The Roku Ultra has been refreshed for 2024, and there are some extremely noticeable upgrades this year that are worth your attention.
It’s difficult to improve on an industry-leading device, but Roku found multiple ways in 2024.
Is it worth the $99.99 price tag? We’re about to find out in our Roku Ultra 2024 review.
What’s New in the Roku Ultra 2024
First and foremost, I never really thought of previous Roku Ultras as being “slow.” Now that I’ve used the Roku Ultra 2024, and seen just how fast it can load apps, I lament all of the time I’ve lost in the past. Even the boot up screen is faster, and the speed with which you enter apps borders is nearly instantaneous in most cases.
The Roku Ultra 2024 also got a speed boost when it comes to Internet speeds as the Wi-Fi module was upgraded to Wi-Fi 6. In my review period I’ve seen zero lag or any signs of degraded image while using the wireless features.
The remote also received a major update this year to the Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd Edition). This new controller not only features backlit buttons, but it also accepts voice commands, and if you can’t find it, simply say, “Hey Roku, where are you?” and it will begin beeping. Possibly the most welcome change, however, is the remote is now rechargeable via USB-C meaning you’ll never have to change another battery.
Not changed, sadly, is the power cord for the Roku Ultra itself. With more and more moves being made to USB-C, using a proprietary cable just feels odd for the main power source.
Who is the Roku Ultra 2024 For?
If you’ve never bought a Roku, then this is truly the model for you. It’s fast, and almost the most versatile of the Roku family. While the other models all rely on Wi-Fi for their connectivity, the Ultra provides you with an Ethernet port. While that may not seem like the most important thing in the world, as 4K streaming becomes more common you’ll appreciate the stability of the connection.
And even if you have to stay on Wi-Fi, the addition of support for Wi-Fi 6 is going to be more than enough power for all of your streaming needs.
The Roku Ultra is also the only model to support personal media thanks to its built-in USB port. For video it supports H.264/AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); H.265/HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9.2 (.MKV); AV1 (.MP4, .MKV) and for audio you’ll find AAAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); MP3 (.MP3, .MKV); WMA (.ASF, .WMA, .MKV); FLAC (.FLAC, .MKV); PCM (.WAV, .MKV, .MP4, .MOV); AC3/EAC3 (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .AC3); DTS (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); ALAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .M4A); HEAAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .AAC); AC-4 with Atmos (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .AC4 ); DD+ (EAC3) with Atmos (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV). If you want to show off your photos, you can display JPG, PNG, and GIF, but alas, no animated GIFs. If you’ve been building a video collection for years, this is something you’ll appreciate.
To Buy or Not to Buy
Suggesting whether or not you should purchase the Roku Ultra is a tough call while also being oddly easy. It is essentially the exact same advice I have given in the past.
- Have a Roku, but no 4K TV – You can definitely wait until such time as you do have one of those sets.
- This will be your first Roku, but you don’t own a 4K TV – I would still recommend picking up the Roku Ultra as you will be future-proofing yourself for when you may pick up one down the road.
- 4K TV, but no set-top box/want to switch to Roku – The Roku has been the best in class of streaming devices for years now, and the Roku Ultra 2024 only improves things that much more.
In short, it is really going to be based on what equipment you already own or plan to purchase in the near future. About the only people we don’t recommend it for is someone who has a Roku already and no 4K TV. Except for that sub-category of consumers, the Roku Ultra is a great device to have so that you can enjoy all of the streaming options out there in the world.
At the $99.99 price point, it’s an easy recommendation unless you don’t have that 4K TV. Even if you own a Roku it’s worth considering this year due to the upgrade in processor and the updated remote. If you’re looking to jump into Roku, then go for it. This is the best Roku yet, and worth every penny as we move into the future of streaming.
Buy
Disclaimer: Roku provided The Nerdy with the Roku Ultra 2024 for the purposes of review. We used it as our primary streaming device for a week before beginning this review.
