Roku Ultra | The Ultimate Streaming Device 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision/Atmos, Rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro, Ethernet Port, Hands-Free Controls, Lost Remote Finder, Free & Live TV

Reviews

1. Everyday Consumer – April 24, 2025

   Love it. We bought a refurbished 2022 model of the Ultra (the top of the line). The price was so discounted, we couldn’t pass it up. And it works great! Has lots of channels, wasn’t really easy to set up, but I got it done, and the 2024 model has nothing new. We set it up on a TV that couldn’t receive local channels, so it’s a great item.

2. Rolidnot – August 30, 2024

   Simple, intuitive, easy to set up, great remote. I have Apple TV and now Roku as well hooked into my Sony TV and audio system.Why both? Roku has some sports streaming, particularly MLB that is not available on any other platform including Apple. And more is coming.I’ve been using Apple for years and now this Roku side by side for over a month.Overall, the Roku is the better device because it’s less expensive, the Roku remote is light years ahead of the wonky Apple Remote, a spare Roku remote is only $20, not $60 like the Apple spare remote. The Roku remote looks better and works a LOT better.Both devices have similar appearances – see the photo.I hate, despise, dislike and otherwise want to bury the Apple Remote in my backyard. It’s super touchy, the slide touch panel is annoying beyond belief and it’s not intuitive. If you mishandle the Apple Remote you could be 5 apps away in 1 second.I put a yellow non-slip cover on the Apple remote because it’s slippery. The Roku remote has a non slip textured finish.Setup of both devices is similar with the most difficultpart being adding new apps with their respective passwords.The Roku seems to offer more QR codes for password use so you don’t have to type in a multi character passwords on a POS remote like the Apple Remote.Picture and sound quality appear similar. I’m running a 4k Sony TV connected to McIntosh MX-122 home theater preamp with both devices running through the MX-122.The MX-122 offers audio “pass through” so I can use the Apple or Roku with either the TV or the McIntosh sound.Dolby Atmos and Dolby work well with both devices and my McIntosh system.But the remote control on the Apple is the deal breaker for me plus the extra $50 for the actual Apple device. The Apple Remote is annoying junk and I hate that thing. I find myself using the Roku more and more just for the remote.I can see a time in the future when I might get rid of the Apple and just keep the Roku.Apple better come up big in their next gen Apple TV device and remote and drop the price or Roku willmake them obsolete.

3. Rolidnot – August 22, 2024

   Excellent remote. I’ve used the Roku Ultra for years, and just upgraded after my Roku Ultra 2020 model somehow lost the voice command capability.The new Roku Ultra is more sophisticated, in that it immediately checked and validated that I have 4K capability throughout my system – my cables, my receiver, and my TV. Also, the 4K video comes through beautifully, even though I use a Wi-Fi rather than wired connection. When playing music videos on YouTube, the sound is great.Another improvement that I like is that the remote is rechargeable. The charge last for weeks and weeks, and the remote recharges very quickly.I also appreciate its durability. I’ve dropped this new remote on my tile floor probably 5 or 6 times, and it keeps on working.It has the usual minor annoyances, such as lots of junk on the Home screen. Plus they set up the default for the microphone to be listening all of the time. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I don’t want a microphone listening to everything my wife and I say 100% of the time. So I switched it off. But these things can be fixed very quickly.The only improvement I’d recommend is to program the device so that you can adjust the volume through the receiver, not just TVs. My setup adjusts the volume through my Yamaha receiver, not the TV. There aren’t that many receiver manufacturers on the market, and it shouldn’t be that difficult to program the Roku Ultra (maybe with a software update?) so that the Roku can send a signal to my receiver to adjust the volume.But these things are minor stuff. The bottom line is that I love this little remote. If you want an excellent remote for streaming, look no further! Get this remote!