Roku announces its 2017 range of streaming players

Today, Roku announced its 2017 range of streaming devices, from its budget-friendly Roku Express to the premium Roku Ultra. The company also announced the latest version of the operating system that powers the devices, Roku OS 8.

"Our new streaming player line up provides performance, price and features to meet our users needs so they can sit back, relax and enjoy their TV viewing experience even more," said Chas Smith, General Manager of Roku TVs and players. "Consumers will love our new sleek Roku Streaming Stick+ with an innovative advanced wireless receiver that gives up to four times the wireless range and a remote that controls TV volume and power. It makes 4K and HDR streaming simple."

For the most budget-conscious of streamers, Roku is offering the Express and the Express+, which cost $29.99 and $39.99, respectively. The company says that they're five times as powerful as their predecessors, and the Express+ offers the choice between HDMI and composite A/V ports, although that model is exclusive to Walmart.

Next is the Roku Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick+, which cost $49.99 and $69.99, respectively. The Streaming Stick offers a quad-core processor and 802.11ac dual-band MIMO Wi-Fi for HD streaming.

But if you're looking for 4K and HDR, the Streaming Stick+ is the option that you want, or at least as a starting point. It supports 4K at 60fps, and Roku says that the Wi-Fi range is four times what it was on its predecessor.

Finally, the Roku Ultra is the flagship of the bunch. It's in a box form factor, rather than a dongle, so it has a port for wired internet. Naturally, it supports 4K at 60fps and HDR. The device is priced at $99.99.

As for availability, all of the new streaming players can be pre-ordered beginning today and will be available on October 8. While the Express+ is exclusive to Walmart, the rest of the lineup can also be purchased from Best Buy, Amazon, and other retailers. If you buy one before October 31, you'll get a $10 Vudu credit which can be used toward a rental or purchase.