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Takes home the gold
Roku Ultra (2024)
The best-in-show Roku
The latest edition of the Roku Ultra brings a faster processor and a host of other hardware benefits to the table. With 32GB of storage and the option to connect a USB flash drive, you’ll have no shortage of content to indulge in!
Pros- Lightning-fast performance and smooth UI
- Great video and audio quality
- Voice Remote Pro is awesome
- Can pair Bluetooth headphones without Roku app
Cons- Interface is outdated at this point
- Not the classiest-looking streaming device
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Takes home the silver
Google TV Streamer
A new age for Google
The Google TV Streamer is a terrific streaming device that delivers fast and responsive performance, excellent Google integrations, and class-leading HDR support.
Pros- Fast performance
- Great video and audio quality
- Up to 32GB of storage
- Cool design
Cons- Clunky interface with too many Google ads
- A little pricey
Two of the top streaming device brands are Google and Roku, both of which released new hardware for 2024. From Google, we have the all-new Google TV Streamer. Take a look at Roku’s device roster, and you’ll be greeted by none other than the new and shiny Roku Ultra (2024). If you’re looking for fast Wi-Fi performance, excellent storage, and hundreds of apps to choose from, neither device will let you down, but is one better than the other?
That depends on what other features you may be looking for from a streaming device. You may also own a handful of Google or Roku devices and would prefer to stick to the same ecosystem, or maybe you’re prepared for something new. Whatever the case may be, we had the opportunity to test both of these flagship streamers, so we thought we’d put together a helpful comparison of the Google TV Streamer and Roku Ultra.
Price, availability, and specifications
We already have our first draw!
Both the Google TV Streamer and Roku Ultra (2024) are $100. You can purchase the Google TV Streamer in stores and online from retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Google Store. If you purchase directly from Google, you can choose between Porcelain and Hazel colorways.
The same goes for the Roku Ultra, but swap the Google Store for Roku’s website. Oh, and make sure you’re purchasing the correct version of the Roku Ultra, as this particular model has seen three hardware upgrades in the last four years or so. To ensure you’ve got the right one, just make sure “2024” is listed somewhere on the webpage or product box.
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Roku Ultra (2024) Google TV Streamer Dimensions 4.9 x 5.0 x 1.0 inches 6.4 x 3 x 1 inches Brand Roku Google Wi-Fi 6 2.4GHz and 5GHz Ethernet 10/100 Base-T Ethernet Up to 1000Mbps Ports HDMI 2.1b, Ethernet, USB 3.0, Power HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, USB-C (power + data) Resolution Up to 2160p at 60fps (3840 x 2160) with upscaling from 720p and 1080p Up to 4K/60fps HDR Support Supports Dolby Vision® at 60fps, HDR10/10+ and HLG HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG
Read Our Review
The updated Roku Ultra is still the best jack-of-all-trades streaming device
Speed bump and new voice remote? Yes, please.
Read Our Review
The Google TV Streamer is a better Chromecast, but not much more
At twice the price of Google’s last 4K streamer, I expected better
Design
Points to Google for style, points to Roku for practicality
Consumer tech items tend to be one of two colors: black or white (with the occasional gray thrown in for good measure). Neither the Google TV Streamer nor the Roku Ultra is changing things up with wild shades of neon, but Google’s new set-top combines plastic and silicone in a far more cosmetically tasteful manner than the Ultra 2024.
The Google TV Streamer’s pod shape is attention-grabbing and small enough to squeeze into just about any existing media space. This is also a significant change for Google, which has stuck to the set-it-and-forget-it ideology in recent years for devices like the Chromecast with Google TV lineup. And while there’s minimalist visuals up front, it’s all business in the back. Connections include HDMI eARC, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB-C for power and USB storage (requires a Y-splitter adapter), along with a handy lost remote button.
This isn’t to say that the Roku Ultra looks bad. It just looks like every version of the Ultra that has hit shelves in the last four years: unassuming. The black plastic colorway is as tried and true as it gets, but it’s definitely not winning any beauty contests for the 2024 Ultra. Ports include HDMI eARC, USB-A, Ethernet (capped at 100Mbps), and DC power. The Ultra’s lost remote button is located on the side of the streamer.
As for remotes, both the Google TV Streamer and Roku Ultra come with exceptional controllers with built-in voice assistance and customizable keys. We do think the Ultra remote is a little better, though, as it features backlit buttons and a USB-C port for recharging. For what it’s worth, the Ultra comes packaged with an HDMI cable (Google makes you buy your own).
