February 27, 2020
Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback! If you want the most access to VOD content through a high quality device with simple but efficient UI, it's hard to look past the Roku Ultra. Fast, reliable, easy to control via the included remote, the app, or a 3rd party remote (works great with Harmony hub). Its always on and ready to go (worth upgrading from a stick for that reason alone). But to be honest all of those features are tablestakes for high-end streaming devices, so it's more a question of ecosystem. If you're deep into Apple, Google, or Amazon's ecosystem you may prefer the native integrations their respective devices have. Given the proliferation of streaming services and fragmentation of content I feel it's more important to be able to access every service seamlessly, and only Roku can do that. It's the only neutral platform in that respect. I can rent/buy movies from Amazon, Google, Vudu, etc, or any of the ad-supported services. Roku Channel is constantly building out. Content isn't great but as a place to manage all of your subscriptions it's excellent.Quality of apps has grown along with Roku's market share, so you have a full roster of OTT services (Sling, YouTube TV, etc) as well as all of the standalone network apps. Oh and Apple TV+. Rarely have issues with any.Only real gripe is on the audio side. The newer Ultras only output audio via HDMI and don't decode Dolby digital + (used by vast majority of apps) down to Dolby digital 5.1. That's only an issue if you have an old receiver which needs 5.1 input (or a Sonos playbar!), and your TV also won't do the conversion. That's the position I'm in and I ended up getting an older Roku Ultra (4640) off eBay as it has optical out and does the DD+ to DD conversion - only way I could get surround sound on my Sonos setup. It will be interesting to see how well Roku can maintain it's "neutral" position going forward, but assuming they can there really isn't a better way to ensure you have access to as much content as possible, at the max quality available.