Roku released a number of TVs after the first one. These televisions are full of technology. The standout feature is the Mini LED backlight for better brightness and contrast. The 4K TVs also feature QLED panels, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and a responsive 120Hz refresh rate. The company calls them the “ultimate TVs” for streaming.
To that end, the quad-core processor should allow for faster menu navigation and app launch, so you can spend less time waiting for a loading screen and more time enjoying Hulu Shogun while slurping down a big bowl of popcorn. They’re also Wi-Fi 6 ready, which comes in handy when streaming 4K content.
On the audio side, the Pro Series models feature side-firing Dolby Atmos speakers for “wide, cinema-like sound.” In addition to the wired versions, the televisions can also be easily integrated with wireless soundbars, speakers and subwoofers. Each model also has Bluetooth for connecting wireless headphones to prevent spoilers from invading every corner of the house. They come with an updated remote control that includes motion-activated backlit buttons, USB-C charging, and new shortcut options.
The Pro Series TVs feature a new Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that enables some nifty operating system features. Smart Picture Max uses AI to automatically adjust the best picture mode for a given content, refining color, sharpness and motion as needed. This is transferred to the brightness, which also automatically adapts to the room lighting.
While Smart Picture Max may be tied to the Pro Series TV lineup due to the updated NPU, all Roku panels come with more operating system features. The company’s TVs will soon come with so-called backgrounds, which are basically just fancy screensavers drawn from an extensive catalog of popular artwork or via uploaded images. This won’t exactly turn a Roku into one, but it’s a start.
Roku TVs are also getting deep integration with IMDB in an upcoming operating system update. This provides data sourced from the website as you scroll through potential shows and movies you want to watch. Finally, the mobile app is getting a major upgrade, complete with a streamlined design, better search, and new content categories.
The Pro Series line is available now at Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart. Prices start at $900 for the 55-inch model and go up to $1,700 for the chunky 75-inch version. There is also a wall mount kit for $100.