Roku breaks outside the (set-top) box, introduces its own Roku TV line

By Caleb Denison January 6, 2014

roku breaks outside box introduces tv hisense rokutv final

While LG is announcing its new smart TV interface powered by webOS, Roku is doing its part to push the smart TV experience forward with the recently announced Roku TV. The company and its wildly popular set-top boxes have been the darlings of cord-cutters for years, but now the company is taking its simple, easy-to-navigate interface, and embedding it right inside a selection of televisions.

According to a blog post by Roku’s CEO, Anthony Wood, the company has partnered with Chinese manufacturers TCL and Hisense to produce the new televisions, ranging in size from 32 to 55 inches. TCL and Hisense are both top-selling brands in China, and have recently made a power play for the US market – this partnership will likely bolster those efforts.

Related Videos

Hisense-RokuTV_final-2

Everything users have come to expect from Roku’s set-top boxes will be available in the new Roku televisions, including a simplified remote control. Roku now offers 1,200 channels of content, including all the major video-on-demand apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, Vudu, etc., plus the ability to work with media server apps such as Plex. Roku devices, including the new televisions, can also be controlled via an iOS or Android app.

Roku didn’t disclose any information about pricing and availability for its new televisions, but TCL and Hisense both have yet to make their announcements here at CES 2014. Stay with Digital Trends as the show progresses and we’ll bring you the latest developments.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Audio / Video

Hisense announces its own Fire TV, starting at $530

Hisense U6H Fire TV.

Hisense today announced its first television with Amazon Fire TV — the U6HF. It's launching as a 50-inch model for $530, available for pre-order now. A 58-inch version is expected to be available in the fall for $600.

Specs of note include 4K resolution, of course, as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+. It uses Quantum Dot technology and sports a 60Hz variable refresh rate (up to 240Hz when things get real) and 600 nits of peak brightness. There's also Game Mode Plus to decrease input lag, and an auto low latency mode.

Audio / Video

Hisense adds mini-LED and Google TV to its 2022 QLED TVs

Hisense 2022 ULED TVs.

In just a few years, Hisense has evolved from a relatively obscure brand to a company that makes an impressive range of affordable and feature-rich 8K, 4K, and laser TVs. At the end of 2021, the company finally debuted its first 8K TV, the U800GR, but at CES 2022, the company has revealed how the rest of its 4K products will benefit from new technologies like mini-LED backlighting, advanced gaming features, and Google TV, which replaces the older Android TV system on all of Hisense's non-Roku TV ULED models.

Here's the full run-down.
U9H Series

Audio / Video

Hisense debuts its first 8K Roku TV, the 75-inch U800GR

Hisense U800GR 8k Roku TV.

We're still several weeks away from CES 2022, but don't tell Hisense that. The company has decided it doesn't need a big, splashy Las Vegas show to show off its big, splashy new Roku TV, which also happens to be its first Roku TV to offer 8K resolution: The Hisense U800GR, which is available December 8 from Best Buy and Amazon for $2,700.

The U800GR packs Hisense's ULED display technology, which in this case means a quantum dot LED panel with a native 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,000 nits of brightness. Gamers will appreciate the extra smoothness this brings to their fast-action games, as well as the TV's support of auto low-latency mode (ALLM) and variable refresh rate (VRR). You get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, in addition to HDR10 and HLG. Hisense says there are 180 local dimming zones for better contrast and black levels.