Description. The Roku Ultra (2022) is a "set-top" styled streaming player. It has one HDMI output and offers Ethernet connectivity. It also has a USB-A port. The significant difference between this and the previous Roku Ultra is the inclusion of Roku's Voice Remote Pro which is a relatively simple remote that doesn't require line of sight to control the streamer and can be used to control the power and volume of your TV. The remote has a built-in headphone jack for private listening and a built-in microphone for voice search. Wired earbuds are included in the package.
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up, though it requires you to register the device using a computer or mobile device. Speech to text can be used rather than using the onscreen keyboard though it does not work across all apps. Remote has on/off switch for built-in hands free microphone.
Ease of Use. This player is among the easiest models to use:
Interface. The main home screen uses graphic tiles for all the available apps and content, and it can be customized for easier access to your favorite apps. It has a search function that will search several of the available video streaming services for content. Search results are unbiased based on service provider and are instead listed in price order. It also has a responsive voice search function, which is more convenient than typing in search terms with the on screen keyboard. We found this streamer to be responsive, which allowed quick navigation of the menus and content.
Remote control. This device comes with the rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro which does not need to be pointed directly at the streamer to control it. The remote has power, volume and mute buttons for controlling your connected TV. The model we tested has direct access buttons for Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, and Paramount+. There are two programmable shortcut buttons on the remote labeled "1" and "2". These buttons are programmable using your voice to perform your most common commands. It also has a built-in microphone and a dedicated voice search button. The microphone can be used hands-free and there is an On/Off switch on the remote to disable the microphone when not in use. The remote has a speaker for the built-in remote finder feature. The remote finder feature can also be used hands-free by saying "Hey Roku, where's my remote?". The remote has a built-in headphone jack and when headphones are plugged into the remote, the sound from the TV is cut off for private listening.
Picture Quality. This player supports resolutions up to 2160p. In our tests we found that HDR was supported in the following formats: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG. A compatible TV is required to take advantage of those formats. In general, we found the streaming picture quality to be excellent. Streaming quality is very similar to what we see with streaming content on the best TVs. The quality of the video you'll get is largely dependent on the speed of your network and the picture quality of your television.
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio and supports Dolby Atmos, however it lacks DTS-X support.
Connections. This player supports the WiFi standard 802.11ac (WiFi 5), which supports dual-band: 2.4Ghz and 5GHz networks. Given its design, this player has a good number of connections. It has one HDMI output, one ethernet port, and a USB-A port. DLNA is supported allowing access to music, photos, or videos directly through the player but may require app download to gain access to content. Supports Airplay and Miracast so you can mirror and display content from compatible devices.
Miscellaneous. The Roku app is available which allows you to use a phone or tablet to control the player, and use the device's keyboard to enter text. The app lets you search for content and use the device's built-in microphone to do voice searches, access channels directly without navigating the player's menu, and share photos, videos and music stored on the device with the Roku. This device is also compatible with smart speakers that support Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Wired earbuds are provided.
