Roku Ultra 2024 Review: 8.7/10 - The Best Streaming Box Gets Better
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At a Glance
The Roku Ultra 2024 earns an 8.7/10 out of 10, solidifying its position as the best dedicated streaming box for most people.
Prices last checked June 2026
Overview
The Roku Ultra 2024 is Roku’s top-tier streaming player, offering the most complete feature set in the company’s lineup at $99. It supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos passthrough, includes a more powerful quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor for snappier UI navigation, and adds Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax dual-band MIMO) for improved streaming reliability over the previous generation. The included Premium Remote features a backlit design, a headphone jack for private listening, and hands-free voice control via far-field microphones.
Design and Hardware
The Roku Ultra 2024 retains the same compact black box design as its predecessor, measuring just 5 inches square and 0.8 inches thick. The front panel now includes a USB-A port for local media playback alongside the microSD card slot for channel storage expansion. The rear offers HDMI 2.0b output, an optical audio port, and an Ethernet jack, making it equally suitable for setups without wired internet.
Performance
The upgraded quad-core processor delivers noticeably faster boot times, quicker channel loading, and more responsive menu navigation compared to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. The interface remains clean, simple, and ad-free by default, with no algorithmic clutter or promotional content overwhelming the main screen. Wi-Fi 6 support ensures stable 4K streaming even in busy wireless environments, though the wired Ethernet port remains the most reliable option for consistent bandwidth.
Streaming Quality
The Roku Ultra supports Dolby Vision up to 4K 60 fps with 12-bit color depth and Dolby Atmos passthrough over HDMI eARC for immersive object-based audio. Support for all major streaming services includes Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max with full HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compatibility where available. The Roku platform handles 4K HDR content flawlessly with consistent bitrate negotiation and no stuttering in our testing.
Remote and Voice
The Premium Remote is Roku’s best controller, featuring a backlit keypad that activates when picked up, a built-in headphone jack for private listening, and two programmable shortcut buttons. The far-field microphones let you search for content, launch channels, and control playback hands-free by saying “Hey Roku” followed by your command. Voice search spans across all installed channels simultaneously, making it easy to find where a specific title is available to stream.
Roku Platform
Roku’s operating system remains one of the most straightforward streaming platforms available, with a simple grid layout of channels that you can rearrange and remove. The cross-platform search function searches across all your subscribed services and displays pricing and availability clearly. The Roku mobile app adds private listening, voice search, and the ability to cast personal photos and music to the TV.
Pros
- Backlit Premium Remote with headphone jack for private listening
- Hands-free voice control with far-field microphones
- Dolby Vision up to 4K 60 fps and Dolby Atmos passthrough
- Wi-Fi 6 support for stable wireless streaming
- Ethernet, USB-A, and microSD expansion for versatile connectivity
- Clean, simple Roku interface without algorithmic content bias
Cons
- HDMI 2.0b caps 4K output at 60 fps - no 120 Hz support
- Interface lacks the visual polish of tvOS or Google TV
- Not as fast as Apple TV 4K for UI navigation and app launches
- No Dolby Vision at 120 Hz output despite the capable hardware
Verdict
The Roku Ultra 2024 earns an 8.7/10 out of 10, solidifying its position as the best dedicated streaming box for most people. The combination of Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6, and an excellent remote makes it a complete package at a fair price. The HDMI 2.0b port caps 4K at 60 fps rather than the 120 fps possible on Apple TV 4K, and the interface lacks the visual polish of tvOS, but as a straightforward, reliable streaming machine, the Ultra is hard to beat.
Category Context
At $99, the Roku Ultra 2024 competes with the Apple TV 4K ($129) and NVIDIA Shield TV Pro ($149), but occupies a unique middle ground: it offers a simpler, ad-light interface than the Fire TV Cube ($139) while costing less than the Apple TV 4K. Its wired Ethernet port, USB-A for local media playback, and microSD expansion slot make it the most versatile streaming box for users who prefer wired connectivity and local file playback. The Apple TV 4K offers the faster A15 Bionic chip, 4K 120 Hz output, and tighter integration with Apple services, but costs $30 more. For most households that simply want reliable streaming without ads or algorithmic bias, the Roku Ultra is the best value.
Sources
Where to Buy
Check current pricing on eBay or Amazon.
Prices last checked June 2026. Pricing and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
📊 Comparison: Roku Ultra 2024 vs. Competitors
| Specification | Roku Ultra 2024 | Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen | NVIDIA Shield TV Pro | NVIDIA Shield TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $129 | $199 | $149 |
| Processor | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 | -- | -- | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ |
| Video | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | AI upscaling to 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos passthrough | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1 | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, TrueHD passthrough | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Connectivity | HDMI 2.0b, Ethernet, USB-A, Wi-Fi 6, microSD | HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, Thread, IR | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet | HDMI 2.0b, 2x USB 3.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0 |
| Remote | Premium backlit remote with headphone jack | 3rd-gen Siri Remote (USB-C) | -- | -- |
| Chip | -- | Apple A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ with 256-core Maxwell GPU | -- |
| Smart Home | -- | Thread / Matter hub | -- | -- |
| RAM | -- | -- | 3 GB LPDDR4 | 2GB |
| Storage | -- | -- | 16 GB (expandable via USB) | 8GB |
| Ports | -- | -- | 2× USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0b, microSD | -- |
| Upscaling | -- | -- | -- | AI-enhanced to 4K |
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- Performance (30% weight): Speed, responsiveness, and real-world capability in its category.
- Build & Design (20% weight): Material quality, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal.
- Features (20% weight): Breadth and usefulness of included functionality.
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- Battery Life or Reliability (10% weight): Endurance testing for portable devices, or long-term dependability for stationary gear.
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