Roku has added a new pair of products to its lineup of streaming devices and accessories, the Roku Express 4K+ and the Roku Voice Remote Pro. The devices share a few similarities, like being affordable options to try out the Roku experience or improve an existing one. However, at their cores, these new products have very distinct functionalities and are designed for different users.
The first Roku hit shelves back in 2008, and since then Roku has developed into one of the most popular streaming brands on the market today. It has its own wide range of streaming devices designed to compete with other popular devices like the Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick. Beyond that, several major TV brands like TCL and others come with the Roku operating system built into their displays.
Roku’s newest devices target two different areas of the brand’s potential user base. At $40, the Roku Express 4K+ is a standalone streaming device capable of producing 4K HDR content that presents a cost-effective way for new users to add streaming capabilities to an older display, or even a newer TV with a less-than-ideal interface. The Roku Voice Remote Pro, meanwhile, is a rechargeable remote with hands-free voice capabilities and private listening functionality that can serve as a replacement controller for users that already have a Roku device or TV models with Roku OS built in.
Roku’s New Products Emphasize Streaming Value
From the Nvidia Shield to the Apple TV 4K, there are many names in the streaming business making high-end devices capable of handling any kind of content that users might want to throw at them. The options get slightly more sparse when searching for budget streaming devices that offer 4K compatibility, though. Amazon makes a Fire TV Stick 4K for $50, and Google’s latest Chromecast also outputs 4K video quality for the same price. Roku’s Express 4K+ undercuts the price of both those devices at $40, while still offering some exceptional features and perks. Aside from being a capable 4K streamer, the Express 4K+ has a quad-core processor and dual-band Wi-Fi for improved performance, as well as compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, as well as both Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. For just $40, there aren’t many competing devices that can offer the same kind of overall value.
While $30 may seem like a high price for a single remote, the Roku Voice Remote Pro has unique features built in, like the ability to find said remote simply by saying “Hey Roku, where’s my remote.” The bottom line is, both products project to be affordable, valuable options for Roku users both new and old. Furthermore, by introducing these devices, Roku is continuing to do what has made it a leader in the streaming industry for so long – releasing affordable products that work just as well, if not better than their higher-priced counterparts.
