When it comes to choosing one of the best streaming devices for your home, there are tons of options these days. Unlike the earlier days of streaming, these options work like a home entertainment hub with access to multiple apps, connected home functionality, games, and more. While there are a variety of excellent options out there, two of our favorites are Apple TV and Roku Ultra.
Both of these devices deliver a smart, streamlined experience that is easy and intuitive to use. However, you might not be sure which one is right for you. Apple TV 4K delivers access to movies, games, and a variety of apps, along with a free three-month subscription to Apple TV and connects to Apple Smart Home devices. It’s powered by an A15 bionic chip, which also means that this device is built to last for at least a few years. Alternatively, the Buy at Amazon is a bit more affordable, connects to a variety of apps, as well as Roku Smart Home devices.
So which one is right for you? Let’s dig in.
Design and remote control
Before we go any further, from here on, we’ll be referring to the latest versions of these devices unless we specify an older generation. Now then … Both the Apple TV 4K and the Roku Ultra are sleek and stylish streaming devices that are compact and look good on most media cabinets, but let’s take a look at each streamer with a closer lens.
The Apple TV 4K is 3.7 inches wide, 3.7 inches deep, and 1.2 inches from top to bottom. Apple has been using the same glossy-chrome outer shell for many years now, and the latest Apple TV 4K looks just as good as its predecessors. This time around, the included Siri remote is equipped with a USB-C charging port, too, allowing for much faster charge times when compared to the previous Lightning-only iteration of the Siri remote that came with older versions.
Over in Roku territory, the all-new Ultra measures 4.9 inches wide, 5 inches from front to back, and is only 1 inch tall. In terms of the outer shell, we’re working with a matte-style casing that lets the device look stylish without having to worry about fingerprinting it up. And where older Roku devices only come with traditional Roku remotes, the latest Ultra comes packaged with the incredible Buy at Amazon (which can also be purchased for other Roku hardware).
The flagship Roku remote also includes a USB-C port for charging, along with quick start buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video. A handy feature of the Roku is the ability to hit a button on the left side of the remote to turn off/on voice commands.
Apple and Roku are both top-notch when it comes to design and remotes, but with its slightly smaller chassis for the most space-starved entertainment centers, we’re going to give a point to Apple for this category.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Connections and performance
The new-and-improved Apple TV 4K is equipped with Apple’s all-new A15 Bionic chip, which the company claims will deliver nearly double the CPU performance of the previous Apple TV 4K, as well as up to 30% better performance when it comes to the GPU. In layman’s terms, this is going to mean faster load times for apps, streamlined voice navigation, and a more responsive user interface.
In terms of actual ports, the Apple TV 4K is equipped with an HDMI 2.1 connection (just as the 2021 Apple TV 4K before it) that also supports eARC for wiring the streamer up to your Dolby Atmos-ready soundbar or AV system. However, if you’re looking to maximize your overall internet performance, there’s an important difference between the 64GB and 128GB Apple TV 4K models: the latter is the only version that comes with a Gigabit Ethernet port.
If you’re planning on going Wi-Fi-only, this may not be such a big deal, but the ability to connect the Apple TV 4K directly to your router helps to take the strain off your wireless network bands while providing a faster web connection for the device.
The 2024 Roku Ultra is the fastest Roku device available, and boasts a 30% increase in speed over the 2022 model. The onboard quad-core processor performs at lightning-fast speeds, opening apps and streaming 4K content in the blink of an eye, even when streaming movies and TV shows in HDR. And in terms of actual connections, the Roku Ultra includes an Ethernet port right off the bat, as well as an HDMI 2.0b port and a USB-A input for viewing photos, videos, and music files, with some supported popular formats, including MP4, MP3, MOV, and JPG.
Unlike the Apple TV 4K, though, the Roku Ultra only features 4GB of internal storage, whereas the Apple TV 4K offers 64GB and 128GB of storage, depending on the model you purchase. And unlike the former Roku Ultra (2020), the 2022 edition nixed the microSD card slot, negating any external storage capabilities.
At the end of the day, though, we’re going to call this category a tie. Performance-wise, Apple’s A15 Bionic chip and Roku’s quad-core processor deliver the goods. And while the Apple TV 4K’s HDMI 2.1 input beats the Ultra’s 2.0b port, the Ultra includes a USB-A input, while the Apple TV doesn’t.
Winner: Tie
User interface
The look and feel of a streaming device’s screens and menus are often the make-or-break factors for both first-time and recurring buyers. Fortunately, the user interface of both the Apple TV 4K and the Roku Ultra are easy to navigate, quick to customize, and iconic by design.
On the Apple side of the coin, tvOS is built for a crisp, clean, and streamlined user experience from top to bottom, with minimal advertisement intrusions. The home screen is sleek and monochrome (an Apple TV UI staple), placing all of the attention on whatever apps you have added to the launch page, with the ability to have up to 20 apps showcased at once.
