Streaming Devices / Roku Ultra (2024) vs Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Roku Ultra (2024) vs Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Roku Ultra (2024)
Roku's flagship — the best remote in the category, plus ethernet and AV1.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.1 points separate them. Roku's flagship — the best remote in the category, plus ethernet and AV1. The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The Roku Ultra (2024) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is $10 cheaper than the Roku Ultra (2024) ($139.99 vs $149.99). On Smart Home, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 5.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. On Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. On Platform & Apps, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. Overall, the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Roku Ultra (2024) | Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $139.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) 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 | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55; Roku claims over 30% faster than its other players | Amlogic POP1-G — octa-core, 4x Cortex-A73 at 2.2GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | Not published by Roku | 16 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band MIMO | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Ethernet | Built in (10/100) | Built in (10/100) |
| Bluetooth | Yes — supports headphone mode | 5.0 + BLE |
| Operating System | Roku OS 15 | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) |
| Remote | Voice Remote Pro: USB-C rechargeable, backlit, hands-free voice, lost-remote finder; no headphone jack | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced; hands-free far-field voice on the device itself; no backlight; no remote finder |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-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 Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Roku Ultra (2024) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Platform & Apps
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-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 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — a 3.0-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 5.5 — a 0.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Roku Ultra (2024) if…
- • Remote matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 9.0/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 8.5/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
- • Your main use case is 4k-hdr.
Choose the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • You want to spend less — it's $10 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is smart-home.
Pros & Cons
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
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Pros
- +By far the fastest Fire TV device, roughly twice the 4K Max
- +Built-in ethernet and an HDMI input are unique in the Fire TV line
- +Hands-free Alexa without needing a separate Echo
- +Super Resolution Upscaling genuinely helps older HD content
Cons
- −No hardware refresh since 2022 — the oldest device in the Fire TV line
- −Still on Fire OS 7 (Android 9), while the sticks have moved to Fire OS 8
- −Ethernet is 10/100, not gigabit
- −Roughly double the price of the 4K Max for the same Dolby Vision and Atmos support
- −Reviewers report it sometimes fails to switch into Dolby Vision automatically
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Roku Ultra (2024) or Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Roku Ultra (2024) 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 Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Smart Home (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Remote (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Platform & Apps (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Is the Roku Ultra (2024) worth the price difference over the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the cheaper option at $139.99 versus $149.99. 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 Roku Ultra (2024) is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-hdr. The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the better fit for smart-home.
What's the warranty on the Roku Ultra (2024) vs the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) — $59.99
Premium Option
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro — $199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.