A Roku is one of the most popular ways to add streaming capabilities to any TV in your home. Unfortunately, not all Roku devices are created equal. You may be familiar with Roku’s line of Express boxes since they are incredibly affordable and compact. However, the Roku Ultra offers the best experience with a range of premium features.
While everyone can benefit from the faster speeds and added features of the Roku Ultra, those with high-end TVs will get the most out of it. Roku Ultra supports 4K HDR as well as Dolby Vision and Atmos, while the standard Roku Express does not. Now, let’s take a closer look at all of the reasons that you should buy a Roku Ultra today!
- Roku's fastest and most powerful player ever
- Excellent Wi-Fi support with up to 50% more range
- Streaming quality available in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+
- Built-in support for Dolby Atmos sound
- Hands-free voice controls with "Hey Roku"
1. Start Streaming in Seconds
Most streaming devices are pretty snappy since watching TV shows and movies does not use much processing power. However, you will occasionally notice some lag when trying to skip through large amounts of content. The Roku Ultra’s lightning-fast process ensures you will never be delayed by lag again.
The Roku Ultra has a quad-core processor that makes loading channels a breeze. You can easily wake the Roku, find a show, and start watching in less than a minute. The upgraded processor also allows the Roku Ultra to handle other tasks, like watching content from a USB storage device.
2. No More Worrying About WiFi Signal Strength
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It is difficult to get a strong WiFi signal to every corner of your home, and if your TV is far from a router or access point, then it may struggle with streaming. The reason is a combination of a weak WiFi signal being broadcast to that area of your home and a weak receiver inside of other streaming devices.
That is not a problem with the Roku Ultra because the box’s larger size allows it to fit a more robust WiFi antenna. Roku boasts that its Ultra streaming box has a 50% larger range than its competitors. This expanded range is unique to the Roku Ultra and is not available on the Express or Stick devices. Finally, you also have the option to use a wired internet connection with the ethernet port on the back.
3. The Best Picture of Any Roku Device
Most Roku devices available today have basic 4K capabilities. However, the Roku Ultra’s extra processing power gives it the ability to stream movies and TV shows at a higher resolution than any other Roku device. Besides streaming 4K TV shows and movies with the Roku Ultra, it supports HDR10 Plus. This means you’ll get the highest resolution possible for your Ultra HD TV.
In addition, HDR or high dynamic range ensures you get the widest color gamut possible. Alternatively, the Roku Ultra also supports Dolby Vision. While there are plenty of arguments as to which is the better video technology, having both means you will get the best video quality no matter what content you are watching.
4. Access to All of Your Favorite Content in One Place
The great thing about Roku devices, and especially the Ultra, is that all of your content is available in one place. In addition to watching popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, the Roku Ultra gives you the ability to connect an external storage device to watch saved content.
On the backside, you will find a USB slot where you can connect an external hard drive or a flash drive. From there, just launch the Roku Media Player channel from the homescreen. You can then access videos, music, and photos with ease. However, the Roku Ultra does not work with hard drives and storage devices over 2TB.
5. Includes Roku’s Best Remote Yet
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When you think of TVs and streaming devices, remotes probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Nonetheless, the remote is becoming a powerful tool since there is so much content to sort through. The Roku Ultra has one of the best remotes of any device you will find, thanks in part to its voice recognition. With it, you can tell the Roku what to watch rather than searching or browsing.
The Roku Ultra remote still has plenty of other features. Another great feature is private listening, which lets you connect headphones directly to the remote. Of course, you can also use Bluetooth headphones connected directly to the Roku Ultra. Best of all, you will never lose this remote because it has a built-in speaker that will play a chime when you press a special button on the Roku Ultra.
6. Access to the Roku Channel
One of the great reasons to purchase a Roku device is to get access to the Roku channel, which is the company’s exclusive streaming service. Although you can access the Roku channel on a few different brands of devices, including Fire TV, the Roku Ultra is the ultimate way to watch.
The Roku Channel has plenty of great content that is entirely free to watch. There are no subscription fees for the Roku Channel, but there are commercials. Unfortunately, there is no option to pay for an ad-free version. However, there are exclusive shows available only on the Roku Channel, and Roku is now making its own content for the streaming service.
7. Bluetooth Audio Streaming
Besides having the ability to connect wired earbuds to the Roku Ultra’s remote, you can also connect Bluetooth headphones to the Roku Ultra. Being able to privately listen to shows is a major selling point for those who don’t want to disturb everyone in the house. Since the Roku Ultra uses Bluetooth technology, you can use almost any wireless headphones or earbuds.
Bluetooth headphones also provide a more immersive experience than you can get from TV speakers. You can easily connect Bluetooth headphones from the Roku Ultra Settings menu, just like you would on a computer or phone. Once paired, it is easy to quickly switch between TV audio and Bluetooth headphones by pressing the star button on the remote.
8. Added Connectivity
Most streaming devices on the market today have very limited connectivity, with only an HDMI output and a power input. However, the Roku Ultra stands apart with its wider range of ports. In addition to the basic HDMI and power connectors, the Roku Ultra also has an ethernet and USB-A port.
The ethernet port lets you use a wired internet connection, which is great if your router is nearby or your home has network wiring. Similarly, the USB port is great for getting extra functionality out of your streaming device. The lower-end Roku Premiere and Stick models do not have these connections, and neither do Amazon’s Fire TV devices, with the exception of the Fire TV Cube.
Wrapping Up
As you’ve seen, there are plenty of great reasons to buy a Roku Ultra for your TV. With it, you will get the best features that Roku has to offer. Although it does come with a high price tag, the Roku Ultra is the perfect streaming device for your living room. From speed and video quality to some excellent features, the Roku Ultra is easily one of the best streaming devices you can buy.
| Reasons to Buy a Roku Ultra |
|---|
| 1. Start Streaming in Seconds |
| 2. No More Worrying About WiFi Signal Strength |
| 3. The Best Picture of Any Roku Device |
| 4. Access to All of Your Favorite Content in One Place |
| 5. Includes Roku’s Best Remote Yet |
| 6. Access to the Roku Channel |
| 7. Bluetooth Audio Streaming |
| 8. Added Connectivity |
- Roku's fastest and most powerful player ever
- Excellent Wi-Fi support with up to 50% more range
- Streaming quality available in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+
- Built-in support for Dolby Atmos sound
- Hands-free voice controls with "Hey Roku"
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Eric Broder Van Dyke/Shutterstock.com.