Navigating with the Siri-powered remote is a breeze, too, with the voice assistant allowing you to do things like launch apps, raise and lower volume, search for movies and TV shows (by title, genre, actor, and other criteria), and more.
Roku OS is just as mighty, though. Boldly purple and friendly to engage, the Ultra’s launch page includes several left-aligned search and customization options, with the right side of the screen used as real estate for your Roku app (billed as Streaming Channels), of which you’ll be able to see nine of at one time.
The included Voice Remote Pro also allows you to use Roku’s onboard voice assistant to pull up movies and TV shows, adjust the volume, and more, although the overall seamlessness of Roku’s assistant pales in comparison to the quick genius that is Siri. And even though you can control elements of the Ultra with Alexa and Google Assistant (more on that later), Siri wins all day when it comes to listening and responsiveness.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Picture and sound quality
There’s nothing quite like watching your favorite movies and TV shows in glorious HDR and pulse-pounding surround sound, and if you’re a big-time streamer, you’ll be pleased to know that both the Apple TV 4K and the Roku Ultra can handle pretty much any HDR format you can throw at them, in addition to immersive surround formats like Dolby Atmos.
HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision are supported by both devices, and Apple’s A15 chip and Roku’s quad-core processor do big work in ensuring the most grandiose movies from the likes of Disney+ and Netflix buffer quickly and play without missing a beat. And if you’re using a wired Ethernet connection, you’ll experience even faster load times (but remember, you’ll only find this port on the 128GB Apple TV 4K).
The Apple TV 4K also allows for instant audio and video streaming from an iOS device using Apple AirPlay 2, as well as screen mirroring. If sound is your top priority, and you own a pair of AirPods capable of enjoying Apple’s immersive Spatial Audio, then that’s a feature you won’t get with Roku.
The Roku Ultra supports audio and video casting using Apple AirPlay 2, too, plus screen mirroring for most Android devices and Bluetooth capabilities, although the latter option only allows you to stream music to the Ultra. If you want to connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones for private listening, you’ll need to download the Roku app on a go-to mobile device to do so.
In terms of picture and sound, both devices are nearly identical in their respective deliverables, and unless you’re a big Apple fan who cares about Spatial Audio, we’re going to award a point to the Roku Ultra in this category, mainly because of its Android device support (as limited as this support actually is).
Winner: Roku Ultra
Smart home features
If you’ve been looking for an all-in-one smart home command center and excellent streaming device, you’re in luck when it comes to the latest Apple TV 4K and kind of in luck when it comes to the Roku Ultra (more on that in a moment).
The Apple TV 4K is one of the most affordable Apple peripherals you can purchase to jumpstart an Apple HomeKit smart home network, allowing you to control and manage a number of your smart home devices (such as security cameras and smart locks) by giving Siri certain voice commands or using your Apple TV’s remote to navigate to such features. This is especially convenient when you want to pull up live footage from one of your home’s smart cameras to view on your TV.
With the continued rollout of Matter, a smart device unifier, more and more devices are receiving support for the new standard. And while the Apple TV 4K is Matter-compatible through a networking protocol called Thread, only the 128GB version is Thread-ready.
The latest Roku Ultra is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, and even though you won’t be getting these voice assistants with an Apple TV 4K, the Ultra requires extra hardware for anything voice-related, whether that be an Echo Dot or a Google Nest speaker.
Furthermore, you will be able to use your Roku Ultra as a smart home command center through Roku Smart Home, but it will only work with Roku-branded cameras, plugs, and other smart home gear. And while there’s been some talk of Matter hitting Roku devices at some point in the future, no such compatibility exists at this time.
That being said, we’re giving this category to the Apple TV 4K for its seamless suite of first-party smart home controls.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Price
The latest Apple TV 4K is available in two versions: a 64GB model for $130 and a 128GB model for $150. As previously mentioned, spending an extra $20 not only gets you double the storage but also a Gigabit Ethernet Port and support for Thread/Matter. There’s really no reason not to buy the 128GB model.
The new Roku Ultra retails for $100 but can be found on sale for prices as low as $70.
Winner: Roku Ultra
The verdict
When it comes down to choosing between these two devices, it’s a close race. Both streaming devices are incredible, delivering smart home connectivity, lightning fast connection speeds, and access to a variety of streaming apps all from one streaming device. While the Roku is the more affordable option, Apple TV 4K is built to last, and delivers the better overall experience.
With its remarkable internal storage figures, powerful Siri voice assistant, Apple-friendly smart home controls, and zippy A15 Bionic performance, the latest Apple TV 4K is one of the sturdiest streaming devices ever made, and even though it’s a little more expensive than the Roku Ultra, there’s enough in the way of features to back up that slight price bump.
