The new Roku players are broken down into three tiers. The top tier device is the Roku Ultra. The middle-tier streamers consist of the Roku Premier and Premier+. Rounding out the new devices in the entry level tier are the Roku Express and Express+.
Roku has not only unleashed a deluge of streaming devices, but also some new functionality available in the Roku operating System. Furthermore, two of the devices support High Dynamic Range (HDR) video on HDR compatible TV 's. You can read about HDR video in this article, …show more content…
This is one of the most comprehensive universal search functions of any streaming device on the market today. Roku also knows which subscriptions you have and will list search results in order of price starting with the services that allow you to watch the TV show or movie free of charge.
Roku Ultra
roku ultra
The Roku Ultra is the top tier Roku devices. It has the most powerful processor of any of the new Roku devices. It also includes functionality not found on any other Roku Device.
Exclusive Functions
USB Storage – The Roku Ultra allows its USB port to play video from an external hard drive. Roku Ultra supports FAT16, FAT32, NTFS and HFS+ drive formats.
Optical Audio – This will allow you to connect your Roku Ultra to your home audio system.
Voice Remote – Search for titles of your favorite TV shows and Movies without typing. Simply hit the voice search button and say the title. While experimenting with voice search, Roku was able to find well-known movies and TV shows about 90% of the time.
Remote Finder – Press the button on top of the Roku Ultra and your remote will begin beeping alerting you to its location. This function is a necessity in my house.
Gaming Buttons – If you game with your Roku, the Remote that comes with the Ultra includes gaming buttons to use. Just turn the remote …show more content…
The only difference between these two devices is the Roku Express+ comes with composite A/V Cables for older televisions. Those are those older red, white, and yellow cables that were prevalent prior to the advent HDMI.
Therefore, the Roku Express+ supports the older 480i video standard. However, that backward compatibility will cost an extra $10 as the Roku Express retails at $29.99 and the Express+ at $39.99.
Both the Express and Express+ come with, the Roku Standard IR Remote with channel shortcut buttons, two AAA batteries, a removable adhesive strip for mounting, a High Speed HDMI cable, a power adapter & micro USB cable (for power). The Express+ also includes a Composite A/V cable (red/white/yellow).
While the Express and Express+ do not support Ethernet, the do support the Wi-Fi and are b/g/n compatible. They also support WEP, WPA, and WPA2 wireless security. Both support 720p and 1080p video and Dolby Audio pass through via HDMI.
Who Should Purchase the Roku Express or Express+
If you have an older TV without an HDMI port then the Roku Express+ is your only option as it supports the older component A/V cables. Otherwise, the Roku Express is perfect for those that want a wireless streaming device with no