Everything you need to know about Roku in 4K

Roku revolutionized how we watch TV. With its wide range of devices to choose from, Roku made it so you don’t need a smart TV to watch your favorite streaming services. 

The Roku interface is popular and is used by smart TVs like Sharp and TCL. You can enjoy Roku in 4K with all of your apps that support it. Roku also offers its own brand of smart TV with Roku 4K TV. Along with 4K streaming, Roku TVs come with upscaling technology that improves your streaming quality. 

Roku’s devices range from affordable set-top-boxes to high-quality media players. If you want to watch shows and movies in 4K resolution, Roku has a device for you. Keep reading to discover what Roku devices stream 4K TV. 

What are the basics of Roku 4K? 

A 4K quality image packs in four times as many pixels as high definition (HD). The more pixels that are crammed into the screen, the greater the quality you’ll get. So, for example, most HD TVs come in standard 1080p resolution at 1080 x 1920 pixels. By comparison, 4K Ultra HD has 2160 x 3840 pixels. With it, there’s a wider spectrum of colors, while shadows are deeper and darker. 

As noted in the introduction, Roku is available in the form of smart TVs and media player devices. However, not every Roku device provides 4K quality. (But more on that below.) This means that any subscription service that you have, like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, that supports 4K streaming is compatible with select Roku devices. 

But there are a few things you need to consider. First, your TV should have an HDMI 2.0 input for your Roku device to plug into. Second, you should test your internet speed to make sure it’s fast enough. On their website, Roku recommends around 25 Mbps to stream 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) content. And, of course, make sure you have a 4K TV. 

Which Roku devices stream in 4K? 

Roku offers a few devices that’ll let you stream in crystal-clear 4K resolution. But first, let’s identify the ones that don’t offer 4K — Roku Express and Roku Express+. Below are the Roku devices that offer 4K quality streaming. 

Roku Premiere – $39.99

Roku Premiere is a simple and straight-forward device. The main feature of the set-top box is its ability to stream in up to 4K Ultra HD.

Roku Streaming Stick+ – $49.99

Roku Streaming Stick+ is a smaller, flash drive shaped device that’s inconspicuous. It also comes with a voice remote with TV controls. 

Roku Streaming Stick+ HE – $59.99

Roku Streaming Stick+ HE is essentially the same as Roku Streaming Stick+. The only difference is the remote that comes with Roku Streaming Stick+ HE. This remote is more robust with enhanced voice commands, a headphone jack, and TV controls. 

Roku Ultra LT – $79.99

Roku Ultra LT is a quad-core processor that syncs to your TV wirelessly. Roku Ultra LT has all the features of Roku Streaming Stick+ HE, including its remote. Roku Ultra LT also hooks up to the internet via an ethernet connection. 

Roku Ultra – $99.99

Roku Ultra is Roku’s highest quality streaming device. It’s an upgraded version of Roku Ultra LT and comes with a few more features. Roku Ultra has USB and microSD ports for extra storage. It also comes with an improved remote complete with shortcut buttons, lost remote finder, JBL headphones for private listening, and a few other upgrades. 

Outside of devices, there’s also Roku 4K TV that lets you stream in 4K Ultra HD and has upscaling technology to improve lower streaming qualities. 

Popular 4K Roku Channels 

Pretty much every streaming service is available on Roku. Here are a few of our favorites. 

Netflix 

You can stream in 4K Ultra HD with Netflix Premium for $15.99/mo. There are plenty of titles that offer 4K resolution, including both licensed and original programming. Up to 4 people in your household can stream simultaneously and download content for offline viewing. 

Hulu 

Hulu starts at $5.99/mo. and offers 4 plans altogether, including cable-alternatives. You won’t find many 4K quality titles on Hulu outside of its original shows. That said, you can catch Castle Rock or The Handmaid’s Tale in 4K Ultra HD. 

Disney+ 

Disney+ costs $6.99/mo. and provides 4K content at no additional cost. Not every title is available in 4K resolution, but for the ones that are, they’ll be marked as ‘HD’ in the details section. Like Netflix, you can stream on 4 screens at the same time. 

Amazon Prime Video 

Amazon Prime Video comes with your Amazon Prime membership by default. If you’re not interested in a Prime membership, you can opt to pay solely for Prime Video for $8.99/mo. Amazon Prime Video provides tons of titles that support 4K resolution. These include both licensed shows and movies, and original content like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Manchester by the Sea

fuboTV

fuboTV is a cable-alternative streaming service that costs $55/mo. Pretty much like every other streaming service, fuboTV offers some 4K quality channels mixed in with standard definition (SD) and HD. You’ll predominately find sports available in 4K like the MLB, NCAA, and NFL, along with major events like the World Cup. 

The final cut 

Roku has a solution for you, whether you’re looking for a device or a new smart TV. Most of Roku’s streaming devices offer 4K quality streaming. These include Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Roku Ultra. Roku is universally compatible with pretty much every TV and streaming service out there. 

Do you want to learn more about Roku streaming devices? Take a look at these Cord Cutters News reviews to learn more about the ins and outs of Roku’s most popular devices, including Roku Express, Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and Roku Ultra

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