Browsing the shelves of your local brick-and-mortar store, you’ll see everything from Google devices to Amazon-powered peripherals that you can connect to the Internet, plug into your TV, and use to access thousands of movies and TV shows from apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and more, with a range of additional device features available for use.
And in the ongoing streaming war, two brands are getting full attention, and for many good reasons: Apple and Roku.
Right now, the third-generation Apple TV 4K (2022) and the Roku Ultra (2022) are the two best streaming devices you can buy. But which is better, you might ask? It’s a fair question, and as fans of both names, we compared the products side-by-side to see which streamer was better. Read which one we liked best.
Check out our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review. And if you want to compare Apple with Apple, check out our Apple TV 4K (2022) vs. Apple TV 4K (2021) comparison.
Design and remote control
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
Before we continue, we’ll refer to the latest 2022 versions of these devices from now on unless we’re citing an older generation. Now… Both Apple TV 4K and Roku Ultra are sleek and modern streaming devices that are compact and look good on most media cabinets, but let’s take a closer look at each streamer.
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 shiny chrome exterior for years, and the latest Apple TV 4K looks just as good as its predecessors. This time around, the included Siri remote is also equipped with a USB-C charging port, allowing for much faster charging compared to the previous Lightning iteration of the Siri remote that came with older versions.
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Over in Roku territory, the all-new Ultra is 4.9 inches wide, 5 inches front to back, and just 1 inch tall. As for the outer shell, we’re working with a matte style casing that allows the device to look sleek without worrying about fingerprints. And while older Roku devices only come with traditional Roku remotes, the latest Ultra comes bundled with the amazing Voice Remote Pro (which can also be purchased for other Roku hardware).
The main Roku remote also includes a 3.5mm input for connecting a pair of wired headphones, a USB-C port for charging, two programmable user shortcuts, and a handy Find My Remote feature in case you lose the little accessory.
Apple and Roku are top of the line when it comes to design and remote controls, but with a slightly smaller case for the most space-strapped entertainment centers, we’ll give Apple a point in this category.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Connections and performance
Zeke Jones/Digital trends / Digital trends
The new and improved Apple TV 4K is equipped with Apple’s all-new A15 Bionic chip, which the company claims will deliver almost twice 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 will mean faster app load times, improved voice navigation and a better user interface.
In terms of actual ports, the Apple TV 4K is equipped with an HDMI 2.1 connection (just like the 2021 Apple TV 4K before it) that also supports eARC for connecting streamers 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 to go Wi-Fi only, this might not be such a big deal, but being able to connect the Apple TV 4K directly to your router helps reduce the strain on your wireless network bandwidth while providing a faster web connection for the device.
Believe it or not, newer isn’t always better, and in the case of the revamped Roku Ultra, the only thing that makes the 2022 version “new” is the inclusion of Roku’s Voice Remote Pro. Comparing the 2020 and 2022 Ultras, the overall processing power and available connections remain the same, but don’t let that put you off: the Roku Ultra has always been a force to be reckoned with.
The built-in quad-core processor works at lightning speed, opening apps and streaming 4K content in the blink of an eye, even when watching movies and TV shows in HDR. In terms of actual connections, the Roku Ultra immediately includes an Ethernet port, as well as an HDMI 2.0b port and a USB-A input for viewing photos, videos and music files, with some popular formats supported, including MP4, MP3, MOV and JPG.
However, unlike the Apple TV 4K, the Roku Ultra only has 4GB of internal storage, while the Apple TV 4K offers 64GB and 128GB of storage, depending on the model you buy. Unlike the former Roku Ultra (2020), the 2022 edition has done away with the microSD card slot, negating all external storage options.
At the end of the day, though, we’ll call this category a draw. In terms of performance, Apple’s A15 Bionic chip and Roku’s quad-core processor deliver good results. And while the Apple TV 4K’s HDMI 2.1 input trumps the Ultra 2.0b port, the Ultra includes a USB-A input, while the Apple TV doesn’t.
Winner: Undecided
User interface
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The look and feel of a streaming device’s screen and menu are often the deciding factors for first-time and repeat customers. Fortunately, the user interface of both Apple TV 4K and Roku Ultra is easy to navigate, quick to customize, and iconic in design.
