The Roku Ultra was our pick for the best streaming device and that's because of its crisp, clear 4K picture quality, integration with various smart home platforms, and more.
On the other hand, the Apple TV 4K is a strong competitor that offers tight integration with other Apple products and services, and is also capable of 4K streaming from a long list of services.
There are many differences between the two platforms, one of which is cost: the
Roku Ultra
(
MX$2,412 and
$79) or
Apple TV 4K
(
MX$3,779 and
US$179);
But it is not as simple as choosing the cheapest model.
There are some valid reasons to save some money with a Roku Ultra, or to spend a little more and get the Apple TV 4K.
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more alike than different
Both the Roku Ultra and Apple TV 4K offer their own streaming lineup with a wide range of streaming services like HBO Max, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu (just to name a few, but all the big streaming companies are in both).
Additionally, each is capable of streaming in 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support.
That means the streaming experience should be more or less identical and they are future-proof as they support the latest standards.
Buy an Apple TV if...
You subscribe to Apple One
Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, iCloud Photos, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade are just a few of the services included in Apple's monthly subscription service, Apple One. And you guessed it, you can make the most of them on Apple TV. .
You can connect a PS5 or Xbox controller to your Apple TV to play Apple Arcade games, stream your favorite playlists from Apple Music, or use your TV as a workout instructor with Apple Fitness.
Even if you don't subscribe to Apple One, and just pay for and use one of the services listed above, the Apple TV gives you access to all of Apple's services without a hitch.
You have many HomeKit smart home products
One of the less publicized aspects of owning an Apple TV (
MX$3,779 and
$179) in your home is that it works as a HomeKit router.
That means if you have a HomeKit-enabled lock, thermostat, or camera, you'll be able to access and control the devices while you're away from home.
Even if you only have a couple of HomeKit devices in your home right now, an Apple TV makes sense as the next piece of the puzzle that will result in a fully connected and affordable smart home.
You are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem
The Apple TV (
MX$3,779 and
$179) integrates tightly with all of your other Apple products.
You can play your Mac screen or a video on your iPhone on the TV.
Or put on your AirPods and watch a new movie without waking up anyone else at home.
Another feature is that if you have an Apple Watch and want to do an Apple Fitness+ workout, your watch will connect to Apple TV and display your workout metrics on the screen with very little effort on your part.
Buy a Roku Ultra if...
you want to save money
The Roku Ultra typically costs
MX$2,412 and
$79, well below Apple TV 4K.
You don't care about the platform
Unlike the Apple TV 4K, which only works with Apple's HomeKit platform, the Roku Ultra is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's AirPlay 2/HomeKit smart home platforms.
That means no matter what smart home ecosystem you're in, it will work.
You can use Alexa to do things like turn the Ultra on or off, or tell Alexa what you want to watch.
The same can be said for Google Assistant, while AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support means you can use Siri to control what's on your TV.
You are constantly losing your TV remote
The Roku Ultra (
MX$2,412 and
$79) has a built-in remote finder and is pretty impressive.
There's a button on the side of the Ultra that you can press when your remote has gone missing and it will start playing a sound, helping you locate it.
As we can all attest, transmission box remotes are some of the smallest and easiest devices to lose.
The Siri Remote for Apple TV lacks a similar feature.
In conclusion
You shouldn't base your decision between the Apple TV 4K and Roku Ultra on quality or streaming services, as the two are fairly comparable.
Instead, you should choose based on the types of compatible products already in your home, how much you want to spend, and whether a tool like a lost remote finder is valuable to you.
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