Software and performance
OS meets UI meets AI
One of the most crucial parts of any streaming device is what’s running the show under the hood. In the case of the Google TV Streamer, Google hasn’t been super-transparent about its CPU practices, though we’ve heard multiple reports that the TV Streamer uses the same MediaTek 8696 processor as the 2021 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Google also claims that it’s 22% faster than any Chromecast device that came before it.
Fortunately, Roku is a little more revealing with its processor specs, though we don’t have an exact model to report on. The new Ultra uses a quad-core CPU that Roku claims should deliver up to 30% faster performance than other Roku streaming devices. In our experience, both the Google TV Streamer and Roku Ultra delivered fast load times and smooth UI navigation.
As for operating systems, the Google TV Streamer runs on Google TV, which is built on top of the longstanding Android TV OS. Apps, tabs, and other menu items are laid out cohesively, with a lot of emphasis placed on movie and TV show recommendations. If you’re using Google-powered smart home devices, the intuitive Google Home dashboard makes it quick and easy to control your smart home devices using the Google TV Streamer.
Related
Google TV Streamer vs Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): Premium hardware for Netflix and beyond
We all deserve a top-shelf streaming device
When it comes to content curation, the Google TV Streamer has a leg-up over the Roku Ultra in terms of AI capabilities. Ever since Google TV became available on smart TVs and streaming devices, AI-generated content suggestions have been around, too. And from one upgrade to the next, Google TV has gotten better and better at suggesting media.
The latest versions of Roku OS (which you’ll find on the Roku Ultra) introduced content suggestions, too. Roku’s recommendations do a nice job of sticking to the apps and genres you frequent the most, but Google’s AI game is a little stronger overall. We also appreciate that suggested media is housed in a dedicated For You tab on the Google TV home page.
While we don’t have any issues with Roku OS, our reviewer made a great point that it wouldn’t hurt if Roku tried to spice up the very plain UI we’ve seen for the last decade-plus. Yes, the company adds one or two new tabs every once in a while and lets you change the theme/appearance; the Roku OS we’ve come to know just feels a bit old at this point.
That being said, Roku OS continues to be one of the best platforms for app variety. Not only will you have access to major services like Netflix and Disney+, but you’ll find more niche offerings, too, including apps dedicated to foreign cinema or just one specific genre (Westerns, for example).
Video and audio quality
Better Ethernet or expanded storage
You spent boatloads of dough on your 4K HDR TV, so you should have a premium streaming device that takes advantage of every last pixel. Both the Google TV Streamer and Roku Ultra can output video at up to 4K/60fps. You’ll also get class-leading HDR support from both streamers, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. If you’re using a compatible soundbar or speaker system, both streamers support up to Dolby Atmos, too.
When we tested the devices, we were more than pleased with the bright and colorful picture we were treated to. Both devices also support picture upscaling so that lower-res sources will get a boost in clarity.
Arguably, if you’re looking for the absolute best streaming experience possible, you’ll want to use the built-in Ethernet ports on both devices to hardwire directly to your router. If you’re paying for a high-bandwidth plan from your ISP, the Google TV Streamer has a full gigabit threshold for its built-in Ethernet, whereas the Roku Ultra is capped at 100Mbps. The Google TV Streamer can also be used for Matter and Thread networking, too.
Here’s another AV situation to consider: The Roku Ultra has a dedicated USB-A 3.0 port, allowing you to connect a USB flash drive or hard drive to view external media. Supported formats include MOV, MP4, MKV, AAC, FLAC, MP3, and a few other codecs.
The Google TV Streamer has a USB-C port, but out of the box, you’ll only be able to use that connection for power. If you’d like to connect an external drive, you’ll need to hook up a USB Y-splitter. We also don’t have any official word on precisely what AV formats the Google TV Streamer can decode.
Which is right for you?
Winner winner Roku dinner
Source: Roku
You can’t go wrong with either of these flagship streaming devices, but we have to pick a winner, and it’s the Roku Ultra (2024). With its amped-up Wi-Fi performance, optional Ethernet connectivity, dedicated USB upstream port, and revamped remote with USB-C recharging, it’s hard to say no to Roku’s latest and greatest set-top.
The winner
Roku Ultra (2024)
$80 $100 Save $20
The newest Roku streaming device brings several meaningful changes to the playing field, along with class-leading HDR support, fast Wi-Fi, and a backlit remote with USB-C recharging.
We’re also just as apt to recommend the Google TV Streamer, even though we like the Roku Ultra a little more. The Google TV Streamer is particularly great for homes with existing Google hardware, such as Nest cameras and thermostats, as you’ll be able to control this smart gear through the Google Home dashboard.
The runner up
Google TV Streamer
Bringing an end to the Chromecast era, the Google TV Streamer boasts Gigabit Ethernet performance, 32GB of storage, and plenty of other great features.