Mods can remove if this breaks any rules…
What the title says. I don’t know if the Apple TV is sincerely better than the Ultra, but since I’ve built up what I’d consider a fairly standard home theater system (4K tv with HDR, soundbar w/ Dolby Atmos…no surround system or anything overly fancy) the Roku has caused some annoyances. Right now the hassle is the Paramount Roku app keeps blanking the screen when watching Dolby Vision content, sometimes requiring a tv power cycle.
Anyways, I know I’m asking the Apple crowd here but I’m considering the switch but don’t know if it’s a difference of preferences or if Apple TV (4K) is genuinely superior?
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I have both a Roku Ultra, and Apple TV 4K. They are both great. Apple TV may have a slightly better picture, and my kids game on it. I keep the Roku for its night listening mode. Apple does not have as good a “flat” volume mode for watching while the rest of the house is asleep.
It’s called reduce loud sounds use it all the time at night
My other family members show up on my device. But I’m the only one that uses them. I own 4 of them.
I think it is.
probably just a personal experience but after having APTV for years i just cant stand anything else… all the other systems seems so cheap and broken and slow compared to the ATPV
i have a 4K oled tv (LG C1), sonos soundbar and sub, and everything just works togethre flawlesly
Apple TV is in a whole other class. My old Roku Ultra feels like junk in comparison.
I’m an AV tech, dozens of rokus and apple Tvs installed, apple is better I’m my experience
I like the Apple TV as well. I would love to have a hybrid Apple TV with Roku-like remote!
As someone who also came from Roku, let me put it this way: Going from Roku to Apple TV is like going from a $500 beater car to a $100k sports car. It’s higher quality, nicer materials, better user experience, and just faster.
Beyond there being no ads, the UI is very fluid. I often use my Apple TV with my iPhone as the remote, which creates this unique feeling of control over your experience. I feel as though most of the apps on AppleTV are better designed than the Roku versions, and are more likely to get new features first.
If you have the budget, and are already integrated in the Apple ecosystem, this is 100% a solid purchase. I have one, and plan on getting another one for the bedroom (once I upgrade my TV, lol)
Side question: for the iPhone as a remote thing…can multiple users do that? Like can my wife use her iPhone as a remote while I’m at work or is it tied to whoever’s Apple ID the Apple TV is registered with?
Anyone with an iPhone that is connected to your WiFi network can use their phones as a remote. To setup, just open the remote app on your phone and select the name of your Apple TV. A 4-digit code will appear on your TV that you’ll need to enter on your phone. After that you’ll never need to do that again.
Make the leap to Apple TV. It’ll be worth it with your set up
I gave up on the Roku platform after I had to throw away my third, otherwise functional, Roku device because they decided to obsolete them. I don’t know how long I’ve had my oldest Apple TV, but it still works as good as new and it still gets updates.
I used Roku devices up until about 7 years ago, and then I switched to Apple TV. The Rokus were fine at first, but I ended up having all kinds of problems with them. I don’t recall now what those problems were since it was so long ago, but I did have the Roku Ultra. I think it was the first model Roku Ultra they came out with at the time. Haven’t had any problems with Apple TV.
Do you have any other apple devices? If so hands down Apple TV. If you are android and windows stick with Roku.
Only ever had apple TVs but like some have already said, yeah, ATV is overpowered for streaming. No lag or stutters. I have used it on Wifi for ages and now on ethernet. No real issues, except for my actual wifi sometimes.
I’d recommend it if you want something hassle free.
I put in the AppleTV yesterday and replaced a roku ultra. I can just say, none of it is NEEDED but it is a FAR superior experience. Especially if you use iOS devices as a remote sometimes. Siri, music, airplay, recommendations etc… just better.
Just open your phone and hold it close to the appleTV and it will set it up and log you in. So far we love it. My kids spent all evening using Apple Music with Sing and yelling in my living room… was a good night.
You can set up profiles for each member of your family. Logins to the apps is simplified on most as you just open the app on appleTV and then open the app on the phone and it says Login? and you tap yes and you’re in… you can just tell they thought out the ecosystem for apple users.
I would only say it takes a bit of getting used to
I own an Ultra upstairs and Appletv downstairs. Roku does have ads, but not as many in my opinion as Amazon. I find Air play works more consistently and faster on appletv than on the Roku. My young children enjoy using the remote on Roku more than Appletv. The find my remote sound on the remote on Roku is nice. I think the picture quality is slightly better on appletv than Roku. Appletv will probably faster longer than Roku. Appletv feels a bit more high end than Roku, if you care about that sort of thing.