4K Resolution News & Update: Chrome Ultra, Roku Plus Now Offers Ultra HD, But Do We Need It?

4K resolution is becoming a trend now, especially now that the technology is continuously growing. A lot of the current devices are adapting the 4K resolution to provide enhanced video output. Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra are among the devices which are now in 4K.

Roku Ultra is a streaming digital media player set-top box which is manufactured by Roku Inc. On the other hand, Chromecast Ultra is similar to USB device that can be plugged-in at the HDMI port of a Smart TV and the smartphone will act as the remote control. Both devices can stream from any video content like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and much more. Now, both devices can be used to stream videos with 4K resolution.

According to The Verge, Roku Ultra, priced at $130, offers 4K resolution via Wi-Fi or wired connection. The device has ports like Ethernet for wired connections, optical audio, microSD, USB and power inputs. Chromecast Ultra, priced at $70, is a dongle with HDMI cable for Smart TV but there is a need for it to be plugged into a power outlet. The power outlet is needed so Chromecast Ultra can provide 4K resolution, otherwise, it will be automatically set to 1080p resolution. 

According to a previous report, aside from Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra, Windows 10 also offers now 4K resolution via Netflix. However, there is a need for the Windows 10 users to check first their computer specifications if it's capable of handling 4K resolution. Otherwise, they will need to purchase a new computer with the Kaby Lake Intel seventh-generation processor since 4K does not work with older Intel processors.

The question now is do we really need these devices to enjoy watching TV? The answer depends on the customers need and watching experience. The 4k resolution needs a 4K capable device. In this case, Roku Ultra and Chromecast Ultra might have this feature but if the Smart TV does not have it, you will still not see any difference. In addition, streaming with 4K resolution requires stable and fast internet connection and unlimited bandwidth.