Streaming Devices / Roku Ultra (2024) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Roku Ultra (2024) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Roku Ultra (2024)
Roku's flagship — the best remote in the category, plus ethernet and AV1.
Wins overall by 1.8 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.8-point gap makes the Roku Ultra (2024) the straightforward choice here. Roku's flagship — the best remote in the category, plus ethernet and AV1.
The Roku Ultra (2024) and Fire TV Stick 4K Select are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is $110 cheaper than the Roku Ultra (2024) ($39.99 vs $149.99). On Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (9.0 vs 5.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. On Speed & Performance, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. On Video Quality, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. Overall, the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.1/10 for the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. 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 Stick 4K Select |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $39.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2025 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55; Roku claims over 30% faster than its other players | MediaTek MT8698 — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2✓ | 1 |
| Storage (GB) | Not published by Roku | 8 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band MIMO | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Ethernet | Built in (10/100) | Adapter only (sold separately) |
| Bluetooth | Yes — supports headphone mode | 5.0 + BLE |
| Operating System | Roku OS 15 | Vega OS 1.1 (Linux-based, not Android) |
| Remote | Voice Remote Pro: USB-C rechargeable, backlit, hands-free voice, lost-remote finder; no headphone jack | Voice, TV power and volume; no backlight; no remote finder |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-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 Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-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 Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.5 — a 3.5-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — a 0.5-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) 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).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 8.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 9.0/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • 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).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 8.0/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Select if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $110 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget or travel.
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 Stick 4K Select
Pros
- +4K output for under $40 at list, and it is discounted hard and often
- +Snappier in use than the price suggests
- +Same TV-controlling Alexa remote as the pricier sticks
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 5 only — a step down from the 4K Plus and 4K Max, which both have Wi-Fi 6 or better
- −No Dolby Vision
- −Dolby Atmos is passthrough to an external receiver; Amazon's own documentation and hands-on reviews disagree on whether the device decodes Atmos itself
- −Vega OS means no sideloading, and reviewers found gaps including Xbox Game Pass and limited VPN options
- −1GB of RAM — the first 4K Fire TV to ship with that little
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Roku Ultra (2024) or Fire TV Stick 4K Select 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 Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Remote (9.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Speed & Performance (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Video Quality, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Video Quality (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Roku Ultra (2024) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Platform & Apps (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Is the Roku Ultra (2024) worth the price difference over the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the cheaper option at $39.99 versus $149.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Remote.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater or gaming. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the better fit for budget or travel.
What's the warranty on the Roku Ultra (2024) vs the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Stick 4K Select 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 HD (2026) — $34.99
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.