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Are you torn between anApple TVand aRoku?
Apple TV 4K.Apple
Both are strong digital media players that deliver near-effortless discovery and viewing.
But which one is best for you?
We compare both players to find out.
Roku Ultra Front and Rear View.Roku
The latest versions are theApple TV 4K (2022)and theRoku Ultra.
Apple
Overall Findings
Streams video up to 4K to an HD-capable TV through an available HDMI port.
Offers full-featured apps that find and play content.
Comes with a stylish remote with voice search.
Comes with a clunky remote with voice search.
Both stream up to 4K video to an HD-capable TV through an availableHDMI port.
Roku
Both devices also offer full-featured apps that find and play content.
These apps open your TV to free and premium programming, movies, games, and apps.
Plus, both come with remotes featuring voice search.
So far, the two are evenly matched.
But as you look closer, differences soon emerge that put one ahead of the other.
Switching inputs with your TV remote to get Apple TV and Roku content is a drag.
Both platforms support the HDMI CEC protocol.
confirm your display isset up to handle HDMI-CEC commands.
Out-Of-The-Box Experience: Smooth Setup
Has a smooth setup experience.
Has more steps to go through, including logging in to various channels.
Ships with headphones for the remote.
Setup-wise, Apple TV delivers an experience that’s close to automatic.
Connect the power and HDMI cables, then touch your iPhone to the Apple TV.
Wi-Fi configs and the Apple ID are then handed off to the new unit.
Further, the Apple TV app logs in to many content providers with a single sign-in once configured.
Its onscreen guides make this process straightforward.
However, because it involves more button presses, we must give this to Apple TV.
Works best with an iPhone.
$99 for 2 GB of storage with Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Works with Android and iOS devices.
You’ll pay a premium for the convenience of Apple TV.
While you cancontrol an Apple TV from Android, it doesn’t feel as intuitive as using an iPhone.
Channels and Apps: Thousands of Viewing Options
Thousands of apps.
View 20 apps at once.
Many interesting Roku apps have few videos and appear as though the developers abandoned them.
View nine apps at once.
There’s plenty of content on Roku or Apple TV.
Numbers are hard to come by, but Apple TV likely has fewer apps.
Apple’s stringent developer requirements ensure that its channels are more refined than many on Roku.
Something else to know is how these devices present their apps.
This means you may be scrolling more often if you pick the Roku Ultra.
Roku’s handling of music and image files with the built-in media player feels clunky.
Music, photos, movies, and television shows are available on all screens at all times.
The compact set-top box is controlled by an app or the slender remote that ships with every unit.
On the other hand, navigating through the Roku channels and apps is a breeze.
Roku connects to a USB thumb drive or networked storage to access your media.
This is an inelegant way to manage music, keep track of playlists, etc.
Works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Google Home, and Alexa.
Chalk this one up to Apple’s “everything just works” ecosystem.
What gives Apple the edge here is integration with Homekit.
