Best Roku devices 2025

The best Roku devices offer endless entertainment on a platform built for ease-of-use. It's not just access to streaming services, but Roku devices are no sooner reshaping the way we look at the smart home, offering streamlined methods for turning on everything from turning on lights to peering at security cameras.

Roku's new Ultra streaming device, a refreshed version of its most expensive model, adds a slew of new features and even drops the price by a bit, down to around $79 versus $99. But Roku's known for its more budget devices, which is where the much cheaper Streaming Stick 4K can never go wrong.

With devices that run the gamut of price variance and performance, you don't need to be locked into the cheaper device or smaller form factor. If you really needed it, you could even get the Roku Streambar, a fusion of a Bluetooth speaker and streaming device that's perfect for those looking to get the best audio.

What makes the best Roku devices so appealing is Roku's extreme ease of use. The planform is not only incredibly well-known but also streamlined to make navigation and search all the easier. My dad lives by his house-full of age-old TVs running on Roku devices — as they're just too hard to beat.

The quick list

The best Roku devices available right now

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Best Roku device for most people

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is one of the best streaming device, so it's no wonder it's my favorite option for the best Roku device. While it's not a huge leap over the older Streaming Stick Plus, it keeps everything I loved about it and fixes one of the biggest flaws of its predecessor by adding Dolby Vision for the HDR lovers.

Roku also gave it a new quad-core processor, which allows for 30% faster app boot times. That's a bit hard to measure, but the Roku Streaming Stick 4K felt snappy and fast enough to my mind, and I use the Ultra as my main streaming device. Major apps opened within 11 seconds flat. If you find your Roku not working at some point, don't worry, as it's easily fixed.

Now that the Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports Dolby Vision (along with HDR10/+), you can stream all your shows and movies in the format to impeccable quality. The picture plays in crisp UHD image and looks stunning, even when you're not using a 4K TV.

My dad agrees, who has two of these on old 1080p sets. It's not the price or picture performance that makes him happy, but the streamlined system that makes changing settings and finding new content a breeze.

However, the device is lacking when it comes to audio standards, missing the spatially-focused Dolby Atmos sound sound technology. The standard remote is fine, but if you want the superior Voice Remote Pro, check out our write-up of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ further down this list. If you're worried about how it fares against Google's contender for the best streaming stick, check out the Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV face-off to see more about its potential.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.

The best value roku device

Getting a crisp 4K streaming stick at under $40 is rare, and always comes with a caveat or two. That's where the Roku Express 4K Plus comes in to amend all these setbacks, building out a system that fixes many of the major annoyances surrounding the Roku Premiere. And it all starts with the remote.

One of the major changes the 4K Plus does is provide a remote that doesn't require direct line of sight to the TV or display, so you can point it in whichever direction you please. That upgrade, plus faster performance and UHD streaming, makes the Roku Express 4K Plus an excellent option for those trying to get a 4K Roku (and all the apps that it comes with) at the lowest price.

That said, you still have two reasons to consider paying a little more for a better device. The Roku Express 4K Plus design is a little too light, so you might have to spend a minute to have it lie flat on a surface — making the Streaming Stick Plus design even better by comparison. Also, there's no Dolby Vision or Atmos surround sound, making it a tough sell in the face of the aforementioned Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

There is a cheaper 4K streaming device, though, so check out our onn 4K Google TV streaming box review if that's the type of model you're in for. That said, it is a hard one to find, while the Express 4K Plus is not.

Read our full Roku Express 4K Plus review.

The best premium Roku device

The Roku Ultra is the zenith of of Roku streaming deices and by far my personal favorite. It's the most premium model you can get, hence its name, making it one of the most expensive models of the bunch, and that's for good reason. The Ultra nets you 4K resolution streaming, an onboard Ethernet port for improved internet connectivity, plus a USB port so you can watch your own videos and music where necessary.

The Roku Ultra got a sleek refresh last year at $99 (slashed down to $79 already) that's much faster and smarter than its predecessor. In my testing, I found it to be faster than all previous models among the best Roku devices, plus it even uses Quick Media Switching for improved performance in content that switches refresh rates. The only other device in this category with this feature is the Apple TV 4K.

It's certainly got the premium price, but that's a worthy sacrifice for all that you get with the new (and old) Roku Ultra. It might be a tad bulky in design compared to most other streaming devices, but its flatter body makes it easy to simply stick to the back of the TV with Velcro or tape, which is exactly what I do. Even when nestled out of view, the improved remote works as well as all the others.

Read our full Roku Ultra (2024) review.

The best Roku soundbar

It's no secret that TV audio is lackluster at best, which is where the Roku Streambar makes itself known as a stellar option for audiophiles. While it's not quite among the best soundbars, it offers excellent audio quality with all the amazing features you crave in a Roku device.

It's a great solution that does come at a hefty price point, but given that it's often on sale, it's hard not to recommend. Though the largest of the bunch, it won't take up too much space on your countertop or entertainment center but also provides quality audio in both loudness and clarity. Its bass leaves something to be desired, but that's not a problem for most TVs.

While I'm personally more of a Roku Ultra fan, the novel combination of soundbar and streaming device is hard to ignore, especially when they work so soundly together. But you can always just get the Ultra if audio is of no concern for you.

Read our full Roku Streambar review.

The best cheap Roku

The Roku Express, relaunched in 2022, is the kind of streaming device you buy to upgrade a 'dumb' TV or display that doesn't have any apps (my dad has another two of these). Its performance is relatively snappy for its $30 price point (but by no means as fast as the above models), and it's still a Roku, so you get all the great standards like a customizable home screen and apps available across its ecosystem.

What's great about the Roku Express is that its remote app allows for wireless private listening, perfect for when you want to watch TV when your significant other is sleeping.

At $30, though, it's slightly cornered by the Chromecast with Google TV HD, which has a better remote, as well as the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, which has a voice-enabled remote. So it really comes down to your appreciation of the Roku ecosystem.

No matter how good it is as a streaming device, it's not my personal favorite option under Roku, but it does offer quite a robust set of features at just $30.

Read our full Roku Express (2022) review.

Ryan Epps

I have tested and used tons of streaming devices, including most of Roku's many models, the Google TV Streamer and Chromecast devices, as well as the Apple TV 4K (that's in desperate need of a refresh). I've also tested tons of different TVs and soundbars.

How to choose the best Roku device for you

Figuring the right Roku device for your needs can get a little complicated since the most affordable ones are not too visibly distinct. While I believe the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is best for most people, your mileage may vary. If your budget is tight, the Express 4K Plus is the best option for delivering crisp imagery, but its quality isn't as strong thanks to a lack of support for certain standards.

That said, I'm a huge fan of the Roku Ultra for its dedicated Ethernet port. In areas with highly congested Wi-Fi, it allows you to ensure super-steady streaming and has incredibly snappy performance. It's also nice that it's got the premium Roku Voice Remote Pro, which is rechargeable (fewer batteries to buy) and includes wired headphones (ever-scarce as they are) for private listening.

But if you don't want to keep your listening private the Roku Streambar is another great model to get for impeccable audio.

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.