Roku's current crop of media streamers is its largest yet, with a whopping six different models. Sitting at the top of the heap is the Ultra, a $129.99 device with every feature Roku has to offer. It can stream ultra high definition (UHD, or 4K) high dynamic range (HDR) content, has an optical audio output and a USB port all the other current Roku devices lack, and its remote includes not only a headphone jacket (one of our favorite Roku-specific features), but a remote locator function, a microphone for voice search, and game controls. However, those latter three additions to the remote, along with the two additional ports on the Ultra itself, don't quite justify the extra $30 you'll spend over the Roku Premiere+, which is our Editors' Choice for 4K media streamers.

Design

The Ultra looks almost identical to the Premiere and Premiere+. It too is a 4.9-inch rounded square standing 0.85 inches tall, with glossy black sides, a matte black top, and a signature purple cloth Roku tag hanging on the left. The embossed Roku logo on the top panel is joined by an embossed remote icon you can press to activate the Ultra's remote locator function, making the remote play a tone to help you find it. The back panel has the same HDMI port, power connector, Ethernet port, and microSD card slot as the Premiere+, and is joined by an optical audio output. A USB port sits on the right side, letting you play media from any USB drive.

Remote

The Ultra's remote is Roku's most advanced, a black plastic wand with motion sensors, a built-in microphone, private listening, and a point-anywhere radio connection. A purple direction pad is the most prominent aspect of the remote, flanked by menu buttons with playback controls below them. Dedicated service buttons for Hulu, Netflix, Showtime, and Sling sit under the playback controls, with a pair of A/B game controller buttons further down. The game buttons let you turn the remote sideways like a Wiimote or NES controller to play some of the games available on the Roku Channel Store. That said, gaming on the Ultra is a far inferior experience to dedicated gaming devices; I don't recommend you buy this if gaming is high on your priority list.

A pinhole on the top of the remote indicates the microphone, which you can use to search for your favorite movies or shows using your voice (more on this in the performance section). A headphone jack sits on the left side of the remote to allow for private listening. Just plug in your favorite headphones (or the inexpensive earphones included with the Roku Ultra) and audio will switch from your television to the headphone jack, letting you listen to whatever you're watching without disturbing anyone nearby. A volume rocker sits on the right side of the remote so you can easily adjust how loud the headphones are.

Roku Channel Store

Like all Roku devices, the Ultra uses the Roku Channel Store to access hundreds of different streaming services and apps. All of the big names are here, including Amazon, Crunchyroll, Google Play, Hulu, Netflix, and Sling, plus loads of much more niche content channels catering to different interests and regions. There are even some games, though as mentioned above they aren't particularly compelling. Most channels/apps are free, though some require a small fee or a separate subscription.

Performance

The quad-core processor in the Ultra is very fast, making menu navigation an extremely snappy, responsive experience. Jumping in and out of apps is similarly quick, taking only two seconds at most to return to the main menu.

4K playback works flawlessly. I played Mad Max: Fury Road in 4K over Vudu, and it streamed in full resolution from the very start. This was primarily thanks to the wired Ethernet connection to our FiOS router—I've found playing 4K on Wi-Fi to be very inconsistent on most devices, including the Roku Premiere, which lacks an Ethernet port.

Remote-based voice search is a nice feature, but not a vital one on the Roku Ultra. To search with your voice, just hold the magnifying glass button on the remote and speak into it. Any relevant movie, show, or Roku channel will appear in the results. I had a few issues searching with my voice, but to be fair I was fighting a sore throat during testing and sounded particularly hoarse. The feature is ultimately comparable with the Amazon Fire TV's voice search, though it lacks Alexa's more powerful Alexa information and integration features.

Conclusions
The Ultra is Roku's most impressive streaming device yet, but at $130 it's a bit pricier than the comparable (but not HDR-compatible) Amazon Fire TV. The $100 Premiere+ is a better overall value, offering the same selection of 4K content with a point-anywhere remote that allows private listening. The only things you sacrifice are the optical audio and USB jacks, and the gaming-friendly, microphone-equipped remote. But if you have a smartphone, you can use voice search with Roku's app and you already have access to lots of better games. The Ultra is by no means disappointing, but for most users, the extra features won't justify the additional price. And if you don't need 4K, the Amazon Fire TV Stick gets you access to plenty of streaming services and a voice remote for less than half the price.