ConsFirst / Streaming devices

Roku

Roku Ultra (2024): the downsides first

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#4 of 8
$$$BoxScore 3.6/5
9%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)8,913 ratings.

The best Roku box: Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, Dolby Vision and Atmos, and a backlit hands-free Voice Remote Pro. Testers disagree on speed (Wirecutter found it sluggish next to Google TV), Tom's Guide flags intrusive ads, and Roku raised its list price from $100 to $150 in July 2026.

Top complaints

  • Expensive for what it adds

    Tom's Guide and PCMag list the price as a con. CNET says a speed bump, faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren't enough for a flagship, and the new remote can be added to any Roku for $30. Roku raised its list price to $150 in July 2026.

    Source: Tom's Guide best Roku devices, PCMag review, CNET review, Tom's Guide (Roku price increase)
  • Crashes and dropped connections for some

    Amazon's review summary says connectivity is mixed, with some owners reporting frequent disconnections, and that some say the device crashes or freezes weekly and the remote doesn't work properly.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Remote lost the headphone jack; voice lags

    PCMag and CNET note the new Voice Remote Pro drops the 3.5mm headphone jack. CNET found it slower to respond to 'Hey Roku' than the old remote, and PCMag calls Roku's voice features stiff.

    Source: PCMag review, CNET review

What owners love

Good for
  • Roku fans who want the fastest Roku
  • Wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi 6 homes
  • A rechargeable remote you can find by voice

Scores (tap for why)

  • Speed & interface3.5
    Why 3.5?Fast per PCMag and Tom's Guide, but Wirecutter found it sluggish next to Google TV boxes and CNET timed it well behind the Apple TV 4K.
    Source: PCMag review, Wirecutter (NYT), CNET review
  • Apps & formats4.0
    Why 4.0?Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Atmos, AirPlay and USB media; no Twitch app (PCMag).
    Source: PCMag review
  • Ads & privacy3.0
    Why 3.0?Tom's Guide lists intrusive ads; the remote's microphone has a physical mute switch (PCMag). A 2024 Tom's Guide review called Roku's interface ad-free, which its current guides contradict.
    Source: Tom's Guide best Roku devices, PCMag review, Tom's Guide Google TV Streamer review
  • Remote4.0
    Why 4.0?Backlit, rechargeable, hands-free with a finder (PCMag), but no headphone jack and slower wake-word response (CNET).
    Source: PCMag review, CNET review
  • Wi-Fi & reliability3.5
    Why 3.5?Wi-Fi 6 plus Ethernet (PCMag), but Amazon owners report disconnections and weekly crashes; 9% of ratings are 1-2 stars.
    Source: PCMag review, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • PCMag: 4.0/5, most advanced Roku. Fast and well connected, but pricey, with voice features behind rivals and no Twitch app.
  • Tom's Guide: Best premium Roku (updated 2026-07-28). Incredibly fast with the Voice Remote Pro; the cons are price, limited smart-home features and intrusive ads.
  • CNET: 7.9/10. The best Roku yet but only marginally faster; the Apple TV 4K loaded a test movie in 8 seconds vs 14.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick: substantially more sluggish than the Google TV Streamer and even the Onn budget box.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked streaming devices whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in streaming devicesApple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 2022)

The fastest box testers have used, with clean tvOS, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Atmos, and a HomeKit/Thread hub. Apple raised its price to $199 in June 2026, it puts Apple's own content first, and the touch remote can be finicky. A new Apple event is set for Oct. 13, 2026, so a refresh is possible.

Its catch: expensive, and now pricier#2 in streaming devicesGoogle TV Streamer (4K)

Wirecutter's top pick: very fast, with the best cross-app home screen and search, plus a Google Home and Matter hub built in. It's Wi-Fi 5 only, has no hands-free voice or AirPlay, and Google's store now lists it at $149.99, up from the $99 most reviews were written at.

Its catch: price went up#3 in streaming devicesAmazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)

PCMag's pick for hands-free Alexa: a fast box with Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E and an HDMI input that puts Alexa over your cable box. It's expensive at $199.99, Prime-first like other Fire TVs, has no AirPlay or Cast, and 1 in 10 Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, with crash and Wi-Fi complaints.

Its catch: expensive

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