Roku 2021: Which streaming player should you buy?

From the $30 Express to the $100 Ultra we compare Roku’s 2021 lineup. Subscribe to CNET: CNET playlists: Download the new CNET app: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us on Instagram:

Published

5 years ago

May 11, 2021

CYBER TECH TV

From the $30 Express to the $100 Ultra we compare Roku’s 2021 lineup.

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40 Comments

WhatDoesntkillYa

May 11, 2021 at 1:35 pm

This is the kind of audio you would get from watching a youtuber with 200 subscribers.

Reply
- Mask On
  
  May 11, 2021 at 1:49 pm
  
  Damn, you went for the jugular!
  
  Reply
- rubenrar1
  
  May 11, 2021 at 9:23 pm
  
  That’s great lol ???? there are so many YouTubers that should be taking grammar class and upgrading their mic and I don’t know if they realize how many people that quit watching their video.
  
  Reply
David Bernier

May 11, 2021 at 1:37 pm

You should include everything needed to operate and power the devises in your video. Knowing that every one of those devises still need a power adapter and a cable solution to operate could be a deciding factor for someone when purchasing a devise.

Reply
kamaka71

May 11, 2021 at 1:48 pm

The whole youtube tv roku battle makes me apprehensive to buy any streaming media player. Such total BS

Reply
- Dr. Awesome
  
  May 11, 2021 at 2:45 pm
  
  I cut the cord a couple weeks ago from DirectTV to YoutubeTV and it works flawlessly on my Roku. Youtube even came out with an alternative way to stream YoutubeTV via the Youtube app if you weren’t able to get the YoutubeTV app. So all the fuss really isn’t much a big deal. I’m so happy I made the switch. I’m saving well over $100 a month after my switch. – I use the Roku Ultra just for future proofing. I got one on sale for $50 and another for $75.
  
  Reply
C Y

May 11, 2021 at 1:51 pm

I found myself falling a sleep while watching this video, presenter lacks personality and charm. I know comparing Roku boxes are not exciting but come on man! make it a little bit more fun. ????

Reply
Mo Esquire

May 11, 2021 at 2:07 pm

Interesting timing for Roku device review considering their YouTube TV scandal.

Reply
Andrew Beyer

May 11, 2021 at 2:19 pm

The audio was terrible.

Reply
UltraKipper

May 11, 2021 at 2:43 pm

booorrrriiinnnggggg

Reply
Joe

May 11, 2021 at 2:50 pm

So the answer is the chrome cast with google tv which is the same as the ultra, minus 50 bucks

Reply
Shant H

May 11, 2021 at 3:05 pm

Are we in 2002 “ audio “

Reply
mrPmj00

May 11, 2021 at 3:12 pm

Neither. I have Amazon firestick, Roku, and Apple TV; Apple TV is the best.

Reply
M4rio21

May 11, 2021 at 3:32 pm

I listened to this in Dolby Atmos. Sounded great!

Reply
JoystickJester

May 11, 2021 at 3:37 pm

So just get the Ultra. Got it

Reply
Richard Duggan

May 11, 2021 at 3:56 pm

Roku seems to be the cheapest way to get AirPlay. There not as good as Apple TV but still do the job for streaming and AirPlay

Reply
- Ben Greenwald
  
  May 11, 2021 at 10:35 pm
  
  I can’t get it to work. Super hard and terrible instructions
  
  Reply
Oof POof

May 11, 2021 at 4:26 pm

Nah buy the Nvidia shield tv pro

Reply
impendio

May 11, 2021 at 4:50 pm

Good review but the audio was pretty awful, I expect better from you guys…

Reply
Joshua Walker

May 11, 2021 at 5:05 pm

C|NET !
You have 3 million subscribers. Why can’t you afford a lavalier mic? This production quality is absolutely pathetic. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Reply
Jordan D'Souza

May 11, 2021 at 5:40 pm

Very informative, but the audio is awful.

Reply
Nathaniel San Gabriel

May 11, 2021 at 5:43 pm

How about a video on “Which microphone should you buy?”

Reply
- Haider
  
  May 11, 2021 at 11:38 pm
  
  Lol nice one
  
  Reply
SAS Stewart

May 11, 2021 at 6:21 pm

Some advice: you need to improve the audio, its terrible.

Reply
rubenrar1

May 11, 2021 at 9:22 pm

I like Roku and general but they make too many rokus, a lot of times they’re like Amazon with their echoes. Sometimes the remotes have reliability issues, such as their headphone jack or volume button. For me personally I just went straight with the Nvidia shield, the base model is $50 higher than the Roku ultra, but it is like twice the speed and the best thing for me is I don’t have to rely on the headphone jack on the Roku remote because Nvidia supports Bluetooth right off the bat and every time you pick up the mode, the buttons glow.

Reply
justthen

May 11, 2021 at 10:00 pm

come on, use a miccccccccccccccccccccccc

Reply
Ben Greenwald

May 11, 2021 at 10:32 pm

Wish you’d of compared different streamers not just roku. Stupid video.

Reply
kamikazemind327

May 11, 2021 at 11:43 pm

I’m a fan of Chromecast with Google tv. Or Google tv in general. The Google assistant makes this win for me. I also like how it shows previews of things off top without picking an app first and it’s personalized.

Reply
gogosarlo

May 12, 2021 at 12:01 am

Are we supposed to trust this review of technology when you cannot use a very common form of technology in a mic?

Reply
Michael Raskett

May 12, 2021 at 12:17 am

So a bunch of Roku options. I’m more informed but still uninterested. They should have put Roku in the title.

Reply
nasir chowdhury

May 12, 2021 at 1:32 am

why is everyone talking about the audio?

Reply
Investing Education

May 12, 2021 at 4:27 am

So must the tv hav roku software built in for this to work or is the dongle the only software needed

Reply
- Dinsdale Drummond
  
  May 13, 2021 at 2:29 am
  
  You only need the dongle
  
  Reply
- Investing Education
  
  May 13, 2021 at 2:50 am
  
  @Dinsdale Drummond so I just plug in the dongle to a compatible tv and then I can subscribe to the individual services like netflix or hulu through that right? Does it work in asia too and does it need internet?
  
  Reply
Andrés Ossa

May 12, 2021 at 6:35 am

Try to record the next video out of the closet.

Reply
tinashe zimunya

May 12, 2021 at 6:53 am

So I have a useless Roku 2 which got phased out way before my atv 3rd gen so I never looked back the app support is really bad I have been using an atv 4K for 3and a half years that bad boy still going strong ????

Reply
iamplayergametoons

May 12, 2021 at 11:42 pm

Even Dolby atmos couldn’t fix this bad sound.

Reply
0m3n

May 13, 2021 at 1:42 am

ALWAYS buy an Android version. Android has HUNDREDS of free TV/Movie apps so you don’t have to pay for a streaming service. You can literally watch anything you want for free and it’s LEGAL. It’s however ILLEGAL for those who supply it to us.

Reply
Florent S.

May 13, 2021 at 4:49 am

Are you a tech channel anymore? Do you check before posting?

Reply
Devrone

May 13, 2021 at 10:11 am

Hi CNET, So I have a useless Roku 2 which got phased out way before my atv 3rd gen so I never looked back the app support is really bad I have been using an atv 4K for 3and a half years that bad boy still going strong 🙂

Reply

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