TechRadar90
The Roku Ultra (2024) is a highly capable and speedy streaming device that justifies its premium price with excellent performance, comprehensive format support, and a standout backlit remote.
Roku Ultra
9 expert reviews#3 in streaming devicesChecked 1 Nov 2026
Quick answer
The Roku Ultra has a critic score of 84 out of 100 from 9 professional reviews, and 7 of them recommend it. It ranks #3 of 4 streaming devices we score. Critics praise its performance and easy to use. The most common complaint is missing features.
Reviews checked 1 Nov 2026
Image: RokuBest remote
Our verdict
9 professional reviewers tested the Roku Ultra, and 7 recommend it. Critics praise its performance and easy to use. The most common complaint: missing features.
The catch: Not as quick as the Apple TV.
Critic agreement: High
Scores run from 79 to 90
5 of these 9 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
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What do critics say about the Roku Ultra?
VICE90est.
The Roku Ultra 4K is a top-tier streaming device that excels due to its intuitive interface, excellent remote control, and reliable performance.
Business Insider85est.
The Roku Ultra is the reviewer's top recommendation for a streaming device due to its reliable performance, intuitive interface, and versatile feature set including Ethernet and USB connectivity.
ZDNET85est.
The Roku Ultra is a highly recommended, fast, and user-friendly streaming device that excels due to its simple interface and excellent remote control.
Android Central85est.
The Roku Ultra (2024) is the brand's top-tier streaming device, offering excellent performance, comprehensive HDR support, and a high-quality backlit remote, making it the best overall choice despite its premium price.
CNN Underscored85est.
The Roku Ultra (2024) is a solid, iterative update that offers faster performance and an excellent rechargeable remote.
How-To Geek80
The 2024 Roku Ultra is a highly capable and snappy streaming device that offers excellent value, though it is held back slightly by an outdated Ethernet port and a cluttered user interface.
Tom's Guide80
While the Roku Ultra (2024) remains a high-performing and user-friendly streaming device, it offers few meaningful upgrades over its predecessor and is hampered by intrusive ads and a closed ecosystem that lacks modern smart home standards like Matter.
CNET79
The Roku Ultra (2024) is a solid, faster streaming device with a great backlit remote, but it lacks significant innovation to justify its flagship status, especially when cheaper Roku models or superior competitors like the Apple TV 4K exist.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
Performance8 of 9
Easy to use4 of 9
What critics dislike most
Missing features6 of 9
Price4 of 9
Software and app2 of 9
Alternatives
Not sure about the Roku Ultra?
Common questions
Is the Roku Ultra worth it?
Most critics think so: 7 of 9 recommend it. Not as quick as the Apple TV.
What do critics dislike about the Roku Ultra?
Missing features (6 of 9 reviews), Price (4 of 9 reviews), Software and app (2 of 9 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Roku Ultra?
The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) (critic score 88), best overall.