Roku is the leading provider of streaming video devices and has played a large part in bringing streaming OTT video to the mainstream.
The device manufacturer just announced a revamp to its streaming player lineup with seven devices that are priced from $29.99 to $99.99.
Changes to the lineup include smaller form factors and more emphasis on 4K HD and HDR support. Some of the new devices also have distribution exclusivity with certain retailers.
“We’re driven by the goal of delivering an exceptional streaming experience to our customers that includes endless entertainment and intuitive ways to find it,” Mark Ely, Roku’s Vice President, Players and Whole Home Product Management, said in a press release. “Our new streaming player lineup continues to offer a device for every type of streamer. Whether you’re streaming to your TV for the first time or are a cord-cutting power-house who wants our ultimate streaming device – we’ve got something for everyone.”
The revamped lineup includes:
- The Roku Express (with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $29.99) offers a small form factor.
- The Roku Express+ (MSRP $39.99) includes a voice remote and only is available at Walmart.
- The Roku Premier (MSRP $39.99) offers 4K and HDR streaming and what the company calls a simple remote.
- The Roku Stream Stick+ (MSRP $59.99) features portable HD, 4K and HDR streaming, and a long range wireless voice remote that includes TV controls.
- The Roku Stream Stick+ HE (MSRP $59.99) is available only at Best Buy. In includes the enhanced Roku Voice Remote with a headphone jack and headphones.
- The Roku Ultra LT (MSRP $79.99) features HD, 4K and HDR streaming, Ethernet, 802.11ac MIMO dual-band wireless, an Enhanced Roku Voice remote with TV controls and Roku headphones. It is exclusively at Walmart.
- The Roku Ultra (MSRP of $99.99) offers HD, 4K and HDR, wireless, fast channel launch, personal shortcut and mute buttons and JBL headphones.
The company says that the Roku Express is 10% smaller than its predecessor and designed to blend in with a television. Other features include HD streaming that the company says is easy and smooth, channel shortcut buttons and HDMI cables. The Roku Ultra features quad core processors and 802.11ac.
The Roku Express and Roku Ultra are available for pre-order at Roku.com today. The Roku Express+ will be broadly available at the end of this month. The other devices will be on sale in October.
In June, Strategy Analytics said that Roku accounted for more than 30% of streaming platform sales during the first quarter of the year. There were more than 41 million Roku devices in the field at that point. The Amazon Fire TV OS was second with 12% of sales. Samsung’s Tizen and Google (Android TV and Chromecast) were third and fourth at 11% and 9% respectively.
