There are plenty of tech products out there. Some are great buys offering excellent value, but others aren't. Most fall somewhere in the middle.

Unless you have the means to buy one of everything, you have to decide if something is the right fit for you. That can be hard; the companies making them will tell you that you need one to make your life complete, people who got a lemon or just didn't like it will say the product is garbage, and reviewers simply can't cover everything.

Often, it's good to take a step back and see what you're going to get inside that pretty package. Was it worth what you paid for it? Will you get enough use from it to justify the purchase? Or maybe you should hold off and see what's coming next.

We can't make those decisions for you, but we can tell you what we think and maybe where you should start your decision-making process.

Should you buy a brand-new Roku Streaming Stick 4K from Walmart for $30?

It usually sells for $50, but Walmart has it on sale and even ready by Christmas. If this is something you might want or need, it's a great deal.

The Pros

There are many ways to stream media from the internet to your eyes, but most of them are extremely expensive, not so with streaming sticks. These tiny gadgets plug into the HDMI port on a television and connect through Wi-Fi to stream all sorts of live TV, sports, and movies. Here's what's great about the Roku.

It's cheap. You're going to waste $30 this week on something. If you give up a couple of lattes or cook at home one extra evening, you can buy this instead.

It's easy. Roku's interface seems cluttered at first, I'm not going to lie. But if you take just a minute and zip through it, everything is categorized nicely, and there is no Google or Amazon changing everything on your home screen to infuriate you.

It works with everything. It simply sends an audio and video signal through HDMI. That means it works on every TV made in the last 20 years, and even a computer monitor. As long as you can get an unfettered Wi-Fi connection (more on that further down the page), it just works.

The cons

Nothing is perfect, and there are some things to think about before you fork over your money. Everything works that way.

It's not very powerful. I have an Nvidia Shield Pro and an old Amazon Fire TV. One is really fast when scrolling through menus or getting a stream to start, while the other is ass. This Roku is right in the middle. It will show you what you want to see, but it might take an extra few seconds to get there.

It's Wi-Fi only. We all have that spot in our home where the Wi-Fi isn't as fast as it is everywhere else. I happen to have a television in one of those spots, and because my Shield Pro can use Ethernet, it works fast. If I were forced to use Wi-Fi, I'd see some buffering, or the picture would suffer.

It needs "open" Wi-Fi. No, not the public and unsafe kind of Wi-Fi, but a connection without a captive portal. Ever use Wi-Fi on a plane or in a hotel and have to start on a specific page or enter some sort of code? This isn;t going to work there. That's kinda bad because this gadget is the perfect price and size to carry with you on a business trip or vacation. There are workarounds, or you could tether from your phone's connection, though.

My verdict

So, should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?

If you want a cheap and easy way to stream videos and still get great video quality, the Roku is 4K (of course, it's in the name) and HDR10. It will look as good as the screen it's attached to.

If you want Google or Amazon in the picture, so you can use apps or decent voice commands, pass on this one.

Finally, if you're looking for something to bring along on a business trip, check out the different ways to use a Roku with Hotel Wi-Fi and decide if you can live with them. if so, $30 gets you some entertainment instead of paying for PPV hotel movies.

Black Friday is over, but with Cyber Monday just hours away, the streaming deals are getting better and better. Those looking for a cheap way to watch their favorite streaming services will be stoked to learn that you can get 52% off the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at Amazon, bringing the device down to just $19 from its normal purchase price of $40.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus offers 4K resolution streaming on apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Apple TV, and more, all simply by plugging the receiver into your TV's HDMI port. It also gives users access to over 500 different free live TV channels, ranging from news and weather coverage to sports and more.

The included remote control features basic playback controls, voice command capabilities, and preset navigation buttons for the aforementioned streaming services. In addition to the Roku stick supporting 4K resolutions, the Plus also supports high-quality HDR for optimal color displays.

✅Recommended if: you're looking for simple plug and play access to 4K streaming on your favorite platforms; you want something that won't get in the way of other inputs, and won't take up space on the TV stand like a cable box, console, or DVD player; you want a TV solution that also offers voice controls for playback, volume, and other devices.

❌Skip this deal if: you'd rather go with Amazon's Fire TV Sticks than a Roku device; you don't need 4K streaming and you'd prefer to save a few extra bucks by going with the HD version instead; you're hoping to upgrade to the Roku Ultra for improved audio and video features.

Today's lineup of streaming stick options offers a really quick, user-friendly way to start streaming. They simply require users to plug the receiver into their TV's HDMI port and connect to the internet in order to instantly access a wide range of TV and movie streaming services, music platforms, and still other apps. The Roku lineup is no different.

Many of the best Roku devices offer 4K streaming, but if you don't need peak-tier performance speeds or advanced audio and video features, the Plus is a pretty straightforward way to go. It also includes Bluetooth connections for listening via wireless headphones or external speakers, along with bearing compatibility with a wide range of smart home devices.

With full 4K video resolution and HDR, it has high-quality enough video for the vast majority of casual users. Those who do want advanced options may want to consider upgrading to the more expensive Ultra model, while those who don't need 4K can get an even cheaper price tag than the Plus by going with the HD.

Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday

What you need to know

• Roku is adding an AI-powered voice search that can answer natural questions about movies, shows, and actors.
• The new Roku Voice supports follow-up queries and shows answers directly on your TV screen.
• Roku is expanding Search to include Live TV results and direct links to streaming platforms.
• Sports fans get live scores, reminders, and updates, plus new app shortcuts for better usability.

With the holiday season approaching, Roku has announced a fresh set of software features coming to its streaming sticks and TVs this fall.

The standout feature in the Roku OS update is a new AI-powered voice search. Roku Voice has been around for a while, but the company is now upgrading it with an AI engine that can understand natural language questions about movies, shows, and actors, and display the answers directly on your TV screen.

For example, you can now ask questions like "What's Barbie about?" or "What kind of fish is Nemo?" and Roku will instantly show the answer directly on the TV screen. The company says the new Roku Voice is also contextually aware, allowing follow-up questions in a natural conversation.

Alongside this, Roku is also expanding its discovery features. The improved search now includes results from the Live TV Zone, and will soon integrate with the Live TV Channel Guide. This means you'll be able to jump to your favorite channels, explore new genres, or browse trending and on-demand titles.

Roku will also show where each title is available to stream, letting you start watching right from the search screen.

Roku adds live scores and reminders for sports fans

Sports fans are also getting some love with new additions to Roku Sports. The update introduces Live Scores and Reminders to Roku Sports. Live scores will appear directly on game tiles (with an option to hide them if you prefer no spoilers), while Reminders will alert you about upcoming matchups and send notifications to your phone when it's time to tune in.

Beyond that, Roku is also adding other features like Bluetooth Headphone Mode to its Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus devices. The Roku mobile app is also getting an upgrade, bringing new quick shortcuts such as Closed Captions, Find My Remote, Sleep Timer, and Daily Trivia for easier navigation.

Roku hasn't provided a specific release date for these updates yet, but the company says they'll roll out "in the coming months."

What you need to know

• Users have quickly taken to Roku's official forums to voice problems following its v14.5 patch.
• Many reports say streaming HDR/4K content on Disney Plus, YouTube, and Amazon Prime appear "washed out," extremely bright, or bleak.
• Roku kickstarted a test with users recently, which brought seemingly unskippable auto playing ads to their devices, blocking the home screen.

Roku users looking to enjoy Andor Season 2 aren't having a great time, as reports fly off the shelves.

Over the past few days, Roku owners have taken to its official forums to report issues when streaming Disney Plus using the company's products (via The Verge). A main thread for reports was created by a Roku moderator to gather information. Users quickly chimed in, stating that, while watching Disney Plus, the colors in the content appear "washed out." One user states they own a TCL model 65S405 and their colors are "bright/washed out."

The user goes in-depth, stating they're encountering these issues while watching content in 4K/HDR resolution. The post states that tinkering with HDR's settings only provides a minimal (positive) difference, but the Disney Plus content still appears washed out or extremely bright. Moreover, these issues seem to extend to YouTube videos, but aren't "nearly as bad."

Another report claims to have encountered issues with Roku's streaming device on Amazon Prime, as well as Disney Plus. This user states problems disappear when streaming at HD quality.

One thing in common that all of these reports share is when the problems occurred: right after Roku's v14.5 software update. The problems appear quite closely connected, considering the sheer number of reports citing the same version and issue across several video streaming apps. The Roku moderator said the company is investigating, so hopefully, a resolution will arrive sooner rather than later.

Roku's Recent History

The Verge dug deeper, and discovered that while the bulk of user reports concerned TCL TVs, there were a few that involved Hisense devices.

Strangely, these reports report severe issues with the streaming quality/experience of Roku's devices following v14.5. The update, which rolled out in April, didn't focus on streaming "quality," per its patch notes. Roku cited bug fixes, security improvements, and the like. However, it did note the addition of "performance optimizations." There's a chance there's some conflict going on between the previously mentioned TVs and the latest OS.

Roku was also on our minds recently, as users started noticing its autoplay ads on startup. The experiment involves displaying ads to users before they're able to reach the stick's true home screen. Regardless, users haven't reacted too kindly to seeing these ads while trying to relax with their shows or movies. Users reported the ads are "unskippable," but Roku claims there is a way to close them.

Another report tested this theory and concluded that the option to jump past these ads wasn't available. Users on Reddit added they were stuck watching movie trailers, unable to get to the content they truly desire.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• Roku is testing autoplay video ads that hit users before they even reach the home screen.
• Early reports said these ads were unskippable, but Roku claims there’s a way to close them.
• Roku confirmed the ads are part of an official test but won’t reveal how many devices are affected, why they’re doing it, or if it’s permanent.

Roku users have started noticing a new and pretty intrusive ad tactic popping up over the past few days, and, as you’d expect, people aren’t happy about it.

Ars Technica reports that some Roku users are now getting hit with ads before the home screen even shows up. While Roku is no stranger to sprinkling ads around the home screen, this new move takes it up a notch, forcing folks to sit through video ads just to get to their usual setup.

Roku confirmed to Ars Technica that these autoplay ads are part of an official test. However, the company remains tight-lipped on how many devices are affected, why it is rolling this out, or whether it’s here to stay for good.

Instead of admitting it might’ve gone too far, Roku said it's all about constant experimentation and innovation, whether it’s tweaking the interface, expanding content, or revamping its ad strategy.

Skippable or not? Depends who you ask

Early reports suggested these ads couldn’t be skipped, but Roku told Cord Cutter News that there is a way to close them. However, Ars Technica has shared user experiences where that option seemed to be missing. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The move to force autoplaying video ads before users can even get to the home screen has, unsurprisingly, sparked a wave of frustration. Frustrated users are venting on Reddit, with some saying they were stuck watching promos—like the Moana 2 trailer—before they could open their apps.

Roku started shifting away from static home screen ads in early 2024, cranking up the ad pressure on users. But it's not alone; other platforms are doing the same. Google TV, for example, recently rolled out ads that literally advertise more ads, as per Android Police.

No matter the brand, a lot of streaming platforms are constantly testing how much advertising users will put up with, especially when it comes to cheap streaming devices.

What you need to know

• The Roku Channel is becoming deeper integrated with Google TV devices, including televisions, set-top boxes, and Chromecasts.
• You can now search for The Roku Channel content in Google TV, find it on the home screen, and in Google TV's collection of live TV channels.
• Roku says that it offers more than 80,000 movies and TV shows completely free as part of The Roku Channel.

Google TV already offers a bunch of free content on its platform, including The Roku Channel. However, it will become much easier to discover and use The Roku Channel on Google TV thanks to deeper integration between the two services, Roku announced today. This will bolster Google TV's free content and make it easier to find and watch the tens of thousands of movies and TV shows made available as part of The Roku Channel.

Roku first added The Roku Channel to Google TV last year, in limited form. There wasn't support for Google TV's search or discoverability functions at the time. That's beginning to change, as Roku says a more integrated experience will be available "in the coming weeks." For starters, Google TV users will be able to search for content from The Roku Channel using the native search function in Android TV.

Additionally, 500 live TV channels from Roku will join the live tab on Google TV. The platform already offers nearly 1,000 free or ad-supported live TV channels, and the new ones from The Roku Channel will provide even more options, including channels with news, sports, cooking, DIY, music, and other types of programming.

A big part of Google TV is the platform's recommendations. There is so much free content on the platform that some users might want help finding what to watch next, and Google recommends content based on your previous watch history. Soon, free Roku movies and TV shows will appear in the Featured on The Roku Channel, Continue watching, and Free live TV on the Google TV home screen.

Roku says that the free content available via The Roku Channel includes select live MLB games, ABC News broadcasts, and over 80,000 movies and TV shows.

Whether you have a brand-new Google TV Streamer or an older Chromecast, your Google TV device will get The Roku Channel integration. It'll also be available on any third-party device with Google TV built-in. If you want to get an early look at the content that'll become more closely engrained in your streaming device, you can try out The Roku Channel on Google TV, Fire TV, Samsung devices, and the Roku web and mobile apps.

What you need to know

• Roku teased a few new features preparing to arrive on its streaming dongles and TVs "this winter."
• The company showcased a new "camera carousel" for its TVs, which will switch its view automatically if it detects movement.
• Laptops and computers will pick up a "web view" version of Roku Smart Home for viewing live camera feeds.

Roku is upgrading its smart home experience by bringing better integration with smart TVs later this year.

In a blog post, the company teased several new features for Roku Smart Home, such as expanding the usefulness of camera feeds on your TV. Users with a Roku camera or video doorbell can already view those feeds on a TV; however, this upcoming update adds a "Camera Carousel." In this view, users can select and view a camera's live feed with additional options through its new feature.

The left side of the view will list the "carousel" first, with the remaining cameras you may have connected beneath.

Roku states the carousel will "automatically" cycle through any connected cameras on your TV. What's more, it will switch feeds depending on motion. If Roku detects movement, it will quickly switch to show you what's happening without any user input.

The company is building on its smart home and TV experience with additional notifications on the large screen. These notifications involve "events" picked up by your Roku Smart Home camera, and users will receive an alert on their TV for occurrences like packages or people at their door, as well as movements from their pets.

These alerts are wrapped in your Roku Camera subscription and enabled via the settings.

Lastly, Roku is extending its smart home support to smaller screens. The "Smart Home Web View" is set to debut on laptops later this year. From there, Roku states users will have access to every camera feed they have set up around the house, similar to their TV.

The company states these updates should begin rolling out "this winter." Roku reminds users that these features will arrive through a free update and will be available on Roku TVs and streaming dongles.

Roku started its journey into smart home and TV integration a couple of years ago when it launched its suite of devices. The company saw its array of plugs, lights, and more as a "natural extension" for consumers. More importantly, Roku highlighted its devices came pre-packaged with Roku TV OS integration. This lets users quickly view a camera feed without reaching for their phone.

Additionally, the company's voice remote can be used for vocal commands to surface a camera feed.

• Streaming deals:  Disney+  |  Max  |  Sling  |  Fubo  |  Peacock  |  Paramount+

If you're looking for the best Roku streaming devices, then you've come to the right place. Hailed as the top streaming service in the U.S. for free, live, and premium TV, there's no shortage of content on Roku. The company has a bunch of different streaming products from streaming boxes, soundbars, to TVs, it all depends on what you're looking for. Roku even offers a full line of smart home devices, so you can really sink your teeth and go all-in in this ecosystem, if you want to.

Our favorite device would have to be the Roku Ultra streaming box. It's on the pricier side, but it can do pretty much everything from Dolby Vision playback, to an Ethernet wired connection.

The Ultra streaming box is not for everyone and that's why in this list, we have a variety of Roku streaming products across price ranges and product categories for you to choose from.

At a glance

Best overall

Roku introduced a refreshed Roku Ultra device in September 2024 with a new quad-core processor that Roku claims delivers 30% faster performance. The box also gets Wi-Fi 6 and comes bundled with the Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd Gen). This is the best streaming device that Roku offers, but it's also the most expensive at $99.99, although it's often on sale for $79.99.

The Roku Ultra (2024) supports all the major HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It has an HDMI 2.1 port which allows it to offers smoother transitions between different refresh rates or content sources on compatible TVs. If you have a Wi-Fi 6 router at home, you'll be able to take advantage of the faster speeds with the new Ultra streaming box. Roku says the Ultra offers the best Roku experience, whether your watching live TV, free streaming apps, or the one's you've subscribed to. The new powerful box allows you to pair Bluetooth headphones directly with it, so you don't have bother with a wired headset plugged into the remote.

Speaking of the remote, the new Voice Remote Pro supports voice commands and quick access to volume buttons, but it is also backlit, making it easier to use in the dark. If you've misplaced the remote somewhere in the house, simply press the remote finder button on the box or use a simple voice command to help you find it.

Best mid-range

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is just about the perfect streaming device for most people with a 4K TV. As it's a streaming stick, it hides behind the TV and is powered by USB so if you wall-mount your display, you don't have any extra wires hanging down from behind. On the technical side, this device is one of Roku's most capable streaming devices with support for 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR 10/10+, and even HLG which mostly means that if it's in HDR and you can stream it, this stick can play it. Wi-Fi 5 with MIMO is supported so you also get plenty of speed to stream without buffering.

This cheaper model works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for voice control. There is no USB port on this device and as a result, no local storage playback will be possible. The Micro-USB port on this streaming stick is only for power.

With a low price and great support for 4K and HDR, this streaming stick is the best bet for most people looking for a high-quality image without spending money on extra features they won't use like the Pro remote or local playback.

Best value

The Roku Express 4K+ streaming device keeps both, the improved design and great starter price of the previous Roku Express. The Express 4K+ comes with an adhesive tape so you can stick it to the bottom of the TV, which is great if your TV is wall-mounted and you don't want dangling cables.

While the standard Roku Express tops out at HD resolution, the Roku Express 4K+ streams HD, 4K, and HDR content for just $10 more. It also features a more powerful processor, dual-band Wi-Fi support, and an upgraded voice remote. Unlike the previous remote, the upgraded Roku voice remote allows you to navigate the streaming service and control your TV's power and volume from the same device.

Roku is marketing the Express 4K+ as "the most affordable way to stream in 4K," and it's not wrong. The device is also easy to set up, making it a great option for first-time streamers. However, experienced streamers who want to add a high-quality and affordable streaming device to every room with a TV should also consider grabbing a Express 4K+ or two.

