Roku, the leading name in streaming media players, appears to be gearing up for a hardware refresh, with a new device filing spotted at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week that was filed in late March. While the FCC has agreed to Roku’s request to keep most details under wraps for now, early glimpses of the documentation suggest that the company is likely working on either a new Roku Express or an updated Roku Streaming Stick, potentially addressing long-standing calls for improved performance.
The current Roku Streaming Stick 4K, first released in 2021, and the Roku Express, launched in 2022, have been staples in the company’s lineup, offering affordable access to 4K streaming and a vast library of apps. However, both devices have faced criticism for their modest hardware specs—each equipped with 1GB of RAM or less. Tech enthusiasts and users alike have voiced hopes that a new iteration would bring a boost in memory and processing power to keep pace with increasingly demanding streaming apps and interfaces.
Though specifics remain scarce due to the FCC’s confidentiality agreement, the filing hints at a compact form factor consistent with Roku’s Express or Stick designs. Industry insiders speculate that this could be a mid-cycle upgrade rather than a full overhaul, potentially dubbed a “Roku Express Plus” or “Streaming Stick 4K (2025).” The timing aligns with Roku’s pattern of refreshing its hardware every few years to stay competitive in a crowded streaming market dominated by rivals like Amazon’s Fire TV and Google’s Chromecast.
Cord Cutters News has also seen some early evidence that Roku may be testing a second device and a new remote, but these are not confirmed at this time by Cord Cutters News.
Roku has not officially commented on the filing, but the company’s history of incremental upgrades fuels speculation. The 2021 Streaming Stick 4K brought Dolby Vision and a faster processor over its predecessor, while the 2022 Roku Express offered a budget-friendly 1080p option with improved Wi-Fi. Fans are now eager for a leap forward, particularly as streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ roll out more 4K HDR content that taxes older hardware.
The FCC filing, while light on details, confirms that Roku has completed initial testing phases, with a possible reveal slated for later this year—perhaps in time for the holiday shopping season. For now, the streaming community waits with bated breath, hoping this mystery device will deliver the performance boost they’ve been clamoring for. For now Roku continues to keep its cards close to the chest, but the promise of a new player has already sparked excitement among cord-cutters everywhere.
This all comes as Roku has released the Roku OS 14.0 update recently to most of its devices.
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