Roku Ultra 4850R Review (2026): Fast, but Showing Its Age

If you want a streaming box that sits at the top of Roku's range, this Roku Ultra 4850R review covers what the player offers and where it falls short. It is a 4K streamer built for people who already like Roku's simple interface and want quick navigation, every major HDR format and a remote with a few extras. It sits in the mid-range part of the market, and expert reviews are broadly positive, with a few consistent complaints.

Design and build

The Ultra 4850R is a compact box measuring 4.9 x 5.0 x 1.0 inches (124.4 x 127.0 x 25.4 mm) and weighing 5.9 ounces (167.2 g). It is small enough to tuck behind or beside a TV, and unlike a stick it has a full set of ports on the back: HDMI 2.1b, Ethernet, USB 3.0 and power. That makes it a better fit for a media cabinet than for hiding behind a screen.

The box includes the player, the Voice Remote Pro, a USB-C cable, a Premium High Speed HDMI cable and a power adaptor. You don't need to buy a cable separately to get started. The power input is 12V – 1.5A, and Roku quotes approximately 4.5W when streaming 4K video, so it is not a power-hungry device to leave plugged in.

Picture and sound

The Ultra streams at up to 2160p at 60fps (3840 x 2160). Its HDR support is a headline strength: Dolby Vision at 60fps, HDR10 and HDR10+, and HLG. Having Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG all supported means you aren't tied to one standard when you buy a TV. Whether you see the benefit depends on your screen, as HDR formats only work if the TV supports them.

For audio, the player decodes Dolby Atmos over HDMI, which needs compatible speakers, and passes through DTS Digital Surround. If you own a soundbar or AV receiver, that covers the common surround formats. If you listen through TV speakers alone, this matters less.

There is also a Bluetooth headphone mode, which lets you listen privately. That is useful in a shared home when someone is sleeping or watching something else. Bluetooth on this player covers both headphone mode and streaming.

Speed and the Roku interface

Roku says the Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, so menus and app launches feel quick. That is the manufacturer's claim, but reviewers also praise the speed of menus and app launches. For a device you use every day to open apps and move through a grid of channels, responsiveness is the quality you notice most.

The interface is the other side of the story. Reviewers describe it as easy to use, but a common criticism is that it is starting to feel dated, and that ads are frequent, including a banner on the home screen. If you like Roku's plain, app-grid approach, this is unlikely to bother you much. If you want a fresh, content-led layout or an ad-free home screen, it is worth knowing before you buy.

The Voice Remote Pro

The remote is one of the player's strengths. The Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) is rechargeable over USB-C, so there are no batteries to replace, and a USB-C cable is in the box. The buttons are backlit, which helps in a dark room.

It supports hands-free "Hey Roku" voice control, and it has a lost remote finder for when it slips down the sofa. These are practical touches rather than gimmicks, and reviewers praise the remote's rechargeable design, backlit buttons and finder.

Connectivity

The Ultra supports 802.11ax dual-band MIMO Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) and also has an Ethernet port. For a device streaming 4K video, a wired option is welcome if your TV is far from the router. One caveat is that the Ethernet port is 10/100 Base-T, not Gigabit. That is a common criticism. Reviewers do criticise it as a limitation, and Wi-Fi 6 is there if you prefer wireless.

The USB port plays local media files, so you can watch content from a drive without going through an app. If you keep a library of your own video files, that is a handy extra.

On the smart home side, the player works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Google Home and Alexa. That means you can send content from an Apple device or control it through the voice assistant you already use. It does not offer Matter-based smart home control, which matters if you are building around that standard.

What experts like and what they criticise

The Ultra averages 7.8/10 across 4 expert reviews. How-To Geek, Android Police and Pocket-lint each score it 8/10, and PCWorld scores it 3.5/5. That is a solid, consistent set of scores, though reviewers do raise reservations: 10/100 Ethernet, frequent ads, a dated interface and little change from the previous Ultra.

What reviewers praise:

• Speed, with menus and app launches that feel quick.
• The full range of HDR formats plus Dolby Atmos decoding over HDMI.
• The rechargeable Voice Remote Pro with backlit buttons and a lost remote finder.
• Wi-Fi 6 and an Ethernet port for a stable connection.
• The USB port for local media and Bluetooth headphone mode.

What they criticise:

• The 10/100 Ethernet port.
• Little real-world change from the previous Ultra.
• Frequent ads, including a banner on the home screen.
• An interface that is starting to feel dated.

The point about the previous Ultra matters. If you already own it, reviewers see little reason to upgrade. This player is aimed at people buying a new streamer or replacing something older.

Who should buy it

The Roku Ultra 4850R suits people who want a fast, full-featured 4K streamer and are happy with Roku's interface. It is a good match if you:

• Have a TV that supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ or HLG and want a player that handles all of them.
• Own a soundbar or receiver that can use Dolby Atmos.
• Want a rechargeable remote with backlit buttons and voice control.
• Like the option of a wired connection, or want to play local media files from USB.
• Want to listen privately through Bluetooth headphones.

Who should skip it

This is not the best choice for everyone. Think twice if you:

• Already have the last Ultra, since reviewers report little real-world change.
• Dislike ads on the home screen.
• Want Matter-based smart home control.
• Need a Gigabit Ethernet connection.
• Only need basic streaming, in which case a player with fewer features may be enough, since much of what you pay for here is HDR formats, audio decoding and the premium remote.

How it fits in its category

The Ultra is a feature-rich option rather than a minimal one. It offers a full set of ports (HDMI 2.1b, Ethernet, USB 3.0), a Voice Remote Pro and wide format support. In general terms, streaming players at this level compete on speed, HDR and audio support and remote design, and the Ultra is strong on those points. Its weaknesses are the familiar ones: the ads and the aging interface. If you have a recent TV with its own capable smart platform, check whether a separate box adds enough, especially for the remote and the local media support.

Verdict

The Roku Ultra 4850R is a quick, well-equipped 4K streamer, and expert scores reflect that with a 7.8/10 average. It covers every major HDR format, decodes Dolby Atmos over HDMI, offers Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet, and comes with a rechargeable remote that reviewers praise. Its drawbacks are modest but real: 10/100 Ethernet, frequent ads, a dated interface and little to tempt owners of the previous model. For someone buying a new streamer who likes Roku, it is a sensible choice. For everyone else, weigh those caveats first.

Related buying guides

• Best Streaming Devices 2026: Budget Sticks to Smart Hubs
• Google TV Streamer (4K) Review: Fast, With a Hub Inside
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) Review: Who Needs It?
• Hisense C2 Ultra vs Anker Nebula X1 (2026): Gaming or Film?
• GoPro HERO13 Black Review (2026): Rugged but Incremental