Emily Martin 
Jan 29, 2024
If you are looking for a way to stream your favourite movies and shows on your TV, you might be wondering which device to choose: Apple TV vs Roku. Both are popular streaming media players that offer different features and content options.
Apple TV vs Roku
Price: Roku wins
When comparing the price of Apple TV vs Roku, every Roku device is cheaper by a long shot. Even the cheapest Apple TV devices will cost you more than the most expensive Roku device. The Apple TV 4K is one of the most expensive streaming devices on the market. If you do not have a 4K TV, you can also opt for the cheaper Apple TV HD.
The Roku Ultra is the company’s priciest streamer at $99.99. Roku also offers several 4K-capable streamers for far less, such as the $39.99 Roku Premiere and the $49.99 Roku Streaming Stick+. They do not have headphone jack-equipped remotes like the Roku Ultra, but they support 4K HDR video for significantly less than the Apple TV. The 1080p Roku Express is the least expensive model at $29.99.
| Feature | Apple TV | Roku |
| Price | $149-$199 | $29.99-$99.99 |
| Resolution | 4K and HDR (HDR10 and Dolby Vision) | 4K and HDR (HDR10 only) |
| Platform | tvOS (based on iOS) | Roku OS |
| Channel Selection | Smaller but covers most popular services and genres | Larger and more diverse with more genres and categories |
| Live TV | Fewer options and features, mostly paid or require cable subscription | More options and features, some free and some paid |
| Exclusive Apps and Features | Apple Arcade, Fitness+, AirPlay, Apple TV+ | The Roku Channel, Antenna TV |
Resolution: Toss-up
Both Apple TV and Roku support 4K resolution and HDR (high dynamic range) for enhanced picture quality and contrast. However, Apple TV has an edge over Roku in terms of supporting both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, while Roku only supports HDR10. Dolby Vision is a more advanced version of HDR that offers better colour accuracy and brightness levels. However, not all TVs and streaming services support Dolby Vision, so you might not notice much difference unless you have a compatible TV and content.
Platform: Apple wins for iOS users, Roku wins for others
Apple TV runs on tvOS, which is based on iOS and offers a similar interface and functionality. If you are an iPhone or Mac user, the Apple TV interface will instantly seem familiar to you. You will get shortcuts to Apple apps and services, such as Apple Music, Fitness+, and AirPlay. You can also use Siri to control your device with voice commands.
Roku runs on Roku OS, which is a simple and user-friendly platform that offers a wide range of channels and apps. You can easily access your settings or find something new to watch from the home screen. You can also use voice search to look for content or control your device.
The main difference between the two platforms is the availability and compatibility of apps and services. Apple TV supports most major streaming services through the App Store, except for Google Play. It also has some exclusive apps and features that are not available on Roku, such as Apple Arcade (a gaming service), Fitness+ (a fitness service), AirPlay (a wireless mirroring feature), and Apple TV+ (a streaming service with original content).
Roku supports more than 5,000 paid and free channels and apps, which is more than any other streaming device. It has a broader range of content options, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock TV, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and more. It also has some free content that you can access from the home screen or the Roku Channel. However, it does not support Twitch (a gaming platform), which is available on Apple TV.
Channel selection: Roku wins
As mentioned above, Roku has a larger and more diverse channel selection than Apple TV. It offers more genres and categories of content, such as sports, news, music, kids, lifestyle, international, educational, religious, and more. It also has some niche channels that cater to specific interests or hobbies.
Apple TV has a smaller but still impressive channel selection that covers most of the popular streaming services and genres. However, it lacks some of the channels that are available on Roku, such as Peacock TV (a streaming service from NBCUniversal), HBO Max (a streaming service from WarnerMedia), YouTube (a video-sharing platform), Spotify (a music-streaming service), Pandora (a music-streaming service), and more.
Live TV: Roku wins
Both Apple TV and Roku allow you to watch live TV through various apps and services. However, Roku has more options and features for live TV than Apple TV.
With an Apple TV device, you can watch major sporting events and news coverage live. However, you will either need to pay a fee or have an existing cable subscription to watch the majority of live football, basketball, and baseball games. You can also use apps like Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or fuboTV to access live TV channels, but they require a monthly subscription.
With a Roku device, you can watch live TV channels for free through apps like Pluto TV, Xumo, The Roku Channel, and more. You can also use the same apps as Apple TV to access paid live TV services. Additionally, you can use an antenna to watch local broadcast channels for free and use the Roku app on your smartphone to pause and rewind live TV.
