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Roku’s new UK players include an £80 4K streaming stick
Roku is a big name in home entertainment kit, but the UK market hasn't exactly been the company's top priority. In fact, aside from a regional mobile app update earlier this year, the last we heard from Roku was back in 2015, when the upgraded Roku 2 player was released over here. Earlier this month, the company launched a five-strong range of new players in the US, but it's decided Americans aren't to have all the fun. Two of those devices are hitting UK shores on October 18th, including the £80 Streaming Stick+, which boasts support for 4K and HDR streaming at up to 60 fps.
Roku made a 4K streaming stick
Fresh off a successful IPO, Roku is keen to keep the momentum going. And what better way to do that than to launch a set of new devices, packed with a bunch of free (ad-supported) channels. The company tends to refresh its line-up in the fall, and this year is no exception. As rumored, there's a 4K streaming stick, but that's not all. Roku is also upgrading its budget line-up, slashing the price of its top-tier device (the Roku Ultra), and giving its Roku OS a fresh coat of paint.
Roku's $30 Express player is more intriguing than its high-end Ultra
Few tech companies are as reliable as Roku. Every year, like clockwork, it releases a new round of streaming video boxes, each a bit faster and better than what came before. There's the occasional welcome surprise, like the $50 Roku Stick that debuted earlier this year, but for the most part the company's strategy has focused on incremental improvements, not dramatic ones. Roku's latest batch of players mostly fit that mold, but they're notable for two things: reaching a low $30 price point with the Express, and delivering a $100 player that supports 4K and HDR. That would be enough for a killer lineup, but there's also a flagship model with more bells and whistles: the $130 Ultra. After spending time with both the cheapest and priciest new Roku players, I was surprised to find myself more intrigued by the possibilities of a $30 player than a high-end powerhouse.
Roku's new players start at $30, and they make 4K and HDR cheaper
You'd think that there would be no surprises left for Roku's next batch of streaming media players, following a bunch of leaks which revealed plenty of details and some very clear photos. But that's not entirely true, chiefly because we didn't know the most important detail about Roku's new lineup: price. What's most impressive about the company's new players -- which are available for preorder today, and will ship on October 9th -- is how they're driving down the cost of adding streaming media to your TV while also expanding on useful capabilities like 4K and HDR.
Here's what your next Roku streaming boxes will look like
After releasing a cheap, updated streaming stick to great reviews, it was only a matter of time before Roku officially revealed updates for the rest of its line-up. This is not that time. Dave Zatz (who also blew the lid off Roku's rebranding efforts not long ago) has come through with images and details of Roku's currently unannounced updates, and for the most part, they're the logical next steps many expected.
