New Roku streamers add tricked-out remotes, remain affordable

From CNET: Fresh off introducing its first soundbar with built-in streaming, Roku has taken the wraps off its complete lineup of new 2019 media streamers -- the little boxes and sticks you hook to your TV to get Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and, coming soon, Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus. As befits that bewildering array of services Roku has wide selection of streamers this year: seven in all, ranging from $30 to $100, which is pretty much the same price range as previous models.

Roku makes our favorite streaming players, with thousands of apps, a dead-simple layout and constant updates. It's available in smart TVs from TCL and others, but players like the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, our current Editors' Choice, provide an easy upgrade to any TV. If you have somewhat less-than-current set, or you're unhappy with your TV's built-in apps, getting a Roku is your best bet.

All of the new models handle basic streaming, so the differences lie in form factor (stick or box), 4K HDR capability and, most of all, the remotes. Most of the clickers, starting with the $40 Roku Express Plus, handle voice commands and can control your TV's volume and power -- an awesome extra that lets you ditch your TV remote. Nobody told Roku that headphone jacks are going away, because the three higher-end remotes include a port that allows you to listen privately via wired 'phones (included). And Roku's best remote, shipping with the $100 Ultra, has an all-new convenience feature: two keys you can program with your own shortcuts.

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