Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsBe careful if you order this model
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020
I ordered this to replace a Roku 4K Streaming Stick because I wanted a Roku device I could hardwire to my router instead of using WiFi. I also currently own a TLC Roku Television (which is in my bedroom) and previously owned a half dozen different Roku models going back to the very first generation so I have a lot of experience with Roku products.
As soon as I set this up I got very frequent and extremely annoying nag messages suggesting that I purchase an SD Card for extra channel memory. The nag screen came up every time I started using the Roku, every time I went into the channel store and every time I went into Roku settings.
I got sick of the nag screens quickly which seems to be the entire point since there isn't any "never show this again" option. I deleted a bunch of apps to make the nag screen stop and ordered an SD Card from Amazon. A few days later I got my memory card, installed it in the Roku Ultra, and went back into the channel store to reinstall my content but was in for a very nasty surprise.
Nearly two-thirds of the apps I deleted were no longer in the channel store, making it impossible to reinstall them. Among the now-missing content were multiple channels, apps, and other stuff I purchased and supposedly owned outright.
If you sign into your Roku account on the web there is a list of your purchases and apps--including previously installed content--but you can't install anything from the purchase history screen. You need to use the search function on the website which searches the same channel store as the device and if the content doesn't show up there's no way to reinstall it.
To make a bad situation worse if you have multiple devices linked to your Roku account and delete a channel from any one device Roku syncs all of your devices so the channel also gets deleted from the rest of your devices.
I never received a nag screen about purchasing memory on any of the more than half dozen Roku devices I previously owned and there was no warning that deleted channels or apps might not be recoverable so it seems like losing two-thirds of my content wasn't accidental or bad luck but something intentionally built into the Roku 4K Ultra product design.
If you do plan on purchasing this product and you have more than a small handful of channels installed then order an SD Card at the same time and install the SD Card during the initial Roku device setup--otherwise you will be seeing a lot of that nag screen.
Otherwise, this works well enough but Roku products without exception are designed for simplicity rather than power or premium features. The Nvidia Shield supports HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos while the Roku Ultra only supports HDR. The Roku Ultra more or less sets itself up which makes it easy for people who struggle using computers and smartphones. The Roku 4K Ultra accomplishes its goal of providing 4K Streaming in a simple package but the 4K Streaming Stick is a much better deal. If you plan on going with this model anyway then do yourself a big favor and buy that SD Card.
Update:
I lowered my rating by another star because of Roku's terrible customer service and deceptive business practices. A day after I contacted customer support about my lost content all of my missing purchases were removed from my purchase history on Roku's website. This was content I purchased through Roku and supposedly owned and Roku deleted any record of my purchases anyway.
I went back and forth with Roku support a half dozen times with them telling me to add my missing content through the channel store over and over before someone finally understood the problem. Support claimed they could only find a record of two channels I purchased and sent me links to add the channels that didn't work. I again contacted Roku Support and they asked for screenshots of the errors I was getting while trying to add the channels. After I provided the screenshots Roku support had no idea why I was sending them screenshots and now they had no record of either channel purchase even though they did have a record three days earlier. They told me to contact the channel developers but couldn't provide any information for who to contact then asked for invoices for the purchases after they had deleted that information from their system.
At this point, I would very strongly recommend that people seriously consider purchasing an alternative brand streaming device instead of Roku. If you must purchase a Roku buy the cheapest model that serves your purposes because you shouldn't give these guys a single penny more than necessary. Also, absolutely do not buy anything whatsoever through the Roku Channel Store other than monthly subscriptions that can be canceled. Whatever you purchase and supposedly own outright Roku can remove anytime. Don't purchase any channels, games, screensavers, apps, or themes because you will just be throwing away your money.