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Roku has updated its range of streaming TV sticks and boxes, they made up for five products in the 2017 series. Four models have refreshed versions of the 2016 Roku TV sticks models with few differences, but pricing is still in the same lower segment.
The real news is Roku Streaming Stick+, an HDMI TV stick to take on Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV. All operations are managed by a quad-core processor, a constant across the entire range of products. The Roku TV stick connects to TVs via an HDMI 2.0a output with HDCP 2.2. There is also a USB port for power and Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band MIMO connectivity.
Roku Streaming Stick+ supports HD, 4K, and HDR up to 60fps. The remote control comes with a voice search microphone and buttons to control the power on / off and volume of the TV to which the device is connected. The price is also interesting: Roku has proposed its new TV stick for just $69.99 only on Amazon.com.
The other four Roku TV products in the range are based on existing models. The “entry-level” model is the Roku Express, which is practically the same device that is already commercially marketed in 2016 thanks to the new processor (five times more powerful, according to Roku). The equipment is very simplified. There is an HDMI output that supports signals Full HD up to 60fps, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / a remote control with no special features.
The Roku Express pricing starts at only $29.99, while the Roku Express+ offers the same streaming experience with a price tag of $39.99 at Amazon.
Roku Streaming Stick is basically a Full HD version of Streaming Stick+, slight changes in aesthetics, lack of HDR support, and there is a lower range of Wi-Fi. For the rest, the endowment is exactly the same, including remote control. The price is set at $49.99. At the top of the range, the Roku Ultra TV box has been refreshed, capable of playing videos in Ultra HD and HDR. This product offers some additional features.
Coming to the connectivity: the two Roku TV Sticks are equipped with an Ethernet port, a USB port, and a MicroSD slot. Now Roku TV box also comes with a voice remote that includes TV power and volume buttons that can control compatible TV models and the Roku Streaming Stick together.
Supported formats are: Video: H.264 / AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV), H.265 / HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9 (.MKV) ; Audio: AAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); MP3 (.MP3, .MKV); WMA (.ASF, .WMA, .MKV), FLAC (.FLAC, .MKV), PCM (.WAV, .MKV, .MP4, .MOV), AC3 / EAC3 (.MKV, .MP4 .MOV,. AC3), DTS (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV), ALAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .M4A) ; Photos: JPG, PNG, GIF (not animated)
Roku Ultra price is now set at $99.99 on Amazon.com.
