Roku debuts entry-level 4k streamer, rolls out Roku OS 10

Roku has launched a new budget 4k media streamer and unveiled an updated OS. The all-new Roku Express 4K supports HDR10+ and sells for £40; the Roku OS 10 has started rolling out to Roku devices including streaming players, audio products and Roku TV models.

The new firmware improves network and input configurations and offers performance enhancements and is available in the new Roku Express 4K out of the box.

“With Roku OS 10, we simplify the setup by taking the guesswork out of the more complex network and gaming features by automating them. We are also adding tremendous value by expanding Apple AirPlay and HomeKit support to our full current lineup,” says Ilya Asnis, senior vice president of Roku OS.

The Roku Express 4K supports HDR10 and HDR10+, and offers dual-Band Wi-Fi and microUSB Ethernet compatibility for wired connectivity.

The player can be controlled using voice with Alexa or Google Assistant enabled devices, and AirPlay 2 support allows iOS users to stream, control and share content directly from iPhone, iPad or Mac. Roku Express 4K also supports HomeKit.

A new automatic network detection feature notifies Roku users of the optimal wireless network band to connect to in their homes for the best possible streaming experience. Roku devices will recommend the optimal wireless network during connection setup and when there is a better network connection available in the user's home, the Roku device will proactively display a prompt recommending that the user connect to that network for an improved experience.

For TVs with the embedded Roku smart platform, Automatic Game Console Configuration will automatically detect select game consoles and configure supported features to optimise performance.

When a supported game console is connected to an HDMI port on a Roku TV, the input tile on the user's Roku home screen will automatically change to the game console icon for easy identification so users can jump right into gaming. Additionally, the Roku TV will detect the capabilities of the game console and automatically enable Game Mode. Depending on the Roku TV model being used, settings that get automatically configured may include HDR gaming, Auto Low-Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate, High Frame Rate, and THX Certified Game Mode.