Roku Rolls Out Voice Remote Pro, Inexpensive Express 4K+ Alongside Roku OS 10

Roku is boosting its hardware lineup with the addition of the Roku Voice Remote Pro, Express 4K+, and Streambar Pro. It's also rolling out the Roku OS 10 software to existing devices.

The new Roku OS adds Instant Resume to Roku devices, which lets people switch between different apps without losing their place in whatever they were watching. It will be enabled on over 15 streaming apps, with more to come. The OS also enables customization of the Roku Live TV Channel Guide, letting users hide individual channels or build a list of favorites.

Roku OS 10 also adds automatic Wi-Fi network detection, prompting users to switch to new networks if there is a better one in range, and ensuring 5GHz network connections when available. Roku TV users will also get automatic game console configuration. It detects when a game console is plugged into the TV and automatically enables game modes and, if available, HDR gaming, auto low-latency, and variable refresh rate.

On the media support side, Roku OS 10 adds HDR10+ support to Roku devices. Roku media streamers already support standard HDR10, and the Roku Ultra and some Roku TVs can also play Dolby Vision content, and the HDR10+ support further expands Roku devices' HDR playback capabilities.

Roku Streambar and Smart Soundbar users get a new listening mode with Roku OS 10. The OS adds a Virtual Surround mode that provides simulated surround to create the impression of immersive audio through the soundbars' drivers without the use of rear satellites.

The OS also expands Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to 1080p Roku media streamers and Roku TVs, after the support was added to 4K streamers and TVs last year. This lets iPhone, iPad, and Mac users stream media from their mobile devices and computers directly to their Roku devices (and, along with the Apple TV app on Roku, further eliminates the need for the expensive Apple TV media streamer). Apple HomeKit on Roku devices enables voice control of those devices through Siri, and mobile control through the Home app on iOS phones and tablets.

Besides Roku OS 10, Roku also announced three new physical products. The Roku Voice Remote Pro is a $29.99 accessory for Roku TVs and Roku media streamers and soundbars. It provides all the features of the enhanced voice remote included with the Roku Ultra, like a headphone jack for private listening and a remote locator function, and adds mid-field microphones for hands-free voice control of the connected Roku device.

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The Roku Streambar Pro is the newest version of the Roku Smart Soundbar, adding a Roku Voice Remote with a headphone jack to the mix. Besides the new remote, the Streambar Pro is identical to the Roku Smart Soundbar and keeps its $179.99 price. It will also benefit from the new Virtual Surround feature added with Roku OS 10.

Finally, the Roku Express 4K+ is Roku's newest and least expensive 4K media streamer at $39.99. It keeps the general design of the Roku Express, but supports 4K in HDR10 and HDR10+. Its Roku Voice Remote doesn't require direct line of sight with the device.

Roku OS 10 begins rolling out today on select Roku media streamers, and will be launched on all media streamers, soundbars, and Roku TV models over the next few weeks. The Roku Voice Remote Pro is also available today, and the Roku Express 4K+ will launch in mid-May.

About Will Greenwald

Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics

I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).

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