The Ultimate Guide to Roku Remotes

A Roku streaming device is a fantastic way to cut the cable cord and enjoy your favorite TV shows, movies, sports, news, and more. But which Roku remote is the perfect companion for your setup?

Learning More About Roku Remotes

Roku offers several remote options at different price points with various features to meet any viewer's needs. Their lineup includes Roku Simple Remote, Roku Voice Remote, and Roku Voice Remote Pro.

Finding the right remote can make using your Roku device incredibly functional. The wrong one will lead to constant frustration in navigating menus, searching for content, and switching between apps.

This ultimate guide will help you determine which Roku remote best suits your viewing habits and ensures the smoothest experience possible. Get ready to maximize your enjoyment of all the entertainment available on the Roku platform.

Roku Simple Remote

The Roku Simple Remote is the basic option, designed to provide a simplified experience for navigating Roku devices and streaming content. Unlike Roku's other more advanced remotes that include features like voice control, the Simple Remote focuses on core functionality. It uses invisible infrared light signals to transmit button presses over a short distance. To ensure reliable operation, the viewer must aim the remote directly at the Roku streaming device it controls. Nothing should block the signal from reaching the infrared receiver at the front of the device.

Roku simple remote features buttons for standard functions like shortcuts to launch popular streaming services. Some of the pre-set channel shortcuts include Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Paramount Plus.

This remote is versatile and is compatible with most Roku devices. These include:

• Roku Streambar
• Roku Smart Soundbar
• Roku Streambar Pro

These are some of the specs to expect in this remote:

• It requires two AAA batteries.
• The Roku simple remote is compact in size, with a length of 5.5 inches, a width of 1.7 inches, and a height of 0.8 inches.
• This remote is lightweight, weighing only 2.5 ounces.

The Roku simple remote is also among the cheapest remotes compared to its counterparts. It is available for $14.99.

Roku Voice Remote

The Roku Voice Remote is one of Roku’s most advanced remotes. It’s compact, comfortable, and packed with helpful features to make finding and enjoying your favorite shows as easy as talking. This remote has dedicated buttons for what you do the most, like turning the power on and off, adjusting the volume, and muting the sound. You can also use it to zip through your content using the rewind, play, pause, and fast-forward functions. But its most remarkable quality has to be the voice search button.

The Roku wireless voice remote connects without requiring a line of sight to the Roku streaming player or TV. Therefore, you can install the Roku streaming player behind a wall-mounted television. The Roku Voice Remote will have either a pairing button or a button combination. This combination initiates the pairing process and establishes a dedicated wireless connection with your Roku streaming device.

The Voice Remote provides the same buttons as the Roku Simple Remote, along with a push-to-talk button for voice commands. Simply press and hold the button and state an instruction such as "Search for comedies" or "Launch the Roku Channel" in a conversational tone at normal volume. Release the button, and the streaming device will execute your request, navigating you to the Roku Search screen or elsewhere within the Roku interface.

These are some of the specs that you can expect to find with the Roku Voice Remote:

• It is powered by two AAA batteries.
• The remote has a length of 5.5 inches, a width of 1.65, and a height of 0.78 inches.
• It weighs only 3.2 ounces.

This remote is compatible with all Roku TV models, audio devices, and most recent players. It also has a fair price tag of only $19.99.

Roku Voice Remote Pro

The Roku Voice Remote Pro is the most advanced remote available for Roku device users. It is a premium remote designed to be exclusively compatible with all Roku streaming platforms. Some of its unique features include a rechargeable battery, voice control, TV power, and volume control, among others.

The Roku Voice Remote Pro offers hands-free voice control and personalized shortcuts to enhance your entertainment experience. This advanced remote lets you power through your playlists, adjust settings, and navigate content quickly using just your voice.

You can choose between hands-free continuous listening or push-to-talk voice activation, allowing you to control your Roku device from anywhere in the room. The Voice Remote Pro carries over all the functions of a Roku simple remote, including turning on your TV, adjusting the volume, and private listening with the headphone jack.

Pairing the remote is simple, guided by an on-screen menu. The Voice Remote Pro has a rechargeable battery and a USB cable for convenient charging.

Programmable shortcut buttons and private listening are standout features. With a single press, you can set custom voice shortcuts to instantly access your favorite channels, change settings, and more. Private listening allows you to enjoy shows and movies discreetly without disturbing others.

The Voice Remote Pro has the same size, shape, and layout as other Roku remotes for familiarity. Though advanced, it remains simple to operate. Hands-free and push-to-talk voice options provide flexibility and control across your entertainment experience. With personalized shortcuts and streaming convenience, the Roku Voice Remote Pro enhances how you discover and enjoy content on Roku devices.

These are the specs of the Roku Voice Remote Pro:

• It has a micro-USB charging port.
• This rechargeable remote has a power capacity of 5V and 1A.
• Like other remotes, the Roku Voice Remote Pro is compact. It has a length of 5.7 inches, a width of 1.7 inches, and a height of 0.9 inches.
• This remote only weighs 2.8 ounces.

The price tag for this remote is relatively higher than its counterparts because of the added features and functionalities. It is available for only $29.99.

Which Roku Remote Is Right for You?

When choosing a remote for your Roku device, you should consider various factors such as compatibility, ease of use, and technology. We've given you a comparison of the Roku Simple remote, Roku Voice Remote, and Roku Remote Pro – the choice is now yours.

The Roku Simple remote is Roku's most basic remote and comes with Roku media players. It has a simple design with just a few buttons and does not provide voice control features. The Roku Simple remote is a good choice if you prefer a straightforward, easy-to-use remote.

The Roku Voice Remote has a voice button near the directional pad, enabling control of your Roku device using voice commands. It has a microphone icon and is compatible with most Roku TV brands and other devices. If you want to use basic voice commands to control your Roku device, the Roku Voice Remote is a great option.

The Roku Voice Remote Pro is similar in size, shape, and layout to the other Roku remotes but more advanced and includes extra features. It has a rechargeable battery, a lost remote finder, and hands-free voice control capabilities. The Roku Voice Remote Pro looks and feels almost identical to the other remotes. It has similar buttons, including power, home, playback controls, a directional pad, and four custom shortcut buttons. If you’re a fan of these features, you won't get anything better than this.