We called the Roku 3 the best new streaming box a while back. Now, the next generation is finally here, and it looks even better. Meet the Roku 4.
The Roku 4 is different. The powerful set top box features a larger footprint than its predecessors, and that extra large case sports an extra powerful quad-core processor and updated 802.11ac MIMO wireless antenna for seamless streaming. While the accompanying Roku remote looks the same, it now features voice control capabilities. The most significant upgrade, however, might be the system’s new 4K capabilities.
The Roku 4 not only supports up to 60-frames-per-second 4K video but also makes it super easy to find 4K video. A dedicated 4K Spotlight channel in the newly updated Roku OS 7 puts all the available ultra high definition programming in one place. This alone solves the stubborn problem of finding 4K content, and it does so with Roku’s characteristically helpful interface that aggregates programming options from several different sources. That way you can search for what you want and then pick the cheapest (or easiest) way to watch.
The upgrades don’t stop there, though. In addition to launched Roku OS 7, the set top box is also getting a fancy new mobile app. The overhauled iOS and Android apps let you use your phone as a remote and even explore the countless channels Roku supports while you’re watching TV. (That should cut down on time spent blindly staring at menu screens.) Meanwhile, voice search works in the mobile app as well. You can even broadcast your photos onto your TV—if 4K if you want.
The Roku 4 is available for pre-order today and will start shipping some time in October. The price is $130. That’s more expensive than Amazon’s Fire TV and less expensive than an Apple TV. It’s probably worth it, though.
Images via Roku
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