Roku’s first batch of branded Smart TVs in HD and 4K resolution are available to pre-order in the U.S. from today, featuring new upgrades to the underlying Roku OS operating system that will soon roll out to existing Roku TVs.
Roku first unveiled its new Select and Plus Series TVs in January. It was the first time the company had announced its own hardware, having made its name by powering other brand’s TVs with its software. The new TVs, available in a range of sizes, are exclusively available to pre-order through Best Buy.
Some reports in January erroneously stated that Roku’s TVs would feature OLED displays, but today’s launch confirms that is not the case. Rather, the higher-end Plus series Roku TVs will feature QLED displays, providing “strikingly accurate hues with an expanded colour palette and increased brightness,” the company said. The lineup includes both HD and 4K models, with the latter also featuring Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos-certified speakers. The size options range from 24-inches all the way up to 75-inches, with the larger sizes coming in the Plus series.
Roku describes plenty of features, including Automatic Brightness, Bluetooth Private Listening and local dimming. The TVs also boast “fast seamless streaming” with support for Wi-Fi 6, and come with a Roku Voice Remote Pro and enjoy wireless connectivity with Roku’s range of branded soundbars and speakers, which must be purchased separately.
“Our goal is to make everything about a smart TV delightfully simple, from finding the TV that’s perfect for you, to opening and unboxing, to enjoying your favourite movies and TV shows,” said Roku’s president of devices Mustafa Ozgen. “We made purposeful decisions to ensure that our Roku Select and Plus Series TVs embody what users love most about the Roku streaming experience, and we brought in our expertise in picture quality and audio to give consumers an entertainment upgrade at an incredible value.”
In addition to the TVs, Roku announced a major update with version 12 of Roku OS that will launch in the U.S. in the coming months. New features include a Local New service that offers relevant local news channels according to the user’s location or preferences, and a new Premium Subscriptions category where users can quickly access channels and services they subscribe to.
Roku is also planning to expand the sports content available to U.S. viewers, adding new channels including CBS Sports, MLB.TV, NBA App and NBC Sports. There will also be a new “continue watching” feature for those who need to interrupt their live viewing and come back to it later, so they’ll simply be able to pick up from where they left off.
Roku said the Roku Select and Roku Plus TVs are available to pre-order now both in Best Buy’s physical stores and also online, with prices ranging from $119 for the smallest set to $999 for the biggest and best screen. As for Roku OS 12, this will begin rolling out in the “coming weeks”, the company said.
Given that Roku is especially dominant in North America and has only a minor presence in Europe and the U.K., it’s no surprise to see that there is no mention of the TVs or update coming to anyone in those locations.
