Worth keeping an Ultra HD 4K Roku?

[FreddyGotFingered]

I’m getting one from my employer. I’m also purchasing a Vizio 4K tv. Is the Roku worth keeping? Are there things on the Roku that I couldn’t get on the tv?

[HDTV1080P]

ROKU is better then most streaming TV's, however almost 50% of Smart TV's now have ROKU built in. So wait and see how you like the TV with streaming apps. You can always connect a Roku later if one is not already built into your TV.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

ROKU is better then most streaming TV's, however almost 50% of Smart TV's now have ROKU built in. So wait and see how you like the TV with streaming apps. You can always connect a Roku later if one is not already built into your TV.

I disagree never been big on Roku's, but it does depend on the 4K TV and Apps. My Sony UHD TV has Android Apps, and with the X1 Processor the Apps are Fantastic. I have access to any Streaming Provider, and since my Sony TV is Hard Wired they all come in Rock Solid.

[dirtnoise1]

Roku is definitely better than Vizio's platform, IMO.

[danny24]

I think it's worth it to use a streaming device less load on your mainboard on your smart TV and they are a little faster. I have had freeze ups using my smart TV for apps and streaming of course it unfreezes but I use an Apple TV 4K and it works amazing. Roku's are good to.

[FreddyGotFingered]

Thanks for the replies guys. It’s basically a middle of the road Vizio I’m looking at. I’m assuming there are channels exclusively to Roku?

[avs commenter]

The Roku will be faster and way more user friendly

[dragion]

The ROKU Channel is a plus with free content/movies/shows...only available on the ROKU (obviously).
I use ROKU Ultra, 4K ROKU Stick and TCL 75R615 ROKU TV...prefer it over my Apple TV.

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I disagree never been big on Roku's, but it does depend on the 4K TV and Apps. My Sony UHD TV has Android Apps, and with the X1 Processor the Apps are Fantastic. I have access to any Streaming Provider, and since my Sony TV is Hard Wired they all come in Rock Solid.

Dude, STOP IT! They didn’t ask about your set up

[chad_1138]

I personally love the Roku. I've used every generation since 2 and they get better and better.

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by FreddyGotFingered

Thanks for the replies guys. It’s basically a middle of the road Vizio I’m looking at. I’m assuming there are channels exclusively to Roku?

Okay, so, I'll try to derive what you mean from your posts.

It's not about channels. I assume you mean compared to cable channels. Nothing is novel about Roku channels, except it's all on-demand, with some channels being live, and some channels live and on-demand only IF you have cable service. The only advantage there is the on-demand part.

So if you have cable and don't care about on-demand, there are no special channels on Roku that you're missing out on. As far as I go, I've never had cable and never will have cable. I watch everything from my digital collections, usually movies, infrequently watch TV shows.

But Rokus have all the standard TV (and movie) streaming services available: Netflix, Hulu, Sling, the sub services like HBO and Showtime. Some network apps have some free content (Fox, ABC, NBC, CW). And most cable channels have an app (again, can be activated only if you have cable service, but on-demand), TLC, History Channel, Animal Planet, etc etc with SOME free content on some (free in the sense that if you have no cable service, some content may still be streamed, but other content is locked). It's all pretty well covered though, nothing really lacking.

The other channels (apps) are generic interfaces, in the sense that they share much of the same content. So two types exist:
1. same company or provider, that has a main database of movies/TV, this same company will make one main app (with everything) and several or many sub-genre apps.
2. differing companies/providers access the same content, so in other words, the same sets of movies will be consistent from one provider to the next (completely differing) provider. Presumedly because that content is public domain, or easily available, or whatever.
Both of these inflate the number of channels making it seem as though there are more variety.

So the Roku Ultra is an excellent and well-rated (well-reviewed by tech sites) player. So yes, from a technical standpoint, it is worth keeping, because:
1. unlike the built-in the TV apps noted above, the tech is not installed permanently into your TV. So any tech upgrade can be done by simply getting the next Roku model with newer tech.
2. Since Roku is concentrating on the tech of their device as a streaming device, they then pay more attention to quality of processors. The built-in streaming might be fine, but it's just an additional chipset, an additional feature, no concentration necessarily on the quality of that feature only (as with Roku, Apple TV, etc).

[pab1219]

Yes I agree with danny24.

[tcripe]

I have a vizio and I love the picture quality you get for the money. But, there smartcast system is hot garbage. Stick with the Roku. Personally, I have the Fire TV cube (I love the ability to control my whole home theater just by talking to Alexa.)

[FreddyGotFingered]

Thanks again guys. I’m gonna keep the damn thing haha

[fredreed]

I think it is also let you know that there are apps that are only by subscription. Meaning you need to pay a monthly fee like $4.99 a month or If you don't have cable you can subscribe to the premiums through the roku channel for like HBO or Starz for s monthly fee but read the fine print first.