and recharged. 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 provide every little detail — just know all of 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, truly 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 labeled with a little rocket that can be customized. Oh, and finding the remote from the base unit when it's lost is wonderful: just press a button on the box and the remote plays a sound to help you track it down.

See Also

Roku vs Fire Stick: Which one is best for your streaming needs in 2024?

Speed-wise, while not quite as fast as my Apple TV 4K, the difference is virtually negligible after an app opens. Most of the slight slowdown comes from getting from the Roku home screen to an app’s splash screen. Once you’re inside, you’ll be flying, and content loads quickly. Some mileage may vary depending on your home internet setup, too.

Also, I want to give a quick shout-out to Roku’s Guest Mode, which is a godsend at an Airbnb. It allows for a check-out date to be entered, so the 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 isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right? Well, the Roku’s interface is starting to feel outdated even if it does still work. Even though it isn’t as slammed with ads and suggestions as Amazon and Google's streaming box offerings, it’s hard not to pine after Apple’s ultra-clean interface once you’ve used it.

My kids got the hang of the navigation quickly, though, and they like the Roku backgrounds and animations. However, sometimes they can make everything feel a little busy.

Hardware-wise, that extra $30 you’re saving by not choosing something like the Apple TV 4K (and more for the Nvidia Shield) is definitely coming from build quality. While everything feels generally fine and sturdy, there’s just a lot of plastic and a lack of heft. It’d be nice to get something interesting out of the design other than basic black plastic, especially for the remote.

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 up later in the settings menu. Something happened during the initial setup; the Roku was confusing my TV speakers with my sound bar (eARC) while trying to get the remote to also control TV functions, like power and volume. I had to skip it mid-process as it continued to try fresh codes repeatedly.

It wasn’t until I disconnected my sound bar and used only my internal TV speakers to work with the prompts 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 with something cheaper like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+. It might be slower, but it does a lot of what the Ultra does. However, as someone who actively adores my home TV setup, I want to ensure 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 great. 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 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 line of options, and Google with their Google TV Streamer, but they're bogged down by clunky interfaces with too many ads and recommendations. In the end, I truly think the Roku Ultra is the best choice for most users right now.

Staff pick

Roku Ultra (2024)

8/ 10

$90 $100 Save $10

Now updated for 2024, the 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, the Roku's design remains almost exactly the same and continues to support HDR formats such as Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

$90 at Amazon