Best sound

Roku seems to have discontinued the Streambar Pro, which was it's most powerful and premium soundbar. The Roku Streambar is not its direct replacement, but it's the best soundbar that Roku offers at the moment. You can plug this into your existing TV and stream Roku's services without needing a Roku streamer, which is its main selling point. You'll also get much better audio quality than your TV speakers thanks to the four 1.9-inch full-range drivers in the soundbar.

The Streambar supports up to 4K streaming with HDR support. Sadly it can't do HDR10+ or Dolby Vision, but ironically, the cheaper Streambar SE does support HDR10+ playback. The latter is also far cheaper if you can get it on sale, but it lacks Ethernet, voice search funtion on the remote, and doesn't support Dolby Audio.

You can expand the audio fidelity of the Streambar by adding in two Roku Wireless Speakers and the Roku Wireless Bass subwoofer, for a proper home-theatre experience. The Streambar can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker or you can pair your headphones to it so you don't disturb your partner at night.

Best all-in-one

Roku has its own line of smart TVs now, ranging across three different series. If you're looking for the best though, there's only the Roku Pro Series that you should be considering. These 4K QLED TVs come in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch screen sizes. There's full-array local dimming Mini LEDs for the backlighting, which means you should expect greater control over bright and dark areas in HDR content with little blooming. The panels also support Dolby Vision IQ, along with the other usual HDR formats.

Roku Pro Series also feature AI-powered picture corrections like Roku Smart Picture Max which intelligently cleans up the source signal and optimizes it for the TV's size. The TVs also feature slim bezels and a stylish frame, which should blend well with most entertainment setups. Roku also has a feature similar to Samsung Frame series called Backdrops. You can choose a static shot of a painting from famour artists and photogrphers or even upload your own personal photos and use the TV as a giant photo frame.

The Roku Pro Series 4K TVs ships with the Voice Remote Pro (2nd gen), giving you all the benefits like backlit buttons and USB-C charging. The TV's built-in speakers support Dolby Atmos, but you can take it a step further by pairing it with other Roku speakers and subwoofers for a vastly better audio experience.

Best for stereo

The beauty of the Roku Wireless Speakers is that they promise to deliver outstanding sound for your Roku TV setup. They are bundled as a stereo pair and are incredibly easy to set up with your Roku TV or Streambar. They support Bluetooth streaming so that you can enjoy your favorite audio from any compatible Bluetooth device. Each speaker contains a 0.75-inch tweeter and a 3.5-inch woofer.

If you want to enhance your Roku TV's audio setup, the Wireless Speakers is a great place to start. Depending on how far you want to go, you can add a subfoofer and a Roku TV Wireless Soundbar into the mix, or add another pair of these stereo speakers for a full, surround sound experience. Keep in mind that these speakers won't work with any other TV or even Roku streaming players, as they only pair with Roku TVs and the Streambar series.

How to choose

Roku aims to be your one-stop shop when it comes to home entertainment and it has largely succeeded in building some of the best streaming devices you can buy. With an ever-expanding product portfolio that stretches from cheap streaming sticks to high-end streaming boxes, integrated smart TVs, audio solutions, and even smart home devices, you can go crazy outfitting your home with the latest and greatest from Roku.

Our top choice for Roku streaming products is still the Roku Ultra (2024). It offers terrific specs, has great features, and is good competition to the newly introduced Google TV Streamer. However, if you are looking for an all-in-one Roku solution, the Roku Pro Series 4K TV is the best place to start. Alternatively, if you're getting into high-definition streaming or if you want to outfit multiple spaces, you can't go wrong with the updated Roku Express 4K+. It's affordable and offers most of the features of the Streaming Stick 4K.

If you're looking for something with a bit more substantial audio quality, then the Roku Streambar may be the best option for you. It's not on the same level as the now-discontinued Streambar Pro, but it's the best on offer till Roku releases a proper successor. You can futher enhance the sound experience by adding stereo wireless speakers or subwoofers from Roku.

What you need to know

• The new Roku Ultra (2024) launched today (Sept 24) with a few notable upgrades over other models, like Wi-Fi 6 and a more powerful CPU with a 30% speed boost.
• The box's launch is paired with the second edition of the Voice Remote Pro, which feature a new "Guide" button.
• The Roku Ultra 2024 is available today for $99.
• Following its Summit, Roku detailed OS 14, the new Kids & Family zone, additional voice commands, and more.

What's next for Roku is another Ultra-level streaming box with upgrades on speed and performance.

On Tuesday, the Roku Ultra 2024 debuts as the next step up from previous versions. According to a press release, Roku states its new Ultra streaming box resulted from customer feedback over the past few years. As such, the 2024 Ultra features a more powerful CPU that boosts its speed by 30% over the company's other models.

HDMI 2.1 aids the Roku Ultra in "seamless transitions" between sources, thanks to QMS (Quick Media Switching). Additionally, the box supports 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

The Roku Ultra also picks up Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for improved connectivity, although we would've liked to see Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Still, this support helps the box with faster Wi-Fi performance compared to the previous model, with better handling of "congested networks." However, the option to pop in an ethernet cable is still there.

The remote for the 2024 Roku Ultra features a new "Guide" button, which lets users access Roku's extensive list of Live TV channels for free content. The company also highlights a Quick Launch button that allows users to jump into their "favorite" shortcuts, such as apps, voice commands, or captions.

Other aspects of the Remote Pro you've become accustomed to, like the hands-free voice option, lost remote feature, rechargeability via USB-C, and more, appear once more.

Another notable feature is the integration of Roku Ultra with your smart home devices. The post says users can receive doorbell notifications via the Roku Doorbell Camera. Of course, there is an assortment of smart home devices straight from Roku's kitchen that you can grab and pair seamlessly. Elsewhere, Roku is bringing its "Headphone mode" to wireless users. The company states users can now pair a device and listen to their content via Bluetooth.

The Roku Ultra (2024) is available today (Sept 24) in the U.S. for $99. Consumers in Canada can also find it today; however, the company adds that other major retailers will place it on the shelves "in the coming weeks."

If you're not grabbing the latest Roku Ultra, don't worry. The company also detailed a major OS update during its Developer Summit. Roku OS 14 kicks off with a new "Kinds & Family Zone." This library is said to contain a plethora of content, reaching 50,000 titles pulled from popular streaming apps and platforms. Focusing on your children, the new zone delivers suggestions for movies based on age, genre, and series.

Voice commands are being upgraded to work for more sources other than searching for shows. Roku states your remote will soon understand commands for accessing your settings. The company gave the example of saying "customize my home screen" as a command one could give the streaming box. Roku Voice is also said to work for wallpapers, system language, guest mode, and more.

The Roku Mobile app sneaks into this OS update. The "remote overlay" lets users access trending content quickly with this update. Roku states users will soon find the overlay at the bottom of their digital remote, and interacting with it will showcase personalized recommendations, categories, shortcuts for apps, and more.

IMDb ratings are also finding their way onto the app, just in case you're looking to dive a little deeper.

While Roku highlights OS 14 today, the release notes state it will hit streaming boxes and TV models "in the coming months."

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• The Roku Channel is now fully integrated into Google TV’s search tools, making it easier to discover free content.
• The Roku Channel brings thousands of shows and over 350 live TV channels to Google TV.
• To get Roku Channel recommendations, just download the app on Google TV, activate it through the Google TV Mobile app, and enable it in your profile.

The Roku Channel has reached a major milestone by fully blending into Google TV’s search tools.

Google TV really wants to lock in its spot as the go-to streaming hub. It’s packed with free channels, personalized picks, watchlist options, and access to nearly every popular streaming app. After landing on Google TV in July of last year, The Roku Channel now sits alongside apps like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+ in search recommendations, according to Cord Cutters News.

With the streaming service now built into its search tools, Google TV makes it easier for viewers to find tons of free content. The Roku Channel’s massive library includes thousands of shows and over 350 live TV channels.

The exact timing of the integration isn’t clear, but it fits with Google’s plan to boost free ad-supported viewing. To get The Roku Channel recommendations, just download the app on your Google TV, activate it via the Google TV Mobile app, go to your profile, choose "Manage services," and switch on The Roku Channel.

This move signals Google's growing effort to double down on free streaming after it recently rebranded its hub to Google TV Freeplay.

The Google TV Freeplay section boasts over 150 curated FAST channels and replaces the old Google TV label under "Free built-in channels," better reflecting its offerings.

While it's not a game-changer, the new branding sets the stage for Google to broaden its free content lineup, possibly adding more channels from its own platforms like YouTube.

With the new Roku integration and the rebranding to Google TV Freeplay, Google is clearly aiming to boost its competitive edge by offering a wider range of budget-friendly entertainment options. This move not only strengthens Google TV’s position as a major streaming player but also helps increase its revenue as streaming hardware gets cheaper.

Whether you have a smart TV already (who doesn’t nowadays?) or not, a third-party streaming device can still come in handy, providing an improved user interface and even access to additional content. That’s the case with Roku, one of the best streaming device providers around, and its top-line Roku Express 4K+ streaming device is 30% off for Amazon Prime Day, down from $39.99 to $27.  

Plug this into any TV, smart or not, via HDMI then use the included Voice remote or the Roku app to navigate the intuitive interface, accessing all your favorite streaming services along with more than 300 free, live, and premium channels. And it’s all in glorious 4K quality with a compatible TV and appropriate streaming service subscription.

✅Recommended if: You want to enjoy a more intuitive interface than what’s built into your smart TV, or you want to be enjoy seamless streaming from an old, non-smart TV. 

❌Skip this deal if: You prefer the smaller stick design, want something newer with the latest features, or want Dolby Vision HDR support. 

We named the Roku Express 4K Plus as the best value Roku device you can buy, loving the upgraded voice remote it comes with, the option to use Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, and the compact and unobtrusive design. The biggest difference between this model and the more widely available Roku Express 4K is that this one comes with the Voice versus simple remote, adding extra value for those who want control options. 

Yes, this is an older model, introduced way back in 2021, but it does the trick. The processor isn’t as powerful as with the newer models. But the inclusion of the Voice Remote, support for 4K content playback, and the quick and easy guided set-up make this an ideal item for any home. It also makes a great gift, so stock up on a few for birthdays, Christmas, students, and others. Don’t miss out on the savings with $12.99 off the price of this handy streamer for Amazon Prime Video.

What you need to know

• Roku's CEO Anthony Wood stated during a Q1 earnings call that the company is looking to introduce more video ads on the home screen.
• Wood said there are plans to bring "other types" of video ad units to the home screen, which are in testing, alongside new experiences for ads.
• Roku was also spotted filing a patent earlier in April, which involved overlaying ads on a user's device through HDMI.

Roku is preparing to introduce more video-based ads to its home screen, and this could be due to its first-quarter performance.

According to Cord Cutter News, the company's CEO, Anthony Wood, discussed introducing more video ads during a Q1 earnings call. The question dealt with how Roku plans to deal with ad revenue moving into the second quarter of 2024.

Wood stated, "But to give you some examples of the kinds of things we're looking at on the home screen, on the home screen today, there's the premier video app we called the Marquee and that traditionally has been a static ad. We're going to add video to that ad."

He added that this will be "the first video ad in that we add to the home screen. That will be a big change for us."

Roku's CEO teases that the company is testing "other types" of video ads. It's unclear what these additional ad units could look like, but we'll likely find out once they arrive. Additionally, Wood states Roku is interested in bringing new experiences for users on the home screen, which still pertains to advertising.

The company wants to "innovate" its video ad space moving forward through its home screen approach. There's speculation that Roku is moving in this direction due to its lackluster Q1 2024 performance. The company reportedly lost revenue despite picking up 1.6 million new users.

Interestingly, Roku's decision to inject more video ads into its home screen comes a few weeks after a curious patent was discovered. Lowpass discovered a Roku patent that involves the company displaying ads over devices users have connected to their TVs via HDMI. This seemingly applies to Roku TV owners, and the ads would only appear during breaks in gaming sessions and more.

Earlier this month, Roku pushed an update to help improve users' experience with its software. The patch included Roku smart picture, which will adjust your TV depending on what you're watching, alongside IMDB ratings and trailers. Additionally, Backdrop lets users turn their TVs into digital photo albums, as well as a selection of art pieces.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• Approximately 576,000 Roku accounts were accessed through a credential stuffing attack, the company confirmed in an April 12 statement.
• The latest attack comes a month after about 15,000 Roku accounts were breached through the same method of attack. 
• While the hackers couldn't access "sensitive user information or full credit card information," they successfully made purchases within Roku using fewer than 400 breached accounts. 

Roku suffered a limited security incident last month that left roughly 15,000 user accounts vulnerable, and now, another 576,000 have been impacted by a second attack. The company announced that over half a million accounts were fraudulently accessed through credential stuffing in an April 12 statement. While hackers were unable to access sensitive information, they were able to make purchases using a very limited number of Roku accounts. 

Credential stuffing is a method of attack in which hackers use previously leaked login credentials on popular sites. That's why cybersecurity experts warn against using the same password on two different websites. If the password to one account is leaked in a hack, bad actors can try to use that same username and password combination to log in to another. Roku says that since this was a credential-stuffing attack, it was not the source of the login credentials used to breach the 576,000 accounts.

"There is no indication that Roku was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks or that Roku’s systems were compromised in either incident," the company explained in the statement. "Rather, it is likely that login credentials used in these attacks were taken from another source, like another online account, where the affected users may have used the same credentials."

Roku says that the hackers did not access sensitive information or full credit card information. However, in less than 400 incidents, the bad actors were able to purchase Roku hardware or subscribe to streaming services. In those cases, Roku refunds the users or reverses the transactions. 

Roku will notify customers directly if they've been impacted by either account breach. Moving forward, the company will make two-factor authentication mandatory on all accounts to try to nix credential stuffing. After logging into Roku next, users will be prompted to verify their login with a link sent via email.

Since the company has 80 million active users, this breach is fairly small in the grand scheme of things. Still, if you have a Roku account, it's worth checking to see if you were affected. However, Roku automatically resets account passwords for affected users. Even if your account wasn't affected, be sure to practice good online security habits and use different passwords for each account you create. To make it less of a hassle, you can start using one of the best password managers.

What you need to know

• Roku's latest TV lineup, the Roku Pro Series, features a Mini-LED backlit panel, 120Hz refresh rate, and 4K display with enhanced image processing.
• Available in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes, the Roku Pro Series is now accessible through major retailers like BestBuy, Amazon, and Walmart.
• The package includes a remote control with backlit buttons and AI picture improvements.
• The Roku Pro Series introduces a remote finder feature, a first for Roku TVs, that allows users to locate their remote easily.

Roku has finally released its newest TV lineup, the Roku Pro Series. The company says the new model offers the line's best picture quality yet and can seamlessly fit into any home setup.

Unveiled at CES in January, these new smart TVs boast a Mini-LED backlit panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and beefed-up image processing. They also have a 4K panel in a slim 1.9-inch shadowbox frame. The Mini-LED backlighting amps up the contrast and highlights, while HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ ensure top-notch HDR support.

This fresh set is now available in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes and is hitting store shelves at major retailers like BestBuy, Amazon, and Walmart. The 55-inch model costs $899, the 65-inch model $1,199, and the 75-inch version $1,699.

The package includes what seems like a major upgrade: a remote control with backlit buttons (you can snag it separately for other TVs for $29) and AI picture improvements.

Like some leading TV brands, the Roku Pro Series is expected to deliver a brighter image and improved contrast than Roku's more budget-friendly Plus Series and Select Series.

AI-powered picture adjustments

These TVs are designed to do all the heavy lifting for you, automatically fine-tuning and optimizing their picture and brightness according to the scene and content being shown. Roku dubs this feature "Smart Picture Max."

There's a slightly less sophisticated version, called Roku Smart Picture, which is slated to roll out to all Roku TVs in a future OS update.

The Roku Pro Series ships with a nifty remote finder feature too. Just hit a button on the TV, and your remote will start making noise wherever it's hiding. While this same handy feature is already available on certain Roku streaming devices and the Roku Voice Remote Pro, it's a first for Roku TVs to include a dedicated finder button.

Watch out Samsung

Another standout feature worth mentioning is Backdrops, which serves as a decorative background when your TV isn't in use, much like Samsung's The Frame. With Backdrops, you can pick from a range of artwork or even upload your own family photos to personalize your space. This feature will soon roll out to other Roku TVs and streaming devices in the coming months.

On the audio front, there's more intelligence at play as well. The Roku Soundstage Audio makes the most out of its side-firing speakers, which also boast Dolby Atmos support.

With all these features, the Roku Pro Series seems ready to compete with the leading Android TV models from Hisense and TCL. It'll be interesting to see how the Roku Pro Series compares to other eagerly awaited smart TVs set to hit the market this year in terms of price and performance.

What you need to know

• Roku TV rolls out new Backdrops as part of the new update rollout.
• The rollout also includes Roku smart picture, which adjusts the picture based on the content users are watching.
• The content browsing experience on Roku TV models is set to improve with the addition of IMDB ratings and trailers.

Roku is rolling out new updates to improve your TV-watching experience. The optimizations include new backdrops, Roku smart picture, and several other updates for users who browse, discovery sections, and also across the mobile app for devices in the U.S.

Backdrops display a series of paintings or artwork, including a collection of classics, museum collections, and abstract designs, which users can choose from, adding to the living room's aesthetic. Additionally, users can select their personal artwork or family photos to display on the TV screen.

For users who don’t often want to fiddle with the display settings for the best picture quality while watching different types of content, new automatic optimizations will be in place, like adjustments to brightness and colors applying the best picture mode, which includes sports, movies, vivid, and standard for the content users are watching. Moreover, this feature will also adjust the backlighting, uniformity, and colors based on the type of TV users are using. 

The browsing content experience is likely to improve on Roku TV as the company is adding an IMDB rating for the content available on the platform. Accompanying trailers will also be added in the entails pane. For users who often use the Save List for a TV show or a movie, a new badge will be available whenever a new season drops or episode drops.

The Roku mobile app is also getting useful updates, like a new navigation bar allowing users to browse between five tabs: Home, Search, Remote, Devices, and Account. There is a new “Top Searched TV and Movies” row to browse popular content, showcasing daily searched TV shows and movies. The search update will now have a full keyboard for users to search content across categories, actors, and other topics. The search results are believed to be more visually immersive than before.

