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Roku OS 10.5 upgrade rolling out this week plus a new Roku Steaming Stick 4K that offers 30% improved performance. Here’s what you can look forward to.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)

Roku OS 10.5 upgrade begins rolling out this week

Roku today announced Roku® OS 10.5 will begin rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks. Roku OS 10.5 introduces a ton of new features putting Live TV front and center for streaming player users. The upgrade also includes new surround sound configurations for audio device owners, more voice control options and updates to Roku mobile app features. Roku OS 10.5 will begin rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks.

New Roku 10.5 features

Live TV Channel Guide for Roku Streaming Players

The Roku Channel’s Live TV Channel Guide has over 200+ free live TV channels and Roku player owners can now add the Live TV channel directly onto their home screen for instant access. Simply search for “Live TV on The Roku Channel” to install the channel onto the Roku Home Screen and instantly browse a wide variety of content.

Roku Voice

Roku has been expanding the number of channels that support voice commands for direct to playback. Now nearly any channel in Roku Search supports the feature, including Netflix and Spotify.

Roku Mobile App Home Tab and Save List

The newly added Home tab in the Roku Mobile app provides easy access to the latest and greatest entertainment, and features Zones, browsable collections of movies and shows available across a number of top genres, and popular/seasonal topics, for even more convenient content discovery. Plus, users can save movies and TV shows to the Save List to watch later when they’re in front of their TV again. The Save List can be accessed via the Home and Remote tabs, and users can add titles that they find via search to their Save List.

Roku Search Music and Podcast Row

Roku OS 10.5 provides a more integrated music experience across the Roku platform with the introduction of voice search and playback of music, podcasts and video podcasts. Users will see search results within a more visual “music and podcast” row and will feature Spotify as the launch partner with millions of podcasts and over 70 million tracks available.

Enhancements to Voice entry for Email, Password, and PIN for on-screen keyboards

Roku Voice can be used to complete device setup or login to supported apps by entering email, password, and PIN information by voice. Keyboards that support Roku Voice will display a microphone icon, so users can quickly identify when voice entry is an available option.

Sound Settings via the Roku Mobile App

Customers can now control their Roku audio device’s sound settings, such as night mode, automatic volume leveling and speech clarity, directly in the mobile app. This feature is great for users who want to quickly and conveniently adjust their sound settings without interrupting their entertainment, music, or game by pulling up the onscreen settings menu.

Wireless Mobile Private Listening for Streaming Players

Advancements to our Audio/Video (A/V) sync feature enhances the wireless private listening experience by intelligently adjusting based on the type of headphones connected. The advanced A/V sync feature enables users to make further refinements via their smartphone camera if needed by measuring the TV screen and automatically adjusting the audio delay between the wireless headphones and the TV. This feature will surface when users have wireless headphones connected to the Roku mobile app and is accessible within the settings menu in the app.

New Surround Sound Configurations (US)

Roku Streambar®, Roku Streambar Pro, and Roku Smart Soundbar owners now have access to additional speaker configurations with the introduction of 3.1 and 5.1 surround sound compatibility. Roku Wireless Speakers can now be used as front speakers with the Roku Streambar, Roku Streambar Pro, and Roku Smart Soundbar creating a 3.1 (Left/Center/Right) or full 5.1 surround sound system when used with rear speakers.

Roku Voice Help

Roku Voice Help can be found in the settings menu and educates users on the kinds of commands Roku Voice supports and provides examples, like how to search for movies and TV shows, launch channels, play music, control playback, and more. Roku Voice Remote Pro owners will also get tips on using hands-free voice.
Availability

Roku OS 10.5 will begin rolling out to Roku devices in the coming weeks.

New Roku Streaming Stick 4K and 4K+

Additionally, Roku today unveiled the all-new Roku® Streaming Stick® 4K (MSRP $49.99), offering powerful 4K streaming in a portable form factor and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ (MSRP $69.99), which features the Roku Voice Remote Pro for users looking to upgrade their streaming experience with a rechargeable, hands-free voice remote.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Roku Streaming Stick 4K – 30% faster than prior model

Roku Streaming Stick 4K is faster and more powerful than ever. It boots up to 30% faster — enabling smooth streaming in spectacular 4K, Dolby Vision®, and HDR10+ picture and features a redesigned long-range Wi-Fi® receiver that delivers up to 2x faster Wi-Fi speeds. The sleek design hides neatly behind your TV with simple setup. Consumers can start streaming in a snap and enjoy a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including award-winning Roku Originals only on The Roku Channel. Plus, easily search across thousands of channels with your voice and control your TV, streaming, and sound—all with the included remote.

Dolby Vision® and HDR10+

Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out the rich detail in entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off the screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Smooth streaming

The all new quad-core processor boots up to 30% faster and the re-designed long range wireless receiver offers up 2x faster Wi-Fi speeds, enabling content to load quicker and navigation to feel snappier than ever before.

Clutter-free and simple setup

Plug the compact device directly into the back of your TV for a simple setup that’s perfect for wall mount TV or trips on-the-go.

Voice remote with TV controls

Power up the TV, adjust the volume, and control the Roku Streaming Stick 4K device with one remote. Use Roku Voice to quickly search, play entertainment and more.

Ecosystem compatibility

Control Roku Streaming Stick 4K by using voice with Alexa or Google Assistant enabled devices. With AirPlay 2, effortlessly stream, control and share content directly from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Roku Streaming Stick 4K also supports HomeKit, which allows users to easily and securely control Roku devices using Siri and the Home app on their Apple devices.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K+

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ ($69.99) is an all-new product that bundles the Roku Streaming Stick 4K described above with the Roku Voice Remote Pro. The Roku Voice Remote Pro offers a rechargeable battery and a voice activated lost remote finder, “Hey Roku, find my remote.” The Roku Voice Remote Pro also features TV controls, personal shortcut buttons, private listening, hands-free and push to talk Roku Voice support.

Roku Ultra LT

The Roku Ultra LT has been refreshed with a faster processor, more storage, and a new Wi-Fi® radio that provides up to 50% longer range than the previous model. These changes help provide the smoothest possible streaming experience with channels that launch in a snap. The Roku Ultra LT now also supports Dolby Vision for superior picture quality as well as Bluetooth audio streaming and built-in ethernet support. The Roku Ultra LT is a Walmart exclusive in the U.S. available in the coming weeks for just $79.99.

Availability

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K will be on shelves and available online in mid-October at major retailers across the U.S and will be coming to Canada, the U.K., Mexico and other Latin American countries in the coming months. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ will be available at Roku.com and all major online retailers in the U.S. mid-October. Also available on shelf in the U.S. will be the Roku Express, The Roku Express 4K, the Roku Ultra, the Roku Streambar® and the Roku Streambar Pro.

Special offers

Qualify to get 30 days of HBO Max included with the purchase and activation of a new streaming device between October 1, 2021 – January 14, 2022. During activation, this HBO Max offer will become visible to accept with additional instructions. (New subscribers only. Redeem by 1/22/22).

For Walmart shoppers, enjoy $5 off with Redbox. Find the code inside the Roku player box and redeem on the Redbox app. Offer expires 9/30/22.

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