Roku announces improved Roku Express, wireless bass subwoofer and more

Roku is mostly leaving its hardware lineup untouched for fall — with a few exceptions. Today, the company is introducing an upgraded Roku Express that now includes dual-band WiFi for more robust and reliable streaming performance. Still priced at $29.99, the device is available for pre-order now and will go on sale on October 16th.

The Express is Roku’s entry-level streaming device and accordingly sticks to 1080p quality; You’ll need to step up to the Roku Express 4K Plus – which already includes dual-band connectivity – if you want to watch 4K/Ultra HD content. The basic Express comes with Roku’s most basic remote control, so you’ll need to use the company’s mobile app if you want to use the private listening feature with headphones attached. The new Express comes ahead of a rumored Google Chromecast HD, which is expected at next month’s hardware event.

Roku also announces the so-called Roku Wireless Bass, an affordable subwoofer that costs $129.99. That saves you $50 compared to the Roku Wireless Subwoofer. You can pair the Wireless Bass with a Roku Streambar, Roku Wireless Speakers, or Roku TV Wireless Soundbar. And setup is quick and easy as everything resides within the company’s ecosystem.

A slimmer profile allows for more versatile placement options compared to the bulky wireless subwoofer, but even with a smaller form factor, Roku says the Wireless Bass delivers “rumble bass” and “rich depth” — all with wireless convenience. It will be available later this fall, shipping from Roku, Amazon, and Best Buy starting November 7th. The Wireless Bass also comes bundled with the Roku Streambar for a combo price of $249.99.

Image: Roku

New Roku OS 11.5 software features

Alongside the new devices, Roku is unveiling some significant new software features that customers can expect “in the coming months.” Some of these are designed to improve discoverability and help you find something to watch. There will be a new element on the Roku home screen called “The Buzz,” and this is how the company describes it:

Users can quickly browse a frequently updated collection of posts featuring entertainment-centric short-form content from popular streaming services and entertainment brands like AMC Plus, Apple TV Plus, BET Plus, Crackle, Hallmark Movies Now, IGN, Plex, Popcornflix, Showtime, Starz, The CW, Tubi, Vevo and Wondrium, more to come. Posts in The Buzz may include video clips, images, trailers, interviews, and other content to help users discover movies and shows related to their interests. Users can interact with content featured in The Buzz by liking posts, saving content to watch later, following profiles to see future posts, or streaming the movie or show featured in the post instantly.

Image: Roku

The buzz is really one of those things you have to try for yourself to see if the new portal has any value. But I think everyone will appreciate two other new features along the way: keep watching and a platform-wide save list. Keep Watching is exactly what you’ve come to expect, and will make it easier to get back access to content from supported apps like HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount Plus, and the company’s Roku Channel, “with more channels to come.” It’s not found on the home screen: instead, you’ll have to navigate to the “What to watch” section, where you’ll find the line to continue watching.

Image: Roku

And then there’s the new saves list, which lets you “save movies and shows from across the Roku platform” so they’re easier to find later. Your saved list is also in the What to Watch section. Once this feature is available to you, you will see a “Save” option on the detail pages of movies and TV shows. Roku says this is “an expansion of the previously launched save list in The Roku Channel and the Roku mobile app,” but to me it’s clearly an attempt to match similar features to Google TV’s watchlist and Apple TV’s Up Next. The big question is whether some services like Netflix will reject Roku’s version like others have. I have asked the company for an opinion. These features lose a lot of appeal when a big player decides not to play along.

Upcoming Roku software updates will also extend private Bluetooth listening to the latest versions of the Roku Ultra, Roku Streambar, and Roku Streambar Pro. You can pair any Bluetooth headphones or earphones with these devices and listen to content privately without disturbing others. Private listening is currently available on Roku’s premium remotes and through the mobile app, but it’s nice to see it’s being made available to actual streamers.

Roku is also making improvements to voice search, overhauling search results to be more visual, and adding categories to its live TV guide for more convenient branding. The Channel Store will also be rebranded as “The Roku Store,” another sign that the company is taking more control of its wildly popular platform.

Roku is not yet sharing a specific release date for the OS 11.5 update and other new features, only promising that they will arrive in the next few months.