Best Roku devices 2026

Want to make a dumb TV a whole lot less... well, dumb? A Roku stick or streaming box is the way to go. They add the Roku smart TV platform in a couple of simple steps: Plug in stick, turn on TV. Done. Dumb TV now smart.

At the moment, there are only two Roku devices we'd recommend you buy. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus doesn't break the bank, and adds loads of useful smart features to your TV without doing any work. If, however, you want something a little more premium, then it's the more expensive Roku Ultra you'll want. It feeds 4K streaming to your TV and features more power for a smoother experience.

How do we know? Because we've tested them. All of them. So when we say "this is the one to buy," it comes from hundreds of hours of experience. So let's get into why these two streaming options are the best you can buy right now.

The best value roku device

I’m going to start with the weakness of the Streaming Stick Pro — because for its low, low (and often discounted) $39 price, there’s really only one glaring omission. Dolby Vision fans will be left out in the cold, because Roku’s cheaper stick wants to leave something for the more expensive options. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be all that many reasons to spend more.

Because, really, the Streaming Stick gives you everything you need to get your favorite content streaming on your big screen. 4K HDR is no problem, and there’s support for loads of different audio formats from Dolby to DTS. We loved watching our movies and TV shows with the stick, all accessible from Roku’s platform.

And it really is one of the best ways to navigate a smart TV. The Roku interface is slick and smart, with plenty of on-screen options. The UI is easy to follow, and supports all of your favorite streamers. Even some really niche options that aren’t available for other platforms (ultra-niche streamers like Gagaoolala and HiDive— I’m looking at you) are available on Roku.

The diminutive stick even offers great power, despite its size. 4K video runs hitch-free, and we never really had any hang-ups or slowdown when browsing around. If you’re going to buy a streaming stick from Roku, this is the sweet spot you’ll want. The cheaper options don’t have 4K, and the more expensive models don’t have any more features to speak of. This is the one to buy.

• Read our full Roku Streaming Stick Plus review

The best premium Roku device

So we’ve established that the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the Roku device you actually need — but the Roku Ultra is the one you want. Rather than a stick, it’s a box that’s packed with power for extra smarts. Perhaps most importantly — Dolby Vision. That’s right, cinephiles, now you can watch Tenet in a bit more of its “director-intended” form with a more color-accurate picture. Roku Ultra, you spoil us. IMAX next?

There’s more to it than just Dolby Vision, of course. There has to be something extra to justify the price increase. There’s an Ethernet port to make sure the internet connection is as stable as possible, reducing the chance of dropouts. We found that means more stable, and often slightly higher quality images. Just remember that you’ll need a cable between the router and the Roku Ultra, and you’re good to go.

You can even slot a USB stick in the back to add music, TV shows and movies to the Roku Ultra, something that nothing else in the Roku line does. Then there’s the very clever QuickMedia Switching, so you can hop between media types without any issues. It really works too — we changed from some content that ran at 60FPS to the more standard 24FPS movie frame rate, and we had no issues.

That’s one of the biggest things with the Ultra — it’s simply wonderful to use. The extra power means that it’s slick and smooth across the board, even more so than the already excellent Streaming Stick Plus above. This is a cut above — you’d have to go with something like an Apple TV 4K for a similarly speedy and lag-free performance.

There are two drawbacks. It’s more expensive than the Streaming Stick Plus by some margin, and you’ll need some extra space for the larger box. In the long run, though, we’ve found it to be well worth the trade-offs — we love it.

• Read our full Roku Ultra (2024) review

How to choose the best Roku device for you

There's a Roku device for everyone. In the void left by the discontinuation of Chromecast, Roku streaming sticks and devices make for the best alternatives. Whether you're looking for an affordable 1080p model or a soundbar with the Roku ecosystem built into it, Roku's got it all.

However, with so many Roku devices sharing similar-sounding names, it can get confusing when picking the right one for you.

To help, here's a full breakdown of what each Roku device has to offer in terms of resolution, upscaling, audio, HDR, and networking:

Is Roku a streaming service?

Roku has a slew of free channels to dive into on its platform, all of which are hosted on the Roku Channel app. It's here where you can find all kinds of FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels ranging from movies and shows to sports and live news broadcasts.

A popular area within the Roku Channel is the Sports Zone, which houses all kinds of major sporting events and pastimes for you to enjoy. This includes EFL Cup soccer games, WNBA basketball games, Tour of de l'Ain cycling sprints, and so much more. You can also dive into highlights from your favorite sports, including baseball, tennis, monster truck rallies, and the like. It's practically endless.

Everything is totally free to enjoy too, no subscription required. Roku does offer some premium subscription models if you want them, netting you access to various other streaming platforms, including HBO Max, STARZ, Paramount+, and others. Roku launched its own premium subscription service called Howdy on August 5. The app consists of ad-free TV and several movies for a monthly $2.99 fee.

Chromecasts are discontinued — now what?

Google discontinued its Chromecast with Google TV device lineup in August 2024 as it rolled out its newest premium streaming device, the Google TV Streamer, which goes toe to toe with the Roku Ultra. For over 11 years, Chromecast devices served as among the best streaming devices for their price-to-performance ratio and the myriad of models offered.

This hole left in the wake of the departure of Chromecast devices leaves just two major brands in contention for budget streaming sticks: Amazon and Roku. While Fire TV Sticks do have their merits, especially for gamers, Roku proves a better proposition largely for its streamlined navigation, simplified interface, and price.

This extends to Roku vs Google TV. While we do like Google's incredible search and voice functionality on TVs, plus the tons of free channels it offers, Roku is just as adept — and now even better for all kinds of needs. Google only has a $99 streaming device right now, where Roku runs the gamut in options, including 1080p HD, 4K without Dolby Vision, and 4K with the slew of HDR and audio features.

Our Roku Ultra vs Google TV faceoff is a great example of this, highlighting the multitude of smart home and AI features offered via Google TV, many of which might be borderline useless for most users. Roku's commitment to keeping things simple and budget is its major selling point. You don't need to spend a fortune when you just want to turn you dumb 1080p TV into a smarter display with Roku at the helm.

How we test the best Roku devices

I've tested tons of streaming devices beyond Roku models. With Roku, I like to test across all varied use cases: watching movies, shows, and listening to music. Depending on the model, I'll also try other features, like smart home testing and sound quality, as in the case for the Ultra and Streambar.

Snappiness is a top priority. That's not only in regards to navigation but also in terms of how fast apps open. It's one of the reasons I love the Ultra, but also is why several other models listed here are perfect for a wide range of users.

Although Roku devices all offer the same operating system, price is a major factor. If one can stand out from the rest by loading 4K content faster than the others, that's worth some points in our scorecard, but it's not always the key to victory, as not all of them have 4K resolution.

Depending on the model, I also try to gauge HDR content. Of course, most users won't be using best TVs with a Roku device, because why would you they have their own robust operating systems? But to get the best out of your Roku device, check out our guide on the best cheap TV deals if you need a discount.