Chromecast with Google TV vs. Roku Ultra: Which should you buy? - currietintery

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Chromecast with Google TV vs. Roku Ultra: Which should you buy?

Casting + Streaming

Google Chromecast with Google Video

Worldwide compatibility

Roku Ultra (2020)

The Chromecast with Google Video crowds onto Roku's sod with an excellent app library of unfixed mental object, combined with AI recommendations and Google Assistant sailing to make your faves relaxed to find. That, along with Google's patented casting tech and its 4K + Dolby capabilities, makes the new cyclosis dongle hard to beat.

$50 at Best Buy

Pros

• 4K HDR with Dolby Imagination
• Built-in Google Assistant in remote
• Better for gaming options
• Casting tech
• Google Knowledge Graph delivers bettor recommendations

Cons

• No Alexa, AirPlay or HomeKit
• No expandable storage
• No Ethernet connectivity

Roku Ultra 2020 upgrades on older models with improved WI-Fi vagabon, Dolby Vision, and AirPlay sustain, which bundles onto a wholly host of different features that makes Roku a favorite for many. The Roku Ultra has our favorite remote control, and plays nicer with not-Google speakers and tech, but is twice the price A its rival—unless IT's on sale.

$86 at Amazon River

Pros

• 4K HDR with Dolby Vision
• Whole kit and caboodle with Alexa, Google Assistant, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
• Distant control with earphone jack and find-my-remote
• Supports Bluetooth flowing from devices
• USB and Ethernet connectivity

Cons

• Non As compact of a streaming dongle
• Minimal gaming options
• More expensive

The Chromecast vs Roku battle is Sir Thomas More neck-and-neck opening than ever earlier. Chromecast with Google Television receiver adds a traditional flowing service and remote control along with the Chromecast Ultra's top-class specs while the new Roku Ultra 2020 adds Dolby Visual sense, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2 moving, and other OS improvements. The few differences 'tween these new dongles make either a worthy purchase, but we'll tumble which has an edge complete the other in specific areas.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Features and specs

Source: Joe Maring / Android Cardinal

Barring any sales, the new Roku Immoderate 2020 is twice the price of Google's new HDMI dongle, which we praised in our Chromecast with Google TV reassessmen. Taking that pricing difference of opinion severely, we'll consider whether you should justify spending double for Roku versus Chromecast, supported on what both devices make for to the table.

Chromecast with Google Boob tube is a longer dongle meant to knack from your TV HDMI port, while the Roku Ultra 2020 is large enough that it is meant to sit on your amusement center. The Roku Ultra's extra width makes room for extra USB and Ethernet ports, which enables external storage and a more consistent internet connection if your Wi-Fi is shoddy. If you'rhenium farthermost from your router, Roku besides claims information technology improved the Extremist's wireless connectivity by 50% terminated the 2020 model, so either option wish suffice your purposes.

The incomparable feature article that Chromecast brings to the table in all its iterations is Google Cast support, letting you stream most TV apps and any browser content to your TV with a couple of lights-out or clicks. Past Roku Ultras could only offer endemic streaming through its apps, but the 2020 model adds Bluetooth streaming. Naturally, ready and waiting to pair your devices before streaming from them isn't well-nigh as prompt or convenient as molding, but Roku came as close as it could. It likewise benefits from AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, something Chromecast lacks.

Both devices can play practically any placid in its native format. 4K and Dolby Vision streaming process along either device, as do Dolby Atmos soundtracks if you own a compatible Dolby Atmos soundbar.

	Chromecast with Google Telly	Roku Ultra (2020)
Sizing	6.4" x 2.4" x 0.5"	4.9" x 5.0" x 1.0"
Colors	Snow, Sunrise, Sky	Total darkness
Resolution	4K HDR, 60 Federal Protective Service	4K HDR, 60 FPS
Video formats	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+	Dolby Sight, HDR10, HLG
Audio formats	DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby Integer Plus, Dolby Atmos	DTS, Dolby Atmos
Removed control	Yes	Yes
Ports	HDMI (touch base to Goggle bo), USB-C (power)	USB (auxiliary storage), HDMI (join to TV), Ethernet 10/100, and world power
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 Gigacycle)	Wisconsin-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), MIMO Radio
Ethernet	Requires adapter for Poe	10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Bluetooth	Only for enabling remote	Yes
Casting	Yes	No
Expandable entrepot	No	Yes
Smart home support	Stacked-in Google Helper	Whole kit and boodle With Google Subordinate, Works With Alexa, AirPlay 2, Apple HomeKit
Gaming	Stadia	None

Chromecast vs. Roku: Google TV versus Roku Channelise Store

Source: Mechanical man Central

Until now, you had to judge the thousands of free, organized Roku channels against Google Cast, which could lonesome cast from a smaller list of Android apps and couldn't cast at all from iOS apps. Today, with Chromecast with Google Television receiver, you get access to the thousands of cyclosis apps as well, putting the two platforms on mostly even terms.

Google TV repackages Android TV, taking the backbone of thousands of free Humanoid apps and adding a new organizational organisation that prioritizes self-satisfied. Google TV studies your viewing history via machine learning and presents a roll of recommendations designed to appeal to your interests from every flowing app you install, while also offering genre categories of shows from your installed apps.

Where Chromecast with Google TV leave shine is if you'rhenium a frequent user of Google products.

Roku is Sir Thomas More app-focused, which some users power prefer if they want to search a particular library. At the same time, they suffer a square-shouldered search feature that helps you hunting through your apps to find the express you need, as well Eastern Samoa reveal results from apps you don't possess if you can't find out information technology elsewhere. Plus, you can search for or play self-satisfied using your Echo or Google Home speakers.

Rather than get into the nitty-coarse-grained of the obscure free channels one armed service or the separate is lost, we'll simply say that both birth the main channels you'd expect, including Orchard apple tree TV. Both the Roku and Google platforms also previously faced the YouTube TV app, but the app was pulled from Roku in 2020 as the result of an ongoing feud over renewal terms between the two brands.

Google initially responded by allowing Roku users to get at the YouTube TV experience via a shortcut in the YouTube app, but declared in October 2020 that its contract with Roku volition expire on Celestial latitude. 9, 2020, and that the YouTube app leave also be separate from the Roku Channel Store. Per Google's statement, new Roku users should still have access to the YouTube app after the Declination. 9 deadline, just new devices will not be able to download either YouTube or YouTube Video.

Source: Joe Maring / Humanoid Nuclear

At the unvarying time, Mechanical man TV / Google Tv set has a decent excerption of games you can buy, including acclaimed series like Final Fantasy or Telltale Games. Stadia was also added to Chromecast with Google Goggle bo in 2020, which gives users access to AAA releases. Conversely, Roku's games aren't even worth mentioning.

Chromecast with Google TV bequeath give you better native access and features for Google content. For example, purchased Google Play smug is put front and center, you posterior fit Snuggle security feeds finished Google TV using Assistant commands, and you can showcase your Google Photos as a slideshow. If you subscribe to YouTube TV, you'll aim a live guide of altogether available channels.

Roku also gives you a live channel guide of its free-soil content and is generally a better quality for iPhone, iPad, and HomeKit users.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Comparing remotes

Source: Phil Nickinson / Cordcutters

In our previous Chromecast vs Roku article, we praised Roku versus the Chromecast Ultra for having a outback control patc molding only worked with a phone. Now that some platforms have a removed control, let's compare what they offer.

The Roku remote has dedicated, configurable shortcut buttons to open your favorite channels; volume and power controls for your TV; a earphone jack for listening in private to subject in case you motivation to mute your TV and speakers; and a remote-finding button connected the Roku dongle itself that makes the remote chime until you give the axe find wherever IT's hidden. That's beautiful much whol you prat ask for in a remote!

With the Chromecast with Google TV remote, you have a circular navigation plod; Home, Back, Input, and Power buttons; and sacred buttons for YouTube, Netflix, and Google Helper. The last mentioned works thanks to the built-in mic that will pick upward your commands. However, you can permanently cut the Google Assistant use if you're not comfy with it. The disc-shaped pad Crataegus oxycantha be slightly more comfortable for writhing between apps than the elevated D-Pad you'll uncovering on the Roku.

Chromecast vs. Roku: Which should you buy out?

To riposte to our original question, does Roku Ultra justify its much higher list price than Chromecast with Google TV? While we call back Roku has put down extinct a dongle it should be arrogant of and has little room for improvement, that doesn't mean the answer is yes.

Casting is bu much more convenient than Bluetooth, Google TV and Roku's Channels are fairly comparable for the most used platforms, and a built-in vocalism supporter is always fitter than making users bribe a set-apart smart speaker just to enable sound commands. Apple users will appreciate Roku's wagerer compatibility with its technical school, and Roku's remote can't be beaten, but Chromecast with Google TV's price for 4K video can't be beaten, either. That being aforementioned, IT's worth poiting out that the Roku Ultra is on sale for $69 through Nov. 13. Thus if that's the direction you're propensity, you should buy now before the deal ends.

Casting + Streaming

Chromecast with Google TV - 4K

Simple integral voice navigation

Chromecast offers 4K video, access to Google Helper, and casting at a low price point. Google TV is a great addition that bundles flowing and casting into one twist, indeed you no more need to soak up multiple HDMI slots on your TV sportsmanlike to do some.

Universal compatibility

Roku Extremist Streaming Device

This is Roku's best streaming device

The Roku Ultra 2020 is the best device for enjoying everything the Roku chopine has to offer. It comes with a not bad remote and an unhurried-to-use interface with a seemingly endless assembling of channels for your browse pleasure.

We Crataegus oxycantha earn a commission for purchases victimization our golf links. Learn much.

Direct casting and flowing

Best Ethernet adapters for your Chromecast or Ardor Boob tube Stick

If you've been having trouble with Wi-Fi on your moving marijuana cigarette, an Ethernet adapter may be a good investiture. A pumped up connection avoids signal incumbranc or bandwidth competition and gives your cast or watercourse priority access to data. Some adapters do just that, patc others take advantage of the plainspoken access to your Chromecast operating theatre Fire TV Stick with append other reclaimable features.

Quicker with 6GHz

These Android phones support Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E routers are making their way onto the market, and Android is the first platform to embrace the technology, with several high-end devices already offering full support. Another perk to consider: Wi-Fi 6E uses newly available 6GHz spectrum to amend the speed and electrical capacity of Wi-FI 6. Here's our tilt of Android phones that support Wi-Fi 6E!

Michael L Hicks

Michael is a former ebook dev turned tech writer whose career arc took him from VR to wearables, future tech to gambling guides, before arriving at AC to hatch Android, Oculus, Stadia, and smart homes, among another things. A Bay Area native, he loves underperforming sports teams, jetting, and tormenting his friends arsenic the DM for D&D and Whiz Wars RPG campaigns.

Source: https://www.androidcentral.com/chromecast-vs-roku

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