A Roku 4 is expected to be out very soon. So, what is needed in a Roku 4 to keep it competitive with the new Fire TV and the new Apple TV? This is not a dream list of everything we want in the Roku 4, but rather a list of what it needs to have to stay competitive.
4K
Apple would say 4K is not needed but the growth of 4K TVs is growing and with Netflix and Amazon doubling down on 4K content, Roku needs 4K to stay competitive. The addition of 4K content will help it match the Fire TV and stand out from the Apple TV.
Speed
The Roku 4 needs to have a faster CPU and more RAM. While the Roku 3 does a great job loading content, it is on the lower end of the current lineup of streaming devices. With both the Apple TV and the Fire TV making major jumps in CPU and RAM the Roku 4 needs an increase over the Roku 3.
A Stand-Out Feature
The Roku 3 had a stand-out feature in its headset jack built into the remote that gave it a boost over the Fire TV and Apple TV. The Roku 4 needs a similar stand-out feature to compete.
The feature does not need to be a massive new add-on but could be something as small as a sleep timer.
Conclusion
Roku currently is leading the set-top box market; however, with such a young market they could easily fall behind the other new boxes. While Roku has a strong following and a history of great devices let’s hope they do not fall victim of complacency in the Roku 4.