The Roku 4 Has Been Spotted

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As you know, we’ve been tracking the Roku 4 and fully anticipate it’ll stream 4k – like the revised Amazon Fire TV. Further, via FCC filings, we know the Roku 4 (4400) moves from WiFi Direct to Bluetooth — perhaps suggesting Roku will make another run at gaming, which is also one of the new Apple TV’s marketing angles. And now, via AFTVNews, an image of the new streamer has appeared… that fully confirms this model will indeed go by “Roku 4.” Further, we can see Roku has redesigned the enclosure to accommodate whatever circuitry is required for its new capabilities. As to timing and pricing, I assume we’ll receive official word either later this week or next… as I have intel that indicates hardware is en route.

roku-4

16 thoughts on “The Roku 4 Has Been Spotted”

  1. Wait… the remote moves from WiFi Direct to Bluetooth? That sounds great!

    But now Amazon is doing the opposite. They are moving from Bluetooth to WiFi Direct with their remote. So I will still have the issue of having to force a WiFi Direct device to a specific channel.

    But this is good news for me. WiFi Direct was one of the things I hated about the Roku3. And it being removed from the ROku4 pretty much means that I will be getting a Roku4 now. If for nothing else, just so I can get rid of my Roku3 with WiFi Direct in my main setup.

  4. Which would have more range, wifi direct or bluetooth? I was considering upgrading, but I keep my roku in the closet hooked to an hdmi splitter that goes to two rooms. It works great unlike my RF directv remote, would bluetooth reduce the range / responsiveness?

  5. WiFi Direct has greater range. But DirecTV to Roku 4 may not be a 1:1 RF/BT comparison. Could be many other factors at play. It’s also possible the Roku 4 could run WiFi Direct alongside Bluetooth…

  6. I will continue to hope for hdmi pass through. I love it on my xb1 and would love to daisychain in the roku

  7. For those without UHD sets and a Roku 2/3, other than the gaming, is there a compelling reason to upgrade? I guess just being a gadget addict is a reason.

    I am looking forward to the new Apple TV apps hoping to see a Max Go among other apps developed for it. Hard to believe MaxGo is only web and iOS, so you either AirPlay it or use a computer with HDMI to get it on a big screen.

  8. It’s not yet clear as Roku hasn’t put out any official marketing information. Hopefully there’s more going on that just 4k — like what’s the square on the top surface all about? In terms of gaming, I think Roku would be at a big disadvantage to Apple TV and Fire TV, without going Android. Much easier for developer to tweak and port than write from scratch – even with Roku’s large audience (on older devices, anyway), new development would be a barrier to entry.

  9. “WiFi Direct has greater range.”

    If my understanding is correct, Bluetooth has much greater range, as it allows you to become a Danish Viking King able to sail very long distances.

  10. Supposedly WiFi direct has less latecny. Which is supposed to be the reason that Amazon is switching from BT to WiFi Direct.

  12. I think Roku would be at a big disadvantage to Apple TV and Fire TV, without going Android. Much easier for developer to tweak and port than write from scratch

    I realize you’re talking about games specifically here but this is really true across all types of apps. And it’s why I’d love to see TiVo adopt Android (or, more likely, a no-Google-Services forked version of it, like Fire OS). Running Android as a set of extensions/middleware on top of the Linux-based TiVo OS or as a virtualized OS on top of it would open up a world of possibilities for new apps on TiVo. Fire TV and Android TV apps could be ported to TiVo with little or no tweaking.

    Developers are only ever going to broadly support two, maybe three, OSes, and it’s clear Apple’s iOS/tvOS will be one and Android/Fire will be another. TiVo was clearly hoping that HTML5/Opera would prove to be an open-source bandwagon they could hop on a few years back but it’s never really taken off, mostly just used for second-rate smart TV apps. And even there, we’re seeing Android TV encroach as Sony and Sharp adopt it as their new TV app platform. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Roku eventually transition over to a forked Android. Whether TiVo has the good sense and wherewithal to do so is very questionable though.

  13. My main reason for upgrading would be the fact that I have a Roku 2XS (model 3100 from 2011). I probably would have bought a R3 if not for the expected release of the R4.

  16. any chance the bluetooth could support more than the remote… like a headset or two? preferably a headset plus continued hdmi audio out so those sitting next to the hearing impaired can enjoy speaker while another can enjoy headphones.

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