Roku Ultra vs Chromecast Ultra – Which Ultra device works better for you?
There are so many streaming devices in the market today that you can get confused about which one to choose. With 4k becoming popular, devices like Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra can make streaming 4k videos much easier.
While the Chromecast ultra is a dongle that you can easily hide behind your TV, it supports all 4K and HDR video and it comes with an Ethernet port for a wired connection between your device and router. The Ruko ultra is a set-top box that you place next to your TV and it has a USB port that allows you to use an external drive to play video content directly.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra?
Product |
Ruko Ultra |
Chromecast Ultra |
Design |
Flat disc-shaped box |
Circular disc |
Remote control |
Enhanced voice remote |
No remote |
4k |
4k HDR in HDR10 but no Dolby vision |
Dolby Vision and HDR10 |
Work with Google Assistant |
No |
Yes |
Work with Alexa Assistant |
Yes |
No |
Roku Ultra vs Chromecast Ultra – How do they differ?
Design
These two streaming devices have a very different design so you can’t confuse them. The Ruko ultra is a flat disc-shaped streaming box with a remote-shaped button at the top to turn on the remote finder feature. On the right is a USB port for playing media from an external hard drive. At the back is the HDMI port that you connect to your TV, an Ethernet port for wired connection to your router, and a connector for the power adapter. However, it doesn’t come with an HDMI cable. On the other hand, Chromecast ultra is a circular disc with a 3 inch HDMI cable on one side that you connect to your TV and a MicroUSB port on the other side. Unlike the regular Chromecast, the Ultra can’t draw its power from your TVs USB port that’s why you need to power it directly from the power source.
The Chromecast Ultra has a better design and you can easily hide it behind your TV.
Remote control
All Ruko devices come with their own remote control, but the Ultra has an enhanced voice remote that is slightly rounded with a purple direction pad near the top and buttons for home, power, back, replay, microphone, option, and playback controls. You also get dedicated service buttons for Sling, Netflix, ESPN+, and Hulu with a volume rocker and mute button and a pinhole mic at the top for using with the Ruko Assistant voice search. The remote also comes with a headphone jack that you can connect the included JBL earphones for private listening using the remote. The Chromecast doesn’t come with a remote, instead, you use your phone for control.
The Ruko remote has advanced voice-command features and useful buttons for easy control of your device.
Content
Ruko devices have access to more than 500,000 channels that you can easily install on your device and although you won’t need all of them, you’ll have access to the major channels like Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, Spotify, Sling TV, Disney+, YouTube, HBO, Vudu, Crunchyroll and many more. You also get free content from the Ruko channel. However, Chromecast devices are different, because not all apps are Chromecast-enabled you have to manually cast the apps you want to watch on your TV screen. Most of the major apps like Netflix, HBO, Vudu, YouTube TV, YouTube, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, Twitch, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and other services you can cast. Apple Music, Amazon Prime, and iTunes aren’t included.
The Ruko ultra has a vast selection of apps and services that you can enjoy.
Roku Ultra vs Chromecast Ultra – A comparison review
Ruko Ultra
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The Ruko Ultra is an advanced streaming device that can access a vast selection of apps and streaming services and comes with a powerful remote with customizable shortcut buttons and a headphone jack for private listening. You can also do private listening on your phone through the Ruko mobile app. You can only use the mic on the remote for voice control to search for content, open apps, and control playback. The Ultra can play 4k video with HDR content in HDR10 format, but it doesn’t support Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
The best part about Ruko devices is their integration with Amazon and Google smart devices. However, Ruko can’t control wither of these two platforms, but you can use the platforms to control your Ruko Ultra device which is very helpful if you don’t want to use your remote. The Ultra also supports screencasting which means you can mirror your Android and Windows screens onto your TV.
Pros
- Very easy to use and setup
- Comes with a voice remote with a headphone jack for private listening
- Has programmable buttons
- Access to a wide variety of content
Cons
- Doesn’t support Dolby vision
- Limited voice assistant
Chromecast Ultra
Chromecast Ultra is an affordable 4k media streamer that needs your phone, tablet, or PC to control. The Google cast app in your Ultra uses your phone or tablet for nearly all its navigation functions and playback control. When your Ultra and phone are connected to the same network, all the compatible media apps like Netflix, YouTube and Vudu will have a cast icon that you can tap to stream what you’re watching on your phone to your Ultra. It’s simple and convenient, but it means you’ll need your phone to watch anything. The Chromecast Ultra doesn’t have a remote or an on-screen menu system, but you can customize using the app.
With a compatible Android device, you can mirror your screen onto your Chromecast Ultra. The streaming quality of 4k video on the Chromecast Ultra using wifi is very impressive. With a better processor, you get improves streaming performance with no buffering and with clear and pristine picture quality in 4k. The guest mode will allow other people in your home to control your Ultra without logging into your wifi. Ultra supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10 so you can watch videos in both formats.
Pros
- Supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10 video formats
- Very affordable
- Has an Ethernet port for reliable 4k streaming
- A very simple setup process
Cons
- Doesn’t support Amazon and Apple
- Require a phone, tablet or PC to control
Conclusion
While both the Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra support 4k and HDR content, but Chromecast Ultra provides better support with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos while Ruko Ultra only supports Dolby Atmos on some apps and services.
So which one is better Roku Ultra or Chromecast Ultra?
Ruko Ultra is the better streaming device because you have access to thousands of channels of content, it has an impressive remote, and you can use your microSD card or USB drive to stream directly from your external storage.
FAQ
Do I need Chromecast if I have a smart TV?
Generally no you don’t need it, but you may need it if your TV doesn’t have specific apps that you want to watch.
Will Ruko ultra work on any TV?
Yes, it will work on any TV as long as it has an HDMI connection. The TV doesn’t have to be fully 4k or HD. Once you set it up it will auto-detect your display and configure it to work for your TV.