Lastly, the popular Roku City screensaver is gaining new TV and movie cars for users to play around with. There are supposedly dynamic additions that will include a new layer of easter egg fun for the TV screens. 

The announced software updates will ship to Roku users in the coming weeks and months. Roku Smart Picture is going to ship for all Roku TV models. It will be the default for the latest Roku models of this year, whereas the older Roku owners will have to enable it after the update in picture settings. Roku also notes that the OS 13 will roll out to all supported devices in the U.S. in the coming months.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

Roku is one of the most popular smart TV operating systems with a large number of TVs now coming with the tech built-in. If you’ve got an older TV or just don’t like the clunky interface your TV came with, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an excellent upgrade and it’s marked down to just $29.98 at Best Buy for Black Friday. This streaming stick is an excellent value thanks to its support for 4K video, HDR video, and long-range Wi-Fi antenna. Roku has cleverly built a Wi-Fi antenna into the USB power cable so you can get strong Wi-Fi reception in any room of the house.

A Roku Streaming Stick is not only good for watching your favorite shows, but also works with Roku’s smart home devices like the Indoor Roku Camera or even a Roku Video Doorbell at Walmart. If you want to stick with video, though, you’ve got support for the latest TVs with up to 4K resolution, Dolby Vision HDR, and HDR10+. One of the best features is the Wi-Fi antenna built into the micro-USB power cable. This antenna gives the Roku Streaming Stick 4K the best signal possible for quick playback with minimal buffering.

• Smart home deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Amazon

One of the nicest things about using a Roku is the dead-simple menu. Roku always keeps your apps front and center when you hit the home button so you don’t have to dig through a sea of ads to find the app you want.  It’s not lacking for features either and even supports wireless surround sound speakers and a subwoofer if you want better audio than your TV can kick out. Finally, Roku’s Android app is incredible with the ability to route the TV audio to your phone so you can use it with any of the headphones or speakers you use with your phone.

• Android Central's Black Friday deal hubs:
  Tech | Phones | Tablets | Wearables | TVs | Smart Home 

What you need to know

• Roku exclusives can now be enjoyed on Google TVs and Android TVs.
• They can be viewed through "The Roku Channel" app, which is now available on Google TV and Android TV.
• The Roku Channel doesn't need any subscription or sign-up to view content.

The Roku Channel is the latest addition for consuming content on existing Google TV and Android TV devices, Roku announced.

Starting this week, users can enjoy free entertainment from The Roku Channel across homes in the U.S., the company said in an accompanying blog post. With The Roku Channel on Google TV and Android TV devices, viewers will have access to more than 80,000 free movies and programs.

They further comprise exclusive content from the company comprising "WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story," "Die Hart," and "The Great American Baking Show." Additionally, users can also view Hollywood hit movies, TV shows, and 350 free live linear television channels involving content from news, sports, entertainment, and Spanish language programming, amongst others.

"The Roku Channel already reaches U.S. households with an estimated 100 million people (Q4 2022)," the company added. "We're excited to make our extensive lineup of free and premium programming available for even more streamers to enjoy."

Users on Google TV and Android TV can head over to their Google Play Store, search for "The Roku Channel," and install it right away. The added benefits of the new channel are that it doesn't require any subscriptions or sign-ups, and users can start streaming immediately.

Similar to a dedicated Roku streaming device, Google TV already allows turning any TV into a smart TV with devices like the new Chromecast with Google TV (HD), further allowing users to stream on their favorite screens. The Roku Channel will be amongst other supported streaming apps on Google TV like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. This means it will also join Google TV's easy-to-browse experience, where users can see and ask for content through the inbuilt Google Assistant on the voice remote that the Google TV ships with.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+ 

What you need to know

• Roku Home Monitoring System SE was announced for $99.
• It is a five-piece set with two entry sensors, a motion sensor, a wire-free keypad, and a hub with a siren.
• The home monitoring system, alongside other new products, will be available through Roku and Walmart in the U.S.

Roku has a new lineup of home monitoring devices, expanding its current product portfolio. The primary one is the new Roku Home Monitoring System SE, which includes two entry sensors, a motion sensor, a wire-free keypad, and a hub with a siren.

In a shared press release, Roku says that with the new monitoring system, users can either monitor themselves or subscribe to a professional all round-clock monitoring powered by Noonlight.

"Roku's new home monitoring system provides peace of mind, while being easier than ever to set up, control and monitor," said Mark Robins, vice president of Roku Smart Home. "We are proud to further extend Roku's Smart Home lineup with affordable and delightful ways to secure the safety of any home."

Priced at $99, the Roku Home Monitoring System SE is developed in collaboration with Wyze Labs and consists of five devices, as mentioned earlier. The two sensors will help users receive phone notifications when a door or window is open, closed, or left open.

Similarly, an accompanying motion sensor also helps users get notified when motion is detected and can also turn on lights automatically. One benefit to this feature is it can disable motion sensing for pets like a dog or cats as they roam the house at night.

The self-explanatory built-in siren alerts users in the house and the neighborhood whenever an emergency is detected. To quickly disarm or arm the device, the wire-free keypad comes into play to change modes and manually sound an alarm. In addition to the keypad, users can control the system through the Roku Smart Home app on their Android devices.

To make the setup process hassle-free, Roku provides "guided videos and illustrations" with no additional tools as part of the package.

Today's announcement is not just about the home monitoring system but there are other products too. They include Roku Smart Light Strip+ SE and a Roku Solar Panel powering the Roku Outdoor Camera SE. The former can display up to 16 different colors at once.

Additionally, there's a new update for users who are utilizing either a Roku player or TV, which includes new features that are said to be coming to Roku TV OS in the coming weeks. hey comprise:

• Monitor your home from your TV – See an on-TV notification and alarm countdown when your Roku Home Monitoring System SE is armed and a sensor is triggered. 
• Access your camera event history on your TV – Experience seamless integration between your connected camera and doorbell smart home devices with the Roku Cameras app, which downloads automatically to your Roku player or TV powered by the Roku OS. View live camera footage easily; now, simply click on "Events" to see previous recordings' history filtered by preference.
• Control Roku Smart Home devices with just your voice – Simply speak into your Roku remote or mobile app to control Roku lights or smart plugs, show live camera feeds on your Roku-powered TV screen, and more. Roku Voice integration now allows you to turn Roku lights on or off and change their brightness and color hands-free or at the click of a button.

Roku has stated these newly announced products will be available starting May 10 through Walmart.com and Roku.com. They will likely hit retail Walmart stores in the U.S. from May 19. The Roku Solar panel, however, will be available later this month.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | HBO Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+ 

What you need to know

• Roku's in-house smart TVs are hitting Best Buy Stores this week.
• The streaming service is also bringing a new operating system to Roku devices in the coming weeks.
• The new Roku wireless soundbar will also roll out to consumers later this month.

At CES 2023, Roku unveiled its first in-house developed smart TVs that comprise 11 models, starting from a lower 24-inch TV to as big as a 75-inch model. These are Roku branded, which include HD and 4K TVs. Roku has promised a best-in-class experience with this new range of TVs, which are now gearing up to be available in the retail market.

In a shared press release, Roku has announced that its Roku Select and Plus Series will be available through Best Buy stores and Bestbuy.com starting Thursday. There is a new accompanying Roku Wireless soundbar as well, which will be available at Best Buy stores and online later this month.

As suggested, Roku Plus Series televisions are the first in-house developed smart TVs from the company and utilize QLED technology for their displays. They come with a 4K Dolby Vision Picture, which promises eye-popping detail in spectacular color, contrast, and brightness. The TVs further support automatic brightness (triggers automatically based on the room's lightning), and local dimming, for better picture tuning.

These TVs support Wi-Fi 6, wireless surround sound, Bluetooth Private Listening, and Roku Voice Remote Pro for connectivity. Needless to say, they also incorporate Roku streaming, one of the best streaming services available. It supports hands-free commands and has shortcut buttons, which can be customized for their needs.

Alongside the new Roku television announcements, the company has announced new platform features with the OS 12 update for Roku devices, which promises a more intuitive interface, performance improvements, and new channel additions.

"Over the coming months, users will find even more to love with updates to Live TV, content discovery, Sports, the Roku Mobile App, and more rolling out in the U.S. this spring."

Live TV now includes Local News, allowing users to watch live news channels based on their location, including channels from popular cities across the U.S. It further incorporates AI for news recommendations. Users who want to access the local news can utilize Roku Search or Roku Voice or tap the Live TV Zone on the home screen.

The OS 12 also brings a Premium Subscriptions feature that allows consumers to discover and sign up for more premium channels.

"Premium Subscriptions will join previously launched Categories (Recents, Favorites, and Subscribed) and genres including News, Sports, Entertainment, and more."

Expanding the Sports experience, the new OS now supports golf and additional soccer programming. Roku says in the coming months, users will be able to enjoy sports based on their locations, just like local news. Additionally, channels like CBS Sports and MLB.TV, NBA App, and NBC Sports are said to be joining the current list to have a more streamlined sports experience.

Continue Watching is another nifty feature within the interface primarily utilized in streaming shows. It allows users to return to their favorite TV show where they left off earlier. Streaming services like Discovery+ and Amazon Prime Video will be joining the list supporting the Continue Watching feature.

The Roku Mobile App will also see changes as part of the operating system update from the company, with updates rolling out this spring. It will be refined in the coming months, including a revamped account hub, a more streamlined home screen, a Live TV Channel "Guide" button, and enhanced Roku photo streams.

The account hub changes for user preferences will have a new sign-up and sign-in process. Users will also experience a more straightforward interface, including new features like dedicated Sports and Continue Watching rows.

Roku Photo Streams was announced last year, which allows users to share photos directly to their smart TVs. They can now upload images directly from their photo albums, choose thumbnails, and set streams as screensavers. The service is getting enhancements with the latest updates, including uploading photo streams faster and easier.

The new OS 12 will roll out in the coming weeks, while the new channel partners, content expansion, and mobile app updates will roll out in the coming months.

•  TV deals: Walmart | Samsung | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg  

What you need to know

• Roku has announced its first smart TVs designed and built by the company.
• Roku Select and Roku Plus TVs will range from 24 to 75 inches.
• Roku is also providing a reference model for partners interested in building OLED Roku TVs.

There have been plenty of Roku TVs over the years, but they've always been made by other manufacturers. However, now Roku is throwing itself into the mix by launching its first in-house TV models at CES 2023.

The company unveiled the Roku Select and Roku Plus models, representing budget and premium smart TVs, respectively. There will be 11 models between the two, ranging from 24 inches to 75 inches, with HD and 4K models.

The cheaper Roku Select models will feature the Roku Voice remote, while the Roku Plus models will be bundled with the Voice Remote Pro. However, either variant will get a boost in audio thanks to the new Roku TV Wireless Soundbar.

Known for its smart TV dongles, Roku is the latest to get into the hardware TV game after Amazon launched its own in-house TVs in 2021 with the Fire TV Omni series. This allows companies to take more control of the hardware and software while still relying on partners to expand and enhance the experience with their own hardware offerings, something Roku seems keen on encouraging. In fact, Roku says that innovations introduced with its TVs will be available through the Roku TV program for other OEMs to take advantage of.

And in addition to the first Roku-branded TVs, the company is also launching an OLED reference design for partners in the Roku TV program to build TVs for the platform with better colors and contrast. It's unclear when we'll start seeing models arrive on the market, but it's encouraging to see the company pushing for higher-quality TV sets to add to its collection of Roku TVs and devices.

"This new OLED Roku TV reference design enables our brand partners to deliver the premium TV experience that OLED brings, including dark black levels, superb contrast and superior viewing angles, along with all the features that Roku users love," says Tom McFarland, vice president of Business Development at Roku TV.

• TV deals: Walmart | Samsung | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 

As for the Roku Select and Roku Plus series, these TVs are expected to arrive this spring, along with the new Roku TV Wireless Soundbar. The TVs will range in price from $119 to $999.

What you need to know

• Disney+ launched its Basic tier with ads as it raises prices for other tiers.
• Disney+ Basic is not supported on Roku devices, forcing viewers to either switch streaming devices or hop up a tier to the $10.99 premium level.
• While Disney informs users of this fact through a help page, this could be due to Roku's ad revenue split that it demands from streaming services.

Disney+ has finally launched its new ad-supported tier, but an issue with the plan has cropped up for Roku viewers.

Users trying to access Disney's latest ad-supported streaming on a Roku device will be unable to due to lack to support. As a result, Roku users looking to watch Displey+ content will have to settle for the more expensive option. Disney's new Basic tier costs $7.99 for U.S. viewers, while the Premium tier (without ads) gets bumped up to $10.99.

Disney has apparently confirmed on its own that its new ad-supported tier will not be supported on Roku (via TechCrunch) for now. A help page informs users that the Basic plan is not supported on Roku devices while also not being available to those watching from the Windows desktop app.

Although, it appears as though Disney is looking to bring support for the ad tier to Roku watchers as it engages in talks with the streaming company. It's being speculated that this is due to a dispute regarding Roku's ad revenue split.

The Disney+ launch of its new ad-supported plan became available on December 8. We've been expecting this for quite a while, ever since Disney detailed the plan in direct competition with Netflix, which also rollout out its own ad-supported plan in November.

Disney states it has over 100 advertisers spanning multiple major categories at launch to try and grab user attention. Users can bundle this ad-supported plan with Hulu for $9.99 a month or with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month.

With the Disney+ Basic plan now in our hands, the tier will still provide users with the complete library of content and other features that premium members benefit from. Basic plan owners can create up to seven profiles on their account along with concurrent viewing for watching Disney+ on multiple devices and high-quality videos.

This is a bit of a difference from Netflix, which launched its cheaper plan with a limit on the amount of content its viewers can access and enjoy.

For many of those who are looking for a new streaming device, now's the perfect time to make your final decision. We're seeing some incredible deals come through, and they aren't just for the usual suspects (i.e. Amazon). 

Roku has quite a few different streaming devices in its lineup, but we would argue that the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the best Roku of the bunch. Not because it offers the "latest and greatest" but simply from a value proposition. 

• TV deals: Walmart | Samsung | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 

With the Streaming Stick 4K, you'll obviously be able to stream all of your favorite holiday movies and TV shows in 4K. But this streamer also brings support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, acting as the perfect companion to your existing 4K TV. Plus, Roku has made some significant improvements to the software, providing compatibility with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and even Siri for those iPhone owners out there.

Normally, the Streaming Stick 4K is priced at $50, but thanks to the ongoing early Black Friday deals from Walmart, you won't pay that. In fact, you could grab two of these while they're on sale and pay the same price that you would any other time of the year. That's right, the Streaming Stick 4K with all of its streaming prowess can be yours for just $25.

What you need to know

• Roku announces a new sports streaming experience.
• The new feature combines all sports shows in a centralized hub on the home screen, so you won't have to click through multiple apps or channels.
• Roku's new experience will display live and upcoming games for a list of leagues and conferences.

Roku is making it easier to find your favorite sports content with its new Sports experience, a dedicated page for your favorite games and matches on the home screen menu.

The new Sports page is meant to help sports fans stream their favorite content without having to navigate through multiple apps or channels, Roku said in a blog post. Live and upcoming games for an initial roster of leagues and conferences will appear in the new destination. Users will be able to choose on which supported channels they want to stream content when they click on the tile for a game they want to watch.

"We know that keeping track of where sports are being streamed has only become more fragmented over the past few years," said Alex Hill, director of Live & Sports at Roku. "Watching your favorite teams should be simple, so we’ve made it a priority to build out a more seamless and streamlined way to discover and watch sports on our platform."

Apple TV, TNT, DIRECTV, Fox Sports, FuboTV, Paramount+, TBS, truTV, Prime Video, Sling, The Roku Channel, and Peacock are among the partners currently supporting the new experience. Sports content from those channels will be available during the seasons of the sports leagues on which they broadcast.

Hill went on to say that Roku will expand the list of supported providers and add new features to make it easier for users to follow their favorite teams.

Roku OS 11.5 launched on one of the best streaming devices in September, with a "What to Watch" section where you'll see content from various streaming services. The new dedicated sports page is inspired by that feature.

Roku's other features, such as Roku Search, Roku Voice, Sports Zone, and others, will be integrated with the new experience. You'll also have the option to watch live and upcoming games or events in any zone, find content specific to your favorite leagues, or explore free sports content.

Soundbars have come a long way in the last few years, offering excellent sound while taking up less space and costing far less. They've only been getting better at delivering fuller sound in thinner and smaller sizes, only making them more impressive additions to a home theater. Our criteria for the best soundbars start with: bars that won't bankrupt you, come with the best streaming devices or smart assistants built-in, and may sometimes come with subwoofers and rears, though won't always need them.

The Samsung HW-Q990C will blow you away with its massive sound as a complete system you can expand on, though it will come at a premium price. The good news is soundbars come at a variety of prices and feature sets, giving you great options to consider.

At a glance

Turn up the volume with the best soundbars

Best overall

The Samsung HW-Q990C pulls out all the stops to deliver one of the most immersive Dolby Atmos sound experiences you’ll find anywhere. It already borders on being ridiculous (in a good way) with 11.1.4 channels when combining the soundbar, subwoofer, and two rear speakers together — all of which come in the same box. If you want Dolby Atmos with real punch and effect for movies and music, your ears won’t be disappointed.

Samsung’s Q Symphony technology also plays an active role in that it allows the company’s compatible TVs to communicate with the HW-Q990C wired or wirelessly to blend together speakers from both for even more enveloping sound. It’s easy to set up however you want the system to work, and is ideal for medium-sized or larger rooms. You can also rely on stable wireless connections between the different components to keep sound flowing without hiccups or incidents.

You’ll have to pay a pretty penny to put all this in your home, as is, and may have to consider a different option if you have immersive gaming on your mind. The big hurdle is the lack of 4K 120Hz passthrough via HDMI, which is a downside if you’re a serious console or PC gamer, but otherwise shouldn’t be a problem for other content. It benefits more in playing movies and shows over music, but you can still hear Dolby Atmos tracks from the right sources.

Best smarts

The best Sonos speakers were limited to portable Bluetooth speakers paired to your phone; now, you can get them all over the house. Sonos has become a household name for TV audio after diving into the soundbar industry, with the Sonos Arc coming in as its flagship model. It offers the homeowner eight woofers, three tweeters, and a total of 11 amplifiers for incredible, immersive sound. This is paired with a far-field microphone to work alongside your voice assistant of choice.

The Arc requires only two cables to plug in before being ready to experience this soundbar's greatness, which is incredible if you don't want a complicated setup. As for connections, the Playbar offers one Ethernet port, an HDMI ARC port (with included cable), and an Optical Audio port. Plus, as part of the Sonos family, you can connect the Arc to other Sonos speakers for a surround-sound experience.

It's a fantastic option, and we had almost nothing but praise for it in our Sonos Arc review — mainly whenever it plays Dolby Atmos content, which sounds particularly incredible from a soundbar without rear speakers. But the Arc isn't without a couple of downfalls that may have you looking elsewhere. First is the size and weight: it measures more than 13 pounds and is 45 inches wide, so you'll need to have plenty of space and heavy-duty wall anchors. The other pitfall is that there is no subwoofer included, so you may not get as much "punch" during your movies as you might want.

Best splurge

The “Plus” in this Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar is notable because it lies in the middle of the company’s lineup of high-end models. While it may be smaller than the Ambeo Max, it hits many of the right notes as an alternative, especially when it comes to the outstanding audio quality and Dolby Atmos support. Not only that but DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio are also in the mix here, covering a lot of ground when it comes to spatial audio content.

It can’t make up for the lack of rear speakers for surround sound but can prove surprisingly good at making you feel like the virtual effect works. But it’s the dynamic sound coming out of its relatively compact body that may be the bigger surprise. This soundbar isn’t for quiet rooms and is only worth getting if you want a booming home theater situation without committing to rears for a true surround effect.

You can add the Ambeo Sub to really take the bass to another level, but that will cost you extra, ballooning an already pricey proposition. You do get what you pay for, though, what with the Soundbar Plus’ integrations and port options, along with solid support from Sennheiser’s Smart Control app.

Best balance

Bose has been in the sound game for a long time, but its home theater audio options used to be priced out of many potential owners' budgets. Those times have changed, and the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar carries on in the same vein as the previous Smart Soundbar 900. Priced to compete directly with the Sonos Beam, it has the premium Bose features we're used to from its more expensive models.

On its own merits, the Smart Ultra Soundbar has four full-range drivers and a central tweeter for compact, distortion-free sound. It also has a mic for built-in Alexa, which you can use to control your TV. If you want to go bigger on sound, there's also a port to connect a Bose subwoofer. Plus, it has several connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Bose SimpleSync to use select Bose headphones for private listening.

For dedicated Bose fans, you can pair your Smart Ultra to other Bose Bluetooth speakers or buy a Bose Bass Module or Surround Speakers to build a total home theater system. These can add up in price, but it's great the Smart Ultra Soundbar maintains the same modular audio experience its predecessor does — if you can afford to augment it.

Best spatial audio

It’s not often you see a modular soundbar that literally comes apart at the seams with two extra speaker satellites you can set up as rears that wirelessly communicate with the main bar for a surround sound setup. They can last you a good 10 hours before you need to recharge them again, which only requires you to slide them back into their respective spots on the sides. You can also use them as Bluetooth speakers, either separately or together as a stereo pair, adding a nice perk to this unique setup.

For a home theater situation, you get an 11.1.4 system with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, plus a subwoofer you can place anywhere you want to add some rumble to the whole experience. The JBL One app can be super helpful in figuring out the best way to set everything up based on the room you’re in, especially for where to place the rear speakers. Once you’re good to go, the Bar 1300X will delight you when making you feel whatever movie you’re watching in Dolby Atmos. Spatial audio for music may give you the same feeling when you want something immersive for tunes supporting it.

You won’t get Google Assistant or Alexa (at least not in full) with this system, but you do get AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and a slew of features that feel integrative. It doesn’t come cheap to bring this into your home, but you may be set for years if you do.

Best mid-range

Best mid-size

With the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), you get the best soundbar with basic smarts. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) connects to your TV with HDMI-ARC or with the included HDMI-to-Optical adapter. A recent update has brought the ability to integrate Sonos products and Google Assistant. You can control your TV with your voice if your TV supports HDMI-CEC, which most modern sets do. Controlling your TV with your voice isn't a replacement for a remote, but it's an excellent option.

Sonos' ecosystem is attractive because it's easy to add more speakers to create a surround system. And as for connections, you'll get a single HDMI port, a single Ethernet port, and the standard AC power input. So you can start with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and have a great soundbar. Then, a few months later, you can pick up a couple of Sonos One speakers to add more channels. Or, you can buy a Sonos 5.1 kit with everything you need and create one of the best soundbar systems you can find.

However, if you want to experience better "lows" in your movies and video games, you'll want to pick up a subwoofer after the fact. This adds more of a punch to intense scenes and helps to immerse you in whatever you're watching or playing. Until then, the Beam creates a wide soundstage with an effective low-end sound all on its own, as we discovered during our Sonos Beam review.

Best small size

Polk is another one of those companies that prides itself on providing great audio experiences throughout your home. The Polk MagniFi Mini AX is no different and has a few tricks up its sleeves that other soundbars can't compete with. Kicking everything off, the MagniFi Mini AX sports a single ARC-compatible HDMI, along with a standard optical port for your television and an auxiliary cable.

Smart home integration is on board, with Google Assistant built right-in, and you'll have the added benefit of a built-in Chromecast (keep in mind this only lets you stream music over Wi-Fi, not stream video). The MagniFi Mini AX also includes a wireless subwoofer so that you can get that extra bass from your media without the need for any additional wires.

While controlling your TV and soundbar with a single remote is nifty, we would have liked to see a more robust remote from Polk. The included remote gives you basic controls without any shortcuts to Netflix or another streaming app. Those who want to have multiple devices connected directly to the MagniFi Mini AX will be disappointed as there's just a single HDMI port on this soundbar.

Best value

Give Yamaha credit; it finds ways to pack a lot into something that comes at a more agreeable price. If the Sonos Beam is too rich for you, the SR-B30A is a solid alternative that can also save you a few dollars, especially considering the Dolby Atmos support. At this price, that’s not always a guarantee for any soundbar, but here, you have connectivity that matters, including an HDMI eARC port and Bluetooth for wireless audio playback.

Impressive sound will help you feel like you have a bargain for the experience every time you watch a movie or play a game. You won’t get a subwoofer with this soundbar, though you have an option with the SR-B40A, but bear in mind that both soundbars sound the same otherwise. The sub will add the kind of depth you can’t get from the bar alone.

Yamaha’s Sound Bar Remote app offers an easy way to control and update the SR-B30A’s firmware but isn’t going to be quite as deep in granular features. It’s more about switching between the existing settings rather than setting up your own.

Best integration

A few different streaming box options are available now, including the Chromecast with Google TV, our favorite of all the best Android TV boxes. Whether you prefer Chromecasts, Fire Sticks, or Rokus, however, you'll end up using two HDMI ports for your streaming box and soundbar — one too many if you have a lot of gaming consoles, cable boxes, or Blu-Ray players to connect as well.

If this is you, the Roku Streambar Pro is the all-in-one soundbar solution you've been looking for. Connect it to an HDMI ARC-compatible port on your 4K TV, and you'll be able to enjoy 4K HDR content and upgraded audio thanks to its four 2.5-inch full-range drivers plus the streaming capabilities of a Roku Streaming Stick+. It's compact enough to easily slide under any TV, with side-firing drivers to fill a room with decent sound. You can also invest in a subwoofer and wireless speakers to upgrade to true surround sound.

And when it comes to smart home compatibility, the Streambar Pro checks off all of the boxes. It's compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and even Apple's Siri with AirPlay 2 support. With this in tow, you'll be able to control Roku's impressive soundbar with the best Android phones, regardless of your smart home ecosystem.

Best for gaming

Razer proves its pedigree for gaming products every time out, and the Leviathan V2 Pro is easily the most ambitious attempt at a soundbar for the brand. The main reason is the AI-based features, like head-tracking that works via built-in cameras to deliver virtual surround sound that actually works as advertised. The THX Spatial Audio feature set includes different modes to bring out the sounds of every game you play depending on what kind of effect you want most.

Don’t let the size fool you, either. The Leviathan V2 Pro may be smaller than your average soundbar, but it holds real power, pumping out sound easily capable of filling a room, much less a gaming setup in a smaller space. Slick RGB lighting with 30 different zones adds some real flair across the bar, which you can control yourself to fit the kind of look or mood you have in mind.

You don’t have an HDMI port to work with, so using it with a TV comes with compromises, much like how there’s a headphone jack, but no microphone one. Despite the limitations, Razer threw a lot into this soundbar as an effective alternative to your standard fare.

Best budget

TCL’s S Class soundbars come in a few different configurations, and the S55H is the 2.1-channel setup you can get all in one package. The soundbar is a reasonable size to make it fit a wide variety of TV setups or rooms. So long as you have some space for the included subwoofer, you can some real 'boom' to a smaller room where space may be limited. The S Class don’t have the same room calibration features available in the Q Class, but it’s a worthy price to pay if you want to stay within a tighter budget.

You can expect 220W of power, so the S55H system can get loud when you want it to be, though you may find clarity suffers a little when you really crank it up. Take advantage of the Dolby Atmos support, plus DTS Virtual:X to offer something akin to a bigger surround sound system.

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The best soundbars come in small packages

Soundbars come in all shapes and sizes. Larger soundbars have more room for bigger drivers and built-in subwoofers but can get expensive for what they offer. Smaller soundbars may not have the same punch, but they often do a better job of side-firing audio that spreads rich sound across an entire room. You can't go wrong either way, but the powerful Samsung HW-Q990C brings it in so many ways that will make you feel like your home theater has been transformed.

It's our pick for the best soundbar for several reasons, not least of which is the superb audio quality and immersive surround sound experience, but also the connectivity options and the ability to integrate or expand the system further. That is a theme with a bunch of options on this, especially those from Sonos or JBL, and you have choices within different budget constraints to consider.

Dolby Atmos gets strong support across the list, though you may have to think about what kind of setup you want, which explains why some of the selections here come with subs and rears, whereas others don't. Whatever you choose to do within your own limits, your ears will probably appreciate everything they hear.

How to choose

Soundbars come in a variety of models for good reason. Sound can come cheaper or at a premium, depending on what you're looking for and what fits your budget. As TVs continue to get bigger — and thinner — their speakers actually get worse. Built-in sound quality has been the biggest casualty in the era of flatscreen TVs with newer screen technologies.

To make the right choice, you have to consider a few key variables. What room do you plan to put it in? Do you know what ports and connections you want, as well as which ones your TV offers? Do you want it for watching movies, sports, or gaming? Are you looking for ancillary features, like Bluetooth audio streaming, Chromecast, AirPlay, or support for wireless headphones?

To make things easier, you ideally want a soundbar with an HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) port, which means it acts as both an input and output. It's a far more common port than it used to be, but if your TV is old, you may find it's not available on that end. The advantage of the port is that it routes all audio to the soundbar, regardless of what component it's coming from through the TV, be it a streaming box, game console, or Chromecast.

You may also come across soundbars that are modular, meaning you can add a subwoofer or rear speakers for a surround sound experience. With Dolby Atmos support, you can take that to another level by feeling the audible sensation of a helicopter flying overhead or police siren from behind.

No matter which way you go, a soundbar is an upgrade over a TV's own speakers. Now that they come in different forms and price points, you have great odds of finding one that fits your own home entertainment vision.

It's the final day of the Prime Early Access sale (aka Prime Day 2), which means you only have a few hours left to take advantage of all the epic Roku deals before Amazon calls it quits. Lucky for you, we've been keeping track of all the best offers so you can spend less time scrolling through product lists and more time streaming your favorite movies and TV shows.

The best Roku devices provide 4K resolution and Dolby Vision support, plus instant access to all of your favorite streaming services, using just your TV's HDMI port and a few simple voice commands to the included Roku remote. User-friendly is the name of the game with these streaming devices, so you won't need to worry about tons of dangling wires or a convoluted setup process. Keep reading for the best Roku deals that we've found so far during the two-day sale, and don't forget to check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog to see a roundup of all the best offers as they go live.  

Best Prime Day Roku deals — stream for dirt cheap

If you miss Amazon's huge 2-day sale, don't panic — we keep track of the best Roku deals year round so you always know where to find the best prices. 

What you need to know

• Roku Smart Home, the latest line from the streaming company, has been announced.
• Roku’s latest line of products includes flood lights, smart bulbs, light strips, cameras, video doorbell and chime, and more.
• Roku Smart Home cameras start below $27 with online availability on October 12 on Roku.com and Walmart.com exclusively.
• Consumers can purchase the new line in-store on October 17.

Roku has now launched its own line of smart home products which include Floodlight Camera, Indoor and Outdoor Cameras, Indoor Camera 360-degrees, Video Doorbell and Chime, Smart bulbs (white and color), Smart Light strips, and Indoor and Outdoor plugs.

Most people commonly know Roku for its business in the streaming industry offering its own array of dongles and TVs. The company states that Roku Smart Home is a “natural extension that brings the value, choice, and ease of use that consumers have come to love from Roku to the connected home.”

This new array of smart home devices will come with Roku TV OS integration. Users with Roku on their TVs will have the ability to see who is at their door if they have a video doorbell while watching their shows or a movie. Roku’s voice remote can also be used to bring up your camera feeds. Roku states that its smart home series will be compatible with third-party voice recognition along with Roku Voice.

Roku has also partnered with Wyze to bring its new smart home series. With Wyze, Roku is providing an easy path for its consumers to connect their smart home devices and enjoy the experience it can offer. The Roku Smart Home series features two-factor authentication, user data encryption, secure boot, and other security protocols for your safety and privacy. Roku’s inaugural line of smart home products has also received ioXT Alliance certification which is the global standard for IoT security.

The Roku Smart Home line of products will be available exclusively through Walmart as a way of continuously providing customers with technology that simplifies and enhances their everyday lives at a low price.

With that, Roku Smart Home cameras start below $27 with the full series of products offering choice and value to customers. This new series launch welcomes the Roku Smart Home app for Android and iOS along with a camera subscription plan that comes with cloud video recording history, smart alerts, package delivery notifications, and more. Roku Smart Home products can be purchased online at Roku.com or Walmart.com beginning today. Those looking to grab these new smart home devices in-store personally at Walmart can do so beginning October 17.

When you're looking at the big picture, it can be tough deciding whether you should go with Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick for your streaming needs. These are some of the best streaming devices, with both featuring pros and cons over one another. Let's dive a bit deeper to determine which is right for you.

Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: The battle for your streaming needs

Before you even get into things like smart home integration or how the interfaces stack up between Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV, you'll likely want to know what's available. 

Both tout large app libraries with thousands of different apps. While almost all of the most popular streaming services are available on both platforms, including those who want to stream Live TV through the likes of YouTube TV, Sling TV, and more, newer streaming services may not be.

And after a surprisingly-long delay, Amazon finally added HBO Max as an option, finally making it possible for you to ditch the outdated HBO app and stream all seasons of Friends or Game of Thrones. 

Both of these streaming services offer much more than just being able to download your favorite apps. Live TV is integrated into both options, and there is plenty of "in-house" content to choose from. Recently, Roku has even been bolstering its library of produced movies and shows, while Amazon notably is continuing to push the envelope with popular titles such as The Boys and The Rings of Power. 

Plus, both Amazon and Roku include a few different free TV channels, each of which provides different types of content. For example, Amazon includes the likes of Tubi, Plex, Pluto TV, and PBS Kids, all of which can be downloaded and accessed without paying a dime. 

Roku provides access to all of the same options while adding The Roku Channel. This is touted as "your home for free TV," giving you access to free content whenever you need, while also suggesting some premium content if you want to rent something for movie night. 

Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: The interface

Another key reason to choose one streaming platform over another comes down to the interface. For the past decade, Roku has been the backbone for some of the best cheap 4K TVs on the market, while Amazon's TV presence has been limited to brands like Insignia and Toshiba. With Roku's lead on this front, coupled with how the company is not directly competing with Amazon, Apple, or Google in the same way that those companies are competing with one another, it actually benefits the user.

Amazon's Fire TV Stick, for all of its ease-of-use and wonderful Alexa integrations, sorely lacks in the interface department. Amazon tries to push its Prime content on just about every page, and includes "sponsored" channels that clog up the home page. It's understandable, but when you see a clean and simple interface like what Roku has to offer, it's easy to see why the grass may be greener on the other side.

To its credit, Amazon has heard the customer feedback and has promised a more streamlined and redesigned interface for Fire TV Stick owners. However, as of this writing, that update has not been pushed just yet, leaving us with more ads for shows and movies that we could care less to see and that cannot be removed.

Roku recently announced the next major software update coming to the best Roku devices, with Roku OS 11.5. This aims to make life even easier when it comes to finding the best movies or TV shows to stream if you're struggling to decide on something to watch.

The Home Screen provides quick and easy access to your favorite streaming apps via the Home tab, in addition to the Live TV option for watching, live TV. With "The Buzz," Roku is also trying to add a TikTok-like element to your TV streaming experience, as it will show more short-form content as opposed to traditional movies and shows.

Meanwhile, the Fire TV interface puts more of a focus on its own content above everything else. You can rearrange things to put your favorite apps at the top, and if you rely on Prime Video, you can pick up right where you left off. But instead of a vertically orientated interface, the Fire TV takes a different approach, as you'll find yourself side-scrolling quite a bit.

Below the massive rolling ads at the top of the screen, there are quick shortcuts to "Home," "Find," and "Live," so you'll at least be able to have some quick access. And further to the right, there's a list of your favorite or most-used streaming services, removing the need to scroll around just to find the app or channel that you rely on the most.

Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Smart home integration

Whether you're just getting into the smart home world and you're looking for the best streaming devices, or you are an experienced veteran, both Roku's and Amazon's streaming devices have different ways to integrate. 

Roku gets an easy nod in terms of compatibility, as you'll be able to instruct Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to play something on your Roku with ease. On the other hand, the Amazon Fire TV stick has limited integration with Google Assistant (you'll need an Alexa skill), and there is no Apple HomeKit compatibility when it comes to Amazon's Fire TV Stick.

