Roku Ultra (2024) Review: The Best Roku Box Money Can Buy

Bottom line: The Roku Ultra ($99) is the best Roku you can buy — Ethernet, USB local playback, and a headphone-jack remote with a lost-remote finder, all on Roku’s clean, neutral platform. Most people are better served by the $49 Streaming Stick 4K, but cord-cutters who want wired reliability will appreciate the upgrade.

Overview

The Roku Ultra is the top of Roku’s hardware lineup. At $99, it’s a dedicated box (not a stick), which means it sits near your TV rather than plugging directly into an HDMI port. That distinction matters: it includes an Ethernet port, a USB port for local media, and Roku’s best remote — complete with a headphone jack for private listening.

Performance

Performance is noticeably snappier than the Streaming Stick 4K. Apps launch faster, scrolling is smoother, and 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision loads without hesitation. The dedicated processor makes a genuine difference in day-to-day use, especially if you switch between apps frequently.

What We Liked

• Ethernet port — wired connection is rock solid, no buffering
• Remote with headphone jack — plug in headphones for silent late-night watching
• Lost remote finder — press a button on the box to make the remote beep
• USB port — play local video files directly from a USB drive
• Dolby Vision + Atmos — full HDR and audio passthrough
• Private Listening — stream audio to the Roku app on your phone too

What We Didn’t Like

• $99 is a lot for Roku — the $49 Streaming Stick 4K does 90% of this for half the price
• Still no Dolby Atmos passthrough — audio tops out at Dolby Digital Plus on some setups
• Box design is dated — chunky plastic compared to sleeker competitors
• No voice remote Pro by default — hands-free mic is an add-on

How It Compares

The Ultra’s closest rival is its own little brother, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K ($49), which does about 90% of this for half the price — the Ultra justifies itself with Ethernet, USB, and the better remote. Against the Google TV Streamer and Apple TV 4K at similar prices, Roku trades their smart recommendations and ecosystem features for a simpler, more neutral interface that doesn’t push you toward any one service. For where Roku fits overall, see Android TV vs Fire TV vs Roku.

Who Should Buy It

• Anyone burned by Wi-Fi buffering who wants a rock-solid wired Ethernet connection.
• Late-night viewers who’ll use the remote’s headphone jack for private listening.
• People who value simplicity and a platform that stays neutral between streaming services.

Skip it if you’re happy on Wi-Fi and don’t need USB or the fancier remote — the Streaming Stick 4K is the smarter buy.

Verdict

The Roku Ultra is the right choice if you want Roku’s clean interface with the reliability of a wired Ethernet connection. For everyone else, the Streaming Stick 4K is a better value. But if you’ve been burned by Wi-Fi buffering or want the private listening remote, the Ultra earns its premium.