Roku Ultra (2024) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Roku Ultra (2024) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Roku Ultra (2024) if you want the best Roku with every format. Buy the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) instead if you want the smoothest experience, especially with an iPhone.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated November 2, 2026 1 min read

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Buy

Roku Ultra (2024)

Best for Best Roku

Typically $99

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Buy

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Best for A clean, ad-free interface

Typically $119–$149

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

Feature	Roku Ultra (2024)	Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)
Verdict	Buy	Buy
Typical price	$99	$119–$149
Best for	Best Roku	A clean, ad-free interface
Key feature	Fastest Roku with Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet and a backlit remote	The fastest, cleanest streaming box with no ads in the menus
Resolution	4K	4K HDR
Dolby Vision	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6
Ads in menu	Yes	No
Where to buy	Check Price Paid link	Check Price Paid link

Main differences

Resolution

Roku Ultra (2024): 4K; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): 4K HDR.

Dolby Vision

Roku Ultra (2024): Yes; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): Yes.

Wi-Fi

Roku Ultra (2024): Wi-Fi 6; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): Wi-Fi 6.

Ads in menu

Roku Ultra (2024): Yes; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): No.

Why buy it

Roku Ultra (2024): fastest Roku with Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet and a backlit remote; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): the fastest, cleanest streaming box with no ads in the menus.

Made for

Roku Ultra (2024): best Roku; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): a clean, ad-free interface.

Usual price

Roku Ultra (2024): $99; Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): $119–$149.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Roku Ultra (2024) if you

you want the best Roku with every format
value fast

Check Price Paid link

Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) if you

you want the smoothest experience, especially with an iPhone
value very fast

Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every model we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best streaming devices.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Apple · Streaming Devices

Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet)

Buy it if you want the fastest, cleanest streaming experience.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Ad-free, fastest
Typical price: $149

Pros

No ads
Very fast

Cons

Expensive

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Google · Streaming Devices

Google TV Streamer

Buy it if you use Google services and want a fast box with a findable remote.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Android homes
Typical price: $89–$99

Pros

Fast
Matter and Thread hub

Cons

Recommendations include ads

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Roku Ultra (2024) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): which should I buy?

Buy the Roku Ultra (2024) if you want the best Roku with every format. Buy the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) instead if you want the smoothest experience, especially with an iPhone.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Roku Ultra (2024) usually costs $99 and the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) $119–$149. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Roku Ultra (2024) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen): the full reasoning

Roku Ultra (2024) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)? Both are strong streaming devices, which is exactly why the choice is hard. Here is the short version first: buy the Roku Ultra (2024) if you want the best Roku with every format, and buy the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) if you want the smoothest experience, especially with an iPhone. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Roku Ultra (2024) wins on fastest Roku with Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet and a backlit remote. The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) answers with the fastest, cleanest streaming box with no ads in the menus. Resolution: 4K on the Roku Ultra (2024), 4K HDR on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen). Dolby Vision: Yes on the Roku Ultra (2024), Yes on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen). Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 on the Roku Ultra (2024), Wi-Fi 6 on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen). Ads in menu: Yes on the Roku Ultra (2024), No on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen).

Reasons to buy the Roku Ultra (2024)

Fast, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, Backlit remote. What to accept: ads in menu, pricier than sticks. Usual price: $99. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Roku Ultra (2024) review.

Reasons to buy the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Very fast, Ad-free interface, Dolby Vision and Atmos. What to accept: expensive, remote divides opinion. Usual price: $119–$149. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best streaming devices has every other model with its own call. Ecosystem: Apple TV suits iPhone homes; Google TV and Roku suit everyone; Fire TV suits Alexa homes.

Also consider the Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ($149): fastest streamer with Ethernet, Thread and no ads. Buy it if you want the fastest, cleanest streaming experience.

Also consider the Google TV Streamer ($89–$99): fast Google TV box with great recommendations and a smart home hub. Buy it if you use Google services and want a fast box with a findable remote.

US buyer tip

Fire TV and Roku sticks drop to very low prices on Prime Day and Black Friday, so time the purchase if you can.

Prices on Amazon.com move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land on Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in October and the Black Friday to Cyber Monday week, with smaller drops around Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and back-to-school. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the crossed-out list price.