We have been hearing for some time now that a Roku 4 will be coming out early next year. With little evidence, and only speculations, we had decided not to publish any of the rumors. Now, it seems very clear there will be an announcement in early 2015 regarding a new high end Roku set top box. We also hear the Roku LT will be discontinued, and the Roku 1 will become the new LT.
Here is a short list of some supporting evidence.
The Roku LT has been out of stock for weeks now at Amazon. Third party vendors have been selling Roku LT’s above list price, at $55, for the last three weeks on Amazon.com. On Roku.com the LT is listed as “while supplies last.” https://www.roku.com/products/compare
The Roku 3 has never before sold this low. Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and Roku.com all have it on sale, some for as low as $77.99 online. (Note, if you go to BestBuy.com you will find it on sale for $79.99, and in the store for $89.99. Best Buy will price match their site for $77.99.) At first we thought it was just a Christmas sale, now that the sale continues it looks like retailers are clearing out their Roku 3 stock.
The Roku 2 has also been heavily discounted. Right now the Roku 2 is only $4 more than the Roku LT on Amazon.com.
The Roku 1 is listed as out of stock on the Roku.com website. (Since this posting the Roku 1 is back in stock at Roku.com)
May 2015 will also mark 2 years since the last Roku box was released. (Please note there has been a New Roku Stick and Roku TV release, however, we are only looking at the set top boxes.) Before 2013 Roku released at least one new set top box every year.
Add this all up, and it clearly looks like a new Roku is expected soon.
What we expect to happen.
We expect Roku to possibly announce the new box as soon as CES next month. The new box could come out anytime after that, but no later than May, 2015. also, sales could start as soon as January 2015, and we expect it sooner rather than later.
The Roku 3 will be moved down and priced like the Roku 2. The Roku 2 will replace the Roku 1, and the Roku 1 and the Roku LT will be discontinued. The Roku Stick will replace the low end Roku set top boxes as the cheaper option in the product lineup.
Past that nothing can be confirmed.
What we think maybe included in the new Roku announcement.
Before you read this list, remember, these are all rumors. However, they are the most credible and probable ones we have heard.
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The new set top box will be called Roku 4K
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Roku 4K will support 4K video
- Netflix and Amazon Instant will offer 4K support
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Updated UI on the main menu
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Faster processor and more RAM that will rival anything on the market
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New remote with added quick buttons for different services
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Updated cell phone app
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Possible gaming controller separate from the normal remote
Again, this list is based completely on rumors.
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