Roku • the service-neutral alternative • 2026 lineup
Every Roku Device, Compared Honestly
Four Roku streaming devices. One operating system that behaves the same on all of them. And one honest caveat about Dolby Vision that most Roku buying guides skip.
The short answer
Two decisions explain almost every Roku purchase: how much you want to spend, and whether your television and content use Dolby Vision.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
4K with the full HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG format set, Wi-Fi 5 dual-band, and power delivered straight from the television’s USB port. On an HDR10 or HDR10+ TV this is the Roku that gives you everything the line has to offer at the stick price tier.
Check PriceRoku Ultra (2024)
The only Roku device with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It also adds Ethernet, a rechargeable Voice Remote Pro with a remote finder, and a USB port for local media. It costs more and it is physically a box, not a stick.
Check PriceRoku Streaming Stick HD (2025)
1080p Full HD with HDR10 and HLG, Apple AirPlay 2, HomeKit, and private listening through the free Roku mobile app. The slim stick also replaces the older Roku Express box, so it is the budget Roku for a bedroom or kitchen TV.
Check PriceRoku Ultra (2024)
The only Roku with Dolby Vision, and the only one with a wired network port.
Roku Ultra
- 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG
- Dolby Atmos audio
- Wi-Fi 6 plus a real Ethernet port for unreliable Wi-Fi homes
- Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro with a built-in remote finder
- USB port for playing local media from a drive
- Voice search across the whole library
Best for: a Dolby Vision television, a home with flaky Wi-Fi, and anyone who wants the newest Roku remote.
Check PriceRoku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
The best-value 4K Roku. Wide HDR format support, and it runs from the TV.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
- 4K Ultra HD playback
- HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG — the widest HDR set of any Roku stick
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Powers from the television’s USB-C port, so no wall adapter
- Same clean, service-neutral Roku OS on every device
- No Dolby Vision — see the note below
Best for: an HDR10 or HDR10+ television where you do not need Dolby Vision.
Check PriceRoku Streaming Stick 4K
The older 4K stick. Still one of the few Roku devices that does support Dolby Vision.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
- 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Compact stick form factor
- Long-range wireless receiver built into the power cable for a stronger signal
- Voice remote with TV controls
- Roku OS, identical across the range
Best for: a Dolby Vision television on a stick budget — but note the Streaming Stick Plus is the newer model.
Check PriceRoku does not publish internal storage figures for its streaming players. On Roku devices the only storage is the app channel cache, which the device manages itself — so the “low storage” problem that affects 8 GB Fire TV Sticks simply does not appear on Roku.
Roku Streaming Stick HD (2025)
1080p, slim, and the most Apple-friendly budget streamer on the market.
Roku Streaming Stick HD (2025)
- 1080p Full HD picture quality
- HDR10 and HLG
- Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit built in — cast from iPhone and Mac
- Private listening through the free Roku smartphone app, with the TV muted
- Long-range receiver in the power cable
- Slim stick that replaces the older Roku Express box
Best for: a 1080p screen, or anyone in the Apple ecosystem who wants AirPlay without extra hardware.
Check PriceThe Dolby Vision catch, stated plainly
Most Roku buying advice is vague about this, so here is the specific situation.
Only the Ultra and the older Streaming Stick 4K have Dolby Vision
Dolby Vision is the dominant premium HDR format on 4K televisions and streaming services. In the current Roku line, the Roku Ultra and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K support it. The Streaming Stick Plus and the Streaming Stick HD do not — they support HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, which is plenty for most televisions and content, but it is not the same thing.
So: if you own a Dolby Vision television and watch Dolby Vision content, the Ultra is the Roku to buy. If your television is HDR10 or HDR10+, the Streaming Stick Plus gives you an excellent picture for far less.
Picture formats also depend on your television accepting the signal and the streaming service offering the content in that format. Confirm both before you buy.
Roku spec matrix
All four Roku devices side by side. No prices and no star ratings — both change daily and both belong to the retailer.
| Device | Resolution | Dolby Vision | HDR formats | Wi-Fi | Wired | Remote | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Ultra (2024) | 4K Ultra HD | Yes | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Wi-Fi 6 | Ethernet | Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro, finder | Only Roku with Dolby Vision and Atmos |
| Roku Streaming Stick Plus | 4K Ultra HD | No | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dual-band | No | Voice remote, TV controls | Powers from TV USB-C port |
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K | 4K Ultra HD | Yes | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ | Long-range dual-band | No | Voice remote, TV controls | Receiver built into power cable |
| Roku Streaming Stick HD | 1080p Full HD | No | HDR10, HLG | Long-range dual-band | No | Voice remote, TV controls | AirPlay 2, HomeKit, private listening |
Roku does not publish internal storage figures for its streaming players; the only storage is the app channel cache, managed by the device.
Roku vs Fire TV: the two real differences
If you are choosing a platform rather than a model, these are the criteria that decide it. Full side-by-side in Roku vs Fire TV.
You want a neutral interface
- Roku OS looks the same on every device and does not surface Amazon retail above the line
- Current sticks include AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, which Fire TV does not
- No internal storage to run out of — there is no low-storage problem on Roku
- Only four devices in the range, so the decision is genuinely simple
Also the better fit if you already own Apple hardware and mostly want to cast.
You want range and Alexa
- Nine devices, from a 1080p budget stick to a hands-free Cube with Ethernet
- Deep Alexa integration, including the Ambient Experience on the 4K Max
- Wi-Fi 6E on the flagship, which no Roku stick offers
- Bundles with protection plans and USB-C cables that Fire TV does not
Also the better fit if Prime Video and the wider Amazon catalogue are your main viewing.
Found this useful?
Four Roku devices, and the Dolby Vision answer most guides dodge. If this saved you an evening of research, a tip keeps it going.
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