Roku announced Thursday that its Ultra streaming box will include its Voice Remote Pro, which upgrades the company’s standard remote by adding more buttons, always-on listening and a rechargeable battery. Although Roku includes a remote that costs $30 to purchase separately, the Ultra will maintain its original $99.99 price point.
The company said in its press release that bundling will begin “in mid-May,” and its website already says the Ultra comes with a Pro remote. When my colleague Chris Welch reviewed the remote last year, he liked that he had the option to issue voice commands to his Roku without having to press a button. While he appreciates the fact that it doesn’t need AA anymore, it’s a little disappointing that the remote charges via Micro USB.
This isn’t the first time Roku has bundled a remote with one of its streaming boxes. The $70 Streaming Stick 4K Plus also includes it. However, this model is $20 more than the regular Streaming Stick 4K. It’s great to see Roku just include it in the Ultra without a price hike. That makes a streaming box with HDR and an Ethernet port a pretty good deal — even more so when it inevitably goes on sale.
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