The Roku 4 set-top box rivals the new Apple TV in the media streamer market. The Roku 4 delivers more content in the highest quality possible while the new Apple TV focuses on offering more features like apps and games.
Know Your Mobile compared the specifications, features, and price of the Roku 4 and the new Apple TV in a report. Design-wise, the Roku 4 sports a flatter and wider build while the Apple TV is thinner and taller. Both set-top boxes come in black color.
Under the hood, the Roku 4 houses a quad-core processor and 1.5GB RAM needed to support 4K video playback. The new Apple TV has a dual core processor and 2GB RAM for gaming but it does not have 4K capability.
The Roku 4's built-in 256 MB storage can be expanded via microSD card and USB port for more content. The Apple TV has two variants of 32GB and 64GB but does not have external storage.
In terms of content, the new Apple TV features the improved tvOS that stores apps and games and offers HD screensavers. The app-based tvOS can search through multiple apps and channels at the same time via voice or text input. On the other hand, the Roku 4 also has the revamped Roku OS 7 which delivers content from 2,500 channels llike Netflix, Vevo, HBO, and YouTube. What the Roku OS 7 can do which the Apple TV cannot is tracking content that users want with the Roku Feed and alerting them once it is available.
Both set-top boxes can also function as game controllers. The Apple TV remote comes with Siri integration and motion sensors for Wii-like gaming. The Roku 4 can also be used in the same manner and can function as a gaming pad.
Other media streamers in the market are the Google Chromecast and the Amazon Fire TV. Neurogadget reported that the Amazon Fire TV has similarities with the Roku set-top box and features a low selling price ranging from $39 to $99.
Google offers two TV platforms - the Chromecast and the Android TV. According to The Motley Fool, Google devised a new strategy to reach a bigger market with the Android TV. It will bring Android TV directly to televisions, removing the hardware part in a media streaming device. Google plans to partner with Sharp, Philips, Sony, and other manufacturers to get the Android TV to more living rooms and rival giants like Roku 4 and the new Apple TV.
The Roku 4 has been priced at $129 while the new Apple TV costs $149 for the 32 GB variant and $199 for the 64 GB version. Delivering quality content is the focus of the Roku 4 while more features like apps and games come bundled with the Apple TV.
Join the Conversation