The Roku Ultra 2024 edition continues the company’s tradition of delivering incremental updates while maintaining the core functionality that has made its devices popular. The Roku Ultra has been around for almost a decade, and the latest version sees several improvements focused on performance and user experience, while keeping the price point consistent at $99.99.

A significant upgrade in the new Roku Ultra is the inclusion of an "all-new" quad-core processor. Roku claims that this new processor delivers a 30% performance increase compared to its other streaming players, allowing for quicker app launches, faster navigation, and smoother streaming overall. The exact specifications of the processor haven’t been detailed, but the promise is clear: users should experience snappier response times across the board.

This faster performance extends to how the Ultra interacts with apps and content. Using advanced machine learning, the Roku Ultra can predict which streaming app the user is likely to open next and pre-load it in the background. This feature aims to reduce the wait times when switching between apps or launching them for the first time.

Another major improvement is the addition of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) support. Wi-Fi 6 is the latest standard in wireless networking and offers faster speeds, lower latency, and improved efficiency over older Wi-Fi standards. For users with Wi-Fi 6-compatible routers, this could lead to more reliable streaming, especially for 4K content, reducing the risk of buffering and providing smoother performance overall.

Roku’s decision to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 brings the Ultra in line with other premium streaming devices like Apple TV 4K, though it still lags behind Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K, which offers Wi-Fi 6E, a more advanced version of the standard. For those who prefer a wired connection, the Roku Ultra retains its built-in Ethernet port, which provides a stable and reliable connection for high-quality streaming.

As with previous versions, the Roku Ultra supports 4K streaming with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, ensuring users can experience high-quality visuals on compatible displays. Dolby Vision offers dynamic HDR, adjusting brightness and color scene by scene for a more immersive viewing experience. HDR10+ offers similar enhancements in contrast and color accuracy.

On the audio front, the Roku Ultra 2024 supports Dolby Atmos, which provides a surround sound experience by placing sounds in a three-dimensional space, making it ideal for home theater setups. These features align the Roku Ultra with other high-end streaming devices on the market, making it a strong contender for users who prioritize high-quality video and audio.

One new feature specific to the 2024 model is Quick Media Switching (QMS). QMS aims to reduce the visual interruptions (such as black screens) that occur when switching between content sources or when content refresh rates change. However, this feature is highly dependent on whether the user’s TV also supports QMS, a feature that is not yet widely available in consumer televisions.

The Roku Ultra 2024 comes bundled with the second-edition Roku Voice Remote Pro, which includes several enhancements designed to improve usability. One standout feature is the inclusion of backlit buttons, a convenience that many users may overlook until they find themselves searching for controls in a dark room.

This addition puts Roku’s remote on par with those of other devices like the Amazon Fire TV, which also offer backlit remotes. In comparison, the remotes for Apple TV and Google’s Chromecast still lack this feature.

The remote also comes with USB-C charging, replacing the older micro-USB port, offering a faster and more efficient way to recharge. The Voice Remote Pro includes a one-button lost remote finder, voice control features, and customizable shortcut buttons, making it more versatile for users who frequently switch between apps or use voice commands.

Alongside the new hardware, Roku has rolled out its latest operating system update, Roku OS 14, which introduces several user-centric features. One notable addition is the ability to “like” or “dislike” movies and TV shows using thumbs-up or thumbs-down buttons, which allows Roku to improve its recommendation algorithms based on user preferences.

Roku is also expanding its “Kids & Family” content hub, making it more accessible from the home screen. This hub offers a curated collection of over 50,000 family-friendly titles from various streaming services. The Roku mobile app has also been updated with new features, including a swipeable entertainment overlay that enables quick browsing of recommended videos, content categories, and apps.

Another key element of the new Roku Ultra is its compatibility with Roku’s smart home accessories. The device integrates with the company’s ecosystem of smart home products, such as cameras and lights, allowing users to control these devices through the Roku interface.

At $99.99, the Roku Ultra 2024 will be competing with Google’s new TV streamer and the Apple TV 4K. While it lacks some of the advanced features found in Amazon’s Fire TV, such as Wi-Fi 6E, it offers solid performance, wide compatibility, and user-friendly features that make it a compelling option for a broad audience.