Julio Urquidi
News Editor
Roku has refreshed its streaming player line with five new models, starting at a new low price of $29.99.
The Roku Express and Roku Express+ are the smallest and least expensive of the new products, costing $29.99 and $39.99, respectively. Features for the Express will include 1080p HD streaming, IR remote control, 802.11 b/g/n wireless, and includes an HDMI cable.
The Express+ model is designed for older televisions and includes a composite jack and A/V cable.
The Roku Premiere is a quad-core powered streaming device that shoots out 4K Ultra HD up to 60 frames per second (fps). The base Roku Premiere will cost $79.99, while the Premiere+ will have a price tag of $99.99. Included in the Roku Premiere are HD and 4K UHD functionality, HDCP 2.2 compatibility, upscaling for HDTV from 720p to 1080p, and upscaling for UHD TVs from 720p/1080p to 4K up to 60 fps. The Premiere also uses 802.11ac dual band wireless, includes an IR remote control, and night listening capability that adjusts volume for consistent listening levels.
The Premiere+ adds HDR support, an Ethernet port, a “point anywhere” remote with headphone jacks for private listening, and a MicroSD slot for additional storage options.
Lastly, the Roku Ultra is the fully loaded version of the Premier+ that also adds Dolby Digital/Digital Plus sound decoding, optical digital audio out, a USB port, voice search feature for the point anywhere remote, and a lost remote finder. MSRP for the Ultra is $129.99.
The Roku Express, Premiere, Premiere+ and Ultra streaming players will be available for pre-order beginning today from Roku.com, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and other retailers, and are expected to be in stores beginning on Oct. 9. Roku Express+ will be available exclusively at Walmart.
