Right now, Roku is one of the popular streaming devices introduced earlier in collaboration with Netflix. When the device was launched, the idea behind it was unique, and it is one of the low-cost, compact set-top boxes. You can use a Roku device to stream live TV channels like News, Sports, etc. Moreover, we can access other streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and a lot more on your Roku device.

History of Roku

  • Roku was founded in 2002 by Anthony Wood, the founder of ReplayTV, a DVR company. It started as a company that designed media players.
  • And while being the founder, Anthony worked side by side with Netflix for a while.
  • In 2007, Roku began working with Netflix on a Griffin project.’ This project was to design a set-top box allowing Netflix users to stream its content on their TVs.
  • But sadly, before the project launch, it was killed by Netflix founder Reed Hastings. He, at that time, thought that this project would hinder the license agreements made with third parties.
  • Although the project was terminated, Netflix decided to spin off the company to not waste the good work.
  • In 2008, it released its first set-up box and started its legendary journey.
  • By 2010, it released various models with different capabilities and decided that this would be its business model.
  • After years of development, they partnered with Smart TV manufacturers to produce TVs with built-in Roku OS in 2014.
  • As of July 2022, they have over 63 million active accounts.

Journey of Roku’s Evolution

Below you will get to know the various Roku models based on the generation and their functions.

First Generation

Roku

The first generation of Roku models consists of a DVR option, released on May 20, 2008. Models Roku SD and Roku HD-XR were released in October 2009, and Roku HD was released in November month of the same year. Later, Roku HD, Roku XD, and Roku XDS released in September 2010.

ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p1080p2160p (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku DVR (N1000)YesBothYesNoNoYesb/gIRNo256 MBNo
Roku SD (N1050)No480iNoNoNoYesb/gIRNo256 MBNo
Roku HD-XR (N1101)YesBothYesYesNoYesa/b/g/n dual-bandIRYes256 MBNo
Roku HD (N1100)YesBothYesNoNoYesb/gIRNo256 MBNo
Roku HD (2000)YesBothYesNoNoYesb/gIRNo256 MBNo
Roku XD (2050)YesBothYesYesNoYesb/gIRNo256 MBNo
Roku XDS (2100)YesBothYesYesNoYesb/gIRYes256 MBNo

Second Generation

The second generation models consist of Roku 2 HD, Roku 2 XD, Roku 2 XS, released in July 2011, and Roku LT in November 2011. Roku HD, Roku LT in April 2012, and Roku Streaming Stick, MHL in October 2012. Lastly, in March 2014, Roku Streaming Stick HDMI was released.

Roku 2 HD
ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p1080p2160p (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku 2 HD (3000)YesBothYesNoNoNob/g/nIRNo256 MBYes
Roku 2 XD (3050)YesBothYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo256 MBYes
Roku 2 XS (3100)YesBothYesYesNoYesb/g/nIR, BluetoothYes256 MBYes
Roku LT (2400)YesBothYesNoNoNob/g/nIRNo256 MBNo
Roku LT (2450)YesBothYesNoNoNob/g/nIRNo256 MBNo
Roku HD (2500)YesBothYesNoNoNob/g/nIRNo256 MBNo
Roku Streaming Stick, MHL (3400, 3420)No480pYesYesNoNob/g/n dual-bandWi-Fi DirectNo256 MBNo
Roku Streaming Stick, HDMI (3500)YesNeitherYesNoNoNob/g/n dual-bandWi-Fi DirectNo512 MBNo

Third Generation

The third generation of models includes Roku LT, Roku 1, SE, and Roku 2, released on September 2013, and Roku 3 in March 2013. Roku 2 and Roku 3 on April 2015.

Roku 3
ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p1080p2160p (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku 3 (4200)YesNeitherYesYesNoYesb/g/n dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi DirectYes512 MBYes
Roku LT (2700)YesBothYesNoNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku 1, SE (2710)YesBothYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku 2 (2720)YesBothYesYesNoNob/g/n dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi DirectNo512 MBNo
Roku 2 (4210)YesNeitherYesYesNoYesb/g/n dual-bandIRYes512 MBYes
Roku 3 (4230)YesNeitherYesYesNoYesb/g/n dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes512 MBYes

Fourth Generation

The fourth generation model is the Roku Streaming Stick, released in April 2016, and Roku 4, released in October 2015.

Roku 4 - When did Roku get out
ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p1080p2160p (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Streaming Stick (3600)YesNeitherYesYesNoNoa/b/g/n dual-bandWi-Fi DirectNo512 MBNo
Roku 4 (4400)YesNeitherYesYesYesYes, 10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes1.5 GBYes

Fifth Generation

Roku’s fifth generation model includes Roku Express, Roku Express +, Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere +, and Roku Ultra. These models were released on October 2016.