But, that's kind of where Amazon excels in trying to turn your home into an Alexa-powered smart home. If you own the Fire TV Stick, you can pick up a couple of Amazon Echo Dots and pair them, in stereo, to your Fire TV Stick. This immediately improves the sound quality for anything that you want to watch or listen to through the Fire TV Stick. Then, of course, you also can use Alexa to perform various commands.

And that doesn't even include what's possible if you start adding more Alexa-powered speakers or smart displays around your home. Then, you can dive deeper into the Alexa-powered accessories and control everything, from anywhere with the help of Alexa.

Roku can't say the same thing for many of its streaming devices, at least not until you get into something like the Roku Streambar. Sure, you can pick up some of Roku's wireless speakers, but these are both more expensive, and larger than that of the Amazon Echo Dots. Plus, you can't only just get one of the Roku Speakers, as they come in a pair from Roku.

Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Comparing devices

We've compared Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV generally thus far, but it's just as important to discuss how their individual device lineups compare. So we'll go through the list for both. 

Roku starts with its Express HD and 4K+ devices. Both give you the standard Roku experience, but in a blocky form that's not as portable as a traditional streaming stick; it'll either sit on your entertainment center or need to be mounted to your TV with the included adhesive strip. 

Next you have the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, giving you 4K/Dolby Vision®/HDR10+ streaming in a more portable form, and the 4K+ model that adds a new Pro remote with lost remote finder and rechargeable battery. Then there's the bulky Roku Ultra, which adds Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port for streaming from your phone, plus an Ethernet port for more consistent internet near your router. And lastly, you have Roku's soundbars for 2-in-1 streaming and enhanced audio.

Moving on to Amazon, you have five main Fire TV Stick options. The Fire TV Stick Lite and Fire TV Stick have the same HD streaming quality, library, and performance, with the only difference between them being that the Lite has a basic remote with no buttons except Alexa, making it voice-command dependent.

Next you have the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max. Both give you the jump to 4K HDR and HDR10+ with a proper remote control, but the Max wins in our mind because it has 40% faster performance, Wi-Fi 6 support, and the ability to show live picture-in-picture view of your linked security cameras. But the best experience comes with the bulky Fire TV Cube, which Amazon is relaunching in 2022 with Wi-Fi 6E support, a faster 2GHz processor, more ports, and Super Resolution Upscaling of lower-resolution content.

We suspect the standard 4K streaming sticks will be the most popular, so you can check our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Streaming Stick 4K guide for a more in-depth breakdown.

Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Which should you pick?

If this was a few years ago, picking between Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick would have been a much different debate. Amazon has held a lead in the space for years, simply by offering more content and the inclusion of more streaming services at your disposal. 

But now, the gap has definitely gotten closer than it ever was before. Both Roku and Amazon offer pretty much all of the same streaming services, with the differences coming down to exclusive content and the interface itself. Arguably the best part of it all is that you can even buy TVs with either the Fire TV OS or Roku OS built-in, removing the need to pick up a streaming device to enjoy your content.

There's no clear "winner" here, as it really comes down to personal preference at this point. Amazon gains a slight advantage when it comes to smart home integration, but Roku is no slouch in that category either. Instead, Amazon's edge comes in the form of the Alexa ecosystem and integrating with smart home devices such as smart cameras, and the ever-growing library of Alexa skills.

At the end of the day, you won't be disappointed with either Roku or Amazon. Both companies offer streaming devices that cater to pretty much every price tier and the capabilities of your TV.

Both the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K offer high-quality 4K streaming with HDR at an affordable price. Both devices also include a Voice Remote, which makes navigating your television and streaming apps easier.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Streaming Stick 4K: Prices and features

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has a suggested price of $50 but can often be found on sale for much less. Even at its full price, it's one of the most affordable 4K-compatible streaming devices on the market you can get. While there are minor differences when comparing the Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K continues to be one of the most powerful streaming sticks and supports streaming in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, or HLG.

The device also comes with the Alexa Voice Remote, which allows you to use your voice to search and launch shows across downloaded apps and control the power and volume on your TV with a single remote.

Meanwhile, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K also retails for $50 and boasts many of the same features. In addition to HDR streaming with Dolby Vision picture and HDR10+, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the most powerful Roku streaming stick and features long-range Wi-Fi capabilities. Like the Alexa Voice Remote, the Roku Voice Remote eliminates the need for an extra TV remote.

You can also download the Roku app to your mobile device for an elevated streaming experience, including listening to audio from your phone. If you're trying to catch up on your favorite action series at night while your family is sleeping, being able to direct your audio to your phone and devices connected to it, like Bluetooth headphones, is a fantastic feature.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Streaming Stick 4K: Who should buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K?

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is frequently marked down. It can be purchased for $10 to $15 less than the Roku Streaming Stick 4K when it is, making it by far the best option for viewers who want to watch high-resolution content on a budget.

Both devices are equally responsive with a strong internet connection, and both come with voice-enabled remotes that control your TV. However, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is a better choice for consumers already familiar with its interface and those who stream the bulk of their content using the Amazon Prime Video app. It's also worth pointing out that the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K works a bit more seamlessly with Alexa-enabled devices and Google Home speakers than its Roku counterpart.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Streaming Stick 4K: Who should buy the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K features an interface and search function that tends to be a bit more straightforward than the Fire TV Stick 4K, making the search for content to watch a bit easier. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K may also be the better option for viewers who already own and are familiar with Roku devices, whether additional Roku streaming devices, Roku Wireless Speakers, or the Roku Streambar.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K also has the added perk of being compatible with the Roku app, which allows you to listen privately to the content streaming on your TV, listening via headphones connected to your mobile device. It should also be noted that while the Fire TV Stick 4K previously had the advantage of supporting Dolby Vision, that feature was added to Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Streaming Stick 4K: Which device should you buy?

When it comes to picking which 4K streaming stick is the best device for you, the biggest question is how much you're willing to pay. Both devices support roughly the same display output, and except for the few with a full Dolby Atmos setup, the audio options are also very similar. Even so, the Roku has a couple of differentiating features, like the excellent Roku remote app and the long-range Wi-Fi receiver built into the USB power cable.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K provide the highest quality of streaming at an affordable price point, with options to cater your viewing experience to your particular tastes and preferences. However, it's more likely that you'll find the Amazon offering on sale.

What you need to know

• Roku announces two new products: the Express and the Wireless Bass.
• The Roku Express can be preordered today for $29.99, with shipments beginning in mid-October and retail release on October 16.
• The Roku Wireless Bass, a new subwoofer, can be preordered for $129.99, retail release on November 7.
• Customers can preorder the Roku Streambar and Wireless Bass bundle for $249.99, with its retail release beginning on November 7.

Roku announced two new products joining its streaming lineup: the Roku Express and Wireless Bass. Roku stated during the announcement of the two new products that both will continue "Roku’s commitment to providing a best-in-class streaming experience at accessible price points."

In addition, the company is also announcing a new update to its OS to improve content discovery and streamline navigation.

Roku Express (2022)

The new Roku Express features dual-band Wi-Fi, strengthening its streaming capabilities right out of the box. The new product includes a remote, features increased storage, includes an HDMI cable, and an expansive library of free live TV options as well as premium streaming selections.

Roku says the increased storage on the Express should boost its performance so viewers can enjoy an uninterrupted HD streaming experience at home. The Roku Express also provides an easy setup-to-streaming experience. With a quick beginning guide and its intuitive home screen, the Roku Express just needs to be plugged in, connected to your internet, and it's ready to stream.

You can watch Emmy-nominated Roku Originals and over three hundred live TV channels for free on the Roku Channel. The Roku Express is available today for pre-sale on Roku.com, Walmart, and Amazon for $29.99. The streaming device is slated to begin shipping out in mid-October. Widespread availability for the Roku Express at retailers begins on October 16.

Wireless Bass

The Roku Wireless Bass is said to provide "high-powered sound for a theater-like experience." This new subwoofer will add bass to your Roku Streambar, Wireless Speakers, or even your Roku TV Wireless Soundbar. Roku says that the Wireless Bass is an easy and affordable upgrade for anyone looking to enhance their home sound environment.

The new subwoofer can provide incredible lows during movies and TV shows, providing you with a deep, dynamic bass sound that makes you feel like you're in a theater. The Roku Wireless Bass is also very easy to set up without needing cords running every which way. The subwoofer just needs to plug into your power outlet and then wirelessly paired with your Roku audio device. You can even place your Wireless Bass as far as thirty feet away from your TV.

You can begin preordering your Roku Wireless Bass at Roku.com and Amazon.com at $129.99. General availability for the new subwoofer will begin on November 7 at Roku.com, Best Buy, and Amazon.

There will also be the Roku Streambar and Wireless Bass bundle also for preorder at Roku.com for $249.99. General availability for the bundle will begin on November 7 at Roku.com and Best Buy.

Roku OS 11.5

A well-built software is crucial for ensuring your Roku streaming experience is easy and never falters. With the Roku Express receiving automatic updates quickly, the streaming company has upgraded its software to match its latest release.

Roku OS 11.5 is the new software being announced today. It will begin rolling out to Roku devices within the next few months. Roku's new OS will touch on improving everything revolving around its home screen, beginning with its content discovery. To make things easier, Roku is improving its categories within the Live TV Channel Guide. This will allow watchers to discover and hop right into their favorite live TV content.

Roku is also offering a personalized look for users, which brings in three new categories: Recents, Favorites, and Subscribed. Users will be able to save their favorite channels, return to find what they were watching previously, and quickly navigate their way to premium channels from The Roku Channel.

The company is also introducing a new Live TV Channel "Guide" button usable through the remote mobile app. The button gives users a way to see what's happening on their TV, and they can launch the Live TV Channel Guide to find live TV channels. This new button will only be available connected to a Roku TV running the new 11.5 OS in its supported regions.

Roku's home screen has seen a few improvements, starting with The Buzz. This new feature will bring about a better discovery experience to your screen as users can browse a "frequently updated" collection of entertainment-focused posts. It will also provide short-form content from popular brands such as AMC+, Apple TV+, Shortime, and IGN.

The new Continue Watching option will be located within the What to Watch section of your Roku home screen. This will make it easier for watchers to get right back into what they were previously watching. With the addition of a new Save List, users can quickly save what they're interested in watching later, accessible from the What to Watch area of the home screen and can be found on the mobile app, as well.

The latest improvements to the home screen usher in the Roku Store. From here, users can browse and find potential new content for them to enjoy streaming.

Roku's Bluetooth Private Listening also receives an update, allowing it to be compatible with the Roku Ultra, Streambar, and Streambar Pro. Users will be able to pair their headphones with these products to listen in without disturbing others while also blocking everyone else out.

Lastly, search is getting a big upgrade with a more visual display for results, while users can also take advantage of improved Voice Search for faster queries.

If you want all of the features of a smart TV without paying a smart TV price, these Roku deals might be just what you're looking for. Roku streaming sticks can be plugged into your TV's HDMI port to instantly unlock a world of streaming services, live TV channels, and other apps so you can enjoy endless entertainment. Although the price is usually comparable to the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku's main competition, these streaming devices have a few interesting features you won't find on a Fire stick.

Once you've plugged in your new Roku streaming device, you can download the Roku app and use it as a remote or even connect some wireless headphones to your phone and listen to what's on TV privately. You'll also gain access to The Roku Channel, which offers thousands of free TV shows and movies to watch at your leisure. Roku devices let you stream from all the latest and most popular streaming services, from Netflix and Hulu to HBO Max, Apple TV+, Disney+, Peacock, and more. If you don't subscribe to any just yet, this guide to streaming service free trials should be pretty helpful.

The best Roku prices of the month

The Roku Ultra is the fastest, most powerful Roku streaming device so far, and it's even compatible with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for a more cinematic experience. It also offers a better wireless range than other models, plus compatibility with popular virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri.

The Ultra typically bounces around the $99.99 price mark, but right now you can pick one up for just $86.90. That's not the lowest price we've ever seen for the Roku Ultra stick (that prize goes to the $59 price tag that it had last November), but it's still worth considering if you're in need of a streaming device ASAP. 

One of the most affordable streaming devices on the market is now on sale at Amazon! This Roku device comes with a high-speed HDMI cable so you can connect it to your TV, as well as a remote with quick access buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Sling. You'll even score free 30-day trials of Showtime, Epix, and Starz with the purchase.

The Roku Express HD usually costs $29.99, but it's currently seeing a decent 17% drop on Amazon. That doesn't amount to much, dollar-wise, but it's worth considering since you're also getting hundreds of free channels and everything you need to get set up in minutes. 

Roku's affordable Express streaming stick is now available in 4K! This is one of the latest Roku devices and is just like the popular Roku Express stick, except this one can stream 4K content. 

The recent Prime Day sale event saw the Roku Express 4K drop to a record low price. It's gone up a little since then, but you can currently save 25% on the streaming device at Amazon, a hefty discount that brings the price down to just $29.99. Not too shabby when you look at the included features. 

Although it's technically not a stick, the Roku Streambar actually has all the functionality of streaming devices built in! It's an all-in-one soundbar and streaming device that lets you improve your TV's audio and stream the latest shows and movies in 4K.

It also doubles as a wireless speaker and uses Dolby Audio to produce consistently great sound. Amazon is currently slashing $23.89 off the price of the Roku Streambar, bringing it down to just a little over $100. 

What you need to know

• Netflix confirms it is introducing an ad-supported tier to the platform.
• It will be available for users who want to enjoy Netflix at a lower price by watching ads.
• The move comes after the recent loss of 200,000 subscribers and price increases.

Netflix is working on an ad-supported tier, which means the streaming platform will eventually allow ads. On Thursday, the company's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed this while speaking at the Cannes Lions advertising festival, (via Hollywood Reporter).

Netflix has always opposed ads on its platform since its inception and never implemented them. It thus explains its platform's premium pricing compared to the competition, many of which already have their own ad-supported tiers to keep costs low. However, a new ad-supported tier for Netflix could succeed at bringing new customers to the platform as the streaming market becomes increasingly saturated.

According to Holywood Reporter, Sarandos suggests that the company has left out a significant customer base who believes the streaming service is too expensive for them. He believes that the consumer base wouldn't mind ads on the streaming platform if it means paying less money.

This move comes right after the company reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of this year, its first subscriber loss in a decade. In April, co-founder and co-CEO, Reed Hastings, said that the company was exploring introducing ads to the platform.

Sarandos clarifies that this would be a new tier and that ads aren't taking over the platform, meaning the more expensive plans will likely remain as they are (at least until the next price hike).

Hollywood Reporter says that Sarandos is in talks with ad-sales partners who could help generate revenue by placing ads on the streaming service. 

Reports have recently speculated that Netflix could eye Roku as a potential takeover target. The company, which makes some of the best streaming devices on the market, actually got its start as a Netflix and was spun off in its early days.

As noted by our Shruti Shekar, a Roku-Netflix partnership would potentially help the streaming platform get a new audience, revenue stream, and infrastructure for the reportedly planned ad-tier service.

Sarandos, however, has declined to comment when asked about the potential buyout of Roku by Netflix, simply responding with, "We don't need it," according to The Wall Street Journal.

Analysts suggest that a Roku-Netflix partnership would likely be a lot more compelling right now than in 2009 (when it split up) because of the vastly different streaming environment that 2022 poses. They add that the only downfall would be for Roku, which could potentially lose its other partnerships.

Last week, rumors floated about the potential partnership between Roku and Netflix. These rumors were largely in response to Roku’s plummeting stock price as demand falls for streaming devices. 

While the move would help Roku, it would also be ideal for Netflix as it prepares to launch an ad-supported tier. The streaming platform recently saw its first subscriber loss in a decade, losing 200,000 subscribers in Q1, and is on track to lose 10x as much in the current quarter. 

A reminder, Roku, which is one of the best streaming devices, started at Netflix in the early 2000s, when founder Anthony Wood worked on a streaming device while at Netflix. But in 2009, before a product was launched, the company spun off over fears that it would impede Netflix’s availability on competing streaming devices. 

Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at Techsponentialk, doesn’t necessarily think the timing is critical but says that in 2022, Roku has become a “vastly different company now, with a completely different business model than when it started as an OTT set-top box manufacturer.” 

He says that a partnership between the two companies now would potentially help Netflix get a new audience, revenue stream, and infrastructure for its own planned ad-supported service. 

“Netflix is not a tech company; it is a content creator. If it can keep costs in check and create great content, it will thrive. Roku got stuck with a post-pandemic hit to its growth, but it mostly just needs to keep executing through the downturn,” he says. 

Carmi Levy, a technology analyst, based in Canada, agrees and adds that the streaming landscape in 2009 was far simpler. Levy explains that as we see Netflix’s subscriber count decline and Roku’s growth curve flattening, now is a time when they need to turn to each other. 

“Netflix and Roku need each other in 2022 far more than they ever did back in 2009,” he says. “Consumers were cutting the cord in droves, and Netflix stood virtually alone as the iconic brand of the moment. There literally was no significant competition, and Netflix could have easily continued to enjoy meteoric growth even if it hadn’t partnered with Roku.”

The partnership can’t be a simple band-aid solution

Levy notes that while both companies are trying to figure out how to regain their value, they need to ensure that they’re not doing something that’s a “simple band-aid solution.”

“Relying strictly on subscriber revenue may have worked when the future was limitlessly bright,” he says. “But amid today’s flat-growth, intensely competitive marketplace, Netflix has no choice but to add advertising revenue into the mix. And turning to Roku to quickly turn it into an actual offering is the least-risk, fastest-timeline option available, as both companies already have a legacy of working together, and could accelerate their partnership more aggressively because of it.”

Roku stands to suffer the most in this potential partnership

While it may seem that Roku desperately needs Netflix to bring back sales, Anshel Sag, a Moor Insights & Strategy senior analyst, says it has the most to lose. 

“Netflix is a competitor to many of Roku’s partner streaming services. Roku is still fundamentally a platform for streaming services, and by reunifying with Netflix, it effectively becomes far less independent in the eyes of the other streaming services that it supports,” he says. 

In fact, Sag says that Roku should partner deeply with more streaming services and try and offer a higher-end product for streaming as well. 

“I don’t necessarily think Roku and Netflix should merge, but I can see why both companies are struggling, and unifying together gives them a chance to compete with the more vertically integrated Amazon and Apples of the world,” he says. 

Is partnering with the likes of Sonos or Spotify a better option? 

Back in May, Sonos launched the Sonos Radio service on the web that features 45-minute samples from some of its channels, as well as individual shows and mixes. The company also announced a new voice assistant along with a new soundbar product. Sonos Radio was first launched as an ad-supported music service on its speakers in April 2020 and later launched an ad-free premium tier. 

Sag says it may be a viable option to partner with the likes of Sonos or even Spotify, but that Netflix is the most obvious and largest potential and historic opportunity. 

Greengart agrees that it would be interesting to see Roku try to partner with either company but says there are challenges to such partnerships. 

“Both would be interesting, but Spotify is more challenged than Netflix on its core metrics, and while Sonos is diversifying into streaming and advertising, it monetizes premium hardware sales, which is the opposite of Roku’s hardware business model,” he says. 

In fact, Levy posits that Roku shouldn’t limit its partnership with only Netflix and should branch out to as many streaming partners as possible to succeed. 

“The last thing that Roku should do is tie its fortunes to only one streaming service. Ubiquity is the key for a player like Roku, while exclusivity potentially exposes the company to additional - and unnecessary - future risk. As the barriers between video and audio content continue to blur, once-music-centric services like Spotify and Sonos are well-positioned to capture the attention of consumers increasingly concerned about getting the most value for their monthly subscription dollar,” he says. 

That being said, Levy says that if Netflix and Roku did play their cards right, they would emerge from their respective crises with a more diversified business road map and greater resiliency to withstand future shifts. 

“They’ve been able to get away with decidedly non-diversified business models for over a decade precisely because open-minded growth allowed it. Those days are over now, and their best path forward could very well be together again,” he adds. 

What you need to know

• Roku employees have reportedly discussed a potential acquisition from Netflix.
• Netflix is preparing to launch an ad-supported tier to bring subscribers back to its ailing platform.
• Roku has a robust ad platform that may attract Netflix as it prepares its own ad-supported tier.
• Roku got its beginnings at Netflix as a company that was spun off to create streaming devices.

While Elon Musk hones in on his acquisition of Twitter, there are rumors of another major acquisition in the works between Netflix and Roku.

A report from Insider suggests that Roku employees have been talking about a potential Netflix takeover for weeks. This is in response to the company's plummeting stock price as demand falls for streaming devices. Insider's sources remain unnamed but apparently close to the matter.

Roku declined to comment, and Netflix did not immediately respond to our request.

The report states that while a potential takeover could help Roku's struggling business, it would also be an ideal move for Netflix as it prepares to launch an ad-supported tier. The streaming platform recently saw its first subscriber loss in a decade, losing 200,000 subscribers in Q1, and is on track to lose 10x as much in the current quarter.

An ad-supported tier is one possible way that Netflix hopes to win users back, introducing a cheaper subscription as its other plans continue to rise in price. It's a tactic other streaming platforms have already adopted and has proven successful. Roku already has a robust ad business which could be just what Netflix needs to regain its footing.

While an acquisition between the two would represent a significant move for both parties, it wouldn't be too farfetched. While Netflix has steered clear of hardware, such was the case of ads until now. Additionally, Roku got its beginnings at Netflix in the early 2000s, when founder Anthony Wood worked on a streaming device while at Netflix. However, before a product was launched, the company was spun off over fears that it would impede Netflix's availability on competing streaming devices.

Netflix now finds itself in a tight spot, and it seems that bringing Roku back in could be the answer to its streaming woes. Of course, for now, it's all just speculation, and such a takeover may never actually happen.

Most modern smart TVs sold today tend to have Google TV built-in but the experience is not always great. This is because TV manufacturers tend to have their own custom interface along with Google TV which can make usage feel laggy and unintuitive at times. This is why the best streaming devices still have a place in your home entertainment setup as their sole purpose is to stream content.

With so many fresh and affordable streaming devices to choose from, we're breaking down the options to help you find the one that will fit your needs best. Our best overall pick is the Google TV Streamer (4K) as it replaces the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) dongle. Whether you need something more affordable and versatile or something specifically for your preferred ecosystem of tech, below are all the very best streaming devices in the market today.

At a glance

Best overall

The Google TV Streamer (4K) is Google's flagship streaming box with improved performance, way more storage, and a more functional remote than the Chromecast dongle before it. The device now sits on your entertainment console rather than dangling from your TV's HDMI port, and it's inconspicous enough to blend in with your home decor. It also comes in two colors, which is a first.

The specifications and ports are all there. The Google TV Streamer can output up to 4K 60fps and supports all the major HDR formats like Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG. The same goes for audio formats which include Dolby Atmos. The box supports dual-band Wi-Fi 5, has 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage for apps. What's new is the support for Matter and Thread devices, making it kind of futureproof. One thing that we didn't quite like is the fact that at $99, you don't have an HDMI cable in the box.

Best 4K

Most of our top streaming picks cater to Android or Apple users or are universally compatible but don't specialize in any one tech ecosystem or voice assistant. But many people consider Alexa to be the best voice assistant available today, and if you want a streaming dongle with built-in Alexa commands, then your best choice is, of course, a Fire TV Stick.

Of the Amazon Fire TV family, we selected the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) as the device that most shoppers should choose, as a close rival to the Chromecast with Google TV in specs and features. Both streaming dongles have identical support for 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. Each lets you contact their respective voice assistants with the touch of a button. We actually like the Alexa remote more because it has dedicated rewind and fast-forward buttons. Our Fire TV 4K Max (2023) review did find the ads to be a bit too much using this device however.

However, we didn't hesitate to put Chromecast with Google TV above the Fire TV Stick 4K on our best streaming device list. For one thing, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is powered via micro-USB, while Chromecast with Google TV uses USB-C; with the latter, you can connect your Chromecast to a USB-C hub. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max also supports Wi-Fi 6, so your videos can stream in higher quality with less time wasted on buffering.

One interesting addition to the 2023 model is Ambient Mode, which allows you to choose from thousands of pieces of museum-quality art and photography to display on screen when you aren't watching. This effectively turns your TV into a painting or framed photo on the wall.

Nevertheless, if you prefer Alexa and Fire OS 8, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) gets you an excellent level of quality in a tiny, bargain-priced streaming device.

Best for Apple ecosystem

For regular Apple users, the choice of the best streaming device is a simple one. Apple TV 4K (2022) is built to accommodate your iOS devices with AirPlay 2, serve as a HomeKit hub for your smart home cams, plays or displays your iTunes purchases or iCloud photos, allows you to play Apple Arcade games, do Apple Fitness+ workouts, and puts Apple TV+ shows front and center. With the latest OS update, you can even continue or initiate a FaceTime call on the big screen. For everyone else, however, the Apple TV 4K is a rather expensive streaming box that doesn't cater to other tech ecosystems.

That said, Apple TV 4K doesn't just coast on its brand name, cramming several useful features into its premium streaming device to try and justify the high cost. For instance, one version has a gigabit ethernet port for consistent internet speeds while streaming Dolby Vision and Atmos content with support for HDR10+ as well. This 2022 version has a powerful A15 Bionic chip that makes menus and searches move faster than the norm.

It also has a Picture-in-Picture mode that lets you use two different apps at once on your TV; and it supports several live TV services, including Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, Sling TV, and Charter Spectrum. The improved Siri remote has a touch-enabled click pad for ease of use and precise control. You can also use your iPhone to color calibrate the screen.

As for its negatives, they're fairly predictable. The price is still a bit steep, as you get many of the same specs that you'll find on the Google TV Streamer at a quarter of the cost. You must also rely on Siri for voice commands, instead of Alexa or Google Assistant.

Best upgrade

Before Chromecast with Google TV hit the streaming scene, there were other companies offering for Android TV streaming dongles, and NVIDIA Shield TV was at the top of our best Android TV boxes list. Now, new Chromecasts have the retooled Google TV streaming library, while Android TV devices lack the new Knowledge Graph of personalized recommendations.

So why have we kept the Shield TV on our current list of best streaming devices? That's thanks to its still-impressive specs highlighted by its unique upscaling tech. We break down NVIDIA's AI-enhanced upscaling in greater detail here, but the gist is that NVIDIA can take 720p or 1080p content and enhance it in real-time to 4K at 30 FPS. All 4K TVs upscale non-4K content by default to fill in the missing pixels, but this process does this intelligently, so that it looks to be shot natively in 4K.

Upscaling aside, Shield TV has Google Assistant built into the remote, plays content up to Dolby Vision and Atmos, has two Mimo Wi-Fi antennas or Gigabit Ethernet for fast streaming, and lets you expand its storage via the microSD card slot. Gamers can also take advantage of GeForce Now, the game streaming service that lets you access your Steam library of games wirelessly on your television.

Best versatile

Roku is one of the most popular streaming brands in the world because of its near-universal compatibility with various apps and tech companies. The Roku Ultra hosts all of the major streaming platforms, has Bluetooth 5.0 support to connect with any phone, and works with both your Alexa or Google Assistant speakers. Moreover, it supports Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, making it a good future-proof choice for Apple users.

It's also true that the Roku Ultra is somewhat pricey, considering the Roku Streaming Stick+ also offers 4K HDR video at half the price, and neither has an embedded voice assistant. Yet we still consider the Roku Ultra the best Roku device to buy. The cheaper Stick+ model lacks the Ultra's USB port for expandable storage, 100 Mbps ethernet port, Bluetooth connectivity, and vastly improved remote control.

The Streaming Stick+ comes with a basic remote featuring TV controls and a button to activate your smart speaker's listening mode. But the Roku Ultra remote has a built-in headphone jack and ships with JBL headphones to listen to your TV audio privately, as well as two customizable shortcut buttons that let you jump immediately to your favorite streaming platforms. Plus, if you ever lose the remote, the Roku Ultra has a button that activates a noisemaker on the remote to help you find it.

If you want a streaming device that doesn't bother with TV and film recommendations and displays a simple interface of your favorite apps (not to mention you get access to tons of free content via Roku Channels), then you should strongly consider the Roku Ultra.

Best bar

Sticks, dongles, TVs — all the typical names for streaming devices fixate on how small they are or the video content they can stream. Yet certain streaming devices go far beyond that, bundling in other useful features like smart speaker tech. Of these hybrid devices, our favorite is undoubtedly the Roku Streambar SE. The standard Streambar seems to have been phased out in favor of the cheaper SE model.

Along with all the streaming capabilities of a Roku Streaming Stick+, the Roku Streambar SE is also a fully functional 2.0-channel sound bar. It has two 1.9" full-range speakers which deliver decent volume and clarity.

While not as advanced as the Roku Ultra — the Streambar SE can stream 4K HDR10 and 10+, but not Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos. With Bluetooth 5.0 support for your music streaming, an ethernet port for consistent internet, and continued support for Alexa and Google Assistant, the Streambar SE is more than worthy of sitting under your living room television.

Best cheap

The new budget Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is a brilliant addition to the Fire TV Stick lineup as it costs just $5 more than the basic HD model but offers way more features. As the name implies, you can stream 4K HDR videos but Dolby Vision support is restricted to the higher models. Even if you plan on using this with an old HDTV today, it'll still be useful once you do upgrade to a 4K TV in the future.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select ships with the Alexa Voice Remote, has 8GB of RAM, and supports Wi-Fi 5 connectivity. This is model also works with Alexa+ which means you'll be able to take advantage of the more natural language search features. What makes this model particularly great is that it retails for just $40 and more often than not, you can find it on sale for under $20.

• Back to the top ^

Make your TV smarter without compromise

If this guide shows anything, it's that the further a streaming device's price tag rises above $50, the harder it becomes to justify the amount. Google, Amazon, and Roku sell excellent devices at that threshold or lower, and they often incorporate tech like Dolby Vision that was once reserved for "pro" devices, at no extra cost.

Of these supposedly budget streaming options, the Google TV Streamer should be one of your first considerations. It has an excellent user interface thanks to Google TV and it's one of the more affordable streaming devices available. We also love that Google Assistant or Gemini is available right from the remote.

You've probably heard about a lot of Memorial Day sales over the past few weeks, but few deals are likely to improve your day-to-day life like this offer from Roku. Through the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, Roku is dropping $30 off the price of their Roku Streambar, a streaming device that can upgrade nearly any TV with 4K HDR picture quality and immersive Dolby Audio, not to mention grant you instant access to all your favorite streaming services. 

In addition to those instant savings, Roku will hook you up with free shipping and a 30-day money back guarantee so you can try out the streaming device with zero risk. Roku devices come with free access to hundreds of live TV channels, and you'll also receive a full month's subscription to Showtime, Starz, and Epix when you pick up the Streambar. Small but mighty, the device uses four internal speakers to deliver room-filling sound and utilizes smart audio technology that can automatically lower the volume of commercials and make dialogue easier to hear. 

Like most other Roku devices, the Streambar is connected to your TV through the HDMI port. Just hook it up, connect to Wi-Fi, and you'll be ready to watch. This Memorial Day deal only lasts until May 29th, so don't wait too long if you're looking to upgrade your home theater for cheap. 

Roku Memorial Day deal of the day

If you're looking for more Memorial Day deals, we've got you covered. Take a look at our roundup of the best Memorial Day TV sales or pick out a new laptop through Dell's Memorial Day sale.

What you need to know

• Roku and Amazon have reached a deal to keep Prime Video and IMDb TV on the platform.
• Roku's primary source of revenue comes from ads, while it also takes a percentage of 
• Roku was previously locked in a very public battle with Google over YouTube and YouTube TV.

Roku has announced a new distribution deal that will keep Amazon's Prime Video and IMDb TV apps on the platform. The announcement arrived quietly on Monday, contrasting a fairly tumultuous battle between Roku and Google.

Roku issued a statement on its website announcing the new deal:

"Roku and Amazon have reached a multi-year extension for their distribution agreement. Customers can continue to access the Prime Video and IMDb TV apps on their Roku devices."

The deal arrives after a year of very public back and forth between Roku and Google over the terms of the YouTube TV service. The drama between the two companies resulted in YouTube TV being removed from the Roku channel store, then rolled into the regular YouTube app as a workaround while the two companies hashed out a new deal to keep the apps on the platform.

Eventually, they reached a deal just before YouTube was to be removed from the best Roku devices.

Roku makes a sizeable amount of its revenue from ads, taking 30% of advertising inventory from partners, in addition to 20% of gross app transactions from paid apps, per Roku's distribution agreement. Roku's platform revenue grew 49% to $703.6 million in its most recent quarterly report. As for Roku's deal with Amazon, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, so it's unclear if Prime Video and IMDb TV are subject to these same terms.

Nonetheless, it means Roku users can continue to access their favorite Prime Video shows, including the upcoming series "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," which premieres this September.

What you need to know

• Roku announces the features arriving with the latest Roku OS 11 update.
• The update will include enhanced audio options for clearer speech and better audio syncing with soundbars.
• 'What to Watch' seeds personalized streaming content to the home screen, along with Photo Streams, which brings customizable screensavers you can share with other Roku users.
• Roku OS 11 will be available to Roku players "over the coming weeks."

Roku continues to make some of the best streaming devices on the market thanks to its wide range, affordable prices, and easy-to-use system UI. Now, the company has announced the latest OS update for its popular streaming players, which will bring a host of new audio and personalization features that users will likely appreciate.

Roku gets personal

With Roku OS 11, users will have access to features that bring a personal touch to the platform. One such feature is What to Watch, which will seed recommended movies and TV shows from your favorite apps and channels to your home screen. You'll also get a heads up on new and trending content that you may like as well.

Bringing personalized content suggestions isn't exactly a new concept; Google TV is practically built around content recommendations, and Amazon recently added a similar feature to its Fire TV platform. Still, it's good to see Roku stepping up its game to give users more ways to discover content.

Roku is also bringing more live content to your home screen. Earlier this year, the company launched the Live TV Zone for easy access to live content across apps. Roku is building on this with the new Live TV section, which shows your recently watched as well as local and national content.

Finally, Roku is launching a new Photo Streams feature for your screensaver, which displays a customizable set of images that you can upload from your computer or phone. You can also share these Streams with other Roku users if you're so inclined.

Roku turns up the volume on speech

Roku OS 11 also brings a host of audio features and enhancements that should make your favorite characters easier to follow and intense scenes more epic. Roku's automatic speech clarity mode is one such feature, which dynamically amplifies dialogue. This should help you better understand what characters are saying if they happen to be mumbling or whispering or if they're just hard to hear over the background noise.

Roku is also bringing new sound modes to its range of speaker products, such as Standard, Dialogue, Movie, Music, and Night. Using the star button on the Roku remote, users will be able to easily tailor the sound to their needs. And with A/V Sync support, Roku owners can use the mobile app to calibrate and sync audio with whatever's happening on screen.

The voice keyboard is also expanding to more languages in the U.S. and other countries, including Spanish, German, and Portuguese.

A more visual mobile experience

Lastly, Roku is giving its mobile app a bit of a makeover with more focus on visual information. For example, you'll now be able to easily tell what content you'll be able to stream for free or within apps you're already subscribed to. And in case you want to learn a bit more about a movie or TV show, the app will now include visual information about the cast and crew to help you make a more informed decision.

Watching the Super Bowl on Roku gives you so many options to catch the big game tonight and you could be all set up in just a few minutes. Be it on a smart TV with the Roku suite built-in, or on one of the best Roku devices, you'll have excellent coverage to watch Rams vs Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on NBC - for FREE from some services too. We'll help you get involved if you're outside of the US as well. A quick reminder, the Super Bowl kick-off is set for 6:30pm ET, 3:30pm PT, 11:30pm GMT tonight.

First up, the simplest option to watch the Super Bowl. If you already have NBC as a part of your cable service, then you're all set. Simply download the NBC app onto your Roku device, sign in with your cable provider credentials and sit back and enjoy the game. If you don't have NBC on your package, or you're a cord-cutter, then there are multiple options available to watch the Super Bowl on your Roku, including completly free options via handy free trials (double-check on the sign-up sites that NBC is available in your area). We've listed the services directly below and we'll go into greater detail further down the page if you need it, along with instructions on how to access these services from outside of the USA.

• Watch Super Bowl on Peacock Premium
• Watch Super Bowl on Sling TV (Blue)
• Watch Super Bowl on Fubo TV

Watch Super Bowl on Roku with these US services

NBC is on the Peacock streaming service, but only on Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. These tiers do not have a free trial option, but they're super cheap. Peacock Premium is a mere $4.99 a month and you can cancel at any time. Or you can go for Peacock Premium Plus at $9.99 a month which gets rid of the ads and allows you to watch some titles offline on mobile. Otherwise, both tiers are the same and will give you access to live stream the Super Bowl on NBC on your Roku or a host of other platforms via the app. This is the simplest method for our money and one that won't get expensive if you forget to cancel after the game.