On Apple’s side of the coin, tvOS is built for a crisp, clean, and streamlined user experience from top to bottom, with minimal ad intrusions. The home screen is sleek and monochrome (the main part of the Apple TV user interface), drawing all the attention to all the apps you’ve added to the home page, with the ability to have up to 20 apps displayed at once.
Navigating the Siri-powered remote is also a breeze, with the voice assistant letting you do things like launch apps, turn up and down the volume, search for movies and TV shows (by title, genre, actor, and other criteria), and more.
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However, the Roku OS is just as powerful. Boldly purple and easy to turn on, Ultra’s home 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 at once.
The included Voice Remote Pro also lets you use Roku’s built-in voice assistant to download movies and TV shows, adjust the volume, and more, though the overall flawlessness of Roku’s assistant pales in comparison to the speedy genius that is Siri. And while you can control elements of the Ultra with Alexa and Google Assistant (more on that later), Siri wins the day when it comes to listening and responsiveness.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Image and sound quality
Marvel Studios
There’s nothing better than watching your favorite movies and TV shows in glorious HDR and pulsating surround sound, and if you’re a big streamer, you’ll be glad to know that both Apple TV 4K and Roku Ultra can handle just about any HDR format you can throw at them. offer, with impressive surround formats such as Dolby Atmos.
HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are supported by both 2022 devices, and Apple’s A15 chip and Roku’s quad-core processor do a great job of making sure the biggest movies from the likes of Disney+ and Netflix are saved quickly and played without a miss. And if you’re using a wired Ethernet connection, you’ll experience even faster loading times (but remember, you’ll only find this port on the 128GB Apple TV 4K).
Apple TV 4K also enables instant audio and video streaming from iOS devices using Apple AirPlay 2, as well as screen mirroring. If sound is your top priority, and you own a pair of AirPods that can enjoy Apple’s impressive Spatial Audio, then that’s a feature you won’t get with Roku.
The Roku Ultra supports audio and video streaming using Apple AirPlay 2, plus screen mirroring for most Android devices and Bluetooth capabilities, although the latter option only allows streaming 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 to your mobile device to do so.
In terms of picture and sound, both devices are nearly identical in their delivery, and unless you’re a huge Apple fan who cares about Spatial Audio, we’ll award the Roku Ultra a point in this category, mainly because its support for Android devices (however that support was actually limited).
Winner: Roku Ultra
Features of a smart home
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If you’ve been looking for an all-in-one smart home command center and a great streaming device, you’re in luck when it comes to the latest Apple TV 4K and species he’s in luck when it comes to the Roku Ultra (more on that in a moment).
The Apple TV 4K is one of the cheapest Apple peripherals you can buy to run the Apple HomeKit smart home network, allowing you to control and manage a number of smart home devices (such as security cameras and smart locks) by giving Siri specific voice commands or using a remote control Apple TV to navigate to such features. This is especially handy when you want to pull live footage from one of your home’s smart cameras to watch on your TV.
With the continued introduction of Matter, the unifier of smart devices, more and more devices are gaining support for the new standard. And while the Apple TV 4K is compatible with Matter through a network protocol called Thread, only the 128GB version is Thread-ready.
The latest Roku Ultra is compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant, and while you won’t get these voice assistants with the Apple TV 4K, the Ultra requires additional hardware for anything voice-related, whether it’s an Echo Dot or a Google Nest speaker.
Furthermore, you want 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, outlets, and other smart home equipment. And while Matter has been rumored to hit Roku devices at some point in the future, no such compatibility currently exists.
That said, we’re giving the Apple TV 4K this category because of 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 mentioned earlier, spending the extra $20 not only gets you twice the storage, but also a Gigabit Ethernet port and Thread/Matter support. 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 as low as $70.
Winner: Roku Ultra
Judgment
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
Oh man, this was close! Both streaming devices are simply amazing and offer a lots of for a relatively low price (especially the Roku Ultra). But all battles must come to an end, and since we’re not qualified to handle the paperwork associated with a cease-fire, one streamer must take home the ultimate trophy, and we’re awarding the big gold to the Apple TV 4K ( 2022 ).
With its impressive internal storage numbers, powerful Siri voice assistant, Apple-friendly smart home controls and fast A15 Bionic performance, the latest Apple TV 4K is one of the most solid streaming devices ever made, and while it’s a little more expensive than the Roku Ultra, it has enough features to back it up. that slight price increase.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn