Roku on Monday announced two new media streaming devices, the first in its catalog that bring ultra high-definition (UHD, or 4K) streaming below the $50 line. The Roku Premiere and Premiere+ are 4K-capable media streamers with retail prices of $39.99 and $49.99.

The Roku Premiere (pictured above) shares the same candy bar-like form factor of the Roku Express and Express+. Instead of the rounded box of earlier media streamers, the Premiere is a small black plastic block a few inches long, designed to be placed under or in front of your TV. It can stream 4K video, with support for high dynamic range (HDR) content in the HDR10 format (Dolby Vision is not supported).

The low $40 price is afforded partly by the use of an infrared remote that lacks a wireless connection with the Premiere, or a microphone for Roku's voice search feature. For another $10, the step-up Premiere+ includes a Roku Voice Remote (pictured below) that doesn't require line of sight and features a mic. Besides the remote, the Premiere and Premiere+ are otherwise identical.

Roku also announced an incremental upgrade of its Ultra media streamer. The device itself won't be changed, but JBL earphones will be included instead of the previously bundled lower-quality earphones, for use with the headphone jack-equipped remote. The Roku Ultra's remote finder function will also get new tones for customizing the noise the remote makes when you press the button on the device. Its price remains unchanged at $99.99.

The Roku Premiere and Premiere+ will begin shipping early October. The updated Roku Ultra will also be available around that time.

All recent Roku devices will soon see two new software upgrades, with updated versions of the Roku OS software. The Roku OS 8.2 update for Roku TVs will add voice playback control for iHeartRadio, Pandora, and TuneIn. Users will be able to bring up music on those services by speaking into their Roku Voice Remotes, or using the voice search feature through the Roku app. New volume leveling functions will also be added, with a Night mode that reduces frequency extremes to avoid disrupting neighbors and a Speech Clarity mode that enhances dialog. Spotify will also be returning to Roku.

The Roku OS 9 update will extend the volume leveling features and Spotify support to Roku media streamers, and enable voice search for free content. Between both updates, support for controlling Roku devices with Google Assistant and the use of Pandora Premium will also be added.

Roku OS 8.2 is currently being rolled out to Roku TVs with full implementation planned for November. Roku OS 9 will be pushed to Roku media streamers in November and Roku TVs early next year.