Sling TV is one of the most favored cord-cutting streaming services and is your best option for getting those broadcast TV channels back, but without a lengthy contract. Scroll down the Sling TV landing page and you'll see an option for a three-day free trial which will cover you for today's Super Bowl live stream on NBC. If you're signing up for one of the others on that page, including $10 off your first month, be sure to get a package that includes Sling Blue, as that's the tier with NBC.

Fubo TV is another option to watch Super Bowl on your Roku and the free trial hasn't been hidden way down the home page like it has with Sling, so it feels a lot more transparent. It's more expensive than Sling TV Blue once the free period expires, but you can cancel way ahead of time thanks to the generous 7-day free trial window.

Watch Super Bowl outside of the USA

If you're currently outside of the US you can still use the above services via a VPN as that will make your phone, laptop, or tablet think it's in the USA, then you can just sign in as normal. Our prefered option for overseas streaming is ExpressVPN. We've rated it as the best VPN out there and if you sign up for an annual deal then you'll get three months free and you can currently try it out risk free for 30-days.

Over in the UK, the Super Bowl will be live on the BBC on TV and also on the iPlayer app or website for free. This has its appeal outside of the USA too as there are zero ads on the program. You'll get US commentary, then back to the BBC pundits in the studio instead of yet another truck advertisement. ExpressVPN will let you watch on the BBC from anywhere in the world when you set its location to the UK.

The options are pretty similar on Apple devices. Our friends over at iMore have put together a Super Bowl on Apple TV guide you might find useful too.

What you need to know

• Roku launches an all-new Live TV Zone for its streaming platform.
• Live TV Zone brings together Roku's Live TV channel guide with other Live streaming apps.
• The new hub can be accessed from the left-hand navigation under "Live TV."

Roku is rolling out a new feature onto its platform that will make live TV programming more accessible to users with the new Live TV Zone.

It's a new hub that will consist of all the live TV apps and services available on the platform, making it easy for users to hop into whatever they're subscribed to. This includes Roku's own Live TV channel guide, of course, and also has YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu, and more.

Users can access Live TV Zone from the left-hand navigation menu by selecting "Live TV" or searching for "Live TV Zone." From there, the hub will present live TV apps and "cable alternatives."

The hub represents Roku's latest push into live streaming content. Last year, the 10.5 update allowed users to add the Live TV channel guide to their home screen, giving them instant access to Roku's more than 200 live channels.

Roku says the new hub is the result of a survey it conducted last year alongside the National Research Group (NRG). They surveyed more than 2800 people, of which 61% of those without traditional pay-TV still watch live news multiple times a week. The survey also revealed that the streaming sports audience is catching up to those that watch it on traditional cable.

The update should be available on the best Roku devices from today.

When comparing the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. the Roku Premiere, your choice might just be down to your allegiance to Amazon's broader ecosystem of products and services because they both offer a ton of great content to stream with user-friendly interfaces. Both can deliver 4K HDR quality where available, while the Fire TV Stick offers a remote with built-in voice controls. In addition, both offer support for Alexa — but only the Roku is compatible with Google Assistant for searching for and playing content.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Premiere: Let's break it down

The first thing you'll notice is that there are some distinct differences in design between the two. The Fire TV Stick 4K is a compact dongle that plugs right into the back of your TV, with an included HDMI extender cable if space is pretty tight. The Roku Premiere is similarly compact and includes an HDMI for connecting to your TV, but it's light enough to be mounted to the back of your TV.

On the software side of things, you're bound for a similar experience no matter which device you choose. Both devices let you customize your home screen with your favorite content sources, and the interfaces are intuitive and familiar if you've ever used a streaming service before.

Amazon does a predictably good job pointing you towards its own video streaming and Alexa's built-in functionality on the remote. Of course, if you want, you can also control your TV through Amazon's minimalistic Fire TV app. You'll be able to find the most popular streaming services on this, the best Fire TV stick, including YouTube and Apple TV+. Who would have thought that when this product came out?

Roku also makes some of the best streaming products, but it has no direct stake in the streaming service game. It isn't competing so head-to-head with Google, so there are a ton of streaming services and channels under the Roku umbrella. Each service gets equal weight on the Roku platform, but the remote does prominently feature hotkey buttons for Netflix, Sling, Hulu, and DirecTV Now, so that's a convenient inclusion if you're a subscriber to any of those services.

While there is no microphone on the remote, you can control your TV with the Roku app. From here, you can control everything from your phone, plug in headphones for private viewing sessions, and use a mobile keyboard when you're searching for content to watch. You can also conveniently cast content from your phone to your Roku-connected TV, which might come in handy the next time you're able to have a party.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Roku Premiere: Which should you choose?

The first question is whether you should buy either of them. While these two streaming devices get the job done and offer 4K support, they are without a doubt, the budget 4K options. In fact, the Roku Premiere doesn't even feature in our best Roku list as it has been replaced by other picks with a few more bells and whistles. 

For those considering the Fire TV Stick 4K, it's worth considering if your TV supports 4K at all. If not, you might be better served by a cheaper device as we saw in our Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite review. You also might find the upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 and faster CPU to be worth the extra money like we saw in our Fire TV Stick 4K Max review.

These two streamers are pretty evenly matched in the most important area. Still, we must pick a winner, and ultimately we feel that the Alexa Voice Remote and slicker interface weigh in Amazon's favor. Amazon's streaming stick also comes with faster Wi-Fi support so you see fewer loading bars when starting up a new show. However, if you're not heavily invested in Amazon's ecosystem, or if you want access to Google Play apps, then the Roku Premiere might be the better option for you. Either way, you're going to be entertained!

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the brand's most powerful and fastest streaming stick yet. In addition to featuring a new compact design, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K boasts long-range Wi-Fi and supports both Dolby Vision and Apple AirPlay. It also comes with the Roku Voice Remote.

Google Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV features an excellent app library of free content that, combined with AI recommendations and Google Assistant navigation, makes your fave shows and movies even easier to find. Google's casting tech and 4K + Dolby Vision capabilities make the dongle hard to beat.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV are easily the best 4K streaming devices at an affordable price and are often on sale. Both devices also provide users with easy access to streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ and offer a unique experience for all types of streaming fans.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Features and specs

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Chromecast with Google TV provide an excellent streaming experience and support 4K and HDR10+ video quality. While Roku products previously stood out for their support of Dolby Vision, it's worth pointing out the latest version of the Chromecast with Google TV now includes support for Dolby Vision.

Both devices also include options for external storage, support casting, and limited Bluetooth capabilities. When it comes to specifics, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a smaller device, which makes it easier to hide behind your TV. However, the Chromecast with Google TV comes in various colors and boasts twice as much internal storage space at 8GB.

Regarding casting, Roku allows you to cast from apps already downloaded on both your mobile device and your Roku device and supports Apple Airplay. Meanwhile, Chromecast supports casting from Android devices as casting from apps on iOS or other platforms that support Chromecast.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Roku Channel Store vs. Google TV

As mentioned previously, both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV give users access to pretty much every major streaming service. In fact, the only significant app Roku currently lacks is YouTube TV, which was removed in December 2021 due to an ongoing licensing dispute between the two brands.

However, it's worth pointing out that Apple users can still access the YouTube TV and YouTube apps through AirPlay on Roku, and Android users can continue using the screen-mirroring function to cast YouTube from their devices onto their Rokus.

Because Google TV repackages Android TV, users already familiar with the Android TV user interface will likely want to choose the Chromecast with Google TV. The Google TV UI is also quite a bit smarter than the Roku interface in that it studies your viewing history via its Google's Knowledge Graph machine learning to recommend specific apps, genres, and categories. Additionally, Google offers a broader selection of games available for purchase and recently added Stadia on Chromecast with Google TV, which gives users access to AAA releases.

In comparison, the Roku Channel Store tends to be more app-focused. The Roku interface also features a stronger search feature, enabling users to search for specific content across apps you do and don't already own. Roku's search function is also compatible with Echo and Google home devices. While both the Google and Roku UI features ads, Roku's ads tend to be more persistent and often center on the brand's products.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Comparing remotes

Both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV come with improved voice remotes, allowing users to control their TV power and volume along with other perks. However, the Chromecast with Google TV voice remote has proved more versatile.

If you're someone who mainly uses the voice remote to search for content, the Roku Voice Remote is more than sufficient. And while it features dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and Apple TV Plus, it's worth pointing out that it doesn't operate as a true voice assistant like Amazon Alexa on the Fire TV Stick 4K or Google Assistant on the Chromecast With Google TV. This means you can't use the Roku Voice Remote to ask for weather forecasts, sports scores, or the ages of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings.

As previously mentioned, the Chromecast with Google TV voice remote has Google Assistant built-in, which automatically puts its voice control and search functions ahead of the Roku Voice Remote. That said, the voice remotes for both the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV lack headphone jacks for private listening or support for quickly finding the remote.

Roku users can take advantage of the private listening feature via the Roku Mobile app or opt for the Streaming Stick 4K bundle, which includes the $30 Voice Remote Pro. That remote adds a headphone jack, a hands-free voice, and a remote finder.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV: Which should you buy?

When it comes to choosing which device wins the Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV battle, it ultimately comes down to which ecosystem you are most comfortable using: Roku OS or Google TV. At the end of the day, both devices are affordable, feature fast speeds, strong Wi-Fi connectivity, and an impressive app library, as well as support for 4K video streaming.

However, the ability to personalize Google TV and the versatility of the Google Assistant-enabled voice remote makes the Chromecast with Google TV one of the best streaming devices available on the market right now.

Chromecast with Google TV - 4K

Simple built-in voice navigation

The Chromecast with Google TV provides 4K video and casting at a low price. The device also comes with a voice remote with Google Assistant built-in, making searching for your favorite content even easier.

• $40 at Best Buy
• $40 at Google

What you need to know

• Roku says it has reached a multi-year agreement with Google for YouTube and YouTube TV.
• While YouTube will continue to be available to Roku customers, the YouTube TV is expected to soon return to the platform.
• YouTube TV was removed from Roku devices in April this year.

Streaming hardware maker Roku has announced that it has signed a multi-year deal with Google to keep YouTube and YouTube TV on its platform. The announcement comes just a day before YouTube was scheduled to be removed from the best Roku devices.

The multi-year extension means that both new and existing Roku customers will continue to have access to YouTube. The YouTube TV app, on the other hand, will be making a return to the Roku channel store within the next few hours.

The YouTube TV app was removed from Roku's channel store after its agreement for the distribution of the app with Google had expired. Roku claimed that Google had asked for "preferential treatment" in search results on its devices to allow YouTube apps, along with access to user data.

Google, however, denied the accusations and said that Roku wasn't trying to "work constructively" with it to resolve the issues. The fight between Roku and Google had also drawn attention from a few important members of Congress trying to rein in Big Tech.

Had the two companies not reached an agreement, new Roku subscribers wouldn't have been able to install YouTube and YouTube TV apps on their devices from December 9. It would also have affected Roku as all its direct rivals — including Amazon's Fire TV and Apple TV, offer YouTube access to users.

Roku Ultra

Roku Ultra is a high-end set-top box that offers support for 4K UHD streaming, Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos. It also offers quite a few nifty features, such as a built-in headphone jack and a lost remote finder.

• $66 at Amazon
• $66 at Walmart

Roku Ultra

If you're more of a Roku person, the Roku Ultra is the best way to experience the platform. You get 4K HDR streaming, a powerful voice remote, and a bunch more features. If the Ultra is too rich for your blood, Roku sells various cheaper models, too.

NVIDIA Shield TV

The latest version of the Shield TV was released in 2019, but it's still the best Android TV box you can buy. It runs on Android 9 Pie, supports 4K HDR streaming and Dolby Atmos, and offers fast and smooth performance.

Android TV and Roku both set out to do the same general thing, but they vary enough to the point where each platform does a better job at serving certain groups of people. Android TV tends to be a better choice for power users and tinkerers, whereas Roku is simpler to use and more accessible for less tech-savvy individuals. The rest of this article will take a closer look at various aspects of each system to see where each one comes out on top.

Android TV vs. Roku: Hardware availability

Streaming boxes are the best way to get access to everything Android TV and Roku have to offer without spending hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on a new television set, and this is one area where Roku pulls an easy win. Roku currently offers a variety of streaming boxes and sticks that range in price from just $30 up to $100, each with its own set of features and limitations.

While there are a small handful of Android TV devices worth checking out, the NVIDIA Shield TV remains the best on the market right now. The Shield TV is a phenomenal streaming box with support for 4K HDR content and a large collection of games, but the higher retail price of $150 can be tough to swallow. The price often fluctuates, allowing you to snag a Shield TV for less, but this is an area where Roku consistently has the upper hand.

NVIDIA also launched the latest version of its NVIDIA Shield TV Pro in 2019. That device keeps the boxier design of previous Shield TV models, which looks similar to a sleek gaming console, and retails for $200. Gamers, in particular, will appreciate that the Shield TV Pro is compatible with Stadia, features double the internal storage at 16GB, a third gigabyte of RAM, and two USB 3.0 ports for expanded storage. It also includes a Plex Media Server and the ability to configure the device as a SmartThings hub for controlling all of your smart home devices.

In regard to compatible smart TVs, the story is mostly the same. Companies like TCL, Insignia, Sharp, Hisense, RCA, Hitachi, and others have adopted the Roku platform, which has allowed for a variety of televisions with Roku built-in for just about every buyer. For example, you can go on the low-end and pick up the TCL 32S325. This costs just $200 and comes equipped with a small 32-inch screen and a lower 720p HD resolution. Alternatively, you can splurge for the TCL Class 6-Series and get a QLED 65-inch 4K display with Dolby Vision, HDR, and more for about $1,300.

While Android TV was previously exclusive to Sony and Sharp televisions, the lineup of Android Smart TVs has expanded over the last couple of years and includes a new 2021 collection of Hisense 4K ULED televisions. Each model in that lineup features a refresh rate of 120Hz and an HDMI 2.1 port. The impressive range of Android TV-enabled smart TVs even includes a Game Mode Pro option, which automatically adjusts to minimize input lag and screen tearing.

Roku is currently a much more popular and well-known platform in the smart TV market, and as such, it's available on a wider variety of devices — whether it be streaming boxes or full-on televisions. It's worth pointing out, however, that Google TV is in the midst of replacing Android TV on boxes, dongles, and smart TVs previously released by Google's Android TV partners. As such, there's a handful of new smart TVs already on the market or being released soon that feature the new Google TV interface. These include the new line of Google TV-enabled Sony Bravia and TCL smart TVs.

Android TV vs. Roku: User interface

Roku and Android TV both take different approaches when it comes to their respective user interfaces. Considering that this is something you'll interact with every single time you use your TV, you must use one that works best for you.

When it comes to Roku, the priority is simplicity. Your main home screen shows a list of all the channels/apps you have installed, and you can navigate through other pages with the menu on the left.

• Featured Free: Featured content that you can watch on Roku for free.
• My Feed: Updates on any movies or TV shows you're interested in, such as when they're available for purchase or when they go on sale.
• Movie/TV Store: Quick access for buying or renting movies and TV shows.
• Search: Universal search to find a certain title across all of Roku's popular apps.
• Streaming Channels: Library of paid and free apps you can download to your Roku.
• Settings: Change your Roku's theme, adjust the time, control accessibility options, etc.

Roku's interface is straightforward to navigate and understand, but it's looking a bit dated these days. By contrast, Android TV benefits from a more modern interface that's still easy to navigate and is evolving with the transition to Google TV.

The updated Google TV interface runs on top of Android TV and aims to make the visual experience more intuitive. In addition to improving on the existing Google Knowledge Graph, the updated interface is divided into tabs that allow you to browse by movies, shows, apps or to access your library, which contains content you've purchased from the Google TV (previously Google Play Movies & TV) app. As of February 2021, the Google TV interface also now features the Apple TV app, which includes access to Apple TV+ and content previously purchased through Apple.

The interface you like best all comes down to personal preference, but Android TV/Google TV is the one that I think is the most pleasing to look at. I appreciate Google's work to make the home screen come to life with different content, rather than the static row of apps on Roku.

Android TV vs. Roku: Content

There used to be a big content discrepancy between Roku and Android TV, but in recent years, that gap has narrowed considerably to put both platforms on a relatively even playing field.

As of 2021, whether you use Roku or Android TV, you'll be able to download all of the popular streaming apps — including the likes of Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Movies Anywhere, Philo, etc. However, the Roku channel store features roughly 2000 smaller channels that you will likely never see on Android TV. Not all of them are good (some of them are quite bad, actually), but if you want access to the most content possible, Roku is the way to go.

It's also worth noting that Roku currently lacks an official Twitch app, while Android TV does. Additionally, you can use Android TV's built-in Chromecast feature to stream content from your computer or smartphone.

Android TV vs. Roku: Voice control

Roku added voice controls back in 2015, but not every box/TV comes with a remote that supports this out of the box. Most premium options do, but Roku also sells its Enhanced Voice Remote that supports voice search, so you can upgrade your current system after the fact. The remote, in particular, also allows you to power up your TV, adjust the volume, mute, and control your streaming all from the same device.

For the most part, Roku's voice feature works just fine. You can use it to find specific titles you're looking for, browse content from a certain actor or director, launch apps, and search genres within them, and more. Plus, if you have a Roku TV, you can use your voice to change inputs, go through different broadcast channels, and launch Roku's Smart Guide.

If you have an Alexa or Google Assistant speaker in your home, you can use that to control Roku, too. Alexa and Google Assistant integration for Roku is very similar, with each allowing you to use your voice for pausing/resuming what you're currently watching, launching apps, and searching for specific genres that are available across all of your apps/channels. However, not all features are supported via Alexa and Google Assistant. For example, you won't be able to check the weather or access your calendar events via Google Assistant.

Moving over to Android TV, the out-of-the-box voice control offering is leaps and bounds better than what Roku offers. Every Android TV box and television comes with a voice remote that allows you to talk to the Google Assistant. You can ask the Assistant to pause your show, open Netflix, and other media-specific things, but it goes far beyond that.

The Google Assistant you get on Android TV is the full-fledged Google Assistant experience, meaning you can use it to find out about the weather, look at any upcoming calendar appointments, control smart home devices, and more. It's light years ahead of Roku's built-in voice controls, and for some people, that'll make a big difference in your buying decision.

Lastly, it's worth pointing out that some Android TV devices also offer Alexa integration — the NVIDIA Shield and Sony televisions being prime examples.

Android TV vs. Roku: Bottom line

As you can see, both platforms are pretty much split down the board when it comes to their respective pros and cons. Roku has a broader selection of hardware and is the content king, but Android TV is the clear leader for its user interface and voice control features.

Because of this, the ultimate decision of which platform is best comes down to your personal preferences and use cases. If you want to have access to as many channels and apps as possible, like having a wide choice of compatible hardware, and prefer an interface that's simple to use at the expense of not looking flashy, Roku is a fantastic pick.

That being said, Android TV is still a great platform and is only getting better with the transition to the Google TV interface. This is especially true if you're invested in Google's services and get a lot of value out of powerful voice control.

No matter which one you choose, you can rest assured that you'll end up with one of the best ways to smarten up your living room.

What you need to know

• The new Roku LE is a $15 streaming stick for HD content.
• The device will be available exclusively at Walmart through Black Friday weekend.
• Roku LE will only be available "while supplies last."

Roku is gearing up for Black Friday weekend by launching an-ultra affordable streaming player, the Roku LE.

The new device undercuts many of the best streaming devices at only $15. For that price, you get the tried-and-true Roku remote and a sleek streaming box that gives you access to all your favorite apps and services (although YouTube support seems to be on its way out).

The LE most likely stands for "limited edition" because the device will only be available at Walmart through Thanksgiving and Black Friday. And according to Roku, it will only be available "while supplies last," which is code for "get it before it's gone!"

A Roku spokesperson confirmed with us that the device wouldn't be restocked once the supply runs out. Fortunately, you've got a few days to snag one; sales start on Walmart's website on November 24, or you can brave the stampedes and pick one up in-store on November 26.

And while you're at it, you can always check out a few Black Friday deals on TVs like the 55" Samsung Neo QLED TV, which is currently $500 off.

Meanwhile, the streaming platform points out other ongoing and upcoming deals for some of the best Roku devices.

The Roku Premiere box is down to just $20 until November 27 and features 4K support and HDR10. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K takes things up a notch with additional HDR support like Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10+ and is nearly half off at just $30, as is the Roku Streaming Stick+, which is almost as capable.

Lastly, the Roku Streambar will be discounted to $80, or $50 off its original price, from November 19 to December 4.

Roku also offers discounts and offers on subscriptions through The Roku Channel and services like Redbox and HBO Max.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K packs a lot into such a small device, providing full access to the Roku platform with tons of apps, support for virtual assistants, and 4K HDR content.

• $29 at Amazon
• $29 at Best Buy
• $29 at Walmart

Roku Premiere

The Roku Premiere is a great affordable option for anyone looking to dive into the Roku platform. Best of all, it supports much of the same 4K HDR content that you'll find on more expensive devices.

• $20 at Amazon
• $20 at Best Buy
• $30 at Walmart

Google Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV crowds onto Roku's turf with an excellent app library of free content, combined with AI recommendations and Google Assistant navigation to make your faves easy to find. That, along with Google's proprietary casting tech and its 4K + Dolby capabilities, makes the new streaming dongle hard to beat.

Roku Ultra (2020)

Roku Ultra 2020 upgrades on older models with improved Wi-Fi range, Dolby Vision, and AirPlay support, which bundles onto a whole host of other features that makes Roku a favorite for many. The Roku Ultra has our favorite remote control, and plays nicer with non-Google speakers and tech, but is twice the price as its rival—unless it's on sale.

The Chromecast vs Roku battle is more neck-and-neck than ever before. Chromecast with Google TV adds a traditional streaming service and remote control along with the Chromecast Ultra's top-class specs while the new Roku Ultra 2020 adds Dolby Vision, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 streaming, and other OS improvements. The few differences between these new dongles make either a worthy purchase, but we'll break down which has an edge over the other in specific areas.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Features and specs

Barring any sales, the new Roku Ultra 2020 is twice the price of Google's new HDMI dongle, which we praised in our Chromecast with Google TV review. Taking that pricing difference seriously, we'll consider whether you should justify spending double for Roku versus Chromecast, based on what both devices bring to the table.

Chromecast with Google TV is a longer dongle meant to hang from your TV HDMI port, while the Roku Ultra 2020 is large enough that it is meant to sit on your entertainment center. The Roku Ultra's extra width makes room for extra USB and Ethernet ports, which enables external storage and a more consistent internet connection if your Wi-Fi is shoddy. If you're far from your router, Roku also claims it improved the Ultra's wireless connectivity by 50% over the 2019 model, so either option will serve your purposes.

The unique feature that Chromecast brings to the table in all its iterations is Google Cast support, letting you stream most video apps and any browser content to your TV with a couple of taps or clicks. Previous Roku Ultras could only offer native streaming through its apps, but the 2020 model adds Bluetooth streaming. Of course, waiting to pair your devices before streaming from them isn't nearly as immediate or convenient as casting, but Roku came as close as it could. It also benefits from AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, something Chromecast lacks.

Both devices can play practically any content in its native format. 4K and Dolby Vision streaming work on either device, as do Dolby Atmos soundtracks if you own a compatible Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Google TV versus Roku Channel Store

Until now, you had to judge the thousands of free, organized Roku channels against Google Cast, which could only cast from a smaller list of Android apps and couldn't cast at all from iOS apps. Now, with Chromecast with Google TV, you get access to the thousands of streaming apps as well, putting the two platforms on mostly even footing.

Google TV repackages Android TV, taking the backbone of thousands of free Android apps and adding a new organizational system that prioritizes content. Google TV studies your viewing history via machine learning and presents a range of recommendations designed to appeal to your interests from every streaming app you install, while also offering genre categories of shows from your installed apps.

Roku is more app-focused, which some users might prefer if they want to search a particular library. At the same time, they have a robust search feature that helps you search through your apps to find the show you need, as well as reveal results from apps you don't own if you can't find it elsewhere. Plus, you can search for or play content using your Echo or Google Home speakers.

Rather than get into the nitty-gritty of the obscure free channels one service or the other is missing, we'll simply say that both have the main channels you'd expect, including Apple TV. Both the Roku and Google platforms also previously featured the YouTube TV app, but the app was pulled from Roku in 2021 as the result of an ongoing feud over renewal terms between the two brands.

Google initially responded by allowing Roku users to access the YouTube TV experience via a shortcut in the YouTube app, but announced in October 2021 that its contract with Roku will expire on Dec. 9, 2021, and that the YouTube app will also be removed from the Roku Channel Store. Per Google's statement, current Roku users should still have access to the YouTube app after the Dec. 9 deadline, but new devices will not be able to download either YouTube or YouTube TV.

At the same time, Android TV / Google TV has a decent selection of games you can buy, including acclaimed series like Final Fantasy or Telltale Games. Stadia was also added to Chromecast with Google TV in 2021, which gives users access to AAA releases. Conversely, Roku's games aren't even worth mentioning.

Chromecast with Google TV will give you better native access and features for Google content. For example, purchased Google Play content is put front and center, you can check Nest security feeds through Google TV using Assistant commands, and you can showcase your Google Photos as a slideshow. If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you'll get a live guide of all available channels.

Roku also gives you a live channel guide of its free content and is generally a better choice for iPhone, iPad, and HomeKit users.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Comparing remotes

In our previous Chromecast vs Roku article, we praised Roku versus the Chromecast Ultra for having a remote control while casting only worked with a phone. Now that both platforms have a remote control, let's compare what they offer.

The Roku remote has dedicated, configurable shortcut buttons to open your favorite channels; volume and power controls for your TV; a headphone jack for listening privately to content in case you need to mute your TV and speakers; and a remote-finding button on the Roku dongle itself that makes the remote chime until you can find wherever it's hidden. That's pretty much all you can ask for in a remote!

With the Chromecast with Google TV remote, you have a circular navigation pad; Home, Back, Input, and Power buttons; and dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Google Assistant. The latter works thanks to the built-in mic that will pick up your commands. However, you can permanently turn off the Google Assistant function if you're not comfortable with it. The circular pad may be slightly more comfortable for moving between apps than the elevated D-Pad you'll find on the Roku.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Which should you buy?

To return to our original question, does Roku Ultra justify its much higher list price than Chromecast with Google TV? While we think Roku has put out a dongle it should be proud of and has little room for improvement, that doesn't mean the answer is yes.

Casting is simply much more convenient than Bluetooth, Google TV and Roku's Channels are fairly comparable for the most used platforms, and a built-in voice assistant is always better than making users buy a separate smart speaker just to enable voice commands. Apple users will appreciate Roku's better compatibility with its tech, and Roku's remote control can't be beaten, but Chromecast with Google TV's price for 4K video can't be beaten, either. That being said, it's worth poiting out that the Roku Ultra is on sale for $69 through Nov. 13. So if that's the direction you're leaning, you should buy now before the deal ends.

What you need to know

• A 2019 email allegedly shows Google requesting special treatment for YouTube on Roku's platform.
• The email reportedly says that Roku must include a dedicated results shelf for YouTube.
• Sen. Amy Klobuchar weighs in on the matter amid her push for new legislation to prohibit this conduct.

A new component has been added to the ongoing spat between Google and Roku. A two-year-old email has allegedly surfaced that shows a Google executive asking to give YouTube special treatment on Roku's streaming platform.

The email, which was viewed by CNBC and dated back to September 2019, reads: "YouTube Position: A dedicated shelf for YT search results is a must."

This would throw Google's defense against Roku's claims out the window, as the company has maintained that it has not asked the streaming platform for any special treatment for YouTube on the best Roku devices.

This comes just a day after Google stated that it would pull the YouTube app from the platform following Roku's blog post calling the search giant out for using its dominance to request manipulate search results and request access to consumer data.

Android Central reached out to Google to comment on the alleged email but did not immediately receive a response.

On Thursday, Senator Amy Klobuchar weighed in on the matter in a statement, highlighting her recent efforts to introduce legislation that will prohibit companies like Google and Amazon from self-preferential treatment.

Meanwhile, if things continue the way they are between Google and Roku, YouTube will no longer be available on new Roku devices after December 9.

What you need to know

• Roku issued a statement calling Google out on its unfair treatment of the platform.
• In response, Google has decided to pull the YouTube app from new Roku devices.
• Current users will not be affected by this change.

The ongoing battle between Google and Roku continues as the YouTube app is being pulled from new Roku devices after December 9.

The decision came on Thursday after Roku posted a statement calling Google out for allegedly asserting its dominance to request special treatment on the platform. More specifically, for requiring YouTube as a search preference over other results and requesting special features on Roku that it doesn't mandate on other platforms.

In response, a YouTube spokesperson told Android Central that it's pulling its YouTube app from new Roku devices.

That means current users should still have access even after the December 9 deadline, but new devices will not be able to download either YouTube or YouTube TV.

This year, the two companies have been involved in a very public dispute over negotiations regarding the YouTube TV app. Roku refused to give the service special treatment on its platform and accused Google of "unfair and anti-competitive requirements to manipulate your search results."

This scuffle previously led to the removal of the YouTube TV app until Google folded it into the regular YouTube app. Meanwhile, Google has maintained that it's, in fact, Roku that is seeking special treatment by requesting "exceptions that would break the YouTube experience and limit our ability to update YouTube in order to fix issues or add new features."

In Thursday's statement, Roku highlights the ongoing antitrust lawsuits that Google faces for allegedly asserting dominance and giving its own apps and services preferential treatment on the best Android phones.

Notably, this follows the introduction of a bill introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar and Chuck Grassley that will prohibit dominant platforms from "favoring their own products or services."

What you need to know

• Roku announced updates to its lineup of streaming devices, as well as an update to Roku OS 10.5
• The All-New Roku Streaming Stick 4K starts at $50, while the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ starts at $70.
• The company also gave the Roku Ultra LT set-top box a spec bump with improvements to the processor, storage, and Wi-Fi range.

Roku has announced several important updates to its product lineup, as well as an improved user experience (UI) with its Roku OS 10.5 rollout. The streaming platform and device manufacturer has unveiled an All-New Roku Streaming Stick 4K and 4K+, spec bumps to its Roku Ultra LT set-top box, and overall platform enhancements to the underlying operating system.

The updated Streaming Stick 4K boots up 30% faster than before and adds Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Wi-Fi speeds up to two times faster than previous models.

The Streaming Stick 4K+ features all of the above but adds the Roku Voice Remote Pro. The Pro version of Roku's voice remote offers a rechargeable battery, lost remote finder, and hands-free Roku Voice support, in addition to push-to-talk support.

The Roku Ultra LT sees some minor but essential spec bumps, including a faster processor, increased storage, and 50% better Wi-Fi range than before. It also now features Dolby Vision, Bluetooth audio streaming, and built-in ethernet support.

Coming to Roku devices over the next few weeks, Roku OS 10.5 gives Live TV content greater prominence in the UI, adds more tips for users on getting the most out of Roku Voice, introduces more surround sound configuration options, as well as updates to the Roku mobile app. It also makes it easier to search, find, and play music and podcasts on the Roku platform.

The best Roku devices are some of the most popular streaming products on the market. So we'd expect these two new sticks to compare favorably against the update Fire TV Stick 4K Max that Amazon recently announced.

The new Roku streaming sticks are available for pre-order starting today, September 20th. The All-New Streaming Stick 4K will cost $50, while the Streaming Stick 4K+ will run you $70. The updated Ultrak LT set-top box is a Walmart exclusive and will be made available available "in the coming weeks" for $80.

Best answer: Yes. As of December 2020, the HBO Max app is available to download on all Roku devices running Roku OS 9.3 and higher.

How to install HBO Max on Roku

If you already subscribe to HBO or HBO Max but have yet to add either app to your Roku device, these are the steps you need to follow to install HBO Max on Roku:

1. Turn on your Roku device or Roku TV
2. Navigate to the Roku home page.
3. Select Streaming Channels and Search channels. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. Search for HBO Max and select Add Channel to pin it to your Roku home page. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. Sign in to the HBO Max app using your existing credentials.

If you're not currently subscribed to HBO Max, you should subscribe to the service at HBOMax.com before downloading the app on your Roku. It's also possible to register for HBO Max directly on your Roku and pay via Roku Pay.

My HBO app didn't update to HBO Max

It's worth pointing out that, since the launch of HBO Max on Roku streaming devices, users have reported issues with the app. If you used the HBO app before HBO Max's launch, the app should have automatically updated on your device. If that's not the case, here's what you need to do to get HBO Max on Roku:

1. Use your Roku remote to select the HBO app.
2. Press the Star button on the remote.
3. Select Check for updates.
4. Roku should automatically replace the old HBO channel app with HBO Max.

Once the app has been updated, you should be able to log in and start streaming.

While Roku placed the blame on HBO, and HBO said the problem was resolved with the latest update, some users have continued to experience the app freezing regularly or crashing completely upon opening. If you're still having issues, you might want to check out the troubleshooting tips in our article about how to watch HBO Max on Roku.

HBO Max is the latest and most expansive version of HBO's streaming platforms. In addition to offering a streaming library that includes more than 10,000 hours of premium film and television content from HBO, HBO Max is currently the exclusive home of new WarnerMedia releases. One of the easiest ways to access HBO Max is through your Roku streaming device or Roku TV. Here's what you need to know to watch HBO Max on Roku.

How to download HBO Max on Roku

If you don't already have HBO Max on your Roku streaming device or Roku TV, you'll need to do that first. Here are the steps for downloading the service so that you can watch HBO Max on Roku.

1. Turn on your Roku device or Roku TV.

1. Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
2. Select Streaming channels and then select Search channels. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. Search for HBO Max using the virtual keyboard. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. Select HBO Max and choose to Add channel.

If you already subscribed to HBO Now on your Roku device or Roku TV before the HBO Max launched, the channel should have automatically updated to the new service. Similarly, if you subscribed to HBO via The Roku Channel before the launch of HBO Max, your HBO on The Roku Channel subscription automatically became an HBO Max subscription in February 2021, at no additional cost.

How to watch HBO Max on Roku

Whether you own one of Roku's various streaming devices or a Roku TV, the digital media company makes it easy to watch content on HBO Max from the comfort of your couch. Here are the simple steps you need to take to watch HBO Max on Roku.

1. Select Streaming Channels on your home screen.
2. Scroll to the HBO Max app and open it. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. Select the show or movie you would like to watch.
2. When prompted, Sign in to HBO Max using your existing credentials. Source: Keegan Prosser / Android Central

1. If prompted, select Access all of HBO Max.

Once you've logged in for the first time, you should be able to access the app repeatedly via Roku without having to sign in each time.

Troubleshooting HBO Max on Roku

Since the launch of HBO Max on Roku streaming devices, several users have reported issues with the app freezing regularly or crashing completely upon opening. While Roku issued a statement saying HBO is responsible for maintaining the app, and HBO claimed the problem was resolved with an update several months ago, some users claim they're still having problems. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of a few different troubleshooting tips. Here they are:

• Restart your Roku device.
• Try logging out of HBO on all devices and log in again.
• Reinstall HBO Max.
• Wait for the HBO Max app home screen to fully load before browsing.
• Search HBO Max content from Roku Search and play the movie from there.
• Start watching HBO Max content on another device and then switch back to your Roku device and resume.

If none of the above troubleshooting tips work, you may want to clear the cache and data on your Roku device or update your Roku device. Here are the steps for doing either of those things:

How to clear Roku's cache and data

1. Select the Home tab is selected from the main menu.
2. Press the Home button of your Roku device five times.
3. Next, tap the Up button and the Rewind button twice.
4. Press the Fast Forward button two times, and your device should start clearing.

How to update your Roku device

1. Navigate to your Roku device's Settings and select System.
2. Scroll down and choose System Update.
3. Press the Check Now button and follow the on-screen prompts to install updates.

It should also be noted that to access HBO Max on Roku, your Roku device must run Roku OS 9.3. If your device is older and doesn't run Roku OS 9.3, you can choose screen mirroring from your smartphone or PC to your Roku device.