This Roku Ultra streaming device gave my TV 4K superpowers — and it’s currently on sale

Even though I’m an iPhone user with an Apple TV 4K, I love using the streaming device — I never felt committed to a single brand. Different brands offer different features, and adding a new device to an old TV can make it feel like a brand new TV. This happened to my Fire TV when I added a Roku Ultra.

Also: Google TV Streamer surprised me in the best way – and I’m a huge cord cutter

I have a habit of getting Fire TVs at deep discounts during big shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. I have one 50-inch 4-line fire TV in Prime Day 2022 and one 43 inch Omni series fire TV during Prime Day 2023. The 4-Series TV looks great, but its FireOS platform has started to slow down considerably even though the model only launched three years ago – I guess that’s the price you pay for a cheap TV.

This could be a storage issue but I’ve tried deleting apps I don’t need and caching on the apps I delete but nothing makes a significant difference. The TV only has 2GB of RAM so it might not be able to keep up with all the apps I run on it.

The series is a staple in my family’s TV room and gets many hours of streaming thanks to my kids. This room is located next to the children’s playroom so it feels like a single place for them to play, draw, read and watch TV. It’s also where we have our family movie nights.

When I started testing the new Roku Ultra, I ditched the built-in FireOS and added a new streaming device to the TV. The Roku Ultra has made the 4-Series Fire TV perform better than when it was first purchased, and it also looks better than ever, likely thanks to the extra storage on the device.

Also: Apple TV vs. Roku: Which streaming device should you buy?

Testing the Roku Ultra has made it one of my favorite streaming devices, and it’s all because of an underrated benefit among smart devices: simplicity.

The Roku Ultra is a simple device with a straightforward operating system that’s easy to learn and navigate, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. It doesn’t bombard you with ads and suggested content when you turn on the TV, and lets you dive into navigating your TV’s intuitive, app-based platform.

Also: Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED is great for gaming and streaming and still 25% off

The Roku platform has ads, but they’re banner ads rather than obnoxious content that automatically plays when the TV is idle on the home screen (looking at you, FireOS). The Roku Ultra is also Wi-Fi 6 compatible, although not Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 compatible like other streaming players.

Staying true to simplicity, the Roku Ultra has no extra bells and whistles; instead, it keeps all the technology inside the device and remote control. The Roku Ultra looks similar to previous versions, although a bit larger, but the remote is the absolute winner.

In addition to being 30% faster than other Roku streaming devices, the new Roku Ultra also comes with the latest Roku Voice Remote Pro. This is easily the best remote of any streaming device, packed with all the features you need: backlit buttons, customizable mute button, rechargeable battery with USB-C port, and Voice-controlled remote search feature.

Also: The most immersive gaming speaker system I’ve ever tested is nearly 30% off at Amazon

Since my kids always seem to be in the TV room watching our Fire TV, the remote often gets lost. It had been forced against the reclining mechanism on one of the chairs, resulting in the Alexa Voice Remote cracking but luckily it still worked. Now I just say, “Hey Roku, find my remote” when I can’t see it.

Among streaming players, Roku also has the most free channels; Roku Channels offers over 400 live channels. If live TV is something you’ve been missing since cutting the cord, I definitely recommend Roku’s subscription-free live TV system.

ZDNET Buying Tips

The Roku Ultra is perfect for those looking for a fast, reliable streaming device that’s easy to use with almost any smartphone. Unlike the Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer, direct competitors that cater to specific audiences, the Roku Ultra supports both Apple AirPlay and screen mirroring from Android, so you can stream your media. to your TV regardless of your phone’s operating system.

I’d recommend the Roku Ultra streaming device to anyone looking for a fast, intuitive device but doesn’t want to commit to a single mobile operating system.

Also: I tested Amazon’s Mini LED Fire TV, and it competes with more expensive Samsung and LG models

Although Fire TV devices also support screen mirroring from iOS and Android, the FireOS platform is more cluttered than the Roku system, with more suggested content on the home screen and more ads. I’ve also noticed that Fire TV devices are more prone to slowing down with age, seeming to get bogged down by updates and memory issues.