Experts recommend Roku Ultra more than Amazon Fire TV Cube
As of 16 Jan 2025, experts prefer Roku Ultra over Amazon Fire TV Cube, but both Streaming Players have solid expert endorsements.
As per this month's meta ranking, Roku Ultra received 5 recommendations: from Business Insider (1 Nov 2024), Reviewed (25 Jul 2023) PCMag (26 Nov 2024) and 2 others. By contrast, Amazon Fire TV Cube received only 4 recommendations from PCMag (26 Nov 2024), IGN (2 Jan 2025) Tom's Guide (5 Dec 2024) and 1 other.
Rank | Change | Price | Streaming Player | CNET ![]() | Digital Trends ![]() | Business Insider ![]() | Reviewed ![]() | The Verge | PCMag ![]() | IGN ![]() | Tom's Guide ![]() | TechRadar ![]() | WIRED ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | - | $73 | ![]() The Roku Ultra 2022 is a versatile streaming device that offers a wide range of content, excellent picture and sound quality, easy setup, and some gaming capabilities, making it suitable for various streaming preferences. | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
9 | - | $140 | ![]() The Amazon Fire TV Cube is a versatile streaming device that offers a wide range of content, excellent picture and sound quality, and the ability to control TV and smart home devices, making it a convenient option for users. | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |
9 | 11 | 6 | - |
Curious to see this month's entire TV Boxes and Sticks ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 26 Nov 2024
PCMag ranked Amazon Fire TV Cube as #3 and Roku Ultra as #4
Rank Streaming Player Comment ... ... ... #3 out of 7 Amazon Fire TV Cube Best for Hands-Free Alexa Voice Control / Editors' Choice#4 out of 7 Roku Ultra Best Roku Streamer... ... ... Source: www.pcmag.com - On 2 Jan 2025
IGN ranked Roku Ultra as #1 and Amazon Fire TV Cube as #9
Rank Streaming Player Comment #1 out of 9 Roku Ultra Best Overall Streaming Device... ... ... #9 out of 9 Amazon Fire TV Cube Most Powerful Streaming DeviceSource: www.ign.com - On 5 Dec 2024
Tom's Guide ranked Amazon Fire TV Cube as #11
Rank Streaming Player Comment ... ... ... #11 out of 13 Amazon Fire TV Cube Best Voice Control in A Streaming Device... ... ... Source: www.tomsguide.com - On 7 Oct 2022
TechRadar ranked Amazon Fire TV Cube as #6
Rank Streaming Player Comment ... ... ... #6 out of 9 Amazon Fire TV Cube The top streaming option if you love Amazon Alexa... ... ... Source: www.techradar.com - On 1 Nov 2024
Business Insider ranked Roku Ultra as #1
Rank Streaming Player Comment #1 out of 5 Roku Ultra Best overall... ... ... Source: www.businessinsider.com - On 25 Jul 2023
Reviewed ranked Roku Ultra as #1
Rank Streaming Player Comment #1 out of 7 Roku Ultra Best Overall / Editors' Choice... ... ... Source: www.reviewed.com - On 7 Oct 2024
WIRED ranked Roku Ultra as #4
Rank Streaming Player Comment ... ... ... #4 out of 9 Roku Ultra The Best Roku... ... ... Source: www.wired.com
After counting and adding up the 76 expert endorsements of the January rankings, Roku Ultra outranks Amazon Fire TV Cube. This is not to say that Amazon Fire TV Cube is a bad option. Like Roku Ultra, it is recommended by experts, but less.
Rank | Change | Price | Streaming Player | CNET ![]() | Digital Trends ![]() | Business Insider ![]() | Reviewed ![]() | The Verge | PCMag ![]() | IGN ![]() | Tom's Guide ![]() | TechRadar ![]() | WIRED ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | - | Check price | ![]() The Apple TV 4K (2022) has received positive reviews for its content availability, picture and sound quality, setup, and gaming capabilities, making it a versatile streaming device suitable for users who want a comprehensive range of streaming services, impressive picture and sound quality, easy setup, and seamless integration with other Apple devices. | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
2 | - | $39 | ![]() The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a versatile streaming device that offers a wide range of content, high-quality picture and sound, easy setup, and the option for casual gaming experiences. | 2 | 2 | - | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
3 | - | $73 | ![]() The Roku Ultra 2022 is a versatile streaming device that offers a wide range of content, excellent picture and sound quality, easy setup, and some gaming capabilities, making it suitable for various streaming preferences. | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
4 | - | Check price | ![]() The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a versatile streaming device that offers a wide range of content options, 4K resolution, HDR and Dolby Vision support, fast navigation, and gaming capabilities, making it a recommended choice for users seeking a user-friendly and high-quality streaming experience. | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | 4 | - | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
Show all rows |
Expert reviews [41]
- with a score: 32
- without a score: 9
Highest score by What Hi-Fi | 100 |
Average score based on 41 reviews | 81 |
Lowest score by TechHive | 60 |
Score distribution:
80-100 | |
60-80 | |
40-60 | |
20-40 | |
0-20 |
- 4K HDR playback
- TV/AV control center
- Includes a Voice Remote
- Native YouTube app
- HDMI cable not included
- Home screen is mostly Amazon content
- Language recognition isn't perfect
Expert reviews [3]
- with a score: 3
- without a score: 0
Highest score by excitingtechnews.com | 90 |
Average score based on 3 reviews | 84 |
Lowest score by PCMag | 80 |
Score distribution:
80-100 | |
60-80 | |
40-60 | |
20-40 | |
0-20 |
- The Roku Ultra comes with the excellent Voice Remote Pro, which is a nice upgrade.
- The interface works great with the Ultra's quad-core processor, apps and content open quickly, and playback looks good for 4K, 4K HDR, and regular HD content.
- Roku has strong app support with nearly all major streaming services, including support for Dolby Vision and Atmos.
- The Roku Ultra is essentially the same box from 2020, so it doesn't offer any significant hardware or performance upgrades.
- Compared to other streaming devices in the market, such as those from Amazon, Apple, and Google, the Roku Ultra is not as competitive in terms of price and features.
- The Roku voice assistant is limited and lacks the capabilities of other voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
- Fire TV Cube is the first hands-free streaming media player with Alexa. From across the room, just ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play what you want to watch.
- With far-field voice recognition, eight microphones, and beamforming technology, Fire TV Cube hears you from any direction. Enjoy hands-free voice control of content—search, play, pause, fast forward, and more. Plus control the power and volume on your TV, soundbar, and A/V receiver as well as change live cable or satellite channels with just your voice.
- Read more
- Outrageously powerful: Enjoy a lightning-fast interface and channels that launch in a snap with the fastest, most powerful Roku player ever
- Super-fast startup: Stream your favorite channels like Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more in a snap
- Read more
- Netflix
- Hulu
- YouTube
- Amazon Prime or Instant Video
- Others
- App Specific Buttons (Netflix, YouTube, etc.)
- Web Browser
- Wired/Ethernet
- Bluetooth
- Wireless/Wi-Fi
- HDMI
- USB
- microSD
- TV and device control with all-new Alexa Voice Remote
- Listen to Fire TV with compatible Bluetooth headphones
- 2 AAA Batteries
- Power Adapter
- Remote Control
- Amazon IR Extender Cable
- Amazon Ethernet Adapter