Streaming Devices / Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Roku Ultra (2024)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Roku Ultra (2024)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Apple TV with gigabit ethernet and Thread — the best smart-home hub in the category.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) takes this by a clear 0.4 points. Apple TV with gigabit ethernet and Thread — the best smart-home hub in the category. The Roku Ultra (2024) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Roku Ultra (2024) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Roku Ultra (2024) is $99 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ($149.99 vs $249). On Smart Home, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.0 vs 5.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. On Value, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (6.0 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. Overall, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.9/10 for the Roku Ultra (2024). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Roku Ultra (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $149.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (2160p) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic, 5-core CPU at 2.9GHz | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55; Roku claims over 30% faster than its other players |
| RAM (GB) | 4✓ | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | Not published by Roku |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band MIMO |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (built in) | Built in (10/100) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | Yes — supports headphone mode |
| Operating System | tvOS 26 | Roku OS 15 |
| Remote | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking | Voice Remote Pro: USB-C rechargeable, backlit, hands-free voice, lost-remote finder; no headphone jack |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Roku Ultra (2024) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Audio Support
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.5 — a 3.5-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.0 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Your main use case is smart-home.
Choose the Roku Ultra (2024) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 6.0/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Remote matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 9.0/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • You want to spend less — it's $99 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet plus a Thread border router — the most capable smart-home hub here
- +Comfortably the fastest streaming box you can buy
- +tvOS has no ads on the home screen
- +Double the storage of the 64GB model
- +Excellent Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos handling
Cons
- −At $249 it is by far the most expensive device in this category
- −Price rose from $149 to $249 in June 2026, a 67% increase
- −2022 hardware with a successor widely reported as imminent
- −Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, both behind newer rivals
- −No USB-C cable included in the box
Roku Ultra (2024)
Pros
- +The best remote of any streaming device here — backlit, rechargeable, hands-free voice and a lost-remote finder
- +Decodes Dolby Atmos rather than only passing it through
- +HDMI 2.1 with Quick Media Switching, rare outside Apple TV
- +Built-in ethernet and a USB 3.0 port for local media
- +Fastest Roku by a wide margin
Cons
- −Ethernet is 10/100, not gigabit
- −The Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) dropped the headphone jack the first-gen Pro had
- −List price rose from $99.99 to $149.99 in July 2026
- −No design change since the 2021 Ultra
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or Roku Ultra (2024) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Smart Home (9.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Value, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Value (6.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Remote, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Remote (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 8.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) worth the price difference over the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) is the cheaper option at $149.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Smart Home.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home. The Roku Ultra (2024) is the better fit for home-theater or 4k-hdr.
What's the warranty on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Roku Ultra (2024) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) — $139.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.