Roku Ultra 2024 Streaming Player – 4K Device

**Roku Ultra 2024 vs. Roku Ultra 4800x (2020) – A Worthy Upgrade**

I recently upgraded from the Roku Ultra 4800x (2020) to the Roku Ultra 2024 edition after experiencing frequent HDCP errors and noticing a decline in processing speed. The new 2024 version is a significant improvement, and here’s why:

**Performance**
The Roku Ultra 2024 is much faster compared to the 4800x. Roku claims a 30% increase in speed, but in my experience, it feels more like a 50% boost. Navigating through apps is smooth and snappy, with near-instantaneous loading times for major streaming platforms like YouTube TV, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, MAX, and Netflix. There’s no buffering, and 4K resolution kicks in immediately—no pixelation or cloudy images, which is a big improvement over the 2020 model.

It’s worth noting that my fiber internet connection is 2000mbps, which may contribute to my flawless streaming experience. Still, the improvement in speed and performance is impressive.

**Wi-Fi 6 & HDMI 2.1**
This new edition supports Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1, which are great upgrades for future-proofing your system. I’m unsure if the included HDMI cable is fully 2.1 compatible, but I used my own HDMI 2.1 cable just to be safe. The inclusion of these modern standards is crucial for handling faster streaming and better video quality.

### **Installation**
Setup was a breeze. Using my smartphone, I quickly linked the device to my existing Roku account, and it automatically downloaded all of my apps. The whole process was hassle-free, which is one of Roku’s strengths.

### **Wi-Fi Compatibility**
One thing to note: if you’re relying on Wi-Fi instead of a wired connection, the Roku Ultra 2024 won’t detect 5GHz channels. It did, however, connect to my 2.4ghz Wi-Fi 6 network without issues. Just keep this in mind if you’re trying to use a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection—this may not work as expected.

**Connectivity**
The device still features a USB 3.0 port and a 10/100 LAN port, which I found disappointing. If you’re looking to use a wired connection, the lack of a gigabit LAN is a noticeable shortfall. Given the improvements in Wi-Fi speed and capability, you’ll likely get faster performance through a high-speed wireless setup.

**Comparison to Other Devices**
Before this upgrade, I tried the Firestick 4K and Google Chromecast, but even my older Roku 4800x outperformed both. The Roku Ultra 2024 surpasses all of them in speed and reliability. However, if you’re using a NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, I would recommend sticking with that device unless NVIDIA releases something new. The Shield is still a top performer for those invested in it.

**Final Thoughts**
The Roku Ultra 2024 edition is a worthy upgrade, especially if you’re coming from a device older than four years or using a “stick” version. It’s fast, future-proof with Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1, and makes navigating and streaming content seamless. My only critiques are the lack of 5GHz Wi-Fi detection and no gigabit LAN port. Otherwise, this is a powerful streaming device that should last for years to come.

**Rating: 4.8/5**

I turned on “Auto-adjust display refresh rate” as Roku for some reason defaults it to off. However that didn’t do anything. every thing is still 60 fps.

3:2 pull down, basically if you’re watching 24 fps content, like on Amazon Prime Video, at 60 fps, the Roku has to “make up” 6 fps. (24+6 = 30 * 2 = 60) Those extra “made up” frames cause jitters or stutter. It’s not enjoyable. The picture quality is great but the jitters ruin it.

It is faster, the backlit rechargeable remote is very nice to have.

This has Quick Media Switching (QMS) which delivers smooth judder-free transitions between different refresh rates or content sources. The only problem, it doesn’t change refresh rates. It’s a nice feature to have, I just wish they put it to use and allowed native refresh rate for all content. Rather than locking you in at 60 fps for everything.