Roku today announced a 5th-generation line-up of streaming media players priced from $30 to $130. Five new models debut with a new naming convention. There is the 1080p capable Roku Express and Express+, the 4K capable Premiere and Premiere+, and finally the top-of-the-line Roku Ultra for all that plus better sound and convenience features. Meanwhile, the $50 Roku Streaming Stick introduced last April will remain in the line-up.
Roku devices are powered by the Roku OS and feature a simple home screen with access to 3,500+ streaming channels, including 350,000 movies and TV episodes in the U.S. Roku streamers feature the most comprehensive and unbiased search in the industry now across 100+ streaming channels. Search a movie, TV show, actor or director and the Roku OS will display where content is available and serve results in order of price; starting with what is free or lowest cost for the user. Roku has added unprecedented depth to its search capabilities with a wide variety of channels that cover comedy, news, concerts, sports and long-tail content.
Features like Hotel and Dorm Connect make it easy to access public Internet networks to stream when away from home. Consumers can use the simple included remote control or the free Roku mobile app for iOS and Android mobile devices which acts as a remote, includes a keyboard and offers features like voice search, private listening, and more for this new line of Roku streaming players.
Which one should you buy?
If your TV doesn’t support 4K, then get the Express. If your TV is very old and doesn’t support have a HDMI port, then get the Express+. For those with 4K TVs that don’t support HDR, the Premiere is the best choice. If your 4K TV does support HDR, then get the Premiere+. Finally, the Roku Ultra is best for those needing the best of everything with 4K HDR, Dolby Digital Plus decode, voice search and a lost remote finder.
Roku Express
- Fast 1080p HD streaming
- Simple IR remote control with popular streaming channel shortcut buttons
- 802.11 b/g/n wireless
- Optional removable adhesive strip for mounting to a TV
- High Speed HDMI cable included
Roku Express+ also includes:
- Composite jack and included composite A/V cable (red/white/yellow) for older TVs and can use a legacy Red/White/Yellow connection
Roku Premiere
- Works with both HD and 4K UHD TVs
- 4K UHD video playback, delivers crisp detail and brilliant, life-like images
- HDCP 2.2 compatible and capable of up to 60 fps 4K UHD playback
- Can upscale 720p to 1080p on HDTVs, and from 720p or 1080p to 4K up to 60 fps on 4K UHD TVs
- Fast quad-core processor
- 802.11ac MIMO dual-band wireless
- Simple IR remote control with popular streaming channel shortcut buttons
- Night listening mode setting adjusts audio sounds to maintain volume consistency
Roku Premiere+ also includes:
- HDR support displays an incredible range of colors including brighter whites and deeper blacks
- Enhanced point anywhere remote with headphone jack for private listening
- MicroSD card slot for additional channel storage
- Ethernet for wired internet connectivity
Roku Ultra also includes:
- Dolby Digital / Dolby Digital Plus decoding for advance surround sound in home theaters
- Optical digital audio out port to connect to a receiver or sound bar
- USB port for local media playback
- Convenient point anywhere remote control with voice search, headphone jack for private listening and gaming buttons
- Lost remote finder feature finds remotes stuck in the couch with the touch of a button on the player
Price and Availability
The new Roku streaming players will be available for pre-order beginning today from Roku.com, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers, and are expected to be in stores beginning on October 9, 2016. Roku Express+ will be available exclusively at Walmart.