Roku - When did Roku get out
ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p601080p60 (HD)2160p (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Express (3700)YesNeitherYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku Express+ (3710)Yes480iYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku Premiere (4620)YesNeitherYesYesYesNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandIRNo1 GBNo
Roku Premiere+(4630)YesNeitherYesYesYesYes, 10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi DirectNo1 GBYes
Roku Ultra (4640)YesNeitherYesYesYesYes, 10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes1 GBYes

Sixth Generation

For the sixth generation of Roku devices, it offers you Roku Express, Roku Express+, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Roku Ultra, all on October 2017.

Roku streaming stick
ModelsHDMI480p, 480i720p601080p60 (HD)2160p60 (4K)EthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)RemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Express (3900)YesNeitherYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku Express+ (3910) Yes480iYesYesNoNob/g/nIRNo512 MBNo
Roku Streaming Stick (3800)YesNeitherYesYesNoNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandWi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchNo512 MBNo
Roku Streaming Stick+ (3810)YesNeitherYesYesYesNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandWi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchNo1 GBNo
Roku Ultra (4660)YesNeitherYesYesYesYes, 10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes1 GBYes

Seventh Generation

The seventh generation of Roku models includes Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, and Roku Ultra, released on September 2018.

Roku Premiere - When did Roku get out
ModelsHDMIHD4KEthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)HDR10, Dolby VisionDolby AtmosRemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Premiere (3920)YesYesYesNob/g/nHDR10YesIRNo1 GBNo
Roku Premiere+ (3921)YesYesYesNob/g/nHDR10YesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchNo1 GBNo
Roku Ultra (4661)YesYesYes10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10YesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes1 GBYes

Eighth Generation

For the eighth generation of Roku devices, you have Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Express, SE, LE, Roku Express+, Roku Premiere, Roku Ultra LT, and Roku Ultra, released in September 2019.

Ultra
ModelsHDMIHD4KEthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)HDR10, Dolby VisionDolby AtmosRemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Streaming Stick+ (3810)HDMI 2.1aYesYesNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10YesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes*, for long-range wireless receiver1 GBNo
Roku Express, SE, LE (3930)HDMI 1.4bYesNoNob/g/nNoYesIRYes*, for power512 MBNo
Roku Express+ (3931)HDMI 1.4bYesNoNob/g/nNoYesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes*, for power512 MBNo
Roku Premiere (3920)HDMI 2.0aYesYesNob/g/nHDR10YesIRYes*, for power1 GBNo
Roku Ultra LT (4662)HDMI 2.0aYesYesYesa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10YesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchNo1 GBYes
Roku Ultra (4670)HDMI 2.0aYesYesYesa/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10YesIR, Wi-Fi Direct, Voice SearchYes2 GBYes

Ninth Generation

Ninth-generation Roku devices consist of Roku Express 4K and Roku Express 4K+, released in May 2021, and Roku Ultra and Roku Streambar, released in October 2020.

Soundbar
ModelsHDMIHD4KEthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)HDR10/HDR10+, Dolby Vision/HLGDolby AtmosRemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Express 4K (3940)HDMI 2.0bYesYesYes, with a compatible USB Ethernet adaptera/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10, HDR10+, HLGYesIRMicro USB1 GBNo
Roku Express 4K+ (3941)HDMI 2.0bYesYesYes, with a compatible USB Ethernet adaptera/b/g/n/ac dual-bandHDR10, HDR10+, HLGYesVoiceMicro USB1 GBNo
Roku Ultra (4800)HDMI 2.0bYesYes10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOAllYesVoice, Headphone Jack, Lost Remote3.02 GBNo
Roku Streambar (9102)Optical, HDMI 2.0a (ARC)YesYesYes, with a compatible USB Ethernet adaptera/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOHDR10, HLGYesVoice2.01 GBNo

Tenth Generation

The tenth generation of the devices includes Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, Roku Ultra LT, released on September 2021, and Roku Streambar Pro, released on May 2021.

tenth generation device
ModelsHDMIHD4KEthernetWireless (Wi-Fi)HDR10/HDR10+, Dolby Vision/HLGDolby AtmosRemoteUSBMemoryMicro SD Slot
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (3820)HDMI 2.0bYesYesNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOAllYesVoiceYes*, for long-range wireless receiver1 GBNo
Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ (3821)HDMI 2.0bYesYesNoa/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOAllYesVoice, Headphone Jack, Lost Remote, RechargeableYes*, for long-range wireless receiver1 GBNo
Roku Ultra LT (4801)HDMI 2.0bYesYes10/100 Mbpsa/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOAllYesVoice, Headphone JackNo2 GBNo
Roku Streambar Pro (9101)Optical, HDMI 2.0a (ARC)YesYesYes, with a compatible USB Ethernet adaptera/b/g/n/ac dual-band MIMOHDR10, HLGYesVoice, Headphone Jack2.01 GBNo

FAQ

Can you record shows on Roku?

No, you cannot record shows on Roku because it does not have built-in storage space for downloading or recording